Billings at a Glance
Location: Southeast/South Central Montana
Access: Billings-Logan International Airport; interstates 90 and 94
Hotel rooms: 4,300
Contact Info:
Visit Billings
406-245-4111
visitbillings.com
Meeting Spaces
Billings Historic Depot
Built: 1909
Meeting Space: 7,500 square feet, plus smaller spaces and courtyards
MetraPark
Built: 1987, renovated 2011
Meeting Space: First Interstate Arena — 10,000 seats; Montana Pavilion — 28,000 square feet
Meeting Hotels
Billings Hotel and Convention Center
Guest Rooms: 230 guest rooms
Meeting Space: 28,000 square feet; expansion in 2025 adding 16,000 square feet
DoubleTree by Hilton Billings
Guest Rooms: 289 guest rooms
Meeting Space: 22,169 square feet
Northern Hotel
Guest Rooms: 160
Meeting Space: 12,000 square feet
Who’s Meeting in Billings
National Association of County Agriculture Agents
Attendees: 1,100
Montana Stockgrowers Association
Attendees: 600
National Iris Convention
Attendees: 300
Under the expansive Montana sky, Billings lies at the doorstep of outdoor adventure.
The city is known as Montana’s Trailhead, and meeting groups will find experiences rich with Old West history, a vibrant downtown and award-winning cuisine, all surrounded by mountain vistas. And, as the state’s largest destinations, Billings touts big-city amenities and welcoming Western hospitality.
Destination Highlights
From its beginnings as a railroad town in 1882, Billings’ natural beauty has mesmerized all who visit. Five mountain ranges span the horizon, and the Yellowstone River bisects the city’s southern section. Towering sandstone outcroppings, known as “rimrocks,” hug the city and deliver spectacular views. Atop the rimrocks, Swords Rimrock Park invites walkers and joggers to check out the paved trail. Altogether, more than 40 miles of trails weave throughout Billings and along the Yellowstone River, inviting locals and visitors to bike, Segway or hike. At the city’s Lake Elmo State Park, attendees can hike, swim, boat, sailboard and fish.
“The airport sits on top of the rimrocks, and passengers land right on top of the rims,” said Alex Sholly Tyson, executive director for Visit Billings. “Trails span the entire breadth of the rims and are super easy to access, including the almost-completed Marathon Loop trail that will circumvent the city.”
Downtown’s restaurants, a brewery district, art galleries and boutiques offer plenty of diversions. The Western Heritage Center tells the story of the Yellowstone River Valley and Northern Plains. At the Yellowstone Art Museum, visitors can venture into the vault to see works not currently on display or create art following a guided tour of the museum. ZooMontana, a wildlife and botanical park, houses grizzly bears and grey wolves. And the history of Montana’s Yellowstone River Basin is portrayed at the Yellowstone County Museum.
Distinctive Venues
Newly renovated, the historic Alberta Bair Theater seats an audience of 1,376. This stunning space boasts impressive chandeliers and Art Deco design. Originally a Fox Theatre, it was the nation’s last Art Deco-style theater ever built. Receptions can be held in the concession area or on the second-floor mezzanine. Stage rentals are available, as is the option of attending a performance by a local group or professional tour.
Visitors enter the Yellowstone County Museum via the 1893 McCormick Cabin. The museum’s spacious outdoor deck and 30-square-foot tent offer views of the Yellowstone Valley and mountain ranges. Collections include artifacts from archaeological displays and Montana Tribal Nations, and firearms and items from daily life in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Afterward, attendees can check out the museum gift shop filled with local treasures.
Camelot Ranch, outside of the city, hosts guests in its 8,400-square-foot barn. Year-round, the barn’s great room accommodates up to 300 guests with a full-service catering kitchen, indoor bar and covered patio. Tucked into the rolling hills, the ranch’s ponds, dock and pavilion add to the ambiance.
ZooMontana’s variety of venues accommodate 10 to 2,500 guests during regular zoo hours or after-hours. Available March through October, the ZooPavilion seats 250 to 300. The spacious grassy plaza at the zoo’s entrance hosts receptions for up to 2,500 guests. Catering, a bar and food trucks can be obtained separately.
“Billings has a lot of great venues because the residents value the city’s history and have done an amazing job renovating,” said Tyson. “They deliver a great experience for groups.”
Major Meeting Spaces
The Billings Hotel and Convention Center will undergo a 16,000-square-foot meeting-space expansion, to be completed in the spring of 2025. Montana’s largest full-service convention facility, with 231 rooms, it offers nearly 28,000 square feet of flexible space, including 4,800 square feet for exhibitions and 19 breakout rooms. The convention center accommodates up to 1,200 people theater-style or 850 in banquet rounds plus full-service catering.
Downtown, the 289-room DoubleTree by Hilton Billings offers 22,169 square feet of meeting space with up to 20 meeting rooms, some featuring mountain views. The Grand Ballroom accommodates 650 guests in more than 6,800 square feet. On the 20th floor, Montana Sky invites attendees for cocktails and dining. Nearby, the historic 160-room Northern Hotel delivers 12,000 square feet of flexible space for 10 to 700 attendees. Four mini-suites are ideal for appointments. Each hotel provides complimentary airport shuttle service.
The fully restored Billings Depot, built in 1909, boasts Beaux Arts architecture in four original buildings. It encompasses the 2,352-square-foot passenger station sporting vaulted ceilings and Roman columns accommodating 125 guests for meals, 150 theater-style and 200 for receptions. The 3,948-square-foot baggage room seats up to 300 within its original brick walls. Two outdoor courtyards, a back-patio, renovated lunchroom, postal building and office space provide additional options. A catering kitchen is available.
MetraPark’s facilities include First Interstate Arena, which seats 10,000 people or can be divided for smaller groups. Montana Pavilion offers 28,000 square feet for exhibits, dinner events and receptions. The venue’s expo center affords 77,400 square feet of flexible space as the state’s largest multipurpose exhibit building.
After the Meeting
Baseball fans will want to take in a game at Dehler Park, home of three teams: The Billings Mustangs, American Legion Baseball and Montana State University Billings. For the adventurous, courses in rock climbing, rope climbing or bouldering are available. Mountain biking reigns supreme, with numerous trails and convenient rental for attendees.
Billings Brew Trail invites sampling from nine local breweries, three distilleries, a cider mill and winery. Many of the stops are along a 1.5-mile loop through the historic downtown, while others allow exploration beyond downtown. A mobile passport offers deals and discounts. For foodies, Trailhead Treats utilizes mobile pass accesses for a self-guided tour showcasing everything from James Beard Award-nominated chefs to colossal cinnamon rolls and more.
On the banks of the Yellowstone River, Pompeys Pillar National Monument highlights the two-acre sandstone outcropping rising 120 feet with inscriptions left by visitors such as the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Nearby, the 68-mile Beartooth Highway leads to the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Along the route, views of glaciers, alpine lakes and plateaus make for an impressive day trip. Less than an hour from Billings, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is famously known for Custer’s Last Stand, which took place in 1876.
“The Crow Nation runs seasonal interpretive bus tours at the monument with Native American guides,” said Tyson. “The National Park Service offers tours that visitors really enjoy too.”
