Choosing between corporate event spaces in Salt Lake County usually starts with one question: what does the event actually need to do?
A trade show has very different requirements from an executive retreat. A client dinner needs a different atmosphere than a company-wide celebration. And once presentations, parking, catering, breakout rooms, guest counts, and A/V enter the picture, the decision gets more complex. It becomes about much more than finding a room that looks good.
We put together 12 corporate event spaces in Salt Lake County. Each is worth considering for conferences, company parties, client events, meetings, retreats, presentations, and other business gatherings. This isn’t a 1-to-12 ranking. Each venue offers something different, so the best choice depends on the kind of event you’re planning.
A quick note: This is an independent roundup from 53 Catering. Inclusion does not imply that 53 Catering is affiliated with, endorsed by, a preferred vendor of, or approved to cater at any particular venue. Catering policies can change, so always confirm current requirements directly with the venue.
Corporate Event Spaces for Conferences, Trade Shows & Company Events
Salt Palace Convention Center — Downtown Salt Lake City
If you’re planning at convention scale, the Salt Palace belongs on the list. The downtown facility has more than 500,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space. It also offers extensive meeting space, a large ballroom, loading infrastructure, high-capacity internet, and the flexibility to handle everything from conferences and expos to large banquets.
Best for: trade shows, conventions, large conferences, industry events, and programs with substantial production or exhibit requirements.
The Salt Palace uses an exclusive in-house food and beverage provider, so outside catering is not an option here. That’s an important detail to know before comparing it with independent venues.
Viridian Event Center — West Jordan
The Viridian Event Center is one of the more practical options in the central Salt Lake Valley for conferences and presentations. Its main event space can be divided into multiple sections. The facility also offers an outdoor amphitheater, pre-function space, staging areas, a loading dock, and a catering kitchen.
The full indoor space can accommodate hundreds of guests in theater, banquet, or reception configurations. That makes it useful for events that need more flexibility than a traditional meeting room.
Best for: conferences, trainings, presentations, banquets, nonprofit events, and larger company gatherings.
Viridian currently requires food served in the event center to come from its approved catering list. Confirm catering eligibility before making food arrangements.
Gallivan Center — Downtown Salt Lake City
The Gallivan Center offers something most traditional corporate venues can’t: a true downtown outdoor event environment alongside year-round indoor space. Depending on the season and scope of the event, planners can use Gallivan Hall, the stage, amphitheaters, plazas, terraces, and other areas throughout the property.
That range makes the Gallivan especially interesting for events that need room for food, entertainment, activations, vendors, or an outdoor component.
Best for: company celebrations, public-facing events, brand activations, client events, concerts, food-centered events, and large outdoor gatherings.
The Gallivan allows renters to coordinate outside caterers and other event vendors, subject to its current licensing, permit, insurance, and vendor requirements.
Corporate Event Spaces That Make an Impression
Natural History Museum of Utah — Salt Lake City
The Natural History Museum of Utah is one of those spaces where the venue itself becomes part of the event. Its architecture, foothill location, and valley views give corporate gatherings a setting that feels distinctly Utah. You get a memorable venue without a traditional ballroom.
Businesses can choose from indoor and outdoor spaces, including the dramatic Canyon lobby, Canyon Terrace, Swaner Forum, or even larger museum rentals. Event rentals can also include tables, chairs, A/V equipment, event staff, Wi-Fi, and guest parking.
Best for: corporate galas, receptions, client events, awards programs, office retreats, and events where the setting needs to make an impression.
The museum requires an approved caterer, so check its current catering requirements before selecting a food provider.
Ember — Downtown Salt Lake City
Ember is a strong choice when you want a corporate event to feel less like a conference room and more like an actual experience. The downtown venue combines exposed brick, wood beams, high ceilings, natural light, and multiple configurable spaces. Those spaces can support presentations, dining, networking, or breakout sessions.
The venue also offers high-speed internet, A/V options, an outdoor patio, and prep-kitchen space. Layouts range from seated dinners to theater-style presentations and standing receptions.
Best for: company parties, brand activations, product launches, networking events, presentations, workshops, private dinners, and creative corporate events.
For companies bringing in catering, Ember is especially flexible: the venue currently publishes an open-vendor policy.
Memorial House — Salt Lake City
Set inside Memory Grove Park just north of downtown, Memorial House provides a very different atmosphere from a hotel or conference center. The historic Main Hall works for seated dinners, presentations, award ceremonies, and flowing receptions, while smaller spaces and the surrounding park create options for meetings and outdoor portions of an event.
It’s particularly appealing when you want the event to feel polished without losing a sense of place.
Best for: holiday parties, awards dinners, kickoff events, client receptions, executive retreats, training events, and company celebrations.
Memorial House has a preferred catering list but may approve another licensed caterer. At the time of writing, an outside-catering fee applies and additional documentation is required.
Siempre Utah — Draper
Siempre sits above the Salt Lake Valley in the Draper foothills, giving corporate planners access to large indoor spaces, outdoor gardens, views, presentation areas, and flexible layouts within one private venue.
