“Austin, Minnesota has an abundance of wonderful attributes that make it a unique place,” says Nancy Schnable, executive director of the Austin Convention & Visiotrs Bureau. “It’s just one of those towns that you have to see to believe.”
Population: 25,000
Location: Located at the junction of Interstate 90 and U.S. Highway 218, Austin is 12 miles north of the Iowa border and 95 miles south of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
Transportation: The Austin Municipal Airport is a public-owned, public-use airport, located 2 miles east of the central business dis- trict of Austin. Along with various taxi com- panies, the Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit (SMART) also runs through the city, providing safe, reliable and accessible public transportation to residents and visitors.
Must-Sees: ArtWorks Center, housed in the historic First National Bank, showcases and fosters the local art community through art enrichment and art shows. The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center sits on 500 acres of hikeable trails through hardwood and pine forests and prairie along Dobbins Creek. Stop by the Sterling Shopping Center, one of Minnesota’s original strip malls, to find those just-what-you’re-looking-for items. Other places include the Austin landmark Buffy the Cow and Rydjor Bike Museum.
Restaurants: There are 60 dining options within the Austin city limits including Piggy Blues BBQ, the historic Old Mill, and the only Culvers in the U.S. with SPAM on the menu.
Conference Center: The Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center has nine meeting rooms with more than 8,000 square feet of meeting space. Other meeting places include the Hormel Historic Home Center and Ruby Rupner Auditorium.
Hotels: There are seven hotels in the area with a total of 386 rooms including the Quality of Excellence Award winning Holiday Inn and Conference Center.
How the CVB Helps: “We know the local area, have built the partnerships with local vendors and together we can communicate and create success for everyone,” says Schnable. “At the Austin, Minnesota CVB office, we strive to make a meeting planner’s job hassle and stress free. The clients we work with become friends. When you provide excellent service time and time again, people begin to trust you. It’s easy to call a friend and plan a meeting knowing that it’s in good hands.”
Get Connected
AUSTIN CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
Key Contact: Nancy Schnable
Phone Number: 507.437.4563
