Why Syracuse, New York? Recognized for outstanding hospitality and service to a wide variety of groups, Syracuse is a convenient Northeast location in the center of New York state — just a short drive from Niagara Falls, the Adirondacks, and NYC. Syracuse offers a variety of meeting spaces to fit any meeting need, from ballroom-size facilities to exhibition halls to breakout rooms, plus an abundance of accommodations to keep your attendees well-rested and happy. Diverse dining, picturesque lakes and parks, unparalleled shopping, and new entertainment options are just a sampling of what’s in store for leisure activities. You likely guessed the four reasons to choose Syracuse, but there’s a lot more to it, and we haven’t talked about our seasons yet!
- Location, location, location. Located in the heart of New York state, Syracuse offers an energizing urban experience paired with the tranquility of the picturesque Finger Lakes wine region, making it the perfect host city for your next meeting or event. Situated at the crossroads of two major interstates, Syracuse offers accessibility that attendees will love, whether it be by plane, train, or car (or even bike — having just launched Gotcha, an app-based bike-sharing program). Syracuse’s Hancock International Airport offers nonstop service to 20 cities, while Amtrak runs service to more than eight of New York's larger cities. Ridesharing is provided by Lyft and Uber, and it's a short drive to 10 major markets (including Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.).
- Where to meet? Syracuse not only boasts an amazing location, it also has the facilities to accommodate your event or meeting, including the SMG-managed Oncenter Convention Complex. With 200,000 square feet of meeting, theater, arena, and exhibition space, the Oncenter is home to award-winning chefs, international theater companies, the Syracuse Crunch, and the trophy-winning hockey team, and it recently hosted the 2018 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships. Other facilities in Syracuse include the New York State Fairgrounds, with its newly added Exposition Center (part of a $50 million restoration project), which provides 110,000 square feet of clear-span space. Our beautiful parks, the iconic Carrier Dome, a lakefront amphitheater, and the SRC arena also offer opportunities for unique events and sporting competitions, plus so much more.
- Let’s talk about the home away from home. Attendees will enjoy relaxing at award-winning hotels (including brands such as IHG, Hilton, and Marriott) after a busy day of attending meetings, being on the trade show floor, or taking in the sights, sounds, and tastes of Syracuse. There are 750 rooms in downtown Syracuse that support the Oncenter, with a total of 2,100 committable rooms within a 10-minute drive of our facilities. You’ll rest easy knowing your attendees are in good hands in Syracuse.
- What to do? Syracuse celebrates four unique seasons that provide endless indoor and outdoor possibilities — there is never a shortage of things to do! Visiting in the spring or summer? Be sure to stop by the Rosamond Gifford Zoo or explore the many unique parks, such as Green Lakes State Park, which is situated around two meromictic lakes and offers plenty of hiking, fishing, and swimming. Fall, meanwhile, is apple and winery season. Take in the views of the colorful foliage at Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards, voted the No. 1 apple orchard in the country by USA Today. Or sample the tastes of fall while on the Sip on Syracuse beverage trail, with both wineries and breweries on the map. In the winter, ice skate in historic Clinton Square and then warm up at Recess Coffee, which was recently named one of the Best Coffee Shops in All 50 States by Reader's Digest, or one of the many other locally owned coffee shops. Any time of year, you can delight in Syracuse’s diverse dining scene, with many establishments that have been featured on TV, or spend the day at Destiny USA, the largest shopping and entertainment center in New York state and the sixth-largest of its kind in the nation.
While we only just scratched the surface on our four reasons (there are so many more!) and four seasons (sorry, just four of those), we invite you to come and discover Syracuse for yourself.
