美国南卡罗来纳州哥伦比亚市：会展目的地新选择
Why Columbia, SC Is Emerging as a Top Meetings Destination for Event Planners
哥伦比亚市凭借新开发的BullStreet街区、市中心会议中心及机场航线扩展，正成为美国会奖旅游（MICE）市场的新兴目的地。哥伦比亚都会会议中心总面积142,500平方英尺，含近24,000平方英尺展览空间和16,700平方英尺宴会厅，一英里内有超过2,000间酒店客房。
Columbia, South Carolina, is a burgeoning meetings destination augmenting its traditional state capital lures with significant additions that include the new BullStreet District and improvements to its primary park and NCAA football stadium, all of which are primed for group activations.
[Related: 6 Unexpected Venues in Columbia, SC, That Might Not Be on Planner's Radars]
“It’s really an exciting time for Columbia,” said Rick Lackland, vice president of Experience Columbia SC. “The transformation of our downtown districts, the expansion of the air service at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, our outstanding convention center and the incredible restaurant scene has really created that ‘destination.’ Add to that the University of South Carolina and the fact that this is the state capital, and the investment from companies such as Scout Motors and Amazon, and it means Columbia has tremendous momentum.”
Columbia is also an affordable destination with a walkable convention district and the authentic charm of a historic Southern city.
“And we’ve really become a foodie destination, too,” Lackland offered, in a nod toward the new Gather COLA food hall, which carries the distinction of being the first open-air food hall in the state.
The downtown Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center features nearly 24,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 16,700-square-foot ballroom and 4,200 square feet of breakout space in a 142,500-square-foot package, with more than 2,000 hotel rooms within a mile.
A new Columbia highlight is BullStreet District, an ongoing 181-acre mixed-use project. Major attractions include Segra Park Minor League Baseball stadium, Gather COLA food hall and two meeting venues, the Landry Building and Central Energy Building. Expected next year is a new 136-room boutique hotel.
[Related: Columbia, South Carolina, Is a Rising Southern City Making a Name for Meetings]
5 Outstanding Columbia, SC Offsite Options
Located in Columbia’s happening new BullStreet District, Segra Park is home to the Columbia Fireflies Minor League Baseball team and offers a full-service catering team and spaces that include the Club Lounge, a conference room and outdoor venues such as the Crescent Patio, Partial or Full Concourse and a full ballpark buyout for up to 15,000.
This downtown venue can host groups from 10 to 1,500 in nine different spaces. With fine art as a backdrop, CMA features a dedicated event staff that helps with logistics support.
This 18-acre greenspace in the heart of downtown Columbia has grown with the city since the 1800s and recently was the beneficiary of a major civic investment. Options include a full-park buyout or individual elements such as Overlook Plaza (overlooking the cityscape), The Nest, Cascades, Upper Lawn, Gadsden Green, The Landing and Secret Garden.
Home of the NCAA Gamecocks, Williams-Brice is also coming off a major refurbishment. Eight venue rental options are available, including the 24,000-square-foot Traditions Club for up to 600. Southern Way Catering is the stadium’s exclusive F&B partner. One whimsical event option is the 22 “Cockabooses,” decommissioned stationary train cabooses for tailgating.
With the ability to host groups from 10 to 1,000, this history museum is located in a former mill—South Carolina was a center of the U.S. textile industry—on the Congaree River and also features an amphitheater.'
Getting to Columbia, SC
Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) is located approximately 7.5 miles from downtown. Major carriers include United, American and Delta, with nonstop service from Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Newark, New York, Orlando and Philadelphia. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is about 100 miles away.
Connection
Sponsored by Experience Columbia SC.
About the author
Tyler Davidson is the vice president and chief content director for Meetings Today, which publishes the meetings industry trade magazine Meetings Today as well as MeetingsToday.com, various newsletters, webinars, the in-person Meetings Today LIVE! Hosted-buyer events and other meetings and events industry B2B channels.
Tyler has covered the travel trade for nearly 35 years. In his role with Meetings Today, which recently won the prestigious FOLIO: Eddies Award for best magazine issue, Tyler leads the editorial team on its mission to provide the most in-depth meetings content in the industry. Previously, he worked as the Asia, Canada, Pacific Northwest and Western U.S. editor at Travel Weekly magazine and TravelAge West. Before joining the dual editorial staff producing destination sections for Travel Weekly and TravelAge West, Tyler was the Africa, Israel, Middle East, Switzerland and Pacific Northwest editor at TravelAge West. He also undertook general news and feature assignments while working at the magazines.
Besides reporting on the travel trade, Tyler has covered the real estate industry, held various editorial positions at the San Francisco-based national satire magazine The Nose, wrote freelance technology industry pieces and covered the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders for a bilingual newspaper in San Francisco. He has a B.A. in Journalism from San Francisco State University, where he worked in various editorial capacities on its award-winning student magazine, Prism.
Contact: [email protected]
来源：Meetings Today · meetingstoday.com