welcome to
surprisingville! maybe we should call it
It’s something we hear over and over. People come to Greenville for the first time, and they can’t believe what they find. Reactions like “I had no idea!” and “I was blown away!” are quickly followed by “How have you guys kept this place such a secret?” And the simple truth is, we haven’t. From magazines like Fortune, Money and Forbes to organizations like the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Greenville, South Carolina has received nearly every accolade and made nearly every Top 10 list imaginable. And yet, people are still surprised. By our unique blend of timeless southern charm and unexpectedly cosmopolitan cool. By a thriving, energized downtown that takes you back in time as it welcomes you into the future. By a community that’s as driven by its passion for the arts as it is by its growing reputation as a hotbed for international enterprise. By a collection of natural attractions and amenities as long as your arm and all at your fingertips. So admit it – you’re surprised. Surprised by all that Greenville has to offer. And surprised that it just might be your next destination.
let us introduce you to
they’vegoteverythingville! It all starts in the heart of downtown Greenville. That’s where you’ll find and feel the pulse of this town best. Start with a stroll down our award-winning Main Street. This is a walking city, and step by step you’ll begin to get the very real sense that this is not like any other place you’ve visited. Maybe it will be when you cruise through the one-of-a-kind boutiques and shops. Or when you step out onto Liberty Bridge at Falls Park and gaze down at the 30-foot waterfalls below. Maybe it’ll be when you step inside Fluor Field, the Fenway Park replica
that anchors our revitalized West End. Somewhere along the way, you’ll come to realize that the quaint southern charm remains alive and well – smiles and waves and friendly greetings will meet you at every turn. That’d be enough for most places, but it’s just the start here. Lined with pocket parks, art sculptures and an incredibly diverse collection of restaurants, the downtown is a magnet for residents and guests alike 7 days a week. Busy and bustling, but as approachable as a backyard barbecue. And that may be the magic of Greenville.
you’re going to love
it’sallrighthere allrighthereville! It’s all here. The ingredients that make it a great place to live – from the warm climate and more than 220 days of sunshine each year to the clean, safe and welcoming nature of the place – are the same ones that make Greenville a great place to host a meeting, convention, tradeshow or sporting event. It’s a place where the charms and grace, ease and pace of a small southern city are charged with the kinetic energy and cosmopolitan verve of contemporary urban life – and it all works well. Really, really well.
there’ssomuchtodo somuchtodoville! ville! One remarkable thing about Greenville is how much is packed into a destination its size. In a place that could rely solely on natural beauty and outdoor amenities to inspire visitation, you’ll find countless cultural attractions and artistic expressions. It’s home to more than 600 restaurants featuring world-class chefs who’ve created a delightfully diverse and eclectic dining scene. Classical concerts, ballets and musicals keep The Peace Center for the Performing Arts hopping, while the BI-LO Center welcomes major concerts and sporting events. Heritage Green is an urban arts and cultural campus that comprises four museums – The Upcountry History Museum, Bob Jones Museum & Gallery, The Children’s Museum
of the Upstate, and the Greenville County Museum of Art which houses one of the world’s most extensive Andrew Wyeth collections. The Fenway Park-inspired Fluor Field anchors the city’s West End as the home of the Single A Greenville Drive baseball team. And 20 minutes from downtown, the BMW Performance Center dares you to test the limits of “The Ultimate Driving Machine.” For every shop and one-of-a-kind boutique, you’ll find a fabulous hiking trail, scenic overlook or activity-filled park. For every café and coffee shop, you’ll discover an outdoor sculpture to admire or historic site to explore. From the Farmer’s Market to a fast-paced trip down a white water river, the greater Greenville area has it all. And more.
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the scenic northwest corner of South Carolina’s Upstate region, Greenville is as easy on the eyes as it is easy to get to. We’re centrally located between Atlanta and Charlotte 900 on I-85, with excellent interstate accessMILES from every direction. Air travel to Greenville has never been easier, with carriers like Southwest, Delta, US Airways, United and American Airlines offering frequent daily service into conveniently located Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP). In fact, the only things flying into Greenville faster than the commercial jets are the accolades, including GSP being named the nation’s 7th most user-friendly small airport by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler.
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it’sinjusttherightspotville! And yes, you can get there from here. You’ll find more than 77 daily direct flights to 18 major markets, including: • Orlando • Atlanta • Nashville • New York • Philadelphia • Washington, DC • Newark • Houston • Dallas • Chicago …and more. • Detroit
they’vegottheperfectplaceville! So now that you’ve begun to consider the idea of coming to Greenville, it’s time to make sure you’ll find the facilities you need to have a successful visit. Time to get to know the business side of this place. From corporate and sporting events to tradeshows, conferences and conventions of every size and type, Greenville is good to go. We offer a tremendous variety of venues from large to small – from hotels with flexible meetings facilities to one of the largest convention centers in the Southeast. TD Convention Center With 280,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space and 60,000 square feet of meeting, ballroom and conference space, there’s almost nothing this facility
can’t handle. And on the heels of a $22 million renovation, it can do it in style. Managed by SMG, the TD Convention Center offers configurability and award-winning catering. BI-LO Center This versatile state-of-the-art sports and entertainment complex seats up to 15,000 and is just steps from downtown restaurants, shops and hotels. The Peace Center for the Performing Arts Greenville’s premier performance center has just received a stunning facelift and provides two terrific venues: the 2,100 seat Concert Hall and the more intimate 400+ seat Gunter Theatre. Both are well appointed and available for groups.
