Rapid City, South Dakota, is steeped in history and natural grandeur, from its Western heritage to the iconic Mount Rushmore (23 miles away) and Crazy Horse Memorial© (37 miles way) in the storied Black Hills.
Planners may not know the unique meetings offerings Rapid City brings to the table.
“I feel very fortunate to promote a place that has things that are not found anywhere else. The personality of Rapid City is unique,” said Tyson Steiger, Director of Sales for Visit Rapid City. “Rapid City is located near contrasting landscapes that include the other-wordly terrain in nearby Badlands National Park to the forest-covered Black Hills.”
“There is diversity within the landscapes and the people, with Indigenous nations having a long-standing history with modern-day South Dakota that dates back at least 12,000 years,” he continued. “That history and legacy combined with the pioneer spirit creates a distinct personality that’s only found here. Rapid City also has modern amenities—including hotels, an outstanding arena and convention center, as well as boutique-style hotels—within easy reach of a thriving downtown district, exquisite restaurants, one of a kind shops and a great airport with direct flights to all the major hubs.”
Steiger said Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) is undergoing a multiphase, $220 million terminal expansion that will double its gate capacity to 12 over the next decade, with direct flights to major hubs such as Denver, Chicago, Minneapolis, Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix, Orlando and Charlotte, N.C. Major carriers include American, Delta, United, Allegiant and Sun Country.
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Authentic Destination Experiences
Being a destination filled with so much history and a strong Indigenous community, Rapid City is primed to provide the authentic destination experiences desired by today’s attendees.
“There’s an importance when you travel to understand the cultures that have been there for centuries, if not millennia, and still exist today, and to respect those traditions,” said Steiger. “We work to share those important cultural stories with groups and visitors through tours, demonstrations, events and more. The Lakota culture is beautiful and vibrant. The best way to learn and understand their culture is through seeing and experiencing it right here in the Rapid City area.”
Steiger said meetings also can bring in local and Indigenous arts and crafts vendors, which supports the community and tribe.
Other Western and Indigenous experiences meeting groups can attend include rodeos, chuckwagon dinner, Crazy Horse Memorial Volksmarch©, Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup and Black Hills Pow Wow, to name a few.
Rapid City Meeting Spaces
Largest Convention Space: The Monument (500,000 square feet), which contains a 40,000-square-foot tradeshow space, 2,000-person ballroom, two exhibition halls, the 35,400-square-foot Fieldhouse and the 10,000-seat
Summit Arena.
Hotels: Best Western Ramkota Hotel (267 guest rooms; two meeting spaces for up to 1,200); DoubleTree by Hilton Rapid City Downtown Convention Center (205 guest rooms; meeting space for up to 400); Rushmore Hotel (176 guest rooms; seven meeting rooms for up to 320); Hotel Alex Johnson (143 guest rooms; five meeting rooms for up to 150); and Hyatt Place Rapid City/Downtown (118 guest rooms; 5,000 square feet of meeting space).
Popular Offsite Options: Dahl Arts Center (local artists and a theater space for 280 people); Aby’s (100-year-old family-run grain mill with a capacity for up to 200); Journey’s Museum (2.5 billion years of Black Hills history and Indigenous culture, with outdoor event space); and Elk’s Theatre (former opera house that is often used for corporate events).
Unique Group Experiences in Rapid City
Largest Convention Space: The Monument (500,000 square feet), which contains a 40,000-square-foot tradeshow space, 2,000-person ballroom, two exhibition halls, the 35,400-square-foot Fieldhouse and the 10,000-seat
Summit Arena.
Hotels: Best Western Ramkota Hotel (267 guest rooms; two meeting spaces for up to 1,200); DoubleTree by Hilton Rapid City Downtown Convention Center (205 guest rooms; meeting space for up to 400); Rushmore Hotel (176 guest rooms; seven meeting rooms for up to 320); Hotel Alex Johnson (143 guest rooms; five meeting rooms for up to 150); and Hyatt Place Rapid City/Downtown (118 guest rooms; 5,000 square feet of meeting space).
Popular Offsite Options: Dahl Arts Center (local artists and a theater space for 280 people); Aby’s (100-year-old family-run grain mill with a capacity for up to 200); Journey’s Museum (2.5 billion years of Black Hills history and Indigenous culture, with outdoor event space); and Elk’s Theatre (former opera house that is often used for corporate events).
