Waco CVB Meeting Planner Services by Waco & the Heart of Texas

WACO C O N V E N T I O N

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Meeting & Event Planner Guide W A C O

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MOST CENTRAL CONVENTION SITE The Waco Convention & Visitors Bureau is committed to helping make your Waco event a great success, from booking your event through the event itself. Our mission is to market Waco as a destination for conventions and events of all kinds. If your event requires Waco hotel rooms, let us go to work for you. We work with all facilities in town and are knowledgeable about what facility is best suited to your needs. Our services are free, and we can save you time and money. We offer local expertise, contacts, and an automated hotel rate quote system.

WHY CHOOSE WACO FOR YOUR EVENT? WACO IS LOCATED WITHIN A 3 HOUR DRIVE OF 80% OF THE POPULATION OF TEXAS WACO IS LOCATED JUST 90 MILES FROM DALLAS/FORT WORTH AND AUSTIN WE SPECIALIZE IN HOSTING GROUPS THAT RELY ON A STRONG TEXAS ATTENDANCE 4,000 HOTEL ROOMS IN THE MARKET 800 COMMITTABLE HOTEL ROOMS DEDICATED AND EXPERIENCED CONVENTION SALES AND SERVICE STAFF

VENUES FOR LARGE EVENTS W A C O

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C E N T E R wacocc.com

The Waco Convention Center was completely renovated in 2012 and hosts conventions ranging from 300 to 3,000 attendees. It is owned by the City of Waco. The Center is across the street from Indian Spring Park, the 1870 Suspension Bridge and the Brazos River. Attendees can walk across Franklin Avenue to enjoy 10 diverse restaurants and food trucks, as well as boutique shopping. Just six blocks away, attendees can enjoy Magnolia Market, which includes shopping, a bakery, food trucks, and lawn games. HIGHLIGHTS AND FEATURES:

Located 6 blocks from I-35 in downtown Waco

144,000 sq. ft. total footprint

Chisholm Hall - 32,976 sq. ft. exhibit hall, seats 1,472 at banquet rounds and 2,600

theater style

McLennan Hall - 15,000 sq. ft. hall, seats 680 at banquet rounds and 1,200 theater style

Brazos Ballroom, our signature 13,818 sq. ft. ballroom with a stunning view of the

1870 Suspension Bridge, bamboo hardwood floors, and built-in A/V. Seats 624 at

banquet rounds or 1,170 theater style

15 breakout rooms on the lower level, ranging from a board room seating 28, up

to a room seating 208 at banquet rounds

Free wireless internet (password protected)

In-house bar services

In-house catering services, or choose a caterer from our Approved Caterer list

900+ free parking spaces located on-street and in two adjacent parking lots

250 hotel rooms located adjacent to the Waco Convention Center

The Hilton Waco (196 rooms) is connected by a covered walkway Courtyard by Marriott (153 rooms) is directly across the street

THE WACO CONVENTION CENTER IS A GREAT PLACE FOR LARGE GROUP TRAINING. ITS PROXIMITY TO THE WACO HILTON AS WELL AS OTHER NEARBY HOTELS MADE OUR STAY VERY ACCESSIBLE. A TEAM OF TRUE PROFESSIONALS! -Kevin Harrington HOT Cooperative Special Ed Training

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C E N T E R extracoeventscenter.com

The Extraco Events Center, home of the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo, hosts over 225 events annually, with an attendance of 420,000. It is owned by McLennan County and operated by the Heart O’ Texas Fair Inc. HIGHLIGHTS AND FEATURES: 6,000 seat climate controlled Coliseum, expandable to 9,000 with seats on the arena floor. 24,000 sq. ft. Extraco Exhibits Building 14,000 sq. ft. Extraco Creative Arts Building Extraco Show Pavilion:

- Indoor climate controlled 125’ x 250’ arena with seating for 800

- An attached 125’ x 280’ covered arena

- 710 horse stalls Back Porch Club (club type venue) RV Parking and hookups Full catering and concession services

