If your next board meeting needs fresh thinking, try a fresh setting. Tucked into the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas, Fayetteville is Where Mountains and Meetings Mix Naturally: a right-sized city with impressive venue infrastructure, a walkable downtown, and a mix of nature and culture that makes lightbulb moments easier to come by. The Natural Choice for Your Meeting Ever notice how your best ideas show up the minute you leave your desk? You can stare at a screen for an hour, then solve the whole thing on a ten-minute walk. In Fayetteville, that kind of clarity is built into the meeting experience with the great outdoors at your fingertips. Sure, the views are tough to beat. But our location isn’t just scenic—it’s strategic. That's the premise behind our Where Mountains and Meetings Mix Naturally identity, and you’ll find that it’s much more than a tagline. It's a genuine competitive advantage for organizations seeking focused, high-quality strategic time together. Downtown Fayetteville, Arkansas, is a destination where you can gaze out at the Boston Mountains from your venue, walk or cycle to dinner, and recharge in nature without compromising on connectivity or convenience. Our laid-back Natural State setting also reduces what meeting planners know all too well: the distraction tax. In a major metro, attendees are often half-elsewhere, thinking about traffic, transportation, and the constant buzz of urban noise. The environment here restores your attention rather than competing for it. Fresh air, clear heads, better meetings. It really is that simple. Why Plan Your Board Meeting in Fayetteville, Arkansas? Getting Here Is EasyFayetteville sits along I-49, the primary north-south corridor through Northwest Arkansas, making it easy to reach from multiple directions. Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) (about a 35-minute drive from Fayetteville) serves nonstop flights from major hubs, including Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles, and New York City.Driving in? Fayetteville is an easy trip from nearby cities: ➢ Tulsa and Branson (about 2 hours)➢ Little Rock (about 3 hours)➢ Kansas City (around 3.5 hours)➢ Dallas (about 5.5 hours) A Walkable DowntownUnlike cities that spread your group across town, our downtown district keeps everyone close in one compact, walkable area. Attendees can move easily between meeting spaces, hotels, restaurants, nightlife, and green space, all within about a 10-minute walk. That means less shuttling, fewer logistics, and smoother transitions. Art. Eat. Repeat.Arkansas earned its nickname, the Natural State, honestly. But what surprises most first-time visitors is the city’s creative soul. Your attendees will be treated to art galleries, live music, and world-class theatre—not to mention the public art that beautifies nearly every corner of the city. And then there's the food. From fine dining to food trucks and farm-to-table, you’ll never leave hungry. Home of the RazorbacksIt’s true, we’re a college town through and through. The University of Arkansas has called Fayetteville home since 1871, and its presence is impossible to miss. With 34,000 students and a nationally ranked business school, it keeps the city buzzing with ideas and ambition. If you can swing a Razorback home game while you're here, we can’t recommend it enough. A Smarter Price PointFayetteville offers a distinct competitive advantage: premium meeting infrastructure at a much more favorable price point. By avoiding the overhead typical of major metros like Nashville or Austin, we help you maximize your budget without sacrificing the quality of your experience. The Best Board Meeting Venues in Downtown Fayetteville Fayetteville Town CenterLocation: Downtown Fayetteville The meeting space at the Fayetteville Town Center is the anchor of the city's venue ecosystem. Located on the historic Square in the heart of downtown, the Town Center offers flexible event space that can accommodate smaller groups in two Salon spaces, equipped with all the technology you’ll need, plus an on-site event services coordinator. Its downtown location means attendees are steps from hotels, parks, restaurants, and nightlife. Graduate FayettevilleLocation: Downtown Fayetteville The Graduate Fayetteville is a full-service hotel that doubles as one of the city's most distinctive meeting destinations. With ten dedicated meeting rooms and college nostalgia-themed décor woven throughout the property, the Graduate creates an immediate sense of place that sets it apart. The added benefit of on-site lodging means your board can stay where they meet. Walton Arts CenterLocation: Dickson Street District The Walton Arts Center is one of the premier performing arts venues in the Ozarks, and it serves as a refreshing setting for corporate occasions. The venue is home to a variety of spaces, from atriums and theatres to gardens and galleries. It’s an ideal choice for groups seeking a setting that inspires creativity. TheatreSquaredLocation: West Avenue District TheatreSquared is one of Fayetteville's most