South Carolina maintains a rich, distinctive brand that stays with travelers. Hike spectacular mountain trails or traverse river rapids and sandy beaches. From vibrant Columbia and Spartanburg to historic Beaufort and Charleston, The Palmetto State is home to some of the South’s best golf courses, with more than 80 in Myrtle Beach alone.
Lowcountry
Charleston & Kiawah Island
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The Charleston Area Convention Center offers 148,000 square feet of meeting space and 77,000 square feet in its divisible exhibit hall. The convention center campus also includes the North Charleston Coliseum, which accommodates 13,000, and the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, with a capacity of 2,341. The 255-room Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston Airport Hotel connects to the convention center. Other hotels near the venue include the new 291-room North Charleston Marriott, with 12,000 square feet of event space, and the 169-room Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Airport, which accommodates gatherings of 200 people.
Closer to the city center, The Gibbes Museum of Art boasts an outstanding collection of American art and 35,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space. The museum can accommodate 900 for receptions and 350 for banquets. Home to the Charleston Symphony, Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, and the Spoleto Festival, the Charleston Gaillard Center features 118,670 square feet of meeting and exhibit space. It accommodates 900 classroom style and 2,734 for theater seating.
Hotel accommodations in downtown’s Historic District include the 434-room Charleston Place Hotel, which has more than 40,000 square feet of event space, including a grand ballroom, a 600-seat theater, and 10 function rooms. The Charleston Marriott offers 344 guest rooms and 19,993 square feet of meeting space, including 13 meeting rooms, and accommodates 1,100 for receptions.
On King Street across from Marion Square, the 235-room Francis Marion Hotel offers 20,000 square feet of meeting space and 13 meeting rooms. The newly transformed Mills House, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, has 218 guest rooms and features 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.
Just south of Charleston, Kiawah Island Golf Resort offers 90,000 square feet of meeting and event space, 14 onsite eateries, and five championship golf courses.
Hilton Head Island
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Hilton Head Island has more than 150,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space for gatherings of 2,000 attendees.
Top hotels include the 513-room Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa, featuring 46,000 square feet of meeting space. The Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort has 323 guest rooms, 25,000 square feet of meeting space, and four restaurants. The 340-room Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island boasts 23,000 square feet of event space and four restaurants, while the 416-room Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa features 37,000 square feet of meeting space and five restaurants.
Smaller accommodations include the oceanfront Holiday Inn Express Hilton Head Island, with 153 guest rooms and space for 100. The 100-room Hampton Inn & Suites Bluffton-Sun City features 2,055 square feet of meeting space, including three meeting rooms.
Hilton Head has numerous offsite meeting and event venues, including the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, which holds 349 guests and has catering. The Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn, a local center of Lowcountry preservation education, sits on 68 acres and is a popular event center. The attraction features lush, ancient moss-draped oaks and several unique event spaces, including a 4,000-square-foot covered pavilion.
Midlands
Aiken
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Served by two regional airports, Aiken is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from several Southern cities, including Atlanta, Greenville, Charlotte, Charleston, Asheville, and Savannah.
“A traveler to our city remarked that Aiken was ‘the complete Southern town’ and that although it was of modest size, its character was “larger than life.” Our (CVB) team works hard daily to share that outlook,” says Eric Gordon, tourism manager for Visit Aiken SC. “We recently doubled the size of our office and are working to attract more conferences and meetings to our region.”
Aiken has a long history as an equestrian playground, beginning in the 19th century when millionaires from the northeast brought their families—and often, ponies—to spend the winter in elegant mansions.
Stable View, a top-notch equestrian training facility, is also a favorite venue for weddings, corporate retreats, family reunions, and business conferences. The property features a rustic Main Barn, originally built as a hunting lodge, accommodating 150. Stable View’s three-story LEED Gold-certified pavilion has an observation deck, a craftsman-style pub, an elevator, and a state-of-the-art reception area. The facility also accommodates 75 guests in varied spaces such as bungalows, apartments, and bedrooms.
Hopelands Gardens, another local site of a 19th-century winter home, features an elegant garden of ancient live oaks and three original structures, including a caretaker’s cottage, available for events. The adjacent 10-acre Rye Patch offers another option for events.
