MEETING& EVENTPlanner Guide

WACOHAS THE MOST CENTRAL

CONVENTION SITE

“The Waco ConventionCenter is a great place forlarge group training. Its

proximity to the Waco Hilton aswell as other nearby hotels

made our stay very accessible.A team of true professionals!”

-Kevin HarringtonHOT Cooperative

Special Ed Training

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 whatfacility is best suited to your needs. Our services are FREE, and wecan save you time and money. We offer local expertise, contacts, andan automated hotel rate quote system.

WHY CHOOSE WACO FORYOUR EVENT?• Waco is located within a 3-hour drive of 80% of the population of Texas.• Waco is located just 90 miles from Dallas/Ft. Worth and Austin.• We specialize in hosting groups that rely on a strong Texas attendence.• 4,000 hotel rooms in the market.• 1,000 committable hotel rooms.• Dedicated and experienced convention sales and service staff.

Austin

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CONVENTIONCENTER

FOR LARGE EVENTS______________________

_________ Waco _________

wacocc.comThe Waco Convention Center 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 Ave. to enjoy many diverse restaurants and food trucks, as well as boutique shopping. Just six blocks away, attendees can enjoy Magnolia Market (owned by Chip & Joanna Gaines), which includes shopping, a bakery, food trucks, and FREE 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 - 0ur 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 and preferred catering services.• 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.

Chisholm Hall

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EXTRACO EVENTS CENTERwww.extracoeventscenter.com____________________________________________

The Extraco Events Center, home of the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo, hosts over 225 eventsannually, with an attendance of 420,000. It is owned by McLennan County and operated by theHeart 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, RV Parking hookups, full catering and concession services.

McLANE STADIUM / BAYLOR CLUBwww.mclanestadium.com / www.clubcorp.com/Clubs/Baylor-Club____________________________________________

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• 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• Ballroom, Level 200 - featuring 40’ ceilings, views of downtown; accommodates 400 banquet style, 500 for a reception. • 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 aPress Lounge (110 banquet).

Baylor Club

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Events CenterHome of the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo

The Heart O’ TexasFair & Rodeo, is host to

almost 200,000 attendees over 10 days

ACTIVITIESFOR GROUPS OR SPOUSES______________________

YOUR OWN DEDICATED CONVENTION SALES & SERVICEREPRESENTATIVE 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.

SERVICESFROM THE WACO CVB

LOOKING FOR A NEW AND UNIQUE ACTIVITY? WACO HAS IT!• Guided group tours of the Waco area from your choice of local tour companies.

• Scenic boat tours of the Brazos River.

• Helicopter tours.

• A golf tournament at an area golf course.

• An exciting team building exercise such as kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, or mountain biking.

• A banquet at a unique local venue such as the Suspension Bridge, a historic theatre, or an area museum.

• Shopping at the world-famous Magnolia Market complex.

______ Complimentary _____

______________________

________ Special ________

MORE TOUR IDEAS AREAVAILABLE AT

wacoheartoftexas.com/things-to-do/tours

ATTRACTIONSFOR EVERYBODY!

_________ Area _________

MAGNOLIA MARKETOwned by Chip and Joanna Gaines, this destination shopping market is visited byover 1 million visitors each year. In addition to the Magnolia Market gifts andhome goods store, visitors can enjoy food trucks, gardens and shaded picnicareas, outdoor lawn activities, a garden store, and Silos Baking Co.Ride the FREE trolley!

CAMERON PARK ZOOA 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.

TEXAS RANGER HALL OF FAME & MUSEUMDedicated to the oldest law enforcement agency in Texas. Knox Center seats up to500 banquet and has fabulous views of the Brazos River and McLane Stadium.

TEXAS SPORTS HALL OF FAMENolan Ryan exhibit, Southwest Conference memorabilia, and banquet space.

DR PEPPER MUSEUM & FREE ENTERPRISE INSTITUTEDr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885 and is one year older thanCoke. Offers rentable areas. Check out the new Emerson Holt-TedGetterman Gallery in the new wing!

MAYBORN MUSEUM COMPLEXIncludes natural history, historic village, and interactive learning rooms.

WACO MAMMOTH NATIONAL MONUMENTDig shelter featuring fossils of 6 Columbian mammoths and several other Ice Ageanimals.To date, 23 Mammoths have been discovered in this area.

