About Nashville
Founded in 1779, Nashville is the capital of Tennessee and home to approximately 700,000 people. It was named for General Francis Nash of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. Nashville is well-known for its connection to country music and is the home of the Grand Ole Opry.
Besides country music, another feature that draws people to Nashville is the weather. The average daily temperature is 60 degrees with summers in the upper 80s and winters in the mid-40s. So, choosing a meeting space in Nashville is a great idea any time of the year and you may even want to have it outside.
Meeting Options in Nashville
You do not have to do it all yourself with so many companies willing to help out with the big stuff as well as the minor (but important) details. Whether you are having a large meeting for 500 or a small gathering of 50, you can benefit from some help with food, transportation, equipment rental, and other things meeting related.
- Catering
Don’t let your guests go hungry. Nashville has hundreds of caterers that can make sure your guests are taken care of as far as food goes. No matter whether you want a formal dinner affair or a casual buffet or snack bar, you can find all that and more in this big city. Southern food is fantastic, and Nashville is known for its delicious cuisine.
- Transportation
Hire a car service to make sure everyone makes it to the meeting on time and ready to go. Having a car pick up your clients can go a long way to making you appear professional and will impress your guests no matter who they are. It is also a good idea to have a car service if you plan on serving any kind of adult beverages.
- Equipment Rental
Although many Nashville meeting space venues often provide seating, many do not go so far as to make sure you have everything else you need like lighting, a sound system, and even a stage. Get all that delivered directly to your meeting space, so you do not have to worry about it all at the last minute.
- Technology
Nowadays, you cannot go anywhere without your smartphone, and it is a vital part of your communication with your friends as well as your clients and business associates. But there are other items you and your guests may need that many people do not carry around with them. For example, you may need to provide laptops, tablets, or smartboards to name a few.
Meeting Companies in Nashville
Once you have decided what you require for your Nashville meeting space, you will need to find the right companies to get you what you need. The city has numerous choices, but these are a few of our favorites.
- Stage Left Catering
Owned by Chef Jim LeClaire, who has 30+ years of catering experience all over the country, Stage Left Catering has served big names like Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, and Martina McBride. They offer several menus with dishes like marinated pork chops with peach onion jam and apple pecan cornbread dressing stuffed chicken breast.
- Gray Line Tennessee Black Car
No matter whether you need a sedan for picking up one or two guests at a time or a minibus to gather up the whole guest list from the hotel, you can get all that and more from Gray Line. Their professional chauffeurs are vetted, insured, and professional as well as friendly enough to have a casual conversation with. Choose from motorcoaches, limousines, vans, SUVs, and more.
- Meeting Tomorrow
This company is known around the globe for being the most reliable and professional technology rental service around. With clients like Microsoft, Amazon, Pfizer, Disney, and Marriott, they have to live up to their reputation every time so you can rely on them to provide you with the best technology. From laptops to iPhones, they have it all.
Pros and Cons of Meetings in Nashville
Before making any concrete plans or signing any contracts, make sure you know the advantages and disadvantages of having a meeting space in Nashville. Some of these include the following.
Advantages
- Music is a big thing
Being the birthplace of country music with the Grand Ole Opry as well as thousands of artists, there is no shortage of music opportunities for your meeting should you plan on having any.
- Lower cost of living
Nashville has a lower cost of living than many of the large cities across the US. For example, it is 29% less expensive than New York City.
- Weather is great
You will not need your snow boots or heavy winter coat in Nashville because it rarely gets below 40 degrees and snow is not even a thought.
Disadvantages
- Traffic is awful
Nashville is 23rd for the highest level of traffic congestion out of 240 cities in the US. Drivers in Nashville spend a lot of time sitting in traffic.
- High crime rate
With a crime index of three, your chances of being a victim of a crime in this city are one in 19 so don’t let your guard down. Stick to safe areas like West Meade, Oglesby, and Green Hills.
- Humidity levels and allergies
Although fall and winter are fantastic, summer is hot and humid and spring can be a challenge for those with allergies.
Famous Locations in Nashville
- Grand Ole Opry
You cannot leave Nashville without at least seeing the Grand Ole Opry. This famous place has been dishing out country music since 1925 and has shown off country stars like Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, and Brad Paisley. Whether you want to see a show, get a tour, or just take a look around, you will not be disappointed. Style your meeting around this country theme by booking a restored 1800 farmhouse for your meeting.
- Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Want to see more information about some of the country legends? This is one of the largest museums dedicated to country music in the world. What began as an interest in music in 1964 is now a legendary space with the world’s largest collection of country music artifacts. See over 500,000 prints, musical instruments, and costumes as well as Elvis Presley’s 1960 solid gold limo.
- The Parthenon
Take some of your guests to see this gorgeous remake of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece in Centennial Park. It was built in 1897 and is a popular art museum with more than 60 paintings dating back to the 1800s as well as many statues replicated from the Greek Parthenon. Nearby The Parthenon, you can rent a historic castle with a recording studio for your meeting space.