How to Bring Local Experiences to Your Event

Attendee experience continues to be a driving force in location selection for planners, according to industry research. People consider the destination when deciding whether to take time away from their family and busy workload to come to your event, which can factor into your success.

To make it worth their while, your destination needs to be memorable, though it’s hard to do that when attendees are confined to the hotel or conference center.

Orchestrating off-site activities—whether it’s a group hike through a conservatory or a mixer at a museum—is one way to immerse people in the local elements. But you could also bring the outside elements into your event.

Setting up a mini market featuring local goods, inviting an area artist to paint or a musician to play, or serving dishes that the destination is famous for—these experiences can give attendees an unforgettable feel for the local culture without leaving the hotel, ultimately amplifying your event.

Here are five properties around the country that have been successful in creating local experiences for attendees.

Sheraton Grand Seattle

Situated in the heart of downtown, Sheraton Grand Seattle  taps into the city’s cultural and natural wonders. The hotel hosts local experiences for event attendees through Gatherings by Sheraton activations.

For example, artisans from the nearby Pike Place Market come to the property to create a mini version of the famous marketplace, and local vendors set up a honey, cheese, and wine station for groups.

The hotel also features an extensive private art collection of works by Northwest artists, bringing the vibrant local art scene to its hallways. Renowned Seattle-based glass artist Dale Chihuly has had his sculptures showcased at curated events on the property.

Leaning on a strong relationship with local producers, Executive Chef John Armstrong includes local foods in his menus, from Dungeness crab to baked breads. Even the coffee served during events is from a local business, Starbucks, which got its start down the street.

Renaissance Nashville Hotel

It’s fitting that Renaissance Nashville Hotel hits a musical note with events at its property in the center of Music City. The event team works with local musicians and artists to host live music performances in the hotel’s event spaces, such as the Bridge Bar, turning networking sessions or evening receptions into an immersive Nashville experience for attendees.

Planners can extend the city’s musical heritage to the event programming by offering interactive music-related activities, such as songwriting workshops with local musicians, all held on-site.

Nashville is also known for its food scene, and Executive Chef Michael Folz brings the best from local farms to his menus, such as Nashville hot chicken and local honey.

JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE

Los Angeles boasts rich cultural diversity, and events at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE place attendees right at the heart of it. The property sits on the thriving, vibrant L.A. LIVE campus a six-block hub for sports, entertainment, and dining.

While off-site excursions can provide a taste of Southern California, you can also bring unique local experiences directly to your event.

For example, consider hiring a lineup of food trucks featuring L.A.’s diverse local flavors, giving attendees the chance to enjoy freshly prepared, uniquely Southern California dishes—all for about the same cost as a buffet-style meal in a meeting room.

Or, celebrate the city’s street art by inviting a graffiti artist to create an urban canvas painting during a mixer, with the piece raffled off to a lucky attendee to take home as a memento of their stay in L.A.

Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel

The Mile High City is known for its urban and outdoor adventures. The event team at Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel helps planners create local experiences for attendees. Gatherings by Sheraton, for example, includes weekly activations of local vendors on-site; you could enhance your event with a pop-up farmers market showcasing produce and goods for attendees to explore between sessions.

Harness Colorado’s wellness-focused culture by hosting a yoga or mindfulness session led by local instructors, complete with city skyline views from the hotel’s rooftop pool deck.

For meals, having bison sliders available from the hotel’s Bezel cocktail lounge provides a uniquely local eating experience.

Close out one of your evenings with an on-site beer tasting featuring some of the many local craft breweries, allowing attendees to experience Denver’s famed beer culture without leaving the property.

Renaissance New Orleans Arts Warehouse District Hotel

Events in the Big Easy can have big energy when you incorporate local experiences at Renaissance New Orleans Arts Warehouse District Hotel.

Seeing as how the hotel is central to the famous arts district, you could kick off your event with an opening cocktail party in the hotel’s art gallery or indoor sculpture garden, surrounding attendees with works by local artists.

Or, treat them to a performance by New Orleans jazz musicians during lunch, dinner, or drinks.

To give attendees a taste of the local food scene, include beignets and New Orleans chicken and waffles in your menu. What’s more, arrange a Creole or Cajun cooking demo so attendees can experience the traditional cuisine as part of dinner or an immersive breakout session.