Hilton Garden Inn South Bend
South Bend, Indiana, is not the first city that comes to mind as a major event destination. In fact, the first thing that comes to mind is the University of Notre Dame and nationally televised football games.
“When many people think of South Bend they immediately associate it with Notre Dame,” says Mike Franz, communications and public relations manager for Visit South Bend Mishawaka, the city’s CVB. “Past the beauty and lore of the Golden Dome and Notre Dame football sits a destination that is perfect for a weekend getaway.”
The Mishawaka metropolitan area of South Bend is investing millions to draw business travelers. Holiday Inn Conference Center Mishawaka has 10,000 sq. ft. of event space. It is situated near restaurants, bars and retail outlets.
Gillespie Conference and Special Events Center has 15,000 sq. ft. of event space and hosts large-scale business meetings. Two hotels—Hilton Garden Inn South Bend and Inn at Saint Mary’s Hotel & Suites—connect to Gillespie center.
Century Center South Bend offers 75,000 sq. ft. of event space, including a 25,000-square-foot convention hall. The center has a 12,000-square-foot ballroom and Great Hall with 16,000 sq. ft. of event space and 30-foot, floor-to-ceiling glass windows that overlook the St. Joseph River.
Not to be outdone, University of Notre Dame has its own conference center—and hotel. Morris Inn at Notre Dame sits on campus. It offers 150 rooms and is connected (via underground walkway) to the university conference center.
South Bend also has lots of restaurants, including Cafe Navarre, LaSalle Grill, Tippecanoe Place and Sorin’s at the Morris Inn.
Further Reading:
Meetings of the Heartland: Ohio and Indiana
