Boise's unique combination of big-city and small-town amenities, coupled with its array of top-tier accommodations, has made it a favorite among groups that don't want to sacrifice facilities and spare-time diversions for value. Continued development is only making Boise better and better.

Boise's downtown core is being considered for a 10-story, 250-room Marriott hotel being constructed by developer John Q. Hammons. The luxury hotel will connect to the city's planned new exhibition facility and will be located within walking distance of the existing Boise Centre convention venue. Construction of the Marriott hotel and exhibition facility is expected to begin later this year, with both facilities expected to open in 2011.

New hotels continue to open. Towneplace Suites by Marriott, which features 121 suites and an 880-square-foot meeting room, opened last month. Five hotels with meeting space ranging from 3,198 square feet to 675 square feet opened in 2007.

The Statehouse Inn has completed a $5 million conversion into an upscale boutique hotel. Now named Hotel 43, the property offers 112 updated guest rooms, plus two remodeled meeting rooms measuring just under 900 square feet each. The new Chandler's Prime Steaks and Seafood, with its two private dining rooms, may be booked in its entirety for special events.

Boise Centre TraveLodge has also been converted into an upscale boutique hotel and is now called The Modern Hotel & Bar. Within walking distance of the convention center, the property is next to The Linen Building, which features banquet space for 150 people. Both the hotel and Linen Building are located in the up-and-coming Linen District, a renovated, still-growing warehouse district with a number of new businesses, restaurants, and shops.

Additionally, AmeriSuites underwent major renovation to become a 127-room Hyatt Place property in summer 2007, with a 1,055-square-foot meeting room.

Beyond BoDo and high-caliber entertainment at significantly lower prices than in comparable cities, a host of unique attractions set Boise apart from other venues of its size. Definitely worth a visit are the Old Idaho Penitentiary and the World Center for Birds of Prey. Outdoor enthusiasts will want to check out the 28-mile Greenbelt path, which has the Boise River as its backdrop and connects five major parks offering walkers, runners, and skaters plenty of territory to explore. Whitewater river rafting opportunities lie 45 minutes north of the city.

In the winter, the Bogus Basin ski area offers downhill and Nordic skiing day and night. When snow tops the nearby mountains and the weather in Boise is warmer, delegates can play golf during the day and ski in the evening.

When it comes to room rates, flexibility, and easy access, Boise is a natural choice. Room rates average in the mid to upper $90s, and while the city is an ideal venue for meetings of 50 to 500 people, it can accommodate groups of 1,000 to 2,000.

Boise at a Glance
Convention Facilities: Boise Centre offers more than 50,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, including a 25,000-square-foot exhibit hall and ballroom, a 349-seat auditorium, and 17 combinations of flexible meeting space.

Number of Rooms Citywide: 6,000

Attractions: Basque Museum, Boise Art Museum, Boise Tour Train, Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, Idaho Botanical Garden, Discovery Center of Idaho, M.K. Nature Center, Old Idaho Penitentiary, World Center for Birds of Prey, Idaho wineries

For More Information: Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 2106, Boise, ID 83701; phone: (208) 344-7777 or (800) 635-5240; Web site: www.boise.org