Experience Little Rock in Color Meeting Planner Guide

EXPERIENCE LITTLE ROCK IN COLOR

Testament: The Little Rock Nine Monument

HISTORY

Little Rock is no stranger to the changing tide of history and its power to shape a community. When most people think of Little Rock, they think of Central High School and the desegregation crisis of 1957, and they do so for good reason. The story of the Little Rock Nine is one of courage in the face of fear and righteousness in the wake of hate; a story that still, to this day, guides our city on the path to justice.

But our history didn’t begin in 1957, nor did our progress stop there. We reflect on the ways our Black residents have helped shape our community into the modern and thriving city it is.

Today, Little Rock’s historic civil rights sites are a backbone of the community. Six sites, including Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, are included on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. They dot the city, offering tangible connections to the past. Little Rock’s dining scene, widely acclaimed as one of the best in the South, is pillared by a bevy of Black-owned restaurants that can trace their history of service back not just decades but generations. Most notable of these is the Lassis Inn, the James Beard Award-winning restaurant where guests can sit in the same booths as the students who first desegregated Central High School.

In 2010, Little Rock became a majority-minority city, a trend that is reflected at all levels of city leadership. Little Rock now has a more diverse slate of elected leaders than at any time. From the indigenous Caddo, Osage, and Quapaw peoples to today, Little Rock is a city built on the intersection of our shared histories, and together those histories form the foundation of our community – a community that is the perfect place to host your next meeting.

CULTURE

Walking through Little Rock is like strolling through history. From the grounds of the Central High School National Historic Site, where you can follow the footsteps of the bravest Arkansans, to the Historic Arkansas Museum where the traditions of the Quapaw, Osage and Caddo peoples are celebrated, we strive to keep our history in the forefront and to let it guide us in the present. Sites like the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum chronicle the spread of social justice around the globe, while, just a few blocks away, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center keeps alive the memory of the Black men and women who helped build Little Rock from the ground up. But we also know that, while history must never be forgotten, it must be remembered in the correct context. That’s why, in June 2020, the City of Little Rock removed all Confederate statues and memorials from city parks.

The diverse population that calls Little Rock home helps make it a progressive destination full of things to do for all walks of life. No matter when you visit Little Rock, you’ll find our diversity being celebrated at any number of attractions, museums, festivals and more.

William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum

EXPERIENCE

Little Rock is a city that’s built for meetings, and the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau’s full-service convention center and dedicated support staff are committed to your organization’s success.

DON’T BELIEVE US? ASK OUR FRIENDS:

PAST HOSTING EXPERIENCE:

I have a great affinity for Little Rock. When we were here in 2008 for our Conclave, I remember standing on the street looking for somewhere to eat. A gentleman walking by asked what had brought us to town, and we explained to him that we were there for a convention. He told us about a barbecue place that was a couple of miles up the road, but I told him that since we didn’t drive that might not work for us.

Before I knew it, he gave me his keys and told me to take his truck and bring it back when I was done. It was one of the wildest experiences I ever had, but it just shows the hospitality and the warmth of the people that are here in Little Rock. Little Rock just felt like home.

- James ‘Scrappy’ Jordan International Site Selection Chair, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

LEADERSHIP

FRANK SCOTT JR., MAYOR

Little Rock voters made history in 2018 when they selected pastor Frank Scott Jr. as the city’s 73rd mayor and the city’s first elected Black mayor.

BRUCE T. MOORE, CITY MANAGER

Little Rock’s city manager since 2002, Bruce is the Chief Administrative Officer of the City of Little Rock, overseeing almost 2,500 employees and administering a budget of more than $220 million.

DELPHONE D. HUBBARD, FIRE CHIEF

Chief Hubbard has led the Little Rock Fire Department since 2018, ensuring that it not only maintains its national accreditation but its prestigious ISO Class One rating.

VIRGIL MILLER, CITY DIRECTOR WARD 1

Director Miller joined the Board of Directors in 2021 after spending more than 45 years in the finance industry.

KEN RICHARDSON, CITY DIRECTOR WARD 2

A nationally recognized expert in youth violence prevention, Director Richardson has been on the Little Rock Board of Directors since 2007.

ANDREA HOGAN LEWIS, CITY DIRECTOR WARD 6

Serving as an Assistant Vice President and CRA Officer of First Security Bank, Director Lewis is dedicated to spreading financial literacy across local school districts and communities.

ANTWAN PHILLIPS, CITY DIRECTOR POSITION 9

A lawyer and adjunct faculty member at the University of Arkansas Little Rock’s Bowen School of Law, Director Phillips was elected in 2020.

When Arkansas native Maya Angelou said that there was strength in diversity, Little Rock listened. Our city leaders — both appointed and elected — truly reflect the makeup of our city.

LINDA CHESTERFIELD, STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 12

Senator Chesterfield is a retired educator and a leader of the Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus.

FRED LOVE, STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 15

Senator Love is the vice chair of City, County, and Local Affairs Committee and is the ranking committee member on the House Public Health, Welfare & Labor Committee.

JAMIE SCOTT, STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 72

Representative Scott serves on the House Judiciary Committee and the House State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee.

FRED ALLEN, STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 77

Before entering Arkansas state politics, Representative Allen worked as a Parole Commissioner with the Arkansas State Post Prison Transfer Board. He also served as a planning commissioner with the City of Little Rock.

