Nestled on the Mississippi River in west-central Illinois, Quincy truly lives up to its nickname of "Gem City." Quincy has been racking up accolades, including two All-American City Awards from the National Civic League and recognition as the "Eighth Best Small City to Raise a Family" by Forbes magazine in 2010. Meeting and convention planners are taking note of Quincy's appeal. The city has over 1,500 hotel rooms, an expansive convention center and over 25 unique venues, all in an affordable package. And with Quincy event venues ranging from historic mansions to sunny parks, this city will aim to satisfy any group's needs and budgets.
Groups can fly into Quincy Regional Airport (UIN), which is served by American Airlines subsidiary, Cape Air.
Among popular Quincy event venues is the Oakley Lindsay Center. Its McLain-Kent Hall has 30,000 square feet of column-free event space that can accommodate up to 3,500 people or 165 10-foot-by-10-foot booths. The moderately-sized Lindsay Room and Oakley Room can seat 125 guests or 75 guests, respectively. The center also has a 500-seat theater, home to the active Quincy Community Theatre group. When not being used for musicals, comedies, dramas or workshops, the theater is available for rent and has state-of-the-art sound, lighting and staging equipment available. The Oakley Lindsay Center also has a spacious, well-lit lobby with terrazzo flooring, perfect for welcome receptions or cocktail functions of 125 people. Hotels with meeting space include the 121-room Days Inn Quincy, which has 10,000 square feet of space.
Downtown Quincy event venues include the former State Theater, which has been transformed into the sophisticated State Room that can host over 200 guests. With soft lighting, warm tones and polished floors, this chic downtown venue is perfect for corporate dinners and cocktail receptions. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the one-of-a-kind Villa Kathrine is modeled after the Villa ben Ahben in Morocco; it features gorgeous Mediterranean architecture that makes a great backdrop for cocktail parties and galas. For more casual affairs, head to Berrian Park, Kesler Park, Madison Park or one of the many other Quincy area park facilities that have private picnic shelters.
For social events and cocktail mixers, dining venues in Quincy are the perfect way to regroup and relax. The self-proclaimed only place to find authentic Italian fine dining in Quincy, Tiramisu has a banquet room for up to 70 people. With two private rooms seating 15 to 75 people, Martinis at 515 is a fabulous spot to kick back after a long day in the boardroom. The Pier Restaurant is also an excellent fine dining spot in Quincy, offering room for 120 people in its banquet room overlooking the Mississippi River.
Photo by Flickr user: Herkie