The Aiken Center for The Arts features a main gallery accommodating 175 seated guests and 250 for receptions. The center’s Brown Pavilion holds 150 people, while the Brooks Gallery has space for 75 guests. The center’s conference room accommodates 22 people.
Aiken’s historic Willcox Hotel features 28 guest rooms, an award-winning restaurant, a spa, and six audiovisual-equipped event and meeting rooms accommodating 300 guests. Other venues include the Aiken County Historical Museum Citizens Park and a 92-room Hilton Garden Inn that accommodates gatherings of 45. Other hotels in Aiken include the Carriage House Inn, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, and Fairfield Inn & Suites.
Columbia
ExperienceColumbiaSC.com; @ColumbiaSC
“Our clients love the ease of flying in and out of Columbia Metropolitan Airport, our culinary scene, friendly and hospitable locals, and top-notch hotels,” says Charlene Slaughter, Columbia CVB director of communications. “These and many other experiences keep them returning every year.”
The GBAC-accredited Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center (CMCC) in downtown’s Vista District features 142,500 square feet of meeting space, including a 16,704-square-foot ballroom for 1,670 guests. Other features include a 23,700-square-foot exhibit hall that holds 2,370 for receptions. The CMCC is within walking distance of 60 restaurants, bars, and nightlife options, as well as more than 2,000 hotel rooms.
Central Energy, a former energy facility turned event venue, has more than 6,200 square feet of meeting space and accommodates 500. For a different vibe, there is Segra Park, home to the local minor league baseball team, the Columbia Fireflies. The park can accommodate 9,000 people for sporting events and 15,000 for outdoor concerts and other entertainment. The park has 16 luxury suites and a 7,000-square-foot Club Lounge for business meetings, receptions, and other events.
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden has indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces for corporate and social functions of 25 to 5,000 guests. Onsite catering is available, with some proceeds going towards animal conservation. Other area venue options include the Columbia Museum of Art; EdVenture, a large children’s museum; and the South Carolina State Museum.
Hotels with event space include the recently renovated 300-room Marriott Columbia, with 24,000 square feet of event space for gatherings of 800.
The 237-room DoubleTree by Hilton Columbia–which also completed a significant renovation a few years ago—features 23,000 square feet of meeting space. Near the zoo, the 218-room Embassy Suites by Hilton Columbia Greystone contains 18,121 square feet of meeting and event space, accommodating 1,200 in its largest area. Outside downtown, the Marriott Delta Columbia Northeast has 16,215 square feet of meeting space for groups of 250.
In 2022, a 144-room Cambria property opened a few blocks from the convention center. A new 12-story, 128-room Moxy property is under construction and expected to open in early 2024. The hotel—located across the street from the South Carolina State House–will feature three new bars, including one on the rooftop.
The Hyatt Place Columbia Downtown/Vista recently completed extensive renovations on all its guest rooms, corridors, and lobby earlier this year. The Hampton Inn Downtown Historic District is currently undergoing a complete restoration. Guest room upgrades are expected to be open later this fall, while renovations to the common areas and lobby will occur in early 2024.
Three Rivers Greenway is an excellent way to explore Columbia’s great outdoors. A network of trails spanning 15.5 miles, the Greenway features lighted trails and boardwalks, outdoor amphitheaters, restrooms, public parking lots, and views of the downtown Spirit of Lake Murray, the lake’s only large charter vessel. Under new ownership, the Spirit has undergone a significant facelift and should soon be ready to take groups on sunset cruises, bird-watching expeditions, and other outings.
Columbia’s diverse and distinct neighborhoods offer unique delights to discover. The artsy Vista and improved Main Street districts represent the rejuvenation of the city’s downtown. Up-and-coming entertainment districts like North Columbia and Bull Street feature a mix of residential, retail, and commercial activity. Boutique shopping abounds on Devine Street, while Five Points, known as Columbia’s “original village neighborhood” is an eclectic mix of shops, cafes, restaurants, and nightlife.
Pee Dee
Beaufort, Port Royal & Sea Islands
BeaufortSC.org; @BeaufortSC; @Visit_Beaufort
Located 70 miles south of Charleston and 40 miles north of Savannah, Beaufort on Port Royal Island offers planners the Lowcountry’s quintessential beauty and relaxed pace.
