Hattiesburg

Home to the University of Southern Mississippi and Camp Shelby (a major training site for National Guard and Reserve units), Hattiesburg attracts small and medium-sized groups that relish its small-town atmosphere and big-city amenities. Meeting venues in Hattiesburg feature ease and value.

Nicknamed "Hub City," Hattiesburg is situated at the intersection of Mississippi's major highways and Interstate 59. It is less than 100 miles from Jackson, Biloxi and Gulfport, Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana. Situated in the southeastern part of the state, Hattiesburg is located 8 miles from Laurel Regional Airport, which has commercial service provided by Delta Airlines.

The 68,550-square-foot Lake Terrace Convention Center is one of the larger event venues in Hattiesburg; set in a 32-acre park, the facility features a 14,755-square-foot exhibit hall, a hospitality suite overlooking the exhibit floor and four pre-function areas, a 41,340-square-foot outdoor exhibition area, seven meeting rooms and a conference room.

Hotel venues in Hattiesburg include the 154-room Hampton Inn Hattiesburg, with 1,000 square feet of meeting space; the 119-room Inn on the Hill, with 4,000 square feet of meeting space; and the 90-room Hilton Garden Inn Hattiesburg with 2,000 square feet of meeting space.

For special event venues, popular possibilities include the Thad Cochran Center at the University of Southern Mississippi, which has a grand ballroom that can accommodate up to 900, 10 meeting rooms, two pre-function areas and a technology atrium; the Historic Train Depot in downtown, a newly renovated structure built in 1910 in the Italian Renaissance-style with 14,000 square feet of space ideal for receptions for up to 400; and the Forrest County Multipurpose Center, where a 2,500-seat arena is the draw for concerts and trade shows.

Exploring Hattiesburg's 23-block historic district and strolling through the All-American Rose Garden at the University of Southern Mississippi highlight the city's spouse program and activities menu. Other options include hiking the Longleaf Trace, a 41-mile recreational trail converted from an old abandoned railway, and boutique shopping at the Walnut Street Development in downtown.

Dining out is an art form in Hattiesburg, which has restaurants that offer everything from chicken-fried steak, smothered with gravy; to Japanese hibachi grilled steaks, in areas like downtown and Highway 49.