1. New meeting spaces.
Unique and different meeting spaces continue to open in the Rochester market. Host your next meeting on the shores of Lake Ontario at Arbor at the Port, a contemporary space at the Port of Rochester located where the lake and the Genesee River meet. Looking for meeting space connected to a hotel? Rochester’s RIT Inn and Conference Center now boasts a completely renovated ballroom, and the Woodcliff Hotel & Spa recently debuted the “Look Out Point” event space, a 6700 sq. foot tent, perched atop a green hillside.
2. New restaurants near convention center.
The culinary scene in Rochester continues to grow. Several new options are now available within a short distance of the JAFRRCC. Newly-opened favorites include Bar Bantam, located in the lobby of the Metropolitan building, Native, which offers stunning views of Rochester’s Washington Square Park and is located steps away from Geva Theatre Center. And, a new favorite for foodies has just opened: REDD Rochester. Newly-opened in Rochester’s trendy East End neighborhood, REDD is Rochester’s first restaurant by a Michelin-starred chef, Richard Reddington.
3. Unique Group Experiences.
Deliver an extraordinary tour or group experience for your meeting attendees. Try a chocolate making class at Laughing Gull Chocolates, get up close and feed the giraffes at Seneca Park Zoo, discover the expansive collections of The Strong National Museum of Play in a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum’s vault, or plan a day of bowling and games at Radio Social, a 40 lane bowling alley/restaurant/social club located in Rochester's historical Stromberg-Carlson warehouse.
4. New and improved hotels in the pipeline.
There are several new hotels and hotel expansion projects within one mile of the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center currently in the development pipeline.
5. ROC Renovations.
The Greater Rochester International Airport recently completed a multimillion-dollar modernization project. The renovation completely transformed the airport, adding new restaurants, enhanced passenger waiting areas, new amenities and more. Don’t just take our word for it – the ROC Airport has received a national Project of the Year award from the American Public Works Association and the Most Innovative Medium/Small Hub Airport Award from the Airport Innovation Accelerator.
6. Major upgrades to museums.
Multiple museums in the Rochester area are in the middle of – or have recently completed – significant structural and exhibit space upgrades. The Rochester Museum & Science Center recently completed a $1.2 million renovation project that projects the 50-year-old planetarium into the future with state of the art equipment and technology. Other museum projects underway include a 100,000 sq. foot expansion at The Strong National Museum of Play, including the Neighborhood of Play, a mixed-use downtown revitalization project that will bring a new hotel, retail and residential units to the neighborhood surrounding the museum. The historic George Eastman Museum is currently renovating the historic mansion, restoring the Colonnade, the interior route between the galleries and mansion, to as it was during George Eastman’s time. In early 2020, the museum will construct an entirely new visitor’s center and main entrance.