“Ours is a walkable city that redefines the traditional idea of corporate meetings and events,”’ says Linda Jeffries, director of sales for Visit Beaufort-Port Royal CVB. “Planners love the small-town feel and ability to immerse themselves in Lowcountry culture and Southern hospitality. They also love the variety of spaces we have here.”
Beaufort has 1,900 guest accommodations, including numerous charming historic district inns with event space. The 15-room Anchorage 1770, a favorite wedding venue, features 5,900 square feet of event space and an onsite restaurant.
The Beaufort Inn has event space, including the 5,696 square-foot Tabby Place, a 4,437-square-foot patio, Old Bay Market, eight breakout rooms, and 3,786 square feet of rooftop/ outdoor courtyard spaces. The Inn is constructing a new three-story hotel and event space—featuring a full-service restaurant rooftop bar—set to open in 2024. The space will provide an additional 3,600 square feet to Tabby Place, with 1,200 square feet of breakout room availability. Another local inn and venue, the Greek Revival Rhett House, features 20 guest rooms.
Additional accommodations are available at the recently renovated Newcastle House Inn, a home featuring a gourmet kitchen, fireplace, small dining room, and bar. The house is now available for group rentals, with full bar service and event capabilities.
Hotels with meeting space include the 97-room Holiday Inn & Suites Beaufort, which features 5,400 square feet of meeting space, and the 115-room Beaufort Hilton Garden Inn for gatherings of 100 people in theater seating. Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort has condo units and features golf, a beach, a marina, and multiple pools. The resort has 10,150 square feet of flexible space for events and meetings for 300.
Downtown Beaufort offers unique waterfront dining, streets lined with Spanish moss-draped trees, and historically preserved homes dating back to the 17th century. The entire downtown has been designated a historic district by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Another fascinating experience is St. Helena Island, home to a thriving and historic Gullah Geechee community. Island attractions include the Penn Center, what was the first school in the United States for formerly enslaved people, and a site on the National Reconstruction Era Park.
New developments in Beaufort include the continued expansion of the Spanish Moss Trail, which will reach Port Royal in 2024. The 10-mile greenway has become a popular activity for residents and visitors alike. Its 12-foot-wide path gently meanders through moss-draped neighborhoods, offering scenic views of Lowcountry marshlands, coastal wildlife, and historic points of interest.
Florence
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Near the Pee Dee River, Florence offers an eclectic mix of amenities and attractions for meeting planners. The area boasts 4,500 guest accommodations and venues for groups of 10 to 10,000. Florence also features a charming, revitalized downtown surrounded by scenic rivers, parks, and other attractions.
The top local venue, the Florence Center, offers 79,000 square feet of flexible space, including a 14,355-square-foot grand ballroom accommodating 1,200 for theater seating. A new 5,724-square-foot junior ballroom fits 806 for theater seating, 228 for banquets, and has a 28-booth capacity. Other components include a 28,482-square-foot arena that seats 9,150 and holds 160 booths and a 6,000-square-foot outdoor courtyard for special events.
NASCAR racing attraction Darlington Raceway’s Earnhardt Tower Suites offers groups of 100 thrilling views of the racing action and various food and beverage options. The raceway’s Start/Finish Line Club, located behind the pit road, accommodates 60 guests.
The 676-acre Lynches River County Park offers a 6,400-square-foot community building that can accommodate groups of 400 people. The park also features nature trails, a splash pad, picnic areas, geocaching, and the Environmental Discovery Center. The historic Bean Market—constructed in 1936 as an agricultural auction house—features 8,500 square feet of space, with flexible options that include a 5,800-square-foot open floor.
Area hotels include the 186-room Hilton Garden Inn with flexible meeting space for 100 people. The Staybridge Suites features 112 guest rooms and 2,600 square feet of meeting space, including three meeting rooms. The new Aloft Florence, near Darlington Raceway, features 84 rooms and 500 square feet of meeting and event space for small gatherings.
Downtown Florence offers excellent dining, museums, art galleries, boutiques, antique shopping, and high-caliber performance venues at the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center and Florence Little Theatre. From April to September, the popular Florence After Five free concert series occurs on the last Friday of each month, while the South Carolina Pecan Music & Food Festival–a one-day event in November–attracts more than 50,000 people to downtown. The festival features multiple stages of live entertainment and more than 250 food and craft vendors.
