Boise, ID Event Planning

Key Highlights

Hotels	83
Total Sleeping Rooms	16,976
Committable Sleeping Rooms*	303
Committable Meeting Rooms*	24
Convention Center Space	51,105 Sq. Ft.
Largest Exhibit Space	24,426 Sq. Ft.
Largest Ballroom	34,000 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $77
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $46
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $221
*Maximum for a single hotel

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Boise, ID Meeting Planning Overview

Welcome to the Cvent Meeting and Event Planning Guide to Boise, a city guide for meeting professionals. As Idaho's capital city and a popular destination for both meeting and leisure travel, Boise offers the perfect blend of urban amenities and a hometown feel. The City of Trees serves as the vibrant urban center of Treasure Valley and the government, business, cultural and entertainment hub of the southwest Idaho and eastern Oregon region. The city sits at the foot of the scenic Boise Front in southwest Idaho, and features a number of unique venues and attractions, plentiful museums, year-round outdoor recreation and diverse cultural offerings - all of which prove fantastic for group events and outings. Boise residents and visitors enjoy the city's pedestrian- and bike-friendly setting, which is a unique feature for the largest metropolitan community in the state.

Boise is located along Interstate 84, just 57 miles from the Oregon border, 157 miles from Sun Valley, 336 miles from Salt Lake City and 431 miles from Portland. The Boise Airport, situated within a 10-minute drive of the downtown area, serves Boise and the surrounding region with such major nonstop destinations as Chicago, Los Angeles, Spokane and Denver and offers free terminal-wide Wi-Fi. Groups can meet at the airport's Snake River Conference Center, which spans five conference rooms measuring from 294 to 1,800 square feet. The airport is served by the regional public bus system, ValleyRide, which also provides service throughout downtown Boise and Ada and Canyon Counties.

Boise Airport is located just four miles away from the city's convention center, the Boise Centre. Boasting 50,000 square feet of flexible meeting and exhibit space, Boise Centre features a 350-seat auditorium, a 24,000-square-foot ballroom and 20 meeting rooms with capacities for 20 to 2,900 people. The Boise Centre is located in the heart of downtown Boise, with a variety of restaurants, shops, attractions and 800 hotel rooms all within walking distance. What's more, the Boise Centre is situated mere steps from the popular Grove Plaza, which hosts events throughout the year and is two blocks from the Boise River.

Many of Boise's unique venues and attractions celebrate the city's riverside location, natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Groups can tour the Idaho Capitol Building, a striking Renaissance Revival building that houses the state's legislative body, as well as offering private events in its meeting rooms, Capitol Auditorium, Second Floor Rotunda and Jefferson Street steps. For a group event with a twist, gather at the Old Idaho Penitentiary, one of only four U.S. territorial prisons open to the public. Visitors can visit the site's solitary confinement area, cell blocks and gallows, learn about prison conditions and daily life, view one of the nation's largest collections of historic arms and hold events in outdoor and indoor penitentiary spaces.

Boise is situated 16 miles from the Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area, which welcomes outdoor enthusiasts to ski, snowboard and tube during its winter season, as well as explore its hiking and biking trails during the off-season. The recreation area's three day lodges are available for summertime private events, while one is available for wintertime events. Boise's strong athletic scene is home to a minor league baseball team, minor league hockey team and NBA Development-League Idaho Stampede basketball team. Group outings can be held during game and non-game days at Memorial Stadium, which is home to the Boise Hawks minor league baseball team. The stadium is open for public tours, as well as group picnics and on-field events. CenturyLink Arena serves as the home of the Idaho Steelheads and Idaho Stampede, as well as welcomes luxury suite space and arena floor event space rentals.

Boise's strong economy rests on wholesale/retail trade, government, educational, manufacturing, financial and high-tech services. The city is home to such major corporations as Boise Inc., Micron Technology, URS and Hewlett-Packard, as well as the College of Western Idaho and Boise State University, which is located along the Boise River and within minutes of the downtown area.

About Boise, ID / Additional Info

A fantastic destination for conferences, meetings, family fun, recreation and "retail therapy," Boise is known for its vibrant downtown area, bursting with stops, restaurants, art galleries and unique venues woven amongst offices, government building, historical buildings, residences and green spaces (many of which are situated along the scenic Boise River). The city's world-class parks and trail system spans nearly 2,000 acres of park space and features the 25-mile Greenbelt river path, perfect for biking and walking. Visitors and residents alike delight in being able to swim, fish and water ski in the Boise River.

Boise owes much of its early prosperity to its riverside location. The city's roots can be traced to the Gold Rush days of the 1800s, when Fort Boise was established by British fur traders in 1834 and gold was discovered in the Boise Basin in 1862. Boise became the capitol of Idaho in 1864 and, thanks to its location along the Oregon Trail and irrigation expansion in the early 1900s, also became a commercial center and experienced rapid growth. By the late 1930s, the city experienced a massive migration of Basques from their native home in the Western Pyrenees Mountains. Today, Boise enjoys the largest concentration of Basques per capita outside of the Pyrenees Mountains, and celebrates its diversity at the downtown Basque Museum and Cultural Center.

Boise is graced with a cultural and entertainment strength typically experienced in a larger urban area, thanks to the fact that it houses more museums per capita than any other city in the U.S. Boise is also home to community and professional theater groups, as well as philharmonic orchestra, opera, ballet and Shakespeare companies. The Idaho Shakespeare Festival has presented professional Shakespeare productions every summer since 1977. Productions are offered in an outdoor 770-seat amphitheater that is nestled beside the Boise River. Visitors can also catch a show at the Boise Contemporary Theatre, which presents contemporary shows in an intimate 230-seat black box space in a renovated historic warehouse.

