Raleigh, N.C., is a thriving Southern capital city shaped by the passionate minds of its residents. It is ingrained in their DNA—to make your visit, whether for business or pleasure, an authentic experience, one that emphasizes not only our world-class educational institutions, renowned research facilities and meeting venues but also our city’s cultural heartbeat.
Raleigh boasts hundreds of attractions and world-class museums, 1,000+ restaurants (many of which have elevated our culinary scene and their chefs to nationally known status) and a wealth of things to do. But to get the most from a visit here and a true sense of what North Carolina’s capital is about, you need to know about the class of smart, innovative people who call Raleigh home, people we call Raleigh Smart.
Raleigh Smart people are noteworthy because they begin with an idea…to make something new or improve on something old. And they add their own passion to bring it to life. Like Sarah and Victor Lytvinenko’s Raleigh Denim, hand-crafted from materials native to North Carolina. Or Sam and Starr Riatto’s Videri bean-to-bar chocolate. Or Dr. Emlyn Koster who is changing the way we look at science museum experiences by providing hands-on access to cutting-edge research at Raleigh’s Nature Research Center. The list of Raleigh-created innovative products and experiences goes on and on.
Factor in this creatively cool and entrepreneurial culture with the award-winning Silver LEED-certified Raleigh Convention Center, and planners can be assured that attendees have an enriching experience both inside and outside their meetings. The 500,000-sf, state-of-the-art convention center is just part of a convention campus that also includes the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, City Plaza and Red Hat Amphitheater.
These multifunction venues are located steps away from numerous unique offsite venues like the North Carolina Museum of History, which offers an introduction to the personalities and places that have impacted the state or nation, and the Merrimon-Wynne House with its stately Southern elegance.
Combine our variety of venues with 145 hotel options ranging from the Raleigh Marriott City Center and Sheraton Raleigh Hotel (just steps away from the Raleigh Convention Center) to the luxury Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond Umstead Hotel and Spa (which offers impeccable service with an emphasis on art and nature), and you’ll see why Raleigh is a smart choice for meetings and a great place for attendees to connect with friendly and inventive locals.