“Downtown Florence has experienced exponential revitalization and growth in recent years. So much so, it was named winner of the 2023 Great American Main Street Award [from Main Street America],” explains Jade Perkins, tourism development manager with the Florence CVB. “With all of the expansions and renovations, however, the town has managed to keep its Southern charm.”
For local outings, groups can sweep through miles of history along the South Carolina Revolutionary Rivers National Water Trail, which takes paddlers into the scenic swamps where American General Francis Marion–known as “the Swamp Fox”—is said to have hidden his troops from the British. Perfect for all levels of paddlers and groups of all sizes, the Revolutionary Rivers provides a captivating experience of history and physical activity while exploring swamplands with moss-filled cypress trees and rich biodiversity
Myrtle Beach
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The expanded and renovated Myrtle Beach Convention Center features a 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall and an 18,000-square-foot grand ballroom seating 1,500 people. Other components include 20 meeting rooms for gatherings of 120 people and a 30,000-square-foot outdoor events plaza. The convention center connects to the 400-room Sheraton Myrtle Beach Hotel.
The 405-room Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes has 35,650 square feet of event space and can fit 1,665 people in its largest space. Embassy Suites by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort has 255 guest rooms and 48,689 square feet of event space and can hold a capacity of 2,000 for theater seating. The hotel’s newest meeting space, Black Drum Brewing, includes an event lawn ideal for workshops and luncheons. An upper level features an open-air ballroom.
Upstate
Anderson County
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The 37,000-square-foot multi-use Anderson Civic Center includes a conference center, exhibition hall, entertainment arena, and 7,700-square-foot ballroom for groups of 1,000. For larger events, the 28,000-square-foot arena seats 3,200 spectators for concerts and fits 200 trade show booths. A glass atrium and adjoining outdoor courtyard provide additional event space. The Civic Center is part of the Anderson Sports and Entertainment Center, which also features a playground, sports fields, walking trails, and an outdoor concert arena.
Anderson County boasts 2,500 guest accommodations, including the 22-room Bleckley Inn with the Carriage House that holds 250. The hotel also has conference rooms for functions of 40 people. Off the property is the 10,000-square-foot Bleckley Station, which accommodates 500 guests.
The 124-room Hilton Garden Inn Anderson offers 9,293 square feet of event space, including seven meeting rooms. The hotel’s largest event space is 5,450 square feet and fits 600 people for theater seating. For smaller gatherings, the Quality Inn Clemson near University in Anderson has a 2,720-square-foot banquet room that accommodates 302 people for receptions and 188 for classroom seating.
Clemson
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The Clyde V. Madren Continuing Education and Conference Center at Clemson University is top of the list of meeting amenities in the area. Components include a 5,660-square-foot grand ballroom that accommodates 550 for receptions and 400 for seated banquets, a 3,170-square-foot tiered auditorium seating 120, a 10,000-square-foot outdoor pavilion, and seminar rooms for 40 people. The venue is part of the Clemson University Conference Center & Inn complex, including the 62-room James F. Martin Inn, The Walker Golf Course, and Sole on the
Green restaurant.
The Hayden Conference Center at the South Carolina Botanical Garden has two large rooms ideal for lectures, workshops, group meetings, small receptions, and meal functions. The Agnew room can accommodate groups of 50 people. The Lecture Room accommodates 40 people and offers a flexible setup. A Courtyard by Marriott Clemson has two meeting rooms for smaller groups.
Greenville
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In addition to 280,000 square feet of exhibit space, the Greenville Convention Center has 60,000 square feet of meeting space, 17 meeting rooms, a 50,000-square-foot conference hall, and a 30,000-square-foot ballroom that accommodates 3,000 for theater seating.
Another top Greenville venue option is Truist Culinary & Hospitality Innovation Center – Greenville Technical College, with 13,000 square feet of meeting space and four meeting rooms. Other venues include Greenville’s Bon Secours Wellness Arena, a 17,000-square-foot arena with flexible reconfiguring capabilities and 15,000 seats, and West End Events at Fluor Field contains 18 suites and seven event rooms and accommodates a capacity of 10,000.