Many of Boise's highlight attractions celebrate the outdoors. The World Center for Birds of Prey welcomes visitors to take part in daily live bird demonstrations with hawks, falcons, eagles and owls, learn about the ancient sport of falconry and explore the breeding of endangered California Condors and Aplomado Falcons. Zoo Boise welcomes visitors to participate in such interactive experiences as giraffe and sloth bear encounters, as well as view its more than 200 animals representing 83 species.

When it's time for some retail therapy, visit downtown Boise's many shops or venture to the Boise Towne Square, Boise Factory Outlets and Vista Village shopping areas. The city's unique dining scene is home to a variety of high quality restaurants and cuisines. Angell's highlights seasonal ingredients and regional flavors in its classic cuisine with a modern touch, while Boise Fry uses natural and local products in its burger and fry creations. The downtown Cottonwood boasts a patio overlooking the Boise River, while Bardenay serves as the nation's first restaurant distillery. Finally, Fork is housed in an old downtown bank building and practices an Americana and farm to fork approach in its regional cuisine offerings.

Boise, ID Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Mountain Time (MT)
Convention Center(s):

Boise Centre

Hotel at Convention Center? No
Sleeping Rooms 1 Mile from Convention Center: 1,361

Airport(s):

Boise Airport

Destination Type(s):

Golf Destination
Historic Destination

Special Event Venues
104
Population
616,561
Restaurants
67
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
6.00%
Currency
U.S. Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
15-20%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Cities Near Boise, ID

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Hailey, ID	95 mi	2 hr 41 min	6 hr 24 min	USD $678+
Pocatello, ID	188 mi	3 hr 36 min	3 hr 4 min	USD $634+
Elko, NV	193 mi	4 hr 40 min	3 hr 14 min	USD $686+
Lewiston, ID	195 mi	5 hr 14 min	50 min	USD $263+

Boise, ID Climate Information

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High (°F)	36	44	53	62	71	80	90	88	78	65	48	38
Avg. Low (°F)	22	27	31	37	44	52	58	57	48	39	30	23
Rec. High (°F)	63	70	81	92	98	105	111	110	101	94	74	65
Rec. Low (°F)	-17	-15	6	19	22	31	35	34	23	11	-3	-25
Rainfall (in)	1.4	1.1	1.2	1.2	1.2	0.9	0.3	0.3	0.6	0.7	1.4	1.4

Boise experiences a four-season climate, along with an average of 12 inches of rain and 22 inches of snow per year. The city’s coldest month is January, which brings an average high of 36°F and an average low of 22°F, while an average high of 90°F and an average low of 58°F makes July Boise’s warmest month. Precipitation is nearly evenly spread throughout the year. Visitors flock to Boise year-round, thanks to its variety of outdoor recreation, ranging from skiing to boating.

Meeting Planning in Boise, ID

Boise Centre

Nestled in the heart of downtown Boise and steps from hotels, restaurants and entertainment, the Boise Centre offers 50,000 square feet of exhibition and meeting space, as well as striking views of the Boise River and Boise National Forest. Hosting more than 300 events and 200,000 guests annually, the Boise Centre houses a 25,000-square-foot ballroom, 10,000 square feet of pre-function space, 350-seat auditorium and up to 20 meeting rooms housing 20 to 2,900 delegates. Amenities include free facility-wide Wi-Fi, as well as catering, audio-visual and technology services. Conveniently surrounded by four parking garages, the center sits two blocks from the Boise River, within three blocks of 800 hotel rooms and adjacent to The Grove Plaza, a public plaza known for its entertainment.

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Boise, ID Airport Information

Boise Airport (BOI)

Approximate taxi fare: $18 USD

Situated within a 10-minute drive of downtown Boise and four miles from Boise Centre, Boise Airport provides nonstop service to destinations across the U.S. Nonstop destinations include Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Lewiston, Los Angeles, McCall/Salmon, Minneapolis, Oakland, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle and Spokane. The airport features food and beverage outlets, as well as news and gift shops and short- and long-term parking options. Passengers can stay connected on the go, thanks to free Wi-Fi throughout the airport. Boise Airport also houses the Snake River Conference Center, which features five conference rooms ranging from 294 to 1,800 square feet, accommodating 2 to 125 guests.

Airline carriers serving Boise Airport:

Alaska Airlines
Allegiant Air

Delta Air Lines
Southwest Airlines

United Airlines
US Airways

Boise, ID Ground Transportation

ValleyRide

ValleyRide provides fixed route bus service for Ada and Canyon Counties, which includes 16 routes in Boise and Garden City. Boise and Garden City routes run Monday through Friday from 5:15 AM to 6:45 PM, with some routes providing Saturday service from 7:45 AM to 6:45 PM. Passengers can access Boise Airport aboard Route 3, which runs Monday through Saturday. One-way fare is $1 per passenger, while one-day fare is $2 per passenger. Children under 6 ride free. Passengers can also purchase stored value cards and 31-day passes.

Greyhound

Greyhound operates a Boise station at 1212 West Bannock Street, as well as a bus stop at Boise Airport. The Boise station is open daily from 6 AM to noon and from 5 PM to midnight.

Rental Cars

Rental car companies represented at Boise Airport include Avis, Alamo, Budget, Enterprise, Dollar, Hertz, National and Thrifty.

Taxis

Visitors traveling to Boise via Boise Airport should expect to pay approximately $10 in taxi fare from the airport to the downtown area.

Distance To...

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Hailey, ID	95 mi	2 hr 41 min	6 hr 24 min	USD $678+
Pocatello, ID	188 mi	3 hr 36 min	3 hr 4 min	USD $634+
Elko, NV	193 mi	4 hr 40 min	3 hr 14 min	USD $686+
Lewiston, ID	195 mi	5 hr 14 min	50 min	USD $263+