As home to Alabama’s largest convention complex, thriving entertainment districts and plenty of Southern hospitality, Birmingham is centrally located within the Southeast region of the country and ready to host your event.
Let’s Meet
The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex campus has 350,000 square feet of convention and exhibition space along with an 18,000-seat arena and 4,000 seats in two theaters—all under one roof.
With a variety of venues and meeting spaces to choose from at the BJCC, the complex has the flexibility and amenities you need to produce a successful event. From fiber optic networking for audiovisuals to on-site catering, the BJCC gives plenty of options to allow your creativity to shine and create a memorable meeting for attendees.
The complex campus includes the Uptown dining district and is also home to Sheraton Birmingham Hotel and The Westin Birmingham, offering attendees easy access to a variety of experiences in-between conference sessions.
Dig In
With rockstar restaurant status, Birmingham is known as “the dinner table of the South.” Convention guests enjoy meals from award-winning chefs, along with the world’s best barbecue.
Meet colleagues for a signature Highlands martini and a business dinner at Highlands Bar & Grill. The restaurant was the winner of the 2018 James Beard Foundation Award for “Most Outstanding Restaurant in the Country.” With a menu that changes daily and includes classic French techniques paired with Southern food from across the region, Highlands Bar & Grill gives guests an unmatched dining experience. Chef Dolester Miles received the prestigious James Beard Award for “Most Outstanding Pastry Chef” in 2018 and has worked with the restaurant for more than 30 years creating signature dishes and desserts.
For a more casual meal, stop for lunch at Saw’s Soul Kitchen for a taste of Southern barbecue and soul food staples like pork and greens, cheese grits, fried green tomatoes—and for dessert— banana pudding. For Italian cuisine, visit Bottega Café and dine al fresco over pizza and pasta cooked in its wood-burning oven. For an upscale dinner, the adjacent Bottega Restaurant features Italian and Mediterranean favorites with an ever-changing, seasonal menu.
Love the Nightlife
After a day of meetings, the city’s UPTOWN entertainment district, on the convention complex campus, is the go-to destination for drinks and dinner. A few favorites for locals and visitors in UPTOWN include Texas de Brazil, Cantina Laredo, Casey’s Sports Grill and The Southern Kitchen & Bar — all perfect for catching up with colleagues over a great meal.
Treat your attendees to a night out at Topgolf Birmingham, which ishome to 100 climate-controlled hitting bays with a full-service bar and restaurant. Don’t let your handicap keep you from your hole-in-one—all skill levels are welcome. The rooftop terrace and firepits make for a perfect way to catch up with attendees outside the meeting room.
Enjoy Birmingham’s signature entertainment—live music—at a number of bars and venues. Iron City Birmingham, a 1,200 seat-venue with a full-service grill and bar, has a calendar of live concerts that includes musical acts from several genres such as folk, country, rap and more. In Birmingham’s Avondale neighborhood, Saturn is home to both national and local recording acts. The venue’s adjacent Satellite is a coffee and cocktails bar that has freshly brewed coffee, local pastries and a creative cocktails menu. Eclectic WorkPlay is a performance venue with spaces for musicians, filmmakers and more. The WorkPlay theater is home to film screenings, variety acts and anyone creative. The venue is also available for private events.
Beyond the Meetings
If anyone in your group is interested in adding a few days to their trip to explore the city more, the greater Birmingham area is home to rich history, outdoor adventures and entertaining attractions.
Take a step back in time and learn about the Civil Rights Movement in the Birmingham Civil Rights District. Now a national monument encompassing historic sites including Bethel Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park, the district was the site of many Civil Rights demonstrations throughout the 1960s. Take time to visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to see exhibits depicting the stories of the movement.
At Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, you’ll see the world’s largest collection of antique and contemporary motorcycles. From Harley-Davidson to the museum’s legendary E95 motorcycle from 1954, this museum is a motorsports lover’s dream come true. It’s home to bikes from 200 different manufacturers and 20 different countries. If your visit coincides, you might be able to catch a race at the adjacent Barber Motorsports Park, a 2.3 mile-Road Course track.
The nationally-acclaimed Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail features 11 courses across the state of Alabama with Birmingham being home to two of the courses. The 18-hole Ross Bridge course is one of the world’s longest courses and beautifully carved into the wooded mountainside. The Oxmoor Valley course has 54 holes and challenges golfers with its elevation changes with peaks and valleys from the Appalachians.
Make time to explore the many neighborhoods of Birmingham and you’ll discover historic districts like Avondale, filled with Southern charm and great nightlife. In Five Points South, where five streets intersect, choose from one of the many signature-dining experiences like the 5 Point Public Oyster Bar.
No matter how you spend your time in the greater Birmingham area, you’ll discover a city filled with passion and charm—welcoming you to return time and again.
Getting Here
Centrally located within the Southeast region of the country, Birmingham is considered an easily accessible destination for convention and meeting attendees. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport offers direct flights to 50 cities and has 70 daily departures. The airport is a quick 10-minute drive to the BJCC. Amtrak also operates daily passenger service to Atlanta, New Orleans and New York.
For those driving to the city, Interstate 20 and I-59 travel from east to west across the city with I-65 taking travelers north and south through Birmingham, making it an easy drive to both Nashville and Atlanta.
Let Them Help You Plan Your Next Meeting
Ready to host your next event in Birmingham? The sales and service team at Birmingham CVB is ready to start working for you. Submit an RFP and they’ll gather proposals and information about the facilities to match your group’s needs.
From assisting with off-site events to planning logistics, securing hotel blocks and more, the Sales and Services team is ready to serve as your first point of contact. Sit back, relax and let them help you bring your next meeting to life, right here in Birmingham.