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McLane Stadium is owned by Baylor University and the City of Waco, and the facility is managed by SMG. It opened in 2014. The stadium features the Baylor Club, a dining and event space located on the stadium’s west side, operated by ClubCorp. The Baylor Club ballroom offers floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the field and panoramic views of the Brazos River and Waco. McLANE STADIUM mclanestadium.com Capacity of 45,140 spectators, expandable to 55,000. High-definition LED video board (5,029 sq. ft.) behind the south end zone. Located on the Brazos River, the stadium is accessible by boat and has an adjacent dock and cove. BAYLOR CLUB thebaylorclub.com

THE STAFF FEELS LIKE FAMILY AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE ULTIMATE PROFESSIONALS. THEY TOOK ON OUR EVENT LIKE IT WAS THEIR OWN, AND IT SHOWED.

Ballroom, Level 200 - featuring 40’ ceilings, views of downtown; accommodates 400 banquet style, 500 for a reception.

-Coleen Wall Baptist General Convention of Texas

Suite Lounge, Level 400 with 30’ floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown; seats 250 banquet or 350 reception style. North Lounge, Level 400. Capacity of 80 banquet style, or 110 reception. President’s Suite, the premier space at McLane Stadium. Features an outdoor balcony and gorgeous views of the football field, Baylor’s campus, and Downtown Waco. Capacity for 80 banquet or 150 for a reception. There are also two Private Suites (30 banquet each) and a Press Lounge (110 banquet).

COMPLIMENTARY SERVICES

FROM THE WACO CVB

Your own dedicated Convention Sales & Service representative to assist you from start to finish. Automated hotel rate quotes Written bid proposals with the full details you need to plan your event Assistance with booking any facility in town Assistance with finding local vendors, including caterers, florists, transportation, and decorators Free customized page on our website, listing your event’s hotel rates Waco site inspections for you and your board or committee

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES

FOR GROUPS OR SPOUSES

F R E E GROUP ITEMS

WACO VISITORS GUIDES, MAPS, AND COUPONS. CONVENTION BAGS FOR YOUR ATTENDEES PROMOTIONAL ITEMS AVAILABLE (WACO LAPEL PINS, PENS, ETC.) NAME TAG HOLDERS AND INSERTS

LOOKING FOR A NEW AND UNIQUE ACTIVITY? WACO HAS IT! 1

Guided tours for spouses or attendees from Waco Tours (waco-tours.com). Owned by Luke and Rachel Whyte and David Ridley, good friends whose homes were renovated on HGTV’s “Fixer Upper”. Their tours feature the hidden gems of Waco!

Rent the Waco Hippodrome, built in 1914, for a private screening or

BORROW OUR FULL-SIZED CUTOUT OF CHIP AND JOANNA GAINES FOR YOUR

presentation, with dinner served. Outdoor Patio - accommodates 120 people, with stage Orchestra - accommodates 206, with stage Balcony accommodates 138, with partition for privacy 3

A golf tournament at Cottonwood Creek Golf Course – they handle everything!

Kayak, canoe and paddle boarding on the Brazos River from Bicycle World, located at Franklin Ave. and University Parks Drive

A banquet on the historic Suspension Bridge, the oldest suspension bridge in Texas!

A shopping tour featuring Magnolia Market, The Findery, Show and Tell Antiques, and your choice of several other home décor and vintage shops.

Mountain bike and tandem bike rentals from Bicycle World.

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HELICOPTER TOURS OF WACO

BlueSky Helicopter Tours offers stunning views of Waco from the air. Group discounts are available.

ATTENDEES TO TAKE PHOTOS WITH, AS A MEMENTO OF THEIR

TRIP TO WACO!

AREA ATTRACTIONS M A G N O L I A

M A R K E T Owned by Chip and Joanna Gaines, this destination shopping market is visited by

over 1 million visitors each year. In addition to the Magnolia Market gifts and home goods store, visitors can enjoy food trucks, gardens and shaded picnic areas, outdoor lawn activities, a garden store, and Silos Baking Co. Ride the free trolley!

