With state-of-the-art South Bend event venues, one of the most prestigious universities in the country and a welcoming community, it’s no surprise that South Bend, Indiana, sees over 650 major events each year. Located just a day’s drive from a third of the nation’s population and on the scenic St. Joseph River, the city is an easily accessible destination for planners looking to shake up the norm.
Thanks to the South Bend Airport, the state’s second-busiest airport, three Amtrak routes and a spot on Interstate 80/90, South Bend is easily accessible.
Located on an 11-acre riverfront park, the Century City Convention Center is chief among meeting venues in South Bend, with over 75,000 square feet of event space. The center also has two theaters, accommodating up to 750 and 200 people each, as well as 18 suites. Century City is connected to the luxurious 300-room DoubleTree by Hilton, which offers additional space in its 5,200-square-foot atrium and seven meeting rooms.
The DoubleTree has just a few of the more than 4,000 rooms in South Bend. Across the city, hotel venues in South Bend include the Hampton Inn & Suites and Hilton Garden Inn, which pair accommodations with top-notch event facilities. The brand-new Hyatt Place South Bend/Mishawaka has 121 rooms, complimentary Wi-Fi and meeting space for up to 50 guests. In addition to its convenient location in the heart of South Bend, the Magnuson Grand Hotel has a 3,700-square-foot ballroom, three boardrooms and two hospitality suites. Its on-site restaurant also has 600 square feet of private dining space.
No trip to South Bend would be complete without visiting the world-famous University of Notre Dame. Luckily for groups, the campus itself is home to a number of meeting facilities. The Notre Dame Conference Center, also known as McKenna Hall, has nearly 19,000 square feet of meeting space, or room for up to 600 people. Facilities include eight conference rooms, two boardrooms and an auditorium. South Bend meetings can also take advantage of the Morris Inn at Notre Dame, a full-service, on-campus hotel that has 92 rooms and several elegant banquet rooms.
Events in South Bend don’t need to be all work and no play. The city is home to numerous unique, exciting venues for after-hours receptions, dinners and other social functions. Home to local Indiana art and contemporary art from across the region, the South Bend Museum of Art is an elegant event venue with a great location – directly inside the convention center. Groups can dine among 70 classic cars at the Studebaker National Museum. Riverside Terrace, Knollwood Country Club and the College Football Hall of Fame also make for excellent event venues in South Bend.
