Little Rock, AR

Key Highlights

Hotels 215
Total Sleeping Rooms 17,151
Committable Meeting Rooms* 4
Largest Exhibit Space 82,892 Sq. Ft.
Largest Ballroom 28,000 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate USD $86
Average Daily Meal Cost USD $61
Average Weekly Car Rental USD $279
*Maximum for a single hotel
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Little Rock, AR Meeting Planning Overview

Warm Southern hospitality, affordability and accessibility are just a few of the reasons Little Rock is popular with meeting planners and its over 5.4 million annual visitors. Centrally located on two fronts, Little Rock is situated in the geographic center of the state and country. By car, Little Rock is less than two hours from Memphis, five hours from Dallas and less than eight hours from Atlanta, St. Louis and New Orleans. For those traveling by plane, this sunbelt city is just as convenient. Little Rock National Airport offers approximately 90 flights per day.

Once in the city, planners are greeted by over 6,000 hotel rooms that can meet any price point. In fact, over 1,300 rooms are conveniently found within a five-block radius of the city's convention centers, the Statehouse Convention Center and the Robinson Center. Situated in Little Rock's charming Statehouse Plaza, the Statehouse Convention Center features approximately 220,000 square feet of space. With an 18,000-square-foot ballroom and four multi-use foyers, this sleek center is an ideal choice for both tradeshows and pre- and post-event affairs.

Just steps away from the Statehouse Convention Center, the prestigious Robinson Center Music Hall is Little Rock's premier performance facility. The hall has hosted such legendary acts as Willie Nelson, Bill Cosby and the Black Crows and is home to the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and the Broadway Theater Series. Featuring 14,867 square feet of exhibit space along with seven versatile meeting rooms, the Robinson Center is one of the most perfect Little Rock event venues for award ceremonies, general sessions, presentations and special programs.

For memorable meetings, Little Rock's cityscape also boasts a number of exciting venues. Masterpieces by Jackson Pollock and Georgia O'Keefe make a stunning backdrop for events held at the Arkansas Art Center. Or get outdoors at the popular River Market Pavilions, which offer function space for up to 1,000 people. For top-notch cuisine in an elegant setting, the private room at the highly lauded 1620 Restaurant invites guests to relax for an evening of fine food and networking.

Several major corporations are headquartered in Little Rock including Alltel, Dillard's Department Stores, Windstream Communications and Acxiom. In addition, the city is home to several large companies including Metropolitan National Bank, Rose Law Firm, Central Flying Service and Stephens, Inc. The city is also home to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

About Little Rock, AR / Additional Info

Spanning 105.4 square miles, Little Rock is the state capital and most populous city in Arkansas. Nestled along the banks of the Arkansas River in the geographic center of the state, Little Rock is home to approximately 184,055 people. Meanwhile, its entire metropolitan area, which extends across six counties, is home to approximately 666,401 people. Widely considered Arkansas' historic, economic and cultural center, Little Rock combines distinctive local flavor with historic sites, inviting attractions and stunning surroundings.

Named "La Petite Roche" by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe in 1722, Little Rock was once a well-traveled river crossing. The city became the seat of territorial government in 1821 and later the state capital in 1836. The city truly took center stage, though, during the United States Civil Rights Movement in 1957. It was then that Little Rock made global news as federal troops were sent to the city to enforce a U.S. Supreme Court ruling against segregation in public schools.

Today, a patchwork of historic neighborhoods preserve the city's storied past. Just a short walk from downtown Little Rock's bustling River Market District, visitors find the elegant Quapaw Quarter. Made up of nine square miles of lovingly restored antebellum and Victorian homes, Quapaw invites guests to explore sites such as the antebellum Pike-Fletcher-Terry House, the ornate 19th century Empress Hotel or the magnificent 1843 Trapnall Hall. Quapaw Quarter is also home to the MacArthur Museum of Military History and the Old State House Museum, the oldest surviving state capitol west of the Mississippi River.

Little Rock, known to locals as simply "The Rock," does offer its fair share of historic attractions, but it's far from behind the times. Little Rock has connected past and present with modern attractions such as the new William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park. The nation's newest and most sophisticated presidential library, the center offers an intriguing look at turn-of-the-century American history and features an exact replica of the Oval Office and Cabinet Room. Little Rock has also stayed ahead of the curve when it comes to the environment. It's even home to one of the greenest buildings in the nation, the Heifer International Center Green Building, which guests can tour during the week.

When night falls, visitors can get a true taste of the city's distinctive flavors at one of its many phenomenal restaurants. From fresh catfish and barbecue to Southern comfort fare, guests will not want to miss out on all of the regional specialties Little Rock has to offer. Sit down for an elegant meal of sumptuous seafood at 1620 Restaurant, or enjoy the riverfront views of the highly-lauded Brave New Restaurant. After dinner, visitors can catch a show, enjoy the sounds of the symphony, or simply listen to live music emanating from the many piano bars, dance clubs and pubs in the River Market District. After just one day, guests are quick to see why Little Rock has big appeal.

 
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