Frequently Asked Questions About Durham
Find answers to questions that meeting and convention planners commonly have about Durham.
How can Discover Durham support my meeting?
Discover Durham offers a variety of services to support meeting planners as they bring their events to life in Durham, such as venue bid assistance or tailored destination activations. We qualify leads through a tiered scoring system considering economic and community impact. Learn more about our standard and enhanced services to find out how we can support your needs.
Can Discover Durham help me book a venue?
We offer planner services starting with venue bid assistance. For qualified leads of 150 or more room nights, Discover Durham will support identifying relevant venues and pursuing bids for your event. Discover Durham is unable to finalize contracts and bookings. Submit your RFP here to get started.
What is the largest meeting or event Durham can hold?
Gauging capacity for events often requires case-by-case analysis since meetings and convention needs vary widely in regard to venues, lodging and amenities. Here are a few highlights that will put Durham’s capacity into perspective as you consider our destination for your event:
- Within a conference center setting, Durham can host receptions for up to 2,000 people and banquets for up to 1,200.
- For breakout space, several of our meeting venues have 15+ unique meeting spaces that can be further combined and divided into various sizes of breakout rooms.
- Durham’s total lodging inventory: just over 8,000 rooms
- Downtown lodging inventory: 800 rooms
- Largest downtown hotel property: 190 rooms
- Largest hotel property: 331 rooms
- Many of our largest properties have close relationships with nearby overflow hotels. Large-scale events or festivals (1,000+ people) should consider the Durham Convention and Arts Complex (DPlex), which combines multiple venues for an expanded convention footprint. Organizers should contact our sales team for support with bringing your event to our community.
How far is Durham from the airport?
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), is just two miles from the Durham city limits and the closest Durham hotels. The airport is 6 miles from Research Triangle Park (RTP) and 13 miles from Downtown Durham by freeway. Several hotel properties in Durham offer shuttle service to and from the airport. GoTriangle provides bus and shuttle routes to RDU.
How's the weather?
We can’t actually say it feels like spring year-round, but Durham is beautiful no matter when you arrive. Temperatures here are very pleasant, allowing for outdoor activities almost year-round. See our average seasonal highs and lows.
What will our attendees do in Durham?
Durham offers a variety of attractions fit for both groups and leisure travelers. Our visitor guide covers things to do by district and the must-sees and need-to-knows about our destination. Need activities for a crew? We’ve got you covered. For niche interests, your attendees may enjoy our Guide to Durham Nightlife, Craft Beverage Guide (available in the Visitor Info Center at 212 W. Main St.), Public Art and Inspiration Guide, and African American Heritage Guide.
How is Durham prioritizing sustainability?
Environmental stewardship and social responsibility are part of the fabric of Durham and are at the forefront of decision-making by local government, businesses, and community members. The City and County of Durham have together achieved the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Cities and Communities rating system, one of the highest recognitions for communities striving toward sustainable goals. To learn more about specific initiatives and businesses leading with environmental practices, read our Green Guide to Durham.
How is Durham prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion?
Diversity is the fabric of Durham’s community and celebrated year-round in our destination. Our community and culture page proudly shares the rich stories throughout Durham’s past and present. To learn more about historically underrepresented businesses that could serve as vendors for your event, contact our sales team.
