Nobody gets excited about spending three days in a generic conference room. It’s the destination that draws people in as much as your meeting or event—the places they have always wanted to visit can turn a business meeting into something worth talking about long after it ends. So, give the people what they want. Give them Duluth, Minnesota.
Set on the scenic shores of Lake Superior, Duluth offers attendees something increasingly rare: a meeting destination that doubles as a getaway. It’s the kind of destination that converts virtual attendees into in-person registrations. In fact, conference attendance can increase by 20% when the meeting is in Duluth.
When it comes to a successful event, first impressions are everything, and Duluth makes one that’s hard to beat. The world’s largest freshwater lake, dramatic shoreline views, a historic waterfront district, and the charm and adventure of life on the big lake give attendees a sense of place the moment they arrive.
When your event is in a place that your attendees want to be in, conversations happen more naturally. Colleagues who might exchange a few words between sessions suddenly find themselves connecting over upscale crafted beverages at The Bridge Cocktail Room, exploring Canal Park together, or relaxing on the newly renovated Waterfront Plaza after the day’s agenda wraps up.
Instead of rushing back to hotel rooms, your attendees will gather around town at Duluth favorites. Instead of checking out after the final keynote, they are staying for dinner at Lake Avenue Restaurant and Bar or joining an excursion on the Vista Fleet. These moments create the kind of authentic relationship-building that planners spend months fostering.
The appeal goes beyond the scenery and views. Duluth is built to host gatherings of all sizes and styles. Meeting planners can choose from many meeting venues, including the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), a premier waterfront venue that anchors downtown and Canal Park. Spanning over 250,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, the DECC also features 30-plus rooms, a boardroom, two Lake Superior-view ballrooms, and two arenas.
Smart planners know the best events weave a strong agenda and a memorable experience into one for attendees, and what happens outside the meeting room is often the thread that ties them together. Maybe it’s watching a 1,000-foot freighter drift beneath the Aerial Lift Bridge. Perhaps they park at a scenic overlook along Skyline Parkway and take in the view, or visit the iconic Enger Tower and realize they never have attended a conference with a setting quite like this one. Whatever the experience, Duluth gives attendees stories they will be sharing long after they return home.
What’s more, experienced planning support, professional meeting services, and incentive opportunities—combined with an experienced hospitality community—help planners deliver stronger attendance and greater engagement. Add in Duluth’s zero-attrition policy (meaning you won’t be penalized if attendance numbers shift), and you can breathe a little easier knowing flexibility is built into the process.
Because the truth is, where you meet matters. In Duluth, the host city becomes part of the experience. Start planning at visitduluth.com/meetings.
