Visit Raleigh’s Stephen Jackson, CMP, associate director of sales, and Loren Gold, executive vice president, look forward to participating in Six In The City: A Southern BBQ Experience every year. The unique event is a non-traditional tradeshow that brings together meeting planners and destination experts over authentic Southern barbecue and great music and drinks.

Hosted by six destinations (Birmingham, Ala.; Columbia, S.C.; Fort Worth, Texas; Memphis, Tenn.; Raleigh, N.C.; and Savannah, Ga.) this invitation-only networking event is designed to foster meaningful connections between destination marketing organizations and meeting professionals in a relaxed, flavorful setting.

"Six In The City: A Southern BBQ Experience, is an event rooted in the introduction of the pitmaster barbecue cooking styles of six Southern destinations, their culinary expertise and unique variations and interpretations of the Southern food classic. Just like each city has a unique story to tell, so do their diverse barbecue styles," says Loren Gold. "Now in its ninth year, with over a 1,000+ D.C. area-based clients hosted, the one-of-a-kind event continues to deliver on a truly immersive BBQ experience that showcases the best in Southern hospitality!"

On Oct. 16, Stephen and Loren and several Raleigh hotel partners, including Jiran Hafshejani (Raleigh Marriott City Center), Victoria Miner (Sheraton Raleigh Hotel) and Lauren Miller (Raleigh Convention Center), traveled to Washington, D.C., for this year’s event. Guests enjoyed learning about exciting developments in Raleigh, such as the Raleigh Convention Center expansion and the upcoming Omni Raleigh Hotel, while savoring award-winning barbecue from Prime Barbecue. Prime Barbecue, based in the Raleigh area's town of Knightdale, is a Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient and a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef Southeast.

Adding to the experience, Visit Raleigh’s own Derek Allman brought live music, delivering a fantastic set that kept the energy high throughout the evening. The event generated strong interest in Raleigh as a destination, and the team looks forward to welcoming these top planners for future meetings and events.

When your group visits Raleigh, don’t miss the chance to explore its vibrant barbecue and live music scenes. Along with Prime Barbecue, local favorites include Clyde Cooper's BBQ, The Pit, Sam Jones BBQ Raleigh and Midwood Smokehouse. If you’re heading to Prime Barbecue, get there early—they sell out fast!