Venue Facts
Location: Oxford, Ohio
Guest Rooms: 55
Meeting Space: 8,350 square feet in 10 flexible spaces
Access: Highways 73 and 27; close to interstates 74, 70, and 275; Cincinnati and Dayton airports
Contact Info:
513-529-6911
miamioh.edu/the-marcum
The Marcum Hotel and Conference Center is not your average meeting resort.
Situated on the campus of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, the Marcum combines school spirit with boutique hospitality and ample meeting space to create a functional and memorable setting for events.
“We are certainly a retreat from distractions,” said Paula Green, senior director for conference and event services at the Marcum. “We’re away from the main beltways, and that really allows our guests the opportunity to get focused, knock out their agenda and then enjoy their time for the rest of their stay. We think our clients highly value the concept of a one-stop resort, where they can get everything they need through a personal planner. That streamlines their time, and we enjoy the relationships built through those efforts.”
Despite being housed on campus, the Marcum operates independently from Miami University. Funded by donor dollars, it is owned by the university and specializes in smaller conferences and private events. The boutique hotel features just 55 rooms but more than 8,350 square feet of meeting and event space on the main floor — perfect for an intimate retreat or small meeting.
“We’re the size that you can come in, feel very comfortable — it’s your event,” said Green. “We design it around that concept — we want guests to feel at home and showcase what it is they are here for.”
The Marcum offers easy access to Oxford’s downtown retail and entertainment district, but also to the hiking, water sports, golfing and horseback riding available at nearby Hueston Woods State Park. As an added bonus, guests of the hotel have full access to the university, including its world-class fitness center.
Meeting Spaces
The Marcum has 10 flexible meeting spaces that create a total of 8,350 square feet of venue area. The building is horseshoe shaped, with meeting space on the main floor and the accommodations — 55 hotel rooms total —on the second floor.
“Our conference space flows seamlessly into the hotel rooms, and large format conferences or events like weddings flow easily from room to room, into the adjoining hallway or across the courtyard,” said Green. “It makes it a very inclusive event.”
The conference rooms vary in appearance, which gives meeting planner options when it comes to how the space will be used. Various configurations include classroom-, theater-, hollow square-, chevron-, conference- and banquet-style. The setups can accommodate from six to 275 guests.
Amenities
As a hotel located on a university campus, the Marcum is different from the average chain. It’s popular as a wedding venue, conference site and reunion destination and is also a favorite with alumni and parents. The rooms include five double queens, 38 single kings, four accessible single kings, four king suites and four double-queen suites. The Marcum provides free parking, a daily continental breakfast, daily housekeeping and high-speed Wi-Fi. It also allows guests access to Miami University’s state-of-the-art fitness center.
“Part of our hotel amenities is to offer the university to you,” said Green. “That includes daily membership to our facilities, including the rec center, which has an Olympic-sized pool, an indoor track, basketball courts and a climbing wall. Those become a part of your stay.”
Dining
Apart from serving its continental breakfast each day, the Marcum doesn’t have on-site dining facilities. Rather, it relies on Miami Catering, the university’s full catering services, for events. The Marcum offers a dedicated event planner on-site to not only secure and configure space and other meeting needs but also order food as needed throughout the event, from breakfast to evening receptions. Miami University’s campus sits just a mile from what’s known in Oxford as High Street, the main commercial district, which is full of dining options. A few of Green’s favorites include Steinkeller, a German restaurant serving traditional fare like soft pretzels, schnitzel and wurst, and Sorisso Osteria and Bar, a secluded Italian restaurant.
Out and About
The Marcum has great relationships with local businesses that offer after-meeting and team-building activities. Their experienced planners have several partners to help build those experiences, whether on-site or off-site.
“This includes everything from horseback riding to candle making,” said Green. “We have a baker who comes and teaches a cake-decorating class and competition as a team-building activity. Or we have a local company that comes out and teaches everyone to build their own custom charcuterie boards.”
Just north and south of Miami University are beautiful local public golf courses. Hueston Woods Golf Course is located within a state park by the same name that also features hiking trails and is home to Acton Lake, a popular place for birding, boating, fishing and swimming.
