CNU 34: The Place to Be
As a truly multi-city Congress, CNU 34 is giving our out-of-town attendees the opportunity to build an experience based on the type of place they want to stay - while still providing the transportation needed to get to sessions and events (and parties!) across the region. You can view the Visual Schedule here, which demonstrates how the week will work.
Selecting a ‘Home Base’
CNU has negotiated discounted hotel blocks at four main hotels - two in Bentonville and two in Fayetteville - giving attendees a choice on where to stay, to curate their preferred Congress experience. We encourage you to read more about the vibe of each city in articles linked above, but below is an overview to help you select your home base.
Staying in Bentonville:
Bentonville feels like a small town that is rapidly becoming a big city, thanks in large part to major investments in public art, world-class active transportation, and an intentional focus on densifying downtown with new housing. It’s active, but spacious - the center of downtown on the square is surrounded by blocks of older, smaller buildings mixed with new development that seamlessly transition into the landscape beyond.
At CNU 34, Bentonville will be the launching point for walking and biking tours, it will host half of the content on Thursday, the Charter Awards, the Art Room, the launch of the Art of the New Urbanism Vol II, and the closing party Friday at the Momentary.
- Motto by Hilton Downtown Bentonville - $229 per night
Located two blocks south of Bentonville’s historic downtown square, the Motto features smartly designed rooms with excellent social spaces including a coffee bar, Junto Sushi, and Bar Kapu. The Motto is one block from the main Bentonville venues and will feature CNU’s Bentonville-based registration desk.
- 21C Museum Hotel Bentonville - $250 per night
Located just off Bentonville’s historic downtown square, the 21C Museum Hotel features 24/7 access to rotating art installations, an on-site chef-driven restaurant (The Hive), and easy access to the Crystal Bridges Trail. The 21C will host the Art Room and the Art of the New Urbanism Vol II launch on Thursday evening and is within blocks of the main Bentonville session venues.
Staying in Fayetteville:
Fayetteville’s urbanism feels “slow cooked” in comparison to Bentonville’s recent growth. A true college town thanks to the University of Arkansas, the blocks are fine-grained, the nightlife is lively, and the neighborhoods are well-established while still accommodating growth and change.
At CNU 34, Fayetteville will be home to the full day of content and live music at George’s Majestic Lounge on Wednesday, half the content on Thursday, and the Open House content on Saturday - in addition to the departure point for many walking, biking, and bus tours.
- The Graduate by Hilton Fayetteville - $199 per night
The Graduate will serve as the “hub” of the Fayetteville portion of the Congress, including housing a portion of the Fayetteville session rooms, and the CNU’s Fayetteville-based registration desk. The Graduate is one block from Fayetteville’s historic downtown square, where we will host an opening market on Wednesday morning and close to the other Fayetteville venues.
- Moxy Fayetteville - $226 per night (coming soon)
The Moxy is located about a 15-minute walk south of the historic square via The Ramble, a combination park and path that blends ecology, community, art, and culture while connecting major institutions in the heart of downtown. The Moxy feels lively and social, with a lobby and bar that are prime for connection. The hotel is just about a mile from the University of Arkansas campus, close to Dickson Street, and near the Razorback Greenway trail system.
Transportation
CNU will be providing transportation at least twice daily between the major venues (“Square to Square”) in Bentonville and Fayetteville, so that attendees will be able to attend sessions and events in whichever city they do not choose to stay. While rideshare is an option, it is less popular than in some of the larger cities of recent Congresses. Attendees may rent cars if they wish to transition between cities with frequency or to travel further out into the region, however CNU does not guarantee the availability of parking at Congress venues or hotels.
Getting to NWA
Northwest Arkansas's airport, XNA, offers nonstop flights to more than 20 cities across the country - from the East Coast to the West Coast and several cities in between:
Image courtesy flyxna.com
While there is no public transportation from the airport to the towns and cities that make up CNU 34, there are shuttles, taxi, and ride share to get attendees the short distance from XNA.