South Dakota

Although best known for its rugged Black Hills terrain, Mt. Rushmore, Sioux Indian heritage, and most recently the HBO hit series Deadwood, South Dakota also ranks No. 1 on national surveys of the "most business-friendly" place in America. But despite all of this attention, the state never loses its innate sense of friendliness and hospitality.

Meeting planners recognize a good thing when they see it and bring groups back to South Dakota year after year.

Rapid City and the West

The economic and metropolitan hub of South Dakota, Rapid City hosts more than 3 million visitors each year. Its west-central location and accessibility by car and plane make it a natural business and leisure destination.

Favorite attractions such as Rushmore National Memorial and the Crazy Horse Memorial, the world's two largest sculptures, are just a short drive away.

Rapid City caters to a range of groups, from conventions and trade shows to reunions and small off-site events.

"With more than 4,000 sleeping rooms in and around Rapid City, we can host most conventions large and small," says Stephanie Serres, sales and marketing manager at the Rapid City CVB.

Citywide venues begin with the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, which has a seating capacity of 11,000 and more than 140,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space. The facility's 27 meeting rooms make it a preferred choice for larger conventions, trade shows and meetings. The adjacent Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn features a fitness center and indoor pool, and tennis and golf are within walking distance.

Other meetings-ready properties include the recently renovated Best Western Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center, providing 267 guest rooms and 38,000 square feet of function space to accommodate meetings and banquets of up to 2,000 people; and the Radisson at Rapid City, featuring six meeting rooms and a lobby boasting a giant marble replica of Mount Rushmore. Additionally, the Mt. Rushmore Ramada has facilities that can host up to 400 people theater style as well as a family-friendly heated pool with a 130-foot waterslide, while the 75-year-old, recently renovated Alex Johnson Hotel offers 143 guest rooms, an Irish pub, a casino, and shopping outlets.

For groups seeking peace and quiet, Custer State Park is 40 minutes from downtown Rapid City and offers four distinctly different resorts, from lakeside cottages to log cabins and historic rooms once used by U.S. presidents.

Just northwest of Rapid City and minutes from the Black Hills National Forest, the Spearfish area provides plenty of memorable off-site opportunities for groups, from the Black Hills Passion Play to the DC Booth Historic Fish Hatchery, in addition to organized fish fries along the creek and chuck wagon supper shows.

Spearfish strikes a chord with planners looking for a combination of natural beauty and down-home Americana.

"Spearfish is naturally inviting," says Jo Lutnes, director of the Spearfish CVB. "Safety and all-American values are paramount here. People are drawn to that, but they are also drawn to the beauty of the hills and the incredible variety of family activities."

The town caters to groups with properties such as the Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center, offering 26,000 square feet of function space, and the Spearfish Canyon Lodge, a 54-unit retreat featuring everything from fly-fishing to snowmobiling.

The rustic town of Deadwood, located south of Spearfish, treats visitors to a wealth of colorful Western history. Originally a gold mining center, Deadwood has undergone an enormous facelift over the past 20 years, and today it is America's largest historic preservation project.

Car and motorcycle conventions flock to its 40 restaurants and 80 gaming halls, and fun-loving fans of HBO's Deadwood series make the pilgrimage to the saloon where Wild Bill Hickok played his last round of cards.

With more than 1,300 guest rooms and a variety of meeting facilities, Deadwood is a natural for groups, either as a stand-alone meetings destination or for a day trip from Rapid City or Spearfish.

Situated within an hour from Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument, Custer State Park, and Spearfish Canyon, Deadwood's location is a key selling point for groups.

"Deadwood is surrounded by public and private attractions, downhill and cross-country skiing, more than 300 miles of groomed snowmobile trails, free roaming wildlife, two mountain memorials, and some of the most incredible scenery America has to offer," says Philys Reller, group sales director for the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce. "The HBO series has created tremendous interest. We are the perfect hub and spoke city, with the best nightlife in all of the Black Hills."

Pierre and Central South Dakota

South Dakota's state capital of Pierre is centrally located along the Missouri River and features more than 30 miles of walkways, parks and recreation areas. The city combines the amenities and technology of a large community with small-town friendliness and affordability.

"Groups are looking for an economical place to have meetings and conventions," says Karen Kern, director of the Pierre Convention & Tourism Bureau. "I also think they are looking for smaller areas that are laid-back, safe, clean, and friendly. Pierre fits that perfectly. We cater to the people and we can offer personal service."

Pierre features meetings-oriented properties such as the Kings Inn Hotel and Conference Center and Best Western Ramkota Hotel, and lodges and resorts in the surrounding area offer additional options.

During warmer months, groups can opt for excursions aboard the Capital City Queen riverboat for a historical tour of Pierre from the water.

Popular off-site venues range from the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center, voted one of the best heritage centers along the Lewis & Clark Trail, to the National Guard Museum, the Buffalo Interpretive Center, the South Dakota Discovery Center & Aquarium, and Oahe Dam, the second-largest rolled-earth dam in the world.

