North Mississippi Region
VisitOxfordMS.com; @VisitOxfordMS
Oxford balances small-town Southern charm with the intellectual and athletic energy of an SEC powerhouse. “Most places have a meeting venue, but it is what else the town offers that sets Oxford apart,” says Nadia Thornton, director of sales and marketing for Visit Oxford. Thornton emphasizes that planners have a unique opportunity to tap into local academia, whether through specialized speaking engagements or a tour of the University of Mississippi’s Duff Center for STEM Learning, a state-of-the-art facility that opened its doors to the campus community in late 2024.
Boasting more than 25,000 square feet of event space, Oxford Conference Center accommodates up to 1,000 guests theater style and 800 for receptions in its largest space. The venue also features a 280-seat auditorium, a conference room, and pre-function space. It is supported by approximately 286 guest rooms across various national-brand hotels, including Hampton Inn Oxford/Conference Center, TownePlace Suites by Marriott Oxford, and Tru by Hilton Oxford, all within walking distance. On the university campus, the 146-room Inn at Ole Miss features 10,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 5,600-square-foot ballroom, an auditorium, and a dedicated onsite restaurant and bar.
Oxford’s historic downtown Square is the heartbeat of the city and a hub for upscale lodging. The 136-room Graduate by Hilton Oxford features 2,062 square feet of meeting space just steps from the Square’s famous shops. Nearby, the Oliver Hotel recently completed extensive renovations to its 40 guest rooms and dining spaces, including a refreshed garden patio and the Nightbird speakeasy. The hotel’s largest event space accommodates up to 100 seated guests. The 121-room Courtyard by Marriott has 5,360 square feet of event space, including a rooftop space that accommodates up to 200 people for receptions.
Oxford’s acclaimed dining scene includes City Grocery, Snackbar, Ajax Diner, and Taylor Grocery, all of which were noted last year in MICHELIN’s inaugural Guide to the American South. Between sessions, attendees can tour William Faulkner’s historic home, Rowan Oak, or visit Wonderbird Distillery for grain-to-glass gin tastings. Oxford’s annual Double Decker Arts Festival, held in April, turns the Square into a vibrant gallery of music and art.