architecturally striking spaces. It’s an award-winning building that feels nothing like a typical event venue, and that's precisely the point. The space features inspiring meeting rooms, a café and bar, and outdoor terraces on multiple floors. It's particularly well-suited to keynote-style sessions, creative off-sites, and evening receptions. The Stonebreaker HotelLocation: The HillThe Stonebreaker is one of Fayetteville’s newer boutique properties. Its inviting and intentionally designed gathering spaces include a sunlit mezzanine, a tucked-away lounge, and an outdoor pre-function area ideal for cocktails and mingling. Moxy FayettevilleLocation: South Yard The Moxy brings a design-forward, social energy to Fayetteville's meeting scene with flexible event space, a lively bar, and an outdoor area that works well for receptions and informal gatherings. It's a good fit for groups who want their offsite to feel a little less buttoned-up. Fayetteville Public LibraryLocation: Downtown Fayetteville The meeting and event spaces at the Fayetteville Public Library are an integral part of the city’s venue ecosystem. Located just steps from the historic Square in downtown Fayetteville, the library offers modern, flexible spaces that can accommodate everything from community gatherings and workshops to conferences and lectures.Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, comfortable seating, and a welcoming atmosphere, the library provides planners with a versatile setting supported by an experienced events team. Its central location also places attendees within easy walking distance of hotels, parks, restaurants, and Fayetteville’s vibrant downtown entertainment district. Team Building Experiences in Fayetteville, Arkansas The best part of meeting here is everything that happens outside of business hours. Fayetteville is a natural playground, with the Ozarks right in our backyard and a downtown that’s easy to explore on foot or by bike. And if you aren't sure where to start, our team is happy to show you around through one of our expert-curated tours. Self-Guided Team Building Experiences Fayetteville's award-winning trail network, nearby nature, and wide range of restaurants and bars make it easy for groups to decompress and connect on their own terms. Cycling in FayettevilleCycling is one of the best ways to experience everything Northwest Arkansas and the Ozarks are known for. In fact, Fayetteville is the first city in the United States to receive the Bike City designation from the UCI. Rent bicycles at one of many local bike shops throughout the area and pedal the Razorback Greenway or loop Lake Fayetteville with your team. Explore some of our favorite urban routes here. Hiking, Walks & Nature ResetsOne of the most popular things to do in Fayetteville is simply to enjoy the outdoors, and for good reason. The city and surrounding Northwest Arkansas region offer a wide range of hiking trails for every fitness level, plus disc golf courses, fishing spots, botanical gardens, and agrotourism experiences. Learn more about hiking, trails, and water adventures here. ORA & the Ale TrailFor a more social end-of-day experience, Fayetteville's Outdoor Refreshment Area (ORA) allows groups to sip and stroll through the downtown historic district with a drink in hand. Grab a beverage from any participating business and explore the murals, architecture, and green space at your fingertips. Prefer hops? Hit a stop on the Fayetteville Ale Trail. Craft beer culture in Northwest Arkansas was born right here, and you'll currently find nine microbrewery and nanobrewery operations to explore across the city. Group Tours Curated by Experience Fayetteville Our curated tours are designed to get your board out of the conference room and into the best of Fayetteville, all while taking the planning burden off your team. Here's a quick look at what's possible. Artfully YoursA self-guided or expert-guided tour through Fayetteville's thriving arts scene, from the downtown mural district and local galleries to a visit to the acclaimed Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. History & HopsA guided historical tour through Fayetteville's storied past, featuring interactive historical characters, a stop at the 1853 Greek revival Washington County Historical Society mansion, and a visit to the Shiloh Museum. Journey Across Modes: Trains, Planes, and AutomobilesBoard the historic Arkansas Missouri Railroad for a scenic ride to the Arkansas Air & Military Museum (including a look at Walmart founder Sam Walton's first plane) before returning through the Winslow Tunnel for a mid-morning snack in vintage rail cars. Fayetteville's Fact or Fable TourA quirky, customized one to two-hour guided tour of Fayetteville's most surprising stories, complete with custom gameboards and prizes for the most correct answers. Retail Razz-a-tazzA curated shop-and-dine experience through Fayetteville's downtown boutique district, featuring locally owned stores, a custom wine label session at Urban Cellar, and a group dinner reservation to cap the evening. Plan Your Fayetteville Board Meeting: A Checklist Planning a successful board meeting or leadership retreat comes down to the details and getting ahead of them early. Use this checklist as a starting point for organizing your best board meeting yet. Items marked ✅ are ones Experience Fayetteville can assist with directly. 