Meetings

It's more than a meeting: it's an escape.

In Erie, Pennsylvania, blending business with fun is our specialty! Whether you host your group aboard a historic tall ship, sip and learn about wine making, or soak in our world-famous sunsets from the beach, Erie offers your conference attendees a getaway that they'll enjoy before, during and after your meeting.

With 121,000 square feet in event space, 30 meeting rooms, one Great Lake and free event services, planning a conference or meeting in Erie really adds up.

Here are the top five reasons to book your next conference in Erie, PA:

Your Meeting will Feel Like a Getaway

Treat your meeting attendees to a destination that will feel more like a retreat. Erie’s location on picturesque Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay, coupled with our easy access, renovated venues, and professional staff will make your next meeting a breeze.

After Hours Fun

Erie is a popular destination for visitors, and for good reason! Erie’s location on the shores of Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie, coupled with the wide variety of attractions in Erie County, offers conferences a genuinely local experience. Enjoy a boat tour of Presque Isle Bay, a wine tasting in one of the country's largest wine regions, an afternoon of tax-free shopping or all of the above.

Accommodations

With more than 4,000 sleeping rooms to accommodate your group, Erie’s lodging scene is varied and far-reaching. From locally owned bed and breakfasts to nationally-recognized hotel chains, Erie can comfortably host intimate groups of 25 up to larger groups of 500. View options on our Stay page.

Drivable Destination

Located at the intersection of Interstates 79 and 90, Erie, PA is conveniently located between Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Buffalo, and is within 500 miles of more than half of the US population! Your conference attendees can easily arrive by car. Learn more on our Getting Here page.

VisitErie Service and Support

Our goal is to make your Erie, PA meeting, convention or conference hassle-free, well attended and, most of all, enjoyable! VisitErie staff can provide promotional materials, welcome bags, signage, programming ideas, and so much more.

That's just the beginning... there are 95 more reasons in the Erie 100. Read them here.

Join VisitErie for a Complimentary FAM Tour of Erie, PA!

April 29 - May 1, 2024

Enjoy two nights at the newly-renovated Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel, and see how Erie can transform your next conference into a lake escape. All planners in attendance will be entered to a win a $500 VISA Gift Card. An open RFP is required with registration. Planners may bring a guest. Travel reimbursement is available.*

To RSVP, email Hannah Stancliff with the planner's full name, guest's full name, the organization you're representing, and your RFP by April 10, 2024.

*Guests must share a hotel room with the attending planner. Guests are not eligible for separate travel reimbursement. Open RFPs must meet the following requirements: 1) Be submitted by the meeting/conference planner; 2) Be open for bids; 3) Be within VisitErie and partners' capacity to bid on; 4) Include room history; 5) Offer a minimum of 50 room nights and; 6) Be received by April 29, 2024.