One of its biggest advantages for corporate events is versatility. The same property can move from a presentation or meeting into dinner, networking, or an evening reception without relocating the group.
Best for: company parties, holiday events, awards dinners, client events, leadership gatherings, presentations, and larger private corporate functions.
Siempre currently allows outside licensed and insured caterers. An additional fee may apply when using a caterer outside the venue’s preferred partners.
Cactus & Tropicals Draper — Draper
For a smaller corporate gathering that needs atmosphere, the Draper greenhouse at Cactus & Tropicals is hard to confuse with a standard event room. Guests are surrounded by greenery and botanical displays. There is also an outdoor terrace, valley views, a fire pit, and space for food and drinks.
The greenhouse accommodates approximately 100 guests and includes tables, chairs, event staff, an audio system, and a food-preparation area for caterers.
Best for: corporate dinners, client appreciation events, fundraisers, holiday gatherings, and smaller company celebrations.
Cactus & Tropicals currently has an open-vendor policy, allowing clients to choose their own caterer and other event vendors.
Corporate Event Spaces for Meetings, Retreats & Mid-Size Events
Cleone Peterson Eccles Alumni House — University of Utah
The Eccles Alumni House is particularly useful when an event needs more than one kind of room. The building includes a large ballroom, conference rooms, boardrooms, business spaces, outdoor areas, and A/V options, which makes it possible to build a multi-part agenda in one location.
The full ballroom can accommodate several hundred guests, while smaller rooms work for leadership sessions, breakout meetings, and more focused discussions.
Best for: conferences, summits, corporate retreats, keynote presentations, training events, board meetings, catered lunches, and multi-room programs.
Licensed and insured caterers outside the venue’s preferred list may be permitted with advance documentation and an administrative fee. Larger groups also have specific service requirements, so catering should be coordinated early.
Thomas S. Monson Center — Salt Lake City
The Thomas S. Monson Center gives business events the character of a historic South Temple mansion while still providing spaces designed for meetings and professional gatherings.
Its rooms range from intimate parlors and board-style spaces to classrooms, dining rooms, a larger town hall, a carriage house, and outdoor areas. That variety makes it useful when the tone of the event matters as much as the agenda.
Best for: executive meetings, business lunches, speaker events, training sessions, receptions, retreats, and smaller corporate gatherings.
If you’re planning to bring in food or a caterer, confirm the venue’s current catering and vendor requirements while discussing your room reservation.
The Azalea Event Venue — South Jordan
The Azalea is a useful option for companies that don’t need convention-scale space but want more flexibility than a restaurant private room or office conference room. Its main event space works for larger gatherings, while the smaller Primrose Room can accommodate meetings and more intimate events.
The clean interior and flexible layout also make it relatively easy to adapt the space to company branding, décor, presentations, or a specific event theme.
Best for: company parties, business events, team celebrations, workshops, presentations, and smaller client gatherings.
The Azalea currently allows clients to choose their own caterer. Its kitchen is designed for serving, warming, cooling, storage, and plating rather than cooking food from scratch.
The View Event Venue — South Jordan
The View combines a modern indoor event room with one of its biggest selling points right in the name: floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Salt Lake Valley.
For corporate planners, its built-in A/V system is especially useful. The venue includes a large projection screen, speakers, microphones, Bluetooth connectivity, and an adjacent catering kitchen, making presentations and catered events easier to coordinate within one room.
Best for: company dinners, presentations, client gatherings, awards events, holiday parties, and mid-size corporate celebrations.
If using an outside caterer, confirm the venue’s current food-service and vendor policies directly before booking.
What to Ask Before Booking a Corporate Event Venue
A beautiful venue can still be the wrong venue if the logistics don’t support the event. Before signing a contract, get clear answers to the practical questions that will affect your team, your vendors, and your guests.
- How many people fit in the layout we actually need? Reception capacity, classroom capacity, and seated dinner capacity can be very different.
- What A/V is included? Ask about microphones, screens, projectors, sound, Wi-Fi, streaming, and technical support.
- Can we choose our own caterer? Some venues are open-vendor, some use preferred lists, and others require exclusive in-house catering.
- Is there an outside-catering fee? A venue may allow another caterer while still charging an administrative or coordination fee.
- What does the catering area actually include? A prep or serving kitchen does not necessarily mean cooking can happen on site.
- How does load-in work? For larger events, ask about loading docks, elevators, vendor entrances, parking, setup windows, and teardown deadlines.
- Are there breakout spaces? If your event includes training, meetings, speakers, or different groups, this can be more important than total square footage.
- What is included in the rental? Tables, chairs, linens, staff, security, cleaning, parking, and A/V can significantly change the final cost.
Already Have a Corporate Event Space in Mind?
Once you have a venue, our corporate event catering checklist walks through head counts, menus, delivery logistics, and onsite roles.
53 Catering works with corporate event spaces in Salt Lake County and the surrounding area, from smaller company gatherings to large catered events. Learn more about our corporate catering services or browse our catering menus.
Every venue has its own catering rules, and those rules can change. If you’ve already found a space you like, send us the venue name and a few details about your event. We can help determine whether 53 Catering can cater there and what requirements need to be considered.