East of Pierre, Huron is another meetings-friendly destination in the region. Known for its many recreational activities and summertime events such as art festivals, antique shows and concerts in the park, Huron is also equipped with facilities accommodating midsize groups.

The new Huron Event Center is scheduled to open in September. The facility will combine the newly renovated Crossroads Hotel and Convention Center with the Huron Arena and Exposition Center to offer more than 23,000 square feet of new meeting space and a total of more than 34,000 square feet of meeting, banquet and exposition space under one roof.

Other standout options in the region for groups include Cedar Shore Resort in Chamberlain, situated southeast of Pierre. Last month, the resort opened the Bridges Conference Center for midsize groups.

Sioux Falls

A favorite of the business community, Sioux Falls was twice named No. 1 overall in the "Best Small City" category by Forbes magazine.

The city, which only has a population of 141,000, presents delegates with year-round sunny weather, 80 city parks, more than 4,000 hotel rooms, and an array of group facilities.

Primary convention properties include the Sioux Falls Convention Center, which is physically attached to the Sioux Falls Arena, bringing together a total of more than 100,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space. Attached to the convention center by an enclosed, all-weather walkway, the elegant Sheraton Sioux Falls boasts 26 meeting rooms, the largest of which has 16,000 square feet of space. Just adjacent to the convention center, the 150-room Ramada Inn & Suites Airport has 5,500 square feet of meeting space as well as an indoor tropical water park for families. Additionally, the Best Western Ramkota Hotel provides 60,000 square feet of convention space, including a 20,000-square-foot exhibit hall, and the Holiday Inn City Centre, located in the heart of downtown, offers 15,000 square feet of function space.

After business, delegates can look forward to the city's diverse cultural and nightlife scenes. Sioux Falls boasts theater and comedy, dance and music clubs, microbreweries, and more than 500 restaurants within the city limits. Groups can opt for everything from galleries, museums and one-of-a-kind attractions such as the nation's only full-scale bronze replica of Michelangelo's David to a hayride and bonfire at an apple orchard. Shopaholics can enjoy a visit to the Empire Mall and Empire East, which features more than 180 stores and restaurants and is the largest shopping complex between Minneapolis and Denver.

Outdoor attractions are another highlight of the area, which offers recreational activities such as golfing and biking. Among the area's dozens of parks, Falls Park is home to the triple waterfall that gave Sioux Falls its name, and visitors can enjoy the natural wonder from a new visitor center featuring a five-story observation tower. The park is also home to the foundation of the Queen Bee Mill, built in 1887.

Aberdeen and the Northeast

You might call Aberdeen the regional convention hub of northeastern South Dakota. A brand-new airport terminal makes for easy access between Minnesota and the Dakotas, as does a new four-lane highway from Interstate 29.

The city attracts a wide-ranging group clientele, according to Nancy Krumm, executive director of the Aberdeen CVB.

"Rural and ag groups, smaller meetings, state and regional meetings from Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, and family-oriented groups all do well here," Krumm says. "Value for the dollar makes Aberdeen a great place for groups. We also have great family programs for the spouses and children of attendees."

Popular group hotels include the Ramada Inn Executive Conference and Convention Center, with eight meeting rooms, and the Best Western Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center, which finished a guest room renovation in April. Another option is AmericInn Lodge and Suites, which has a new event center hosting up to 250 people.

Off-site venues range from the Joseph H. Barnett Center, an athletic-education complex at Northern State University, to the Holum Expo building at the Brown County Fairgrounds, popular for horse shows, rodeos, farm shows, and home shows.

After hours, groups can take in the area's many antique stores, auctions and estate sales. One popular off-site activity is a guided walking tour spotlighting the town's most famous native son, L. Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz, who based some of the story on actual events that transpired in Aberdeen.

Another option in the region is Watertown, which is located southwest of Aberdeen and accommodates a variety of midsize groups at facilities such as the Best Western Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center.

The state's fourth-largest city boasts attractions such as two lakes, an inviting uptown shopping district filled with specialty shops and antique stores, and the Terry Redlin Art Center, showcasing more than 100 works of the award-winning artist of the same name.

For More Info

Aberdeen CVB     605.225.2414     www.aberdeencvb.com

Deadwood COC and Visitors Bureau     605.578.1876     www.deadwood.org

Huron Chamber & Visitors Bureau     605.352.0000     www.huronsd.com

Pierre Convention and Tourism Bureau     605.224.7361     www.pierrechamber.com

Rapid City CVB     605.343.1744    www.rapidcitycvb.com

Sioux Falls CVB     605.336.1620    www.siouxfallscvb.com

South Dakota Office of Tourism     605.773.3301     www.travelsd.com

Spearfish COC and CVB     605.642.2626     www.chamber.spearfish.sd.us/cvb

Watertown CVB     605.886.5814     www.watertownsd.com