About Brookings, Our 2023 Host City

Brookings is located off of Interstate 29, approximately 55 miles north of Sioux Falls. With a population of just over 22,000, Brookings is the fourth largest city in South Dakota. It’s home to several large companies, including Daktronics, Bel Brands, Larson Manufacturing, 3M and Twin City Fan. The community offers a variety of attractions and entertainment. The Children’s Museum of South Dakota provides a year-round interactive playground for kids to learn, while the Dakota Nature Park is home to several recreational activities throughout the year. Brookings is filled with plenty of restaurants and gathering places to bring friends together, including numerous museums and galleries.

Plan your trip to Brookings by visiting their website.

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Travel Information

Located along I-29 in eastern South Dakota, Brookings is easy to find.  For attendees driving, Brookings is roughly three hours from Minneapolis, four hours from Fargo or Omaha, five hours from Des Moines and nine hours from Chicago.  The Swiftel Center and hotels are all within a few blocks of the main exit. Each hotel either is within walking distance or has a restaurant/bar onsite. Ample parking is available at all venues and hotels and there are no parking fees in the community other than on campus.

The Sioux Falls Regional Airport offers several daily direct flights through Delta and American Airlines from Minneapolis and Chicago and is a short 45 minute drive from Brookings.

The Watertown Regional Airport is also an option for flights. Denver Air Connection provides safe reliable air service to 16 destinations across a 9-state region stretching from Arizona to Michigan. With our partnerships with United and American Airlines, we connect you to the world via the international gateways of Denver, Chicago, Minneapolis, Dallas, and Phoenix.  Denver Air Connection offers online reservations, complimentary snacks & two free checked bags on most flights.  Visit Watertown will work with UMCVB to sponsor travel from the airport to Brookings for the 45 minute drive to Brookings.

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Host the 2024 Fall Conference

The Upper Midwest CVB Conference Board requests bids from Destination Organizations located in Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri to host the 2024 Annual Fall Conference. Find more information on the About UMCVB page.

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Exhibitors/Sponsorship Opportunities

Gain valuable exposure for you and your company with an excellent opportunity to network with CVB and tourism professionals from an eight state region! Contact Erin Bowers today at erin@umcvb.com or call 800.274.8774 x711 for complete sponsorship details.  Visit our sponsor information page for more information.

Bruce McDaniel Industry Award

Does someone you know in your field deserve recognition? Then you’ll want to honor this person by nominating them for the 2023 McDaniel Individual Professionalism & Lifetime Achievement Award.

Innovation Award

Has your Bureau done something worth bragging about? Nominate your organization for the 2023 Innovation Award.

Bill Geist Award

Does your CVB have an emerging leader? Nominate a young professional that achieves and exemplifies great leadership for the 2023 Geist Up & Coming Hospitality Leader Award.

Cole Carley Scholarship Program

This scholarship program, in honor of Cole Carley, is designed to help fund the registration costs for one person to attend the annual UMCVB Fall Conference. The program consists of one free registration to the conference plus up to $500 in reimbursable travel expenses (lodging and airfare/mileage only).  Apply for the Scholarship here.

For a list of past award and scholarship recipients, click here.