Have you booked Memphis yet? If you haven’t, F&D has a cover story coming up in our next Fall/Winter issue that will convince meeting planners and event organizers that it’s their top choice for almost any type of group. So, here are seven reasons we at Facilities & Destinations magazine love Memphis, Tennessee, all 320-plus square miles of it:
- What I like best about it is its incredible riverfront, not only highlighted by a newly renovated/expanded convention center that is architecturally striking and features the latest technologies, but also an actual 32-story pyramid (that’s correct) with a fantastic list of things to see and do once inside. Things like shopping at a sports megastore, or scoring strikes (or at least a spare) at its bowling center, and calmly strolling past recreated alligator swamps or viewing the breathtaking underworld of a fantastic aquarium, and so much more.
- Then the famous Beale Street Entertainment District begins here and continues eastward through the downtown area. It’s highlighted by some of the most entertaining lounges and clubs where so many superstars got their first taste of success, as well as restaurants and eateries featuring mouthwatering Memphis-style BBQ that’s like no other in the country.
- Memphis also has a long list of partnering venues, including FedEx Forum, AutoZone at Liberty Park, and the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. They’re all just right for an offsite event of any kind, from customer-appreciation parties to a general session.
- Then there are Memphis’s other neighborhoods, like Midtown – accented by the Overton Park Conservatory and the Memphis Zoo, which I especially like as an animal lover, since it has a forward-thinking commitment to the welfare of animals.
- Memphis East and its 4,500-acre Shelby Farms Park, where you can partake in all types of outdoor activities, including horseback riding.
- Memphis South – home to a new and user-friendly international airport, as well as Graceland, home to Elvis! It not only features his mansion but also gardens and other facilities of interest to Elvis devotees, including an auto museum of his favorite cars.
- And, finally, Memphis knows how to party, so when it comes to celebrating, no one does it better than Memphis. (Think of what it can do for your group.) Its annual calendar is chock-full of colorful, exciting events and festivals that celebrate diversity, hospitality, the arts, film, and more. Oh, and of course, it hosts a great Memphis Cook Off every year, and that cannot be beat.
So, there you have it. Keep an eye out for our next issue and our cover story, “Memphis Hits the High Note.” And, meanwhile, log onto www.visitmemphis.com.