HOMESTEAD HERITAGE TRADITIONAL CRAFTS VILLAGEShopping, top-rated café, and FREE self-guided tours.

1870 SUSPENSION BRIDGEThe oldest in Texas.

WINERIES/ VINEYARDS Waco Winery, Valley Mills Vineyards, Kissing Tree Vineyards.

BALCONES DISTILLING Maker of award winning whiskys. Tours available through their website.

HomesteadCraft Village

Waco Hippodromewas built in 1914

Hawaiian Falls

Texas RangerHall of Fame

& Museum

MaybornMuseum

HOTELSWITH ROOM BLOCKS______________________

________ Partner ________

ACCESSAROUND THE AREA______________________

_________ Easy _________

CANDLEWOOD SUITES99 rooms | 700 S New Rd. | 254.662.0520

COMFORT SUITES NORTH94 rooms | 810 I-35 North | 254.799.7272

COMFORT SUITES SOUTH74 rooms | 2700 LaSalle Ave. | 254.537.0413

COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT153 rooms | 101 Washington Ave. | 254.752.8686

HAMPTON INN & SUITES WACO SOUTH124 rooms | 2501 Marketplace Dr. | 254.662.9500

HILTON GARDEN INN (Opening 2018)111 rooms | 5800 Legend Lake Parkway

HILTON WACO UNIVERSITY PARKS195 rooms | 113 S. University Parks Dr. | 254.754.8484

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS & SUITES WACO SOUTH111 rooms | 5701 Legend Lake Pkwy. | 254.732.1028

HOLIDAY INN WACO NORTHWEST122 rooms | 1801 Development Blvd. | 254.799.9997

• 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, Uber and Lyft.

• Motorcoaches are available for rental through Echo Transportation.

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.

Ride the FREEDowntown Trolley

Waco Regional Airport

HOME2 SUITES BY HILTON105 rooms | 2500 Bagby Ave. | 254.752.4400

HOMEWOOD SUITES BY HILTON88 rooms | 5620 Legend Lake Pkwy. | 254.644.4663

HOTEL INDIGO111 rooms | 211 Clay Ave. | 254.754.7000

QUALITY INN & SUITES NORTH56 rooms | 1508 IH-35 S. | 254.799.9989

QUALITY INN AND SUITES SOUTH71 rooms | 2410 S. New Rd. | 254.296.0550

RESIDENCE INN78 rooms | 501 University Parks Dr. | 254.714.1386

SLEEP INN & SUITES66 rooms | 209 Enterprise Blvd. | 254.420.3200

TOWNEPLACE SUITES93 rooms | 5621 Legend Lake Pkwy. | 254.420.3000

“The staff workswith us to make ourconvention better.

In essence, we considerthem part of the team that

makes our event workso smoothly.”

-Aron HodgeTexas Clogging Council

1,000Rooms for

Groups

OUR STAFFWITH ANY QUESTIONS______________________

________ Contact ________“Our group has

been to many differentplaces over the past 38 years.

We work best when we arein partnership with a facility.

The Waco CVB staff goes above and beyond to make

this partnership work.”

-Bryan BunselmeyerTAPPS

Sandra Lane, CMPSales & Service

Office: 254.750.5815sandral@wacotx.gov

April SynderSenior Administrative Assistant

Office: 254.750.5827aprils@wacotx.gov

Jason ElliottSales & Service

Office: 254.750.5726jasone@wacotx.gov

Melinda AdamsSales & Service

Office: 254.750.5828melindaa@wacotx.gov

Caelie Carolina AguilarSales & Service

Office: 254.750.5804carolinaa@wacotx.gov

Mandy SpikesConventions Sales & Service Manager

Office: 254.750.5805mandys@wacotx.gov

Rhonda Sullivan, CMPDirector of Sales

Office: 254.750.5814rhondas@wacotx.gov

WACO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAUP.O. Box 2570

Waco, TX 76702-2570

OFFICE LOCATION:Waco Convention Center

100 Washington Avenue | Waco, TX 76701

Toll Free: 800.321.9226Main Office: 254.750.5810

Fax: 254.750.5801Website: wacocc.com

If you don’tknow who tocall, contact

Mandy!