From award-winning hotels and conference centers to the largest adventure-based team-building course on the East Coast, State College, Pennsylvania, is ready to host your group at a destination that is affordable and filled with great hospitality.

As home to Penn State University, State College combines state-of-the-art facilities and accommodations with close proximity to nightlife and dining options. See how the Central Pennsylvania CVB team can help make your next event a success.

Here’s a look at some of the top places to meet in State College.

Experience Campus Life

At The Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, take advantage of the more than 58,000 square feet of function space, comfortable accommodations and two on-site award-winning restaurants—The Garden Restaurant and Legends Pub. From social events to board meetings, the property’s flexible meeting space can accommodate up to 1,500 attendees.

Listed on the National Trust Historic Hotels of America, the Nittany Lion Inn is a Penn State landmark rich in both tradition and history. This Colonial-style property opened in 1931 and is centrally located on the Penn State campus. Along with its Four Diamond rating, the hotel features 12 meeting rooms and over 20,000 square feet of function space with catering options, upscale amenities and accommodations.

You’ll be inspired at the new Hyatt Place State College, one block from the Penn State campus. It has 5,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, a coffee to cocktails bar and accommodations with both work and living spaces. Once the day’s meetings are complete, you’ll be ready for nightlife right outside the hotel.

At the Days Inn by Wyndham Penn State, your group can enjoy easy access to sporting venues and nightlife just one block from the Penn State campus. At the on-site Mad Mex restaurant, you can taste local microbrews and cantina staples like nachos, Yucatan black bean dip, potato taquitos and more. This full-service, atrium hotel has 185 guest rooms with a free airport shuttle, plus its pet-friendly.

At the Atherton Hotel, in the heart of downtown State College and just one block from Penn State’s campus, you can experience a relaxing stay in one of the area’s top boutique hotels. After a day of meetings, stop in for an after-work cocktail or business dinner at the hotel’s on-site restaurant, Rumors. You can also enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner at Tarragon. The property’s 5,000 square feet of meeting space is great for an opening or closing reception.

Make It a Teambuilding Outing

From teambuilding activities among the trees to a quiet retreat surrounded by nature, State College offers a variety of recreation activities and venues to help your group connect with one another and the outdoors.

Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, just 12 miles south of State College, is home to Penn State University’s outdoor education field lab and nature center with 7,000 acres of woodlands and trails at nearby Stone Valley Experimental Forest.

Your group can take part in teambuilding activities at the facility’s Team Development Center. The on-site facilitators will discuss topics on relationship building, problem-solving skills, cooperation and communication skills with all programs custom-designed for your group’s needs.

For a unique experience in Central Pennsylvania, visit Homewaters Club, a private fly-fishing club that has 30 miles of streams among its 127 acres of woodlands. The on-site dining and lodges make it easy to host your group’s retreat at the resort’s Epsy Farm Barn or an intimate Fireside Summit after a day among the outdoors.

Guided, outdoor activities at the property include hiking, biking, kayaking and sporting clays. The property’s mission is to encourage authentic experiences—and within this natural setting—your group can achieve that goal.

Let’s Meet!

The Ramada Conference Center State College is ready to host your event within its 20,000 square feet of meeting space that’s perfect for banquet events, social gatherings and more intimate boardroom meetings. The on-site catering allows the hotel to create custom menus for your event. The hotel also has on-site staffing.

Opening in fall 2018, the Wyndham Garden State College will offer guests an affordable place for social events and meetings in the State College area. Along with an indoor and outdoor pool, game room and a complimentary breakfast buffet, this property welcomes small groups to take advantage of its full-service meeting space and relaxing mountain views.

Take Your Next Event Outdoors

Overlooking F.J. Sayers Reservoir at Bald Eagle State Park, Nature Inn is unique to the area as it focuses on outdoor recreation and maximizing green building technologies. Designated as a LEED Gold certified property, it was named USA Today’s 10Best Top Eco-Friendly Resort in the Nation.

The inn is home to 16 overnight guest rooms, perfect for multiday retreats with in-house meals and catering available for groups staying on the property. Choose from two private meeting space settings for groups up to 50 people and take advantage of the inn’s natural setting with scenic views.

Spend the day among the vineyards and under the stars when your group visits Seven Mountains Wine Cellars. Treat them to a tour of the facility along with a wine tasting session, which includes a souvenir wine glass, and host a gathering in the winery’s 2,000-sq.-ft. lounge area.

At the Toftrees Golf Resort, connect with your team among the property’s 1,500 acres of scenic woods and deluxe accommodations. Nestled within the pine trees, Toftrees means home among the trees, with the on-site golf course carved from a forest of white pine and oak trees. Along with 102 rooms and 12,000 square feet of event space, this resort offers groups a quiet retreat for business meetings, on and off the golf course.

Overlooking the 17th green of the Toftrees golf course, the Carnegie Inn & Spa offers a quiet venue for executive retreats, board meetings and small social events. This AAA Four Diamond property features 20 luxurious rooms with a charm that resembles a European country inn. Enjoy a cocktail in the library or host your attendees in the boardroom and experience the inn’s personalized service.

Let’s Talk Sports

State College is home to youth, high school, collegiate and professional sports facilities, making it a top destination for cheering on the home teams and hosting your next event too.

For the ultimate football experience, host your next meeting or event at the football home of the Nittany Lions – Beaver Stadium. As one of the nation’s premier football stadiums, this unique venue offers suites that are perfect for networking and receptions along with meeting space on non-game days. Treat your guests to an event at the Mount Nittany Lounge with a magnificent view of nearby Mount Nittany. With 28,000-square feet of meeting space, this area offers catering options and a variety of room configurations for your event.

Step inside Pegula Ice Arena, also known as Hockey Valley—home to some of the best amenities for college hockey and also home to professional suites perfect for cocktail receptions, business meetings and networking events. Choose from the Mt. Nittany Room with magnificent views of the area or host your group in the more formal Club spaces with state-of-the-art technology and amenities for your event.

We Are Ready to Host Your Group

Ready to host your next meeting in State College? Submit an RFP and let the Central Pennsylvania CVB team show you all the area has to offer your group. Our sales team welcomes the opportunity to assist you, contact Dave Gerdes, Director of Sales & Marketing at (814)-231-1401 or daveg@happyvalley.com.

With great venues, area accommodations, on-site meeting assistance and more, let them be your one-stop resource for taking your group’s event to the next level with personalized service and affordability too.

The State College area is ready to welcome your group!

For More Info: Visiting Our Meeting Planner Section