25 U.S. Convention Centers Perfect for Your Next Event

Planning an event at a convention center is no small feat. Whether you’re organizing a corporate conference, a trade show, or a massive convention, the logistics of booking event space, securing room blocks, and ensuring smooth operations for attendees can feel overwhelming.

Today, we’ll walk through 25 of the largest convention centers in the U.S. and explore how GroupSync™ can help you find nearby hotels, streamline your booking process, reduce headaches, and focus on what matters: delivering a fantastic event.

Now, let’s dive into 25 of the largest convention centers in the U.S.

1.  McCormick Place Convention Center – Chicago, IL

EXHIBIT SPACE: 2.6 million sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: McCormick Place is known for hosting events like the annual Chicago Auto Show. It offers state-of-the-art facilities, but with great size comes great responsibility—you’ll need to book far in advance to secure your spot.

For more information, visit this link.

2.  Orange County Convention Center – Orlando, FL

EXHIBIT SPACE: 2.1 million sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Close proximity to Disney World makes this a favorite for tech expos and industry conventions. However, its popularity means high demand.

For more information, visit this link.

3.  Las Vegas Convention Center – Las Vegas, NV

EXHIBIT SPACE: 2.9 million sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Known for its massive expos and trade shows, this venue offers top-notch services but requires extensive planning and vendor coordination.

4. Georgia World Congress Center – Atlanta, GA

For more information, visit this link.

5. San Diego Convention Center – San Diego, CA

EXHIBIT SPACE: 615,700 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Its waterfront location makes it a prime destination for business and leisure. With beaches, museums and nightlife only steps away, attendees will want to stay in town a few extra days.

For more information, visit this link.

6. New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center – New Orleans, LA

7. Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center – Dallas, TX

EXHIBIT SPACE: 1 million sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: This centrally located venue offers modern amenities and is ideal for large trade shows, conventions, and corporate events.

For more information, visit this link.

8. Indiana Convention Center – Indianapolis, IN

EXHIBIT SPACE: 566,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: One of the largest convention centers in the United States, the Indiana Convention Center is connected by skywalks to more hotel rooms than any other city in the country.

For more information, visit this link.

9. Walter E. Washington Convention Center – Washington, D.C.

EXHIBIT SPACE: 700,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Located in the heart of the nation’s capital, this venue has hosted everything from international policy conferences, presidential inaugural balls and pop culture festivals. Its prime location makes it ideal for attendees looking for easy access to restaurants, live sports and plenty of hotels.

For more information, visit this link.

10. NRG Center – Houston, TX

EXHIBIT SPACE: 706,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: A key venue for events in the energy capital of the world, NRG Center offers exclusive on-site support for internet, electrical, food & beverage, security, event staffing and more.

For more information, visit this link.

11. Phoenix Convention Center – Phoenix, AZ

EXHIBIT SPACE: 585,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Known for its sustainability initiatives and proximity to beautiful desert landscapes, this venue is ideal for eco-conscious conferences and trade shows.

For more information, visit this link.

12. Henry B. González Convention Center – San Antonio, TX

EXHIBIT SPACE: 514,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Nestled along the famous River Walk, this venue offers a scenic and convenient location for conventions and events.

For more information, visit this link.

13. Huntington Place – Detroit, MI

EXHIBIT SPACE: 723,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Located in downtown Detroit, this venue is a hub for auto industry events and other large-scale conventions.

For more information, visit this link.

14. Moscone Center – San Francisco, CA

EXHIBIT SPACE: 502,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: As the premier convention center in tech-centric San Francisco, Moscone Center is home to major industry events like Apple’s WWDC & Salesforce’s Dreamforce.

For more information, visit this link.

15. Colorado Convention Center – Denver, CO

EXHIBIT SPACE: 577,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Offering a sense of fun and playfulness, attendees are welcomed to the Colorado Convention Center by a 40-foot-tall Blue Bear sculpture peeking through the windows and into the lobby. Located in downtown Denver with stunning views of the Rocky Mountains, this venue is perfect for a wide range of events and photo-ops.

For more information, visit this link.

