Ultimate Ventures held a “Deep in the Heart” Festival recently at the Hilton Anatole Hotel. It was their Texas twist on a boho/Coachella festival. Courtesy of Delaney Lovelace

Texas has long been celebrated for offering “big” hospitality to travelers from across the globe. And recently, more and more meeting planners are setting their sights on Texas as the destination for corporate meeting and incentive events – and rightfully, so. Texas puts out a big welcome to visitors and corporate travelers, and its cultural traditions, cuisine, venues and entertainment make corporate and incentive travel experiences ones to remember.

Dallas

Dallas is home to cutting-edge companies, world-class buildings, exceptional green spaces, and a vibrant arts and historic districts. And Visit Dallas, the city’s convention and visitor’s bureau says Dallas has been named the No. 1 business-friendly city in the U.S. Add to that the plethora of event venues, and Dallas offers the ideal locale for corporate and incentive events. In fact, Dallas’ downtown is quite compact and can be easily accessed by attendees via the light rail system.

Dallas also has some world-famous hotels, among which is the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, which offers sophisticated conference and meeting event spaces, including intimate outdoor event spaces. The array of hotels and resorts within the Dallas area is truly expansive and is only getting bigger, with 165 new hotel projects currently in the pipeline as of 2022, per Visit Dallas.

Once its expansion is complete, the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center will feature a new, walkable entertainment district. Courtesy Photo

Of course, Dallas’ enormous Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center is the ideal location for tradeshows and events. Every year, over one million visitors are welcomed at the convention center and enjoy tradeshows, conventions, meetings, shows and concerts in the heart of downtown Dallas. There is over 1 million sf of exhibit space at the center, with 88 meeting rooms and three ballrooms. The biggest news facing the convention center is its upcoming expansion, which is set to be completed in 2028 and will feature a new, walkable entertainment district.

More and more planners are turning to Dallas for innovative meeting options.

“The list is long when it comes to reasons to meet in Texas, especially in the Dallas-Fort Worth area,” Delaney Lovelace, DMCP, director of sