Plan Your Meetings

Want to treat attendees like VIPs?

Travel + Leisure named the Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa one of the “500 Best Hotels in the World.” Built to resemble a Scottish castle and grand American estates like the Biltmore House, the 259-room resort is home to the third-longest golf course in the world, the Robert Trent Jones at Ross Bridge. Golf carts are equipped with GPS systems that also display tournament leaderboards and messages from the clubhouse. Every night at sundown, a bagpiper in full Scottish regalia serenades guests. Other amenities include a 12,000-sq. ft. European-style spa, a fine-dining restaurant and 20,000 square feet of meeting space. The Wynfrey Hotel is a Four-Diamond property with a fleet of luxury vehicles for guest transportation and complimentary airport shuttles. Connected to the Riverchase Galleria — Alabama’s largest enclosed mall — the hotel also has a full-service Aveda spa, a private concierge-level club room, and 32,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The Sheraton Birmingham Hotel is Alabama’s largest convention hotel. With 350,000 square feet of meeting space, it is conveniently attached to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex by a covered skyway.

Want group dining?

The New York Times credits Chef Frank Stitt (Highlands Bar & Grill, Chez Fonfon, Bottega Restaurant & Café) with transforming Birmingham into a culinary destination. Small groups of 50-75 people are best accommodated in Birmingham’s independently owned restaurants; large groups will be most comfortable in chain restaurants like Fleming’s Steak House & Wine Bar, which can create custom menus and wine dinners. Seafood restaurant Ocean has two private rooms and a patio; its sister restaurant, 26, specializes in serving bistro food, late-night nibbles and specialty martinis in a clubby atmosphere. The Hot and Hot Fish Club serves organic ingredients prepared in an open kitchen and has a catering department. Café Dupont’s second floor is a party loft for private events. Located within The Wynfrey Hotel, Shula’s – themed after the Miami Dolphins 1972 “perfect season” – offers private dining for groups from 16 to 32 in the Wine Room. Ruth’s Chris Steak House can accommodate groups of 10 to 300.

Want creative meal functions?

The Birmingham Zoo can lead attendees on candlelight tours ending with a safari-themed banquet. The Irondale Café is the original Whistlestop Café, serving fried green tomatoes since 1928; a screening room (to watch “Fried Green Tomatoes,” of course) and off-site catering are available.

Want a stunning location?

The Aldridge Botanical Gardens has two special event venues, the lakeside Aldridge House, and a 2,400-sq. ft. outdoor pavilion. The Birmingham Museum of Art has 180,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space in its galleries, sculpture garden, meeting rooms and auditorium, which are available for day and evening events. Vulcan Park and Museum has indoor meeting and gallery space as well as an outdoor event space that offers the best view of Birmingham’s skyline. Sloss Furnaces, the city’s old ironwork factory, has outdoor event space.

Want to meet in a place with history?

Birmingham is rich with historic civil rights sites and attractions such as the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The Carver Theatre for the Performing Arts was built in 1935 and now is part of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. Rucker Place is a historic home on the National Register of Historic Places, which has meeting rooms, an event lawn and a picturesque, two-story wraparound porch. The meeting room at the Southern Museum of Flight overlooks its aircraft exhibit halls.

Want to rev things up?

Barber Vintage Motorsports Park not only has a racetrack, a theater, and museum galleries filled with vintage motorcycles and automobiles, it also has meeting rooms and patios — all available for elegant catered receptions and banquets. Other amenities include team-building racing programs and a Porsche driving school.

Want high-tech settings?

The McWane Science Center has its own special event center with multimedia presentation capabilities and an in-house planning department; groups can team-build on a “space mission.” WorkPlay is a multi-use venue with meeting space, a theater, a soundstage, a screening room, in-house film and music production companies, and a popular local bar.

Want to cater an off-site function?

Special facilities with dedicated catering service include the B&A Warehouse and the Alys Stephens Center. Dreamland BBQ creates meals that are finger-lickin’ good. Chef Clayton Sherrod prepares Southern-inspired menus for groups of up to 700 people. Creative Catering by Ambrosia Michael Glenn has menus for upscale and casual functions.

Want unusual transportation?

Camelot Limousine Service, Charter & Tours has a vast fleet selection, catering to groups of all sizes, offering everything from fully stocked party buses to airport transportation. Explore Birmingham with a step-on guide. Bill Springer provides education and interesting history information for tours around Birmingham.

Want off-beat group activities?

Get Rhythm! team-building programs encourages attendees to develop interactive, listening, and communication skills with hands-on activities involving drums and other various hand-held musical instruments. Build team spirit, creativity, and enhance productivity by painting a masterpiece of your choice. My Paint~N~Party can help customize events of all sizes and caters to the special needs of your organization. Built in 1927, and completely restored in 1987, the Alabama Theatre offers a wide variety of public and private events and receptions, classic films, national touring shows, film festivals, and opera and symphony events. Cool Shots provides on-site photo booths, which can be placed on trade show floors, or other various event and conference areas. Keepsake, fun photos for groups are provided instantly.

Want gift basket items?

If you’re looking for Birmingham-specific goods and food, visit Tormé Foods, the Peanut Depot or Smith’s Variety Shop. Other city-centric memorabilia is available from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Gift Shop and the Birmingham Shop. Foodies will enjoy receiving a copy of Chef Frank Stitt’s Southern Table: Recipes from Highlands Bar and Grill. The Classic Basket puts together corporate baskets with locally made food and branded items. Locally made items include Golden Flake snacks, Southern Living magazine, Royal Cup Coffee, Bud’s Best Cookies and Buffalo Rock beverages.