About 20 miles east of Greenville in Greer, the BMW Zentrum and BMW Performance Center offer more than 28,000 square feet of meeting space, along with high-speed teambuilding opportunities on the track.
The 268-room Embassy Suites by Hilton Greenville Golf Resort & Conference Center offers 44,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The Hyatt Regency Greenville has 35,000 square feet of meeting space. The 73-room Hotel Hartness features 16,000 square feet of meeting space and 13 meeting rooms and can accommodate receptions of 300 people.
Oconee County
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Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Oconee County in northwest South Carolina offers history, quaint towns, pristine waterways, and trailheads for groups to explore. It also has an excellent array of meeting and event venues.
“Whether you decide to meet here or simply visit to explore our beautiful outdoors, Oconee County welcomes you,” says Chanda Morrison, web content specialist with Visit Oconee.
Located on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, Lakeside Lodge Clemson is a resort with condominium accommodations and corporate and social event space. Components include
a ballroom, amphitheater, mini football field for outdoor events, private dining room, and gazebo. Other amenities include an onsite restaurant and bar.
The Newry Store & Café opened earlier this year and offers meeting space upstairs overlooking the recently renovated historic Newry Mill. The original mill buildings have been transformed into luxury apartments. The Overlook at Chickasaw Point in Westminster features a restaurant serving lunch and dinner, a full-service bar, an event center, and a meeting space. It has an open-air deck and a covered deck for outside dining. Venue space is available for weddings, parties, corporate meetings, or special events.
The Bauknight House in Walhalla is a charming historic home that can hold small events—including outdoor gatherings for 150 people—and offers accommodations. For something a little more rustic, there is the Chattooga River Lodge in Long Creek. Located on 34 acres and surrounded by Sumter National Forest, the setting includes a lodge, restaurant, and bar that is open daily. Accommodations are available in eight guest rooms, 17 creek-side campsites, and RV sites in the woods. The lodge—under new ownership—boasts a large outdoor seating area and live music many nights of the week.
Oconee County has a healthy selection of restaurants and microbreweries, including Birds of a Feather and Ram Cat Cellars in Seneca and the Chattooga Belle Farm Distillery in Long Creek. In Walhalla, the Charleston-based Freehouse Brewery will soon open a second location.
For teambuilding opportunities, Wildwater’s Chattooga outpost includes high and low ropes obstacles and challenges. For more adventures, hike local trails leading to 29 waterfalls, or go rafting, fishing, or swimming in the Chattooga River or nearby lakes.
Spartanburg
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Situated between Atlanta and Charlotte, Spartanburg has more than 400,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and 4,000 hotel rooms. Just a few minutes from the historic downtown, the Spartanburg Marriott has 247 guest rooms, 29,604 square feet of event space, and can fit 1,334 guests in its largest space. The hotel is adjacent to Renaissance Park and a short walk to Barnet Park, a popular destination for outdoor concerts and local events. Ten minutes from downtown, the 116-room Hilton Garden Inn has 10,068 square feet of event space, including seven meeting rooms.
Spartanburg’s restored Indigo Hall Event Center, which accommodates 500 people, features two separate event halls, an attached veranda, and garden space. Another Spartanburg venue, 1800 Drayton Catering & Events, located in the revitalized Drayton Mills, can accommodate 300 guests.
The new Blue Moon Bodega, a “not-so-general” store, sells everyday grocery essentials and unique specialty foods handcrafted by local artisans. Customers can enjoy a sandwich, salad, charcuterie board, or a glass of wine on Blue Moon’s attractive outdoor patio. The store has a wine cellar featuring nearly 100 curated selections; a cold cave for craft beer; and an array of delicious meats, cheeses, and fresh produce.
FretWell, Spartanburg’s newest gathering spot for local food trucks, performers, and events, is also available for private functions. Other unique dining and cocktail additions include Dray Bar & Grill and Delaney’s Irish Pub. Heirloom: A Milltown Eatery, housed in the former headquarters of the 19th-century Spartan Mills building, honors the region’s rich culinary traditions, serving locally sourced staples such as Joyce Farms’ Fried Chicken and Walnut Grove Farms’ Beef Braised Short Ribs.
