By the end of the year, Billings will welcome two new event centers.
The Billings Hotel & Convention Center is set to add approximately 16,000 square feet in a new building. Veeder Homestead, LLC is renovating and expanding the old Carmike Theater into around 30,000 square feet of convention space at 2225 Overland Drive.
Both venues will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology. The Veeder Event Center will feature a 7,500 square foot addition in front of the former 22,000 square foot theater.
“We have three stationary cameras and one mobile camera for live streaming and video calls,” said Jase Muri, general manager of Billings Hotel & Convention Center.
The new facilities at both locations will boast the latest technology, including live streaming and large screens. The $4.9 million addition at the Billings Hotel will be able to accommodate up to 2,000 people.
The Veeder building will have a capacity of about 500 people. “The demand for this kind of space has already been created by various people in the area, making it a good location for business,” said David Veeder, the owner of the event center.
During construction, the building has been called the Veeder Event Center; however, the name may change in the future. The smaller rooms in the back, once used for movie showings, will now be utilized for seminars and potential entertainment events.
The new building at the Billings Hotel is expected to attract events that were previously held at the Montana Convention Center next door.
The Veeder Event Center is set to be ready in two months, while the new building at the Billings Hotel & Convention Center is on track for completion in December.
“This is a very exciting development for us; it represents the next step in the growth of our business and will hopefully take us to the next level,” Muri added.