6–9 Months Out Define meeting objectives, agenda structure, and desired outcomes Establish your group size, date range, and budget parameters ✅ Contact the Experience Fayetteville meetings team to submit an RFP and explore venue availability ✅ Identify whether you need lodging on-site or a nearby hotel room block ✅ Confirm your primary meeting venue and reserve tentative dates 3–6 Months Out ✅ Finalize venue contract and confirm A/V, catering, and room configuration needs ✅ Book your hotel room block (spring and fall dates fill quickly!) Coordinate travel logistics: communicate XNA flight options to attendees Begin programming: identify keynote speakers, facilitators, or outside presenters ✅ Select team building and evening experiences (EF group tours, cycling, ORA/Ale Trail, etc.) ✅ Reserve private dining for group meals 4–6 Weeks Out Distribute the final agenda and pre-reading materials to attendees ✅ Confirm all vendor contracts: catering, transportation, activity providers Arrange airport transfers or ground transportation for arrival/departure days ✅ Share downtown Fayetteville orientation info and attendee welcome collateral Confirm final headcounts with your venue and catering service Plan Your Next Board Meeting in Fayetteville, Arkansas Fayetteville offers a distinctive Ozark Mountains setting, a walkable downtown with strong venue infrastructure, and a rich cultural and culinary scene for after-hours fun. Add in direct flights, competitive pricing, and hands-on local support, and you’ve found the perfect offsite meeting location in Northwest Arkansas. Want to find out more? We’re here to help. Explore meeting venues in Fayetteville or submit an RFP to connect with the Experience Fayetteville meetings team. Fayetteville, Arkansas Board Meeting FAQs What's the best time to plan a board meeting in Fayetteville, Arkansas? Spring (March–May) and fall (September–October) are the ideal times for mild weather, peak Ozark Mountain scenery, and the best conditions for outdoor programming. Venues book quickly, so plan three to six months out. What are the best board meeting venues in Arkansas? Fayetteville's top options include the Fayetteville Town Center, Graduate Fayetteville (10 meeting rooms, on-site lodging), TheatreSquared (award-winning architecture, outdoor terraces), and the Walton Arts Center. What are the best outdoor team-building activities in Fayetteville, AR? Top options include cycling the Razorback Greenway (Fayetteville is the first UCI-designated Bike City in the U.S.), hiking our vast trail network, exploring the downtown ORA and Ale Trail, and booking one of Experience Fayetteville's curated group tours. How can Experience Fayetteville help me plan a board meeting or corporate retreat? Experience Fayetteville serves as your complementary concierge-level planning partner. We’ll help you distribute your RFP across the city's full venue ecosystem, coordinate site visits, connect you with local caterers, florists, and A/V vendors, and handle attendee collateral so your team can focus on the meeting itself.

Experience Fayetteville has announced the launch of the Favoriteville Festival Fund, a new initiative designed to support festivals and events that enrich the cultural life of Fayetteville, Arkansas while strengthening the local tourism economy — particularly during traditionally slower travel seasons. The Favoriteville Festival Fund will provide post-event financial support for up to two qualifying festivals each year. The program is designed to reduce financial risk for organizers who bring bold ideas, strong planning, and a demonstrated commitment to community impact. By encouraging innovation, inclusivity, and long-term sustainability, the initiative further reinforces Fayetteville’s reputation as a vibrant, year-round destination. A Strategic Investment in Creativity and Community Unique community events are central to Fayetteville’s identity. They create memorable visitor experiences, support local businesses, and showcase the city’s creative energy. The Favoriteville Festival Fund reflects a strategic investment in those experiences — particularly during periods when tourism activity typically slows. The initiative directly supports Experience Fayetteville’s mission to elevate quality of life through tourism promotion, partnerships, and strategic programs. It also aligns with the “Bring Out the Best” imperative outlined in the organization’s master plan, affirming its role as a champion of Fayetteville’s most dynamic cultural assets. A Responsible, Performance-Based Model Unlike traditional grant programs that provide upfront funding, the Favoriteville Festival Fund operates as a margin protection model. This post-event support mechanism is structured to encourage thoughtful