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Z O O A 52-acre, award-winning natural habitat zoo located within Cameron Park. The

Zoo showcases over 1,700 animals representing 300 species. Rentable areas for outdoor offsite events.

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M U S E U M Dedicated to the oldest law

enforcement agency in Texas. Knox Center seats up to 500 banquet and has fabulous views of the Brazos River and McLane Stadium.

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F A M E Nolan Ryan exhibit, Southwest Conference memorabilia,

and banquet space.

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Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885 and is one year older than Coke. Offers rentable areas. Cheack out the new Emerson Holt-Ted Getterman Gallery in the new wing!

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C O M P L E X Includes natural history, historic village, and interactive

learning rooms.

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M O N U M E N T Dig shelter featuring fossils of 6

Columbian mammoths and several other Ice Age animals. To date, 23 Mammoths have been discovered in this area.

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CafĂŠ Homestead, located within the village is the #1 rated restaurant in Waco, according to TripAdvisor!

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S U S P E N S I O N

B R I D G E The oldest in Texas.

W I N E R I E S / V I N E Y A R D S Waco Winery, Valley Mills Vineyards, Kissing Tree Vineyards. B A L C O N E S

D I S T I L L I N G Maker of award winning whiskys. Tours available through their website.

AREA RECREATION Cameron Park

Lake Waco & the Brazos River

Hawaiian Falls

Golf at 3 area courses

BSR Cable Park

Disc Golf Course

TRANSPORTATION Waco Regional Airport is serviced by American Airlines, flying to and from from D/FW airport Waco is located on I-35, 90 miles from Austin and Dallas/Fort Worth Highway 84 allows access from West Texas and Northeast Texas Highway 6 is the fastest route from Houston (about a 3 hour drive) In town, Waco is serviced by Yellow Cab and Uber Motorcoaches are available for rental through Echo Transportation

PARTNER HOTELS THESE HOTELS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN PROVIDING ROOM BLOCKS FOR CONVENTIONS AND EVENTS. WE CAN OBTAIN AUTOMATED RATE QUOTES FOR YOUR GROUP THROUGH OUR SOFTWARE SYSTEM AT NO CHARGE TO YOU. CANDLEWOOD SUITES 99 rooms | 700 S New Rd. | 254.662.0520 COMFORT SUITES NORTH 94 rooms | 810 I-35 North | 254.799.7272 | 1 mtg. room 725 sq. ft.

THE STAFF WORKS WITH US TO MAKE OUR CONVENTION BETTER. IN ESSENCE WE CONSIDER THEM PART OF THE TEAM THAT MAKES OUR EVENT WORK SO SMOOTHLY. -Aron Hodge Texas Clogging Council

OUR GROUP HAS BEEN TO MANY DIFFERENT PLACES OVER THE PAST 38 YEARS. WE WORK BEST WHEN WE ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A FACILITY AND A HOST WHO TAKES AN INTEREST IN OUR EVENTS. THE WACO CVB STAFF GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE THIS PARTNERSHIP WORK. -Bryan Bunselmeyer TAPPS

CONTACT OUR STAFF W A C O

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P.O. Box 2570 | Waco, TX 76702-2570 OFFICE LOCATION: Waco Convention Center 100 Washington Avenue | Waco, TX 76701

TOLL-FREE: 800.321.9226

MAIN OFFICE: 254.750.5810

R H O N D A

S U L L I V A N

FAX: 254.750.5801

M A N D Y

S P I K E S

Director of Sales 254.750.5814 rhondas@wacotx.gov

Conventions Sales & Service Manager 254.750.5805 mandys@wacotx.gov

S A N D R A

C A E L I E C A R O L I N A

L A N E

Sales & Service 254.750.5815 sandral@wacotx.gov

J A S O N

E L L I O T T

Sales & Service 254.750.5726 jasone@wacotx.gov

A P R I L

S N Y D E R

Customer Service Representative 254.750.5827 aprils@wacotx.gov

A G U I L A R

Sales & Service 254.750.5804 carolinaa@wacotx.gov

M E L I N D A

A D A M S

Sales & Service 254.750.5828 melindaa@wacotx.gov