TARA SHEPHARD, STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 79

Former Little Rock School Board member, Representative Shephard serves on the House Public Transportation Committee and the House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee.

DENISE ENNETT, STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 80

Representative Ennett serves on the Board of Directors for the Historic Arkansas Museum Foundation and Preserve Arkansas. She also serves on the City of Little Rock Arts and Cultural Commission.

HERBERT “GEESE” AUSBIE

Known as the “Clown Prince of Basketball,” Ausbie was a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, touring more than 100 countries over 24 years.

RESIDENTS OF NOTE

KORTO MOMOLU

Known for her appearance on season five of the hit show “Project Runway,” Momolu’s designs are now sold all over the world, including right here in Little Rock.

COMMITMENT

WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE FOLLOWING SHARED VALUES:

Understanding what equity is and acknowledging that not all people have the same starting point.

Being open to new ideas and information in regard to equity and to what we as an organization must do when we make a mistake.

Working to make sure that our intent is in lockstep with the outcomes of our efforts.

Little Rock is a city made of people of different ages, races, ethnicities, levels of ability, sexual orientations, gender identities, religions and socio-economic statuses, and we are at our best when these diversities are given light to show the full spectrum of our home. We recognize that diversity is a strength and a unifier, not a divider. To that end, the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau is committed to ensuring that Little Rock is a destination that is welcoming and open to all who seek to come here.

Our work reinforces what we know to be true about our city: that Little Rock is a place where all people should have equal access to the opportunity and promise of our city. We understand that not all visitors to our city have traveled the same road, but our commitment to equity ensures that everyone will have equal access to the promise of Little Rock: a warm, inviting and diverse city that is full of surprises.

LOTTIE H. SHACKELFORD

The first woman to serve as mayor of Little Rock, Shackelford was also the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee for 20 years.

The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB) is in a near constant state of growth when it comes to understanding the complex and intersectional identities of our visitors. We seek to remove as many barriers to travel as possible from the path of anyone who would like to visit Little Rock. Through this process we’re able to build a stronger, more diverse and more welcoming destination.

We also know that diversity and inclusion can’t just be buzzwords, and the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau knows that to better serve you and our city, we have to better ourselves. These are the steps LRCVB is taking to become our best selves:

• Conducting mandatory implicit/unconscious bias training for all employees.

• Distributing an equity, diversity and inclusion staff survey to better understand our employees’ thoughts and feelings related to these topics and identify areas of needed improvement.

• Expanding our recruitment practices to explicitly reach Black Indigenous Person of Color.

• Creating a workforce development plan to expose more minority communities to the career possibilities and leadership roles within our industry.

• Promoting the importance of voting to all staff and providing additional paid time off on primary and general election days to allow individuals enough time to exercise this right.

• Increasing our marketing assets and direct messaging efforts to minority travelers.

• Expanding our work with national minority travel groups and meeting professionals on convention marketing efforts.

One Meeting, AND you’LL be big on Little ROck.

Here in Little Rock, we know that everyone has different things they’re looking for in a meeting destination. But if you’re looking for a place that offers the perfect combination of accessibility, walkability, and affordability, you won’t find a warmer welcome anywhere.

Your attendees are sure to enjoy the Little Rock experience. Our city of more than 200,000, with a metro population of nearly 750,000, mixes classic southern hospitality with the right amount of hipness. Attendees can spill out of meetings and discover plenty of fun things to see and do, including the impressive cultural landmarks like the Clinton Presidential Library & Museum and the Old State House Museum, along with abundant nightlife, vibrant arts, a dynamic dining scene and more.

CONVENIENT ACCESS

It’s not just easy to get here. It’s REALLY easy to get here. The Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, which serves more than 2.2 million passengers a year, is less than 10 minutes from downtown and the Statehouse Convention Center. Multiple interstates intersect in Little Rock, making us just a day’s drive for 40% of Americans. The city is also served by bus and Amtrak routes.

DESTINATION SERVICES

In Little Rock, we are big on meetings. That’s why the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau has a team of professionals dedicated to hosting your event successfully. The LRCVB team is your one-stop-shop for everything you might need. We handle tasks big, small, and in between, from site selection to attendance building to on-site convention services. Our team anticipates your needs and exceeds your expectations so you can focus on your attendees while we serve as your liaison to the city.

Little Rock’s downtown meeting facilities anchor the vibrant River Market District, one of the city’s most exciting neighborhoods. The district is nestled on the bank of the Arkansas River and is home to fantastic restaurants, boutique shopping, multiple hotels, and the sprawling Riverfront Park. It’s the epicenter of Little Rock’s nightlife allowing you to plan a meeting that lets your attendees enjoy the best of Little Rock without needing a car.

STATEHOUSE

18,362

Connected

ROBINSON

2,222 seat performance hall

25,000 total SQ. FT. meeting space

7,135 SQ. FT. ballroom

5,477 SQ. FT outdoor terrace

Connected to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Little Rock (15,000 SQ. FT. meeting space – 288 guest rooms)

HOTELS WITH 5,000+ SQ. FT.

With more than 7,000 hotel rooms throughout the city, Little Rock provides meeting planners a variety of meeting and lodging options.

Little Rock is a city built for success. That’s why so many organizations that are dedicated to strengthening minority businesses and empowering families and communities are headquartered in Little Rock.

Here are a few of those organizations, many of which have gained national recognition from their prospective networks.