Meeting Planner's Guide

Meeting planners who have experienced the extra-ordinary cooperation and support while conducting an event here agree that HUNTSVILLE MAKES IT HAPPEN. Whether your event involves 50 people or 10,000, the Convention & Visitiors Bureau, participating hotels and attractions work diligently to make your event a success.

CONVENTION SERVICES
Make It Happen Economically

The assurance that “Huntsville Makes It Happen” begins during your planning process and carries through to the post evaluation process. In between are numerous complimentary services, including a housing bureau, registration assistance, welcome letters and media coverage assistance.

COMPLIMENTARY SERVICES:

• On-line Housing Bureau. The Convention & Visitors Bureau partners with PassKey Systems, the industry leader, for real-time hotel reservations at no cost to the planner or participant.
  
  
• Tour/Event Planning. Huntsville offers a wealth of on- and off-site venues to suit every occasion. Your delegates may want to go shopping, enjoy an evening at the theater or tour the Historic District. The Convention Sales Manager assigned to your event and the Convention Services Manager will work the details after you make the decisions.
  
  
• Registration Assistance. Our friendly and experienced registration assistants make your delegates feel welcome. The service is based on the number of overnight guest-room accommodations used by convention attendees.
  
  
• Name Badges. The Convention Bureau provides laser-printed name badges complimentary for 300 or more guest rooms used by convention delegates when we receive a typed or computer-generated list two weeks prior to the move-in date. These services are provided otherwise for a nominal fee.
  
  
• Welcome Letters. Upon request, the Bureau will provide “Welcome Delegate” from the mayor, chairman of the county commission and the bureau’s executive director. Print them in your program so attendees will realize the meeting planner’s “clout.”
  
  
• Speakers and entertainment. We will be happy to provide a list of speakers available in the area, as well as other entertainment venues and charter bus services.
  
  
• “Welcome” packet for attendees includes the Official Visitors Guide, U.S. Space & Rocket Center brochure, Dining Guide, maps and much more!
  
  
• Welcome bag or envelope provided for local brochures.
  
  
• A 10-foot “Welcome to Huntsville” banner is ideal for registration area. The message is clear that Huntsville’s hospitality industry is happy your delegates are here.
  
  
• Media Assistance. You simply provide the Convention Bureau with a synopsis of your meeting details and we’ll distribute it to the local media. Your release should include the organization’s name, meeting name, location, dates, speakers’ names and any other pertinent information that demonstrates how interesting your event really is.

Von Braun Center

The Von Braun Center has more than 170,000 square feet of flexible meeting and exhibit space to accommodate your convention and meeting requirements.

The South Hall provides more than 100,000 square feet of contigious space with 35-foot ceilings and 82,000 square feet of column free exhibit space. The hall has meeting rooms and a 20,000-square-foot pre-function lobby over a 500-space covered parking garage. The North Hall is an attractive 23,000-square-foot banquet hall that accommodates up to 1,800 for a seated meal function. On-premises catering makes it easy, too. Additional meeting rooms and a smaller exhibit hall provide numerous options for break-outs and exhibits.

The convention center is conveniently located just off Interstate 565 and is a 15-minute drive from the Huntsville International Airport. The convention center overlooks beautiful Big Spring Park and a ring of mountains that flank Downtown Huntsville.

The multi-purpose facility is equipped to accommodate major concerts, touring Broadway shows, ballets, concerts and performances of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. The 9,150-seat Arena, a 2,153-seat Concert Hall and a 502-seat Playhouse Theater are available for conferences and seminars.

The turn-key facility is managed by a team of experienced professionals who guarantee success. For additional information, contact the Marketing Department at 256-533-1953. The website is www.vonbrauncenter.com.

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Space sizes at a glance... South Hall 100,000 sq ft North Hall 23,000 sq ft Arena 21,624 sq ft 9,150 seats Exhibit Hall 26,000 sq ft Concert Hall 2,153 seats Playhouse 502 seats

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