16. Miami Beach Convention Center – Miami Beach, FL

EXHIBIT SPACE: 492,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: A LEED Silver certified green building, Miami Beach Convention Center offers a Grand Ballroom, 4 junior ballrooms, nearly 500,000 square feet of flexible exhibition space, several outdoor terraces, and 84 breakout rooms.

For more information, visit this link.

17. Pennsylvania Convention Center – Philadelphia, PA

EXHIBIT SPACE: 679,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Located in the historic city of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Convention Center offers convenient access to many cultural institutions, premier dining experiences and 11,000+ hotel rooms, all within walking distance.

For more information, visit this link.

18. Music City Center – Nashville, TN

EXHIBIT SPACE: 353,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Located in the heart of Nashville’s vibrant music scene, this venue offers a unique cultural backdrop for conferences and trade shows.

For more information, visit this link.

19. Boston Convention & Exhibition Center – Boston, MA

EXHIBIT SPACE: 516,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Located just 2.9 miles from Logan International Airport, Boston Convention & Exhibition Center is the ideal location for both national and international attendees flying in. Plus, it’s within a short drive of many major U.S. cities making it convenient for commuters as well.

For more information, visit this link.

20. Los Angeles Convention Center – Los Angeles, CA

EXHIBIT SPACE: 720,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Known for hosting pop culture events like E3, this venue offers proximity to downtown LA’s entertainment district.

For more information, visit this link.

21. Charlotte Convention Center – Charlotte, NC

EXHIBIT SPACE: 280,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Situated in one of the Southeast’s key financial hubs, this venue is perfect for business conventions and expos. Charlotte Convention Center offers a full-service, in-house food and beverage department, a UPS Store, an in-house A/V provider complete with equipment and technicians, visitor info services, and more.

For more information, visit this link.

22. Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland – Cleveland, OH

EXHIBIT SPACE: 225,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: With its lakefront views and proximity to major hotels, this venue is a prime location for mid-sized conventions.

For more information, visit this link.

23. Tampa Convention Center – Tampa, FL

EXHIBIT SPACE: 200,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Located along the Riverwalk in the heart of downtown Tampa, the Tampa Convention Center can accommodate up to 17,000 attendees across four floors of indoor and outdoor event space. They even offer an in-house social media team to help promote your event through pictures and videos on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and YouTube.

For more information, visit this link.

24. Salt Palace Convention Center – Salt Lake City, UT

EXHIBIT SPACE: 515,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Nestled near the Great Salt Lake, this venue is perfect for conventions looking for a scenic backdrop and outdoor activities.

For more information, visit this link.

25. Jacob K. Javits Convention Center – New York, NY

EXHIBIT SPACE: 850,000 sq. ft.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Located in the heart of Manhattan, the Javits Center is a world-renowned venue for large expos and conventions.

For more information, visit this link.

Booking large venues like convention centers comes with a unique set of challenges:

1. Availability: Convention centers are in high demand, and securing the right dates can be a nightmare.
2. Room Blocks: Accommodating your attendees is crucial. You need to ensure there are enough nearby hotels offering rooms, ideally at a negotiated rate.
3. Event Space Logistics: With vast spaces come additional logistical concerns—audio-visual needs, catering, breakout rooms, and accessibility.
4. Cost Management: Event planners often find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place, trying to balance their budget while meeting attendee needs.
5. Coordination: Managing multiple vendors, hotels, and staff can feel like herding cats.

How GroupSync Can Help

Securing room blocks near convention centers can be challenging, especially during high-demand times such as when conventions overlap with tourist seasons. GroupSync streamlines the process, allowing you to search by convention center, and helps you lock down hotel accommodations close by.

Benefits of GroupSync:

• Streamlines room block bookings, event space bookings, and RFP submissions, ensuring you lock in rooms quickly and efficiently.
• Allows you to view multiple hotel brands and price points at once.
• Instant Booking features make it easier to secure small room blocks or meeting spaces instantly at surrounding hotels.
• Helps event planners coordinate the sheer volume of hotel rooms and event spaces needed in large cities, where hotel availability fluctuates wildly.
• Offers transparency in room block availability and pricing, helping you secure the best options for your attendees.

So the next time you’re looking to book a room block or event space near one of the largest convention centers in the U.S., don’t settle for outdated processes. Try GroupSync and see how much simpler your planning process can be.

Sign up for a free account to try it now.