Western Tennessee
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Memphis’ central U.S. location and affordability make it an ideal destination for meetings and events, according to Malvin Gipson, executive vice president of convention sales, sports, and services for Memphis Tourism. “Best known as the home of the blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll, Memphis was recently featured on The Today Show as a top place to visit. Downtown Memphis buzzes with activity. It’s home to the world-famous Beale Street, more than 185 local bars and restaurants, authentic live music 365 nights a year, the excitement of professional sports, and more than 200 free annual events.”
Renasant Convention Center features a 118,000-square-foot, column-free exhibit hall with flexible space, natural light, and spectacular views of the mighty Mississippi River. It features a new exterior concourse, 46 breakout rooms, a 28,000-square-foot ballroom, and a secondary flex space that can convert to a 67,500-square-foot ballroom. The convention center connects to the 2,051-seat Cannon Center for the Performing Arts and the 600-room Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel, which offers 14,675 square feet of event space.
The National Civil Rights Museum is undergoing significant renovations and expansion, according to Memphis Tourism.Renovation of the museum’s Legacy Building is expected to be completed in early 2026; the renovation will include a first-floor expansion and new exhibits. Memphis Brooks Museum of Art is rebranding as Memphis Art Museum, opening in a new riverfront location in 2026. Aloft Memphis Downtown, with event space for 145 guests, opened in late 2024. The boutique Hotel Pontotoc is slated to open this summer in a historic 1906-era structure, with an upscale bar and restaurant, a wine garden, and a patio.
Facilities at Elvis Presley’s Graceland include the 450-room Guest House at Graceland, which has a 464-seat theater and 17,000 square feet of function space; the Graceland Soundstage entertainment venue, which can accommodate 2,500 guests; and the 80,000-square-foot Graceland Exhibition Center.
The 103-room Big Cypress Lodge, an outdoor-themed hotel inside the iconic Memphis Pyramid, has a variety of indoor event spaces to accommodate 350 guests, plus a terrace that can accommodate 250 people or can combine with indoor spaces to host 570.
There are 4,218 guest rooms in downtown Memphis. Additional conference hotels include The Peabody Memphis, with 80,000 square feet of elegant event space; the 27-floor Hilton Memphis, with 31,001 square feet of event space; The Westin Memphis Beale Street, with 17,408 square feet of event space; The Central Station Memphis, Curio Collection by Hilton, with 10,408 square feet of event space; and Hyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis, with indoor space to host 288 banquet guests and additional outdoor spaces
