The Cvent Huntsville meeting planning guide is a comprehensive city guide for Huntsville meeting planning professionals. Known as "Jewel of the South," Huntsville's unique blend of Southern elegance and cosmopolitan attractions make it a prime destination for meetings and events. In fact, a host of lively events keep the approximately 2.5 million annual visitors to the city entertained year-round. Festivals such as the famous Big Spring Jam, one of the largest music festivals in the Southeast, and the Panoply Arts Festival, a three-day outdoor festival and Huntsville tradition for over 25 years, are just a few of the events representing Huntsville's accommodating spirit.
A reputation for lively events is only the beginning of Huntsville's allure for planners. Easily accessible by interstate highway, Huntsville is within a day's drive of one-quarter of the U.S. population. The city is only 90 minutes away from Nashville, Birmingham and Chattanooga and three to four hours away from Atlanta and Memphis. Visitors traveling by air find the Huntsville International Airport conveniently located just 12 miles from downtown. Offering approximately 80 flights per day on virtually all of the major carriers, the airport is a convenient way for travelers from all over to reach the city.
Just minutes away from the airport, the expansive Von Braun Center is Huntsville's premiere meetings facilities. Featuring over 170,000 square feet of meeting space, the center also boasts a 10,000-seat arena, 2,153-seat concert hall and the 502-seat Playhouse Theater - perfect for seminars and award ceremonies. In addition to catering services, event staffing, wireless Internet access and high-tech audio-visual equipment, the center offers accommodations at the connected Embassy Suites Hotel and at the Holiday Inn Downtown right next door.
Meeting space and lodging also combine at the Westin Huntsville, the first Westin in the state of Alabama. With 210 fully-appointed guest rooms, the hotel features a 7,972-square-foot ballroom and a 792-square-foot boardroom perfect for lively receptions or formal gatherings. Amenities such as flat-screen LCD televisions, high-speed Internet access and indoor and outdoor pools make the Westin Huntsville the perfect hotel for mixing business with pleasure.
Several unique Huntsville event venues are also on hand to give attendees a true Huntsville experience. Host a meeting amidst the masterpieces of the Huntsville Museum of Art or the flowering blooms of the Huntsville Botanical Gardens. Dine under the massive Saturn V rocket at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, which can accommodate events of up to 4,000 people. Or, get in touch with Alabama's roots with an event at Alabama Constitution Village. Up to 200 people can mingle at its Grand Hall, while large events of up to 1,000 people can be held at its Roundhouse.
Huntsville's economy is deeply rooted in defense and aerospace technology, though in recent years, the city has diversified into the fields of biotechnology, manufacturing, telecommunications, electronics and IT development. Several high profile companies are headquartered in Huntsville including ADTRAN, Intergraph, Avocent, Deltacom, Inc., and Cinram. In addition, several colleges and universities call the city home including Alabama A&M University, University of Alabama in Huntsville and Oakwood University.
