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Columbus, Ohio City Guide

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Columbus Meeting Planning

Columbus Skyline

With an enticing city package that includes historic neighborhoods, recreation, art and culture wrapped within the comfort and convenience of a clean, manageable city, Columbus has been catching the eye of meeting planners nationwide. Its central location makes Columbus an ideal meeting place. Easily accessible, Columbus is located within one day's drive or a one-hour flight of half the population of the United States and Canada. Visitors who touch down at the Port Columbus International Airport will find a modern facility just 10 minutes east of the downtown area.

Once inside the city, the convenience continues with over 21,000 hotel rooms from which to choose. Ranging from luxury boutiques to familiar chains, Columbus has accommodations to meet a wide variety of needs and price points. Although Columbus is a major metropolis, it is extremely navigable. Traversing the city is a breeze with quick and efficient bus service. Columbus also shows its hospitality with the presence of Capital Crossroads Ambassadors. Identified by their green shirts and blue coats, these helpful attendants are on hand seven days a week to direct visitors and answer questions within a 32-square-block area from the convention center.

Convention and meeting facilities abound in downtown Columbus. The Greater Columbus Convention Center is a state-of-the-art facility that offers 426,000 square feet of exhibit space, 61 meeting rooms and two ballrooms located just steps away from the vibrant Arena DistrictArena District
Arena District and Short North Arts District. The convention center has been host to such prestigious organizations as the National Society of Black Engineers, United Pentecostal Church International and Lions Club International.

Nationwide Arena

Beyond the convention center, Columbus offers several other sizable venues. The Nationwide Arena, Columbus' premier sports and entertainment venue, can accommodate a wide range of functions from intimate gatherings to large-scale events of up to 20,000 people. Another alternative is the Franklin County Veterans Memorial. Located on the west side of the downtown waterfront, the recently renovated space offers 110,000 square feet of exhibit space plus a 3,916-seat auditorium perfect for award ceremonies and presentations. Groups willing to travel just outside of the downtown area can utilize the very meeting-friendly Ohio Expo Center, a 360-acre complex offering one million square feet of flexible space. With so much to offer, it is no wonder Columbus welcomes approximately 33.2 million visitors each year.

Aside from its convenient location and world-class facilities, Columbus bubbles with action and activity. The city is host to several renowned festivals including the Columbus Arts Festival, German Village Oktoberfest, Festival Latino and the Dublin Irish Festival. In addition to these phenomenal events, Columbus is host to the annual PGA Tour Memorial Tournament. A celebrated golfing destination, the city was voted number 2 in the Top 50 Golf Cities in America by Golf.com.

With an increasingly bright horizon, Columbus continues to look to the future. By the city's bicentennial in 2012, the city plans to have completed the Scioto Mile, a massive revitalization of the downtown riverfront that will stretch from the Arena District to Whittier Peninsula, redefining the cityscape. The Scioto Mile will feature plazas, parks, bikeways, pedestrian paths and a promenade that will connect the river with the downtown area. When complete, the Scioto Mile will become a spectacular new symbol for the city.

Along with its population, the Columbus economy continues to grow, and it is one of the top 10 economies in the United States. Many major corporations are headquartered in Columbus including Bank One, Wendy's International, CompuServe, Red Roof Inns, Limited Brands and Nationwide Insurance. Additionally, several high profile colleges and universities call the city home, including Ohio State University, which boasts the largest college campus in the United States.

Key Statistics

About Columbus / Additional Info

The largest city in Ohio and the 15th largest city in the United States, Columbus is an ever-evolving metropolis ripe with energy, flavor and the magic of the Midwest. Located halfway between ClevelandCleveland
Cleveland and Cincinnati at the geographic center of the state, Columbus is situated where the Scioto and Olentangy rivers meet. A surprisingly distinctive destination, this sparkling city is home to an eclectic collection of arts districts, restored neighborhoods, quiet parks and public markets, which are quickly escalating the city to the status as the core of Ohio arts and culture.

Named for explorer Christopher Columbus, the city was founded in 1812 and became Ohio's state capital in 1816. Today, the city of Columbus is home to a population of 733,208 people who reside within its 210 square miles. From 2002 to 2005, Columbus was the 2nd fastest-growing major metropolitan area in the United States. This sky-rocketing growth is largely due to the area's superior quality of life. People from nearly 100 different countries around the world have migrated to the metro area to become "Columbusites" and enjoy the lifestyle of this clean, friendly and affordable city. In fact, Money Magazine deemed Columbus the 8th Best City in Which to Live, and Forbes named Columbus the 9th Most Affordable Place to Live Well. At present, the Columbus metropolitan area, which includes eight counties, is home to a staggering 1,754,337 people and counting.

The Columbus cityscape combines towering skyscrapers with meandering parkland and a medley of endearing neighborhoods. The distinctive boroughs peppered throughout the city give Columbus its characteristic charm. Just north of downtown Columbus, the Short North Arts District offers an eclectic blend of galleries, restaurants, pubs and boutiques. To the south, the lovingly restored neighborhood known as German VillageSchiller Park in German Village
Schiller Park in German Village features 19th century historic homes, urban gardens, restaurants and shops nestled along quaint, brick-paved roads. Steps from the German Village, the Brewery District lives up to its name with fine restaurants and small micro-breweries serving an extensive selection of beers and ales.

The independent spirit of Columbus' neighborhoods spills over into the area's blossoming art scene. The arts play such a prominent role in the city's identity that some have nicknamed it "The Indie Art Capital of the World." Columbus is home to three historic theaters: the Ohio, Palace and Southern. These three majestic venues set the stage for some of the city's most prestigious performing arts groups including the Columbus Symphony, BalletMet, Broadway Across America-Columbus, Columbus Jazz Orchestra, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra and Opera Columbus. The city also boasts the Columbus Museum of Art and the internationally-known Wexner Center for the Arts.

With so many offerings, the arts in Columbus have been creating quite a buzz. Columbus was named the 10th Top Arts Destination among major metropolises in the United States by AmericanStyle magazine. A dynamic destination, Columbus also offers a number of distinctive attractions that convey the city's unique spirit including the Arena District, COSI Columbus, Jack Nicklaus Museum, Topiary Garden and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.