Experience Rochester / Mayo Civic Center

Why Choose Rochester, MN?

Rochester, the state's third-largest city with a population of 120,000, is distinguished by its friendliness, scenic beauty, and convenience. Rochester is easily accessible from many major Midwest cities, and Rochester International Airport provides direct flights to and from Chicago and Minneapolis. The healthcare and technology industries flourish here alongside the Mayo Clinic and IBM headquarters, driving population growth and economic development that enhances the city's attractiveness to groups hosting their events in Rochester, MN. With unique traits that set it apart from other Midwest meeting hubs, along with premier venues for local, regional, national, and international conventions, choose Rochester, MN for your next conference or large event! Located in the heart of downtown Rochester, the expanded Mayo Civic Center is the Upper Midwest's premier destination for local, regional, national and international conventions, meetings, trade shows, and other events. The center features Minnesota's largest ballroom, with seating capacity of more than 4,000 classroom-style or 2,000 banquet-style. In addition, the center features stunning pre-function areas with views of the Zumbro River and downtown Rochester, 23 breakout rooms, a banquet production kitchen, and the Riverfront Plaza, an outdoor reception venue. In total, the Mayo Civic Center offers more than 200,000 square feet of flexible meeting and exhibit space, ideal for many different industries and events, such as medical and technical conferences, large business meetings, and healthcare summits. The center's downtown location offers visitors easy access--via the streets, skyways, or underground climate-controlled walkways--to new and renovated hotels, restaurants, shopping found only in Rochester, and entertainment. And with more than 5,600 hotel rooms (2,000 of them skyway-connected to the convention center), Rochester is happy to provide outstanding accommodations for visitors.