Mobile: Lively bayside events
Want thematic events, activities or accommodations?
Mobilians boast that Mardi Gras began here long before the Big Easy let the good times roll; throw a mini-Mardi Gras at the Mobile Carnival Museum. Have a nautical-themed cocktail party or banquet aboard the USS Alabama at Battleship Memorial Park. Or have attendees compete in a fishing rodeo aboard a charter boat. Cheer on the double-A BayBears baseball team, an Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate, at Hank Aaron Stadium. Hold a golf tournament at one of the renowned Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail courses. The entire Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel boasts a nautical theme. Attendees traveling the elevators are greeted with messages like “welcome to the deck,” which makes them feel as if they’re on a cruise ship, especially once they get to the Fathoms Lounge, which has a twinkling ceiling and frosted waves of glass. The theme is carried throughout the property’s 363 rooms, 11 suites and 46,000 square feet of meeting space. Groups needing more space have access to the Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center, which is connected to the hotel.
Want to incorporate the beach?
According to the Mobile Bay CVB, Mobilians never say “I’m going to the beach,” they say they’re going to the Gulf (meaning Gulf of Mexico or Gulf Shores) or the Island (Dauphin Island), which is exactly where you should take attendees for fun in the sun team-building programs and lazy sand-and-surf-filled afternoons.
Want to meet in a place with history?
The 238-room RSA Battle House Hotel, built in 1852, has 35,000 flexible square feet of meeting and function space in its historic and modern towers. In the historic tower, intimate meeting rooms clustered in the Ashland Place area have their original wood floors. The Crystal Ballroom, traditionally the site of debutante balls and Mardi Gras parties, has ornate, hand-painted plasterwork that was lovingly restored and floor-to-ceiling murals of scenes from Mobile’s history. Throughout the hotel, gardenias floating in glass bowls, period moldings, skylights with art glass and stately furnishings give attendees the feeling they’ve stepped into another era. Bellingrath Gardens and Home was built in 1917 to rival the greatest gardens in Europe. Since then, the 65-acre garden has become well known for its azaleas and holiday light shows. Guided and self-guided tours are available of the grounds, which also are available for private functions; groups can enjoy sunset cruises on the bayou.
Want to pamper VIPs?
How does a suite with a private rooftop patio (complete with hot tub and fountain), baby grand piano, separate pool table/chess room, a sophisticated bar and intimate dining room sound? The Battle House’s Presidential Suite has two private rooms for VIPs, but also has been used for small, private dinners and receptions. Point Clear’s 405-room Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa has been providing luxurious accommodations and exemplary service since 1847; a multimillion dollar renovation in 2001-2002 and another post-Katrina have brought amenities into the 21st century. The 550-acre resort has Four-Star accommodations, two championship golf courses and a full-service spa. Mobile Bay also is a Carnival cruise port; VIPs may enjoy a pre- or post-meeting cruise to Mexico or the Caribbean; or create a floating three- to five-day program at sea.
Want to meet in unusual settings?
The Gulf Coast Exploreum and Science Center is a hands-on science museum with function space for up to 800 people and an IMAX theater. Cooper Riverside Park and Mobile Landing are potential outdoor venues along the Mobile River, adjacent to the convention center and the Dauphin Street entertainment district; 5 Rivers: Alabama’s Delta Resource Center, which has indoor meeting space and more than 250,000 acres of scenic waterways, woods and wetlands, recently opened.
Want to surround your group with culture?
The Saenger Theatre/Centre for the Living Arts is a 2,000-seat historic theater in downtown Mobile that hosts touring shows and concerts. Space 301 is the center’s 7,000-sq. ft. gallery space. The Mobile Museum of Art has several facilities for rental, including the Grand Lobby, an auditorium and a conference room. Gallery space also is available at the Museum of Mobile.
