Beaumont, TX, is where big city amenities meet small-town charm, where history meets modern, where Cajun meets cowboy. Located in southeast Texas about 30 miles inland, Beaumont is well-suited meetings thanks to the local Southeast Texas Regional Airport and a convenient location on I-10. It's also just a 90-minute drive from Houston, 3.5 hours from Austin, five hours from San Antonio and New Orleans and a mere 30 minutes from the Gulf Coast. Once in the city, guests can travel from one of 3,700 hotel rooms in the area to another destination within 10 minutes. Meeting venues in Beaumont include historic homes, more than five museums, performing arts venues and several spacious parks.
Spanning 221 acres, Ford Park is home to some of the newest and largest convention venues in Beaumont, as well as southeast Texas. The park encompasses five facilities, including Ford Exhibit Hall, which offers 48,000 square feet of exhibit space, eight individual meeting rooms and an 11,000-square-foot lobby. The hall is attached to 8,500-seat Ford Arena and, when combined, they offer 83,000 square feet of space. Also at Ford Park, Ford Midway includes a 45,000-square-foot practice arena and 25,000 square feet of covered barn space, while Ford Fields encompasses 12 championship-caliber softball/baseball fields and 1,000 parking spaces.
Located in the heart of downtown Beaumont, the Beaumont Civic Center Complex is another option for large conventions and events in Beaumont. The complex has a capacity of 6,500 people or 188 10-foot-by-10-foot booths and has hosted hundreds of events, from Tim McGraw concerts to car shows to speeches by former President George Bush. Its ground level has 29,300 square feet of space with an additional 12,000 square feet of space on the upper level. The Beaumont Civic Center Complex is equipped with amenities to meet any need, including ticketing services, theatrical production equipment, catering and 850 parking spaces.
Surrounding the civic center complex are a number of unique Beaumont venues that are perfect for meeting groups transitioning from day to night. Opened in 1927, the Jefferson Theatre has been completely renovated; it can host galas, presentations and more for up to 1,444 guests. The Julie Rogers Theatre is another performing arts venue with space for over 1,600 people, with excellent sound and lighting capabilities. The Beaumont Botanical Garden Center, Cardinal River Boat, Riverfront Park and Neches Room are other unique spaces for Beaumont meetings and events.
While in Beaumont, groups must sample the unique fare being offered at restaurants like Suga's Deep South Cuisine and Jazz Bar, which also has great meeting space in downtown Beaumont along with live entertainment and audio-visual support options. Bryan's 797 is a cozy yet upscale venue for private lunch meetings and presentations, while Pappadeaux offers a lively atmosphere and Cajun cuisine in several banquet rooms.
Photo by Wikimedia Commons user : Reagan Rothenberger