planning and financial responsibility while reducing the risk associated with producing ambitious events. This performance-based structure ensures accountability and transparency while supporting high-quality events that contribute meaningfully to the city’s tourism ecosystem. Prioritizing Seasonal Activation and Community Impact The program is specifically designed to activate quieter times of year and create new reasons for both visitors and residents to experience Fayetteville. Priority consideration will be given to events that: Take place during slower tourism periods, including late January through early February and late June through early August Demonstrate measurable economic impact and sound financial management Celebrate Fayetteville’s unique identity, creativity, and sense of place Application and Review Process The Favoriteville Festival Fund is administered through an annual application process. Proposals are evaluated using a transparent scoring framework that considers event viability, projected economic and cultural impact, financial responsibility, organizer experience, access and inclusion efforts, and seasonal timing. During the application process, organizers submit a projected event budget and establish a reasonable target profit margin. Following the event, Experience Fayetteville staff review actual revenues and expenses. If the agreed-upon margin is not achieved, the Fund may reimburse up to 30% of eligible expenses, with a maximum reimbursement of $30,000, to help close the gap. By lowering financial barriers and encouraging bold, community-focused ideas, the Favoriteville Festival Fund supports the continued growth of Fayetteville, Arkansas as a place of connection, creativity, and celebration — in every season.  FAVORITEVILLE FUNDING REQUEST FORM

Annual list of outstanding professionals named In celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week, Experience Fayetteville, the city’s destination marketing organization, recognized hotel and restaurant workers and professionals from local attractions for outstanding work in welcoming visitors. Experience Fayetteville Vice President of Destination Services Julie Pennington surprised 18 hospitality professionals with the honor of Hospitality Hero. In addition to individual awards, Terra Studios – celebrating its 50th anniversary – was named Attraction of the Year. “Tourism is the second largest industry in Arkansas, and the hospitality you feel in Fayetteville is second to none,” Pennington said. “This award recognizes the professionals who make Fayetteville our Favoriteville by embodying the highest standards of hospitality every day.” Justin West – Fayetteville Town CenterMicah Welsh – Terra StudiosJulie Sill – Feral PigKim Sharpe – Citiscapes MagazineWade Ogle – Block Street RecordsEmily Gentry – Mount Sequoyah CenterElvis Moya – Razorback AthleticsMike Wiederkehr – Fayetteville City CouncilKristin Rogers – City of FayettevilleDavid Wright – Fayetteville Public LibraryCarlye Dennis – Fayetteville Public LibraryTrey Smith – TheatreSquaredKrista Garraway – Calle RestaurantDanielle McGrath – Inn at Carnall HallKelly Way – U of A HospitalityNick Johnston – U of A HospitalityLobat Siahmakoun – U of A HospitalityCollin Brunner – U of A Alumni RelationsTerra Studios – Attraction of the Year   Justin West – Fayetteville Town Center Micah Welsh – Terra Studios Julie Sill – Feral Pig Kim Sharpe – Citiscapes Magazine Wade Ogle – Block Street Records Emily Gentry – Mount Sequoyah Center Elvis Moya – Razorback Athletics Mike Wiederkehr – Fayetteville City Council Kristin Rogers – City of Fayetteville David Wright – Fayetteville Public Library Carlye Dennis – Fayetteville Public Library Trey Smith – TheatreSquared Krista Garraway – Calle Restaurant Danielle McGrath – Inn at Carnall Hall U of A Hospitality Collin Brunner – U of A Alumni Relations Terra Studios – Attraction of the Year jQuery('[data-showtime-renderer="lightgallery"][data-showtime-id="4"] a[data-showtime-caption]').each(function() { var el = jQuery(this); el.attr('data-sub-html', el.attr('data-showtime-caption')); }); jQuery('[data-showtime-renderer="lightgallery"][data-showtime-id="4"]').lightGallery({"selector":"a[data-showtime-width]","galleryId":4}); jQuery('[data-showtime-id="4"]').slick({ dots: false, arrows: true, autoplay: true, autoplaySpeed: 3000, slidesToScroll: 2, slidesToShow: 3, centerMode: false, responsive: [{"breakpoint":768,"settings":{"slidesToShow":1,"slidesToScroll":1,"centerMode":false,"dots":true,"arrows":true}},{"breakpoint":992,"settings":{"slidesToShow":2,"slidesToScroll":2,"centerMode":false,"dots":true,"arrows":true}},{"breakpoint":1200,"settings":{"slidesToShow":3,"slidesToScroll":3,"centerMode":false,"dots":true,"arrows":true}}] });  

Throughout Fayetteville’s Downtown this summer, you’ll see a series of banners celebrating attractions throughout the city, including some brand new ones! Have you experienced these standout attractions?

Hotel and Restaurant Professionals Honored

In her 20th year of service, Pennington focuses on local tourism businesses