We know that to really enjoy everything Greenville has to offer, you need to get a good night’s rest. The good news is that you’ll find more than 8,500 hotel rooms throughout the Greenville area, with the majority being located in convenient clusters. The better news is, we’ve got an incredible variety of accommodations to choose from. No matter what your needs or tastes, your sweetest hospitality dreams just came true.
• Nationally recognized full-service properties including the Westin Poinsett, Hyatt Regency, Hilton, Marriott, Embassy Suites Golf Resort and Conference Center and the Crowne Plaza. • A range of select-service hotels including Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Riverplace, Hampton Inn Greenville Woodruff, Courtyard by Marriott Downtown or GSP Airport, Holiday Inn Express Hotels & Suites Downtown and Fairfield Inn by Marriott GSP – to name a few. • To locally owned and operated inns like The Phoenix Greenville’s Inn.
isleptlikeababyville!
incrediblyaffordableville! incrediblyaffordableville! The advantages of coming to Greenville just keep adding up, especially when it comes to your bottom line. We’ve been named a “Top 20 Best Bang For Your Buck Cities in America” by Forbes Magazine, “America’s Least Costly Mid-Sized City for
Business” by KPMG, and our accommodation taxes are among the lowest in the country. That adds up to you and your attendees’ money going a whole lot further in hotels, restaurants, shops and facilities of every kind throughout the greater Greenville area.
takingcareofbusinessville! Greenville isn’t just a great place to visit; it’s an affordable place to do business. Leading global corporations like Michelin, BMW, Fluor, GE, 3M, Honeywell, Lockheed, Milliken, Bosch, GlaxoSmithKline, W.W. Grainger and many others have chosen Greenville as their home, and that list keeps growing for good reasons. This is a great place to live, a great place to work, a great place
to raise a family. It’s also an area that’s home to a number of distinguished research institutions, colleges and universities. All of that means you’ll have access to some terrific speakers and presenters for your meeting, conference or convention. And we’d be glad to help you identify those people and their services – anything it takes to help make your event a success.
theycouldn’tbefriendlierville! Southern hospitality is one of those things that has to be experienced to be appreciated, and Greenville feels like the place where it all began. You’ll feel it when you stroll down Main Street in downtown Greenville, the very real sense that this place is not like other cities and that southern charm remains alive and well in the shadows of the foothills. It’s in the genuine smiles
and friendly greetings that will meet you at every turn. From hoteliers and restaurateurs to folks you meet on Main Street to hosts at venues and attractions throughout the region – everywhere you look and everyone you meet will make you feel welcome, make you feel safe and make it clear that we’re glad you’re here.
itwasaseasyaspecanpieville! We know that executing a successful event isn’t something you can do alone. At the greater Greenville Convention & Visitors Bureau, we’re committed to
your sucess. Whatever you need, we’ll help you make it happen. Our professional and experienced staff has one job: make it as easy as possible for you to do yours.
ithinki’mgonnacallthemville! To learn more about everything Greenville, South Carolina has to offer, call the greater Greenville Convention & Visitors Bureau at 864.421.0000. It would be our pleasure to share our story and hear
about your specific needs. We invite you to come visit and see for yourself why everyone’s talking about Greenville. Give us a call or visit us online at GreenvilleCVB.com.
For years, Greenville, SC was one of America’s best-kept secrets. Now we’re simply one of its best-loved cities. “Top Ten Downtowns in America” – Forbes Magazine “Top 10 Great Streets in America” – American Planning Association
148 River Street, Suite 222 Greenville, SC 29601 800.351.7180 • 864.421.0000 meet@greenvillecvb.com www.GreenvilleCVB.com
“Top 10 Most Affordable Cities in America” – Relocate America
theysuresaynicethingsville! theysuresaynicethingsville! “Top 20 Best Bang For Your Buck Cities in America” – Forbes Magazine “America’s Least Costly Mid-Sized City for Business” – KPMG “Great American Main Street” – National Trust for Historic Preservation “Urban Open Space Award Finalist” – Urban Land Institute “Top Five Places to Retire” – Fortune Magazine “The 15 Best Cities For Young Adults” – Forbes Magazine “South Carolina’s City of The Arts” – Southern Living Magazine “7th Most User-Friendly Small Airports in The Nation” – Condé Nast Traveler “Top 20 Healthy Housing Markets” – Builder Magazine