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What We Do

With approximately 60 total employees, each team member of Midlands Authority for Conventions Sports & Tourism and Experience Columbia SC has an integral part to play within their specific organization and department in driving economic…

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Who We Are

Tourism is big business in Columbia, South Carolina. Welcoming 14.8 million visitors annually to Richland County, Lexington County and the City of Columbia doesn’t happen without lots of hard work and it doesn’t happen…

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Testimonials

Scott and his team at Experience Columbia SC Sports were a great group to work with. It was easy communication to lock in an awesome venue as well as hotel block and dining/entertainment options for our event. Columbia was a beautiful city and we are can't wait to go back!

Nora White

Senior Sport Development Manager
Spikeball, Inc.

Testimonials

During a year of such great uncertainty, Graduate Columbia has most appreciated our Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. They have worked tirelessly to not only bring back annual group business, but drum up new, innovative business that Columbia tourism so desperately needs. Their outside-of-the-box ideas are one example of why they represent our wonderful city and Graduate Columbia is proud to stand by them…

Leanna Lee

Director of Sales
Graduate Columbia

Testimonials

We are eternally grateful for the hard work that the ECSC team continues to put in year after year to expose visitors and tourists to the many wonders the Midlands has to offer... They have done a tremendous job in building our regional brand, and are continuously looking for new ways to innovate in the destination marketing field, which helps us in our role as economic developers to attract talent and…

Ryan Coleman

Director
City of Columbia Office of Economic Development

Testimonials

The South Carolina Funeral Directors Association (SCFDA) has been meeting at the CMCC for the past 17 years. The location is great, the rooms are perfect, hotels are close and above all the staff. The Convention Staff are some of the best. They communicate and are always willing to make adjustments.

Rion Rampey

SC Funeral Directors Association

Testimonials

Experience Columbia SC was extremely helpful in several different areas for us. They started off by assisting us with a list of restaurants or meetings spaces that could potentially hold large groups. We learned about the other services that were offered and decided to give it a try. Our sales manager (Crystal) reached out to the hotels of our choice and sent the RFP to them and then sent us an email…

Christy Junkins

Executive Director of School Services
The Charter Institute at Erskine

Testimonials

Our Experience Columbia SC sales manager (Crystal) kept the communication going during the RFP process, sent me the information I needed before my deadline, and was always quick to respond. The proposal packet they sent made my job easy! I presented the comparison of hotel quotes, amenities and pricing directly from the proposal during a WebEx meeting to the decision makers and they were so impressed! I…

Meredith Morris Lide

Professional Development Director
The Electric Cooperative of SC, Inc.
Main Street

About Us

Biggest Cheerleaders for the Heart of South Carolina

Columbia SC tourism is comprised of a set of sister organizations responsible for various components of promoting and marketing tourism throughout Richland County, Lexington County and the City of Columbia. The two sister organizations are made up of three branches (Experience Columbia SC, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center and Experience Columbia SC Sports), each with a specific set of responsibilities related to promoting and marketing the Columbia region. 

Learn More

15.8M

Total Visitors Annually

$2.6B

Economic Impact Annually

22K

Jobs Generated in 2022

34

Tradeshows Attended in 2021

Media Library

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Message

From Our CEO

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Bill Ellen

President & CEO

You won’t find a more passionate team anywhere. So whether you are planning a major conference, sports tournament or just a weekend getaway for your family, we have the expertise to make your experience memorable.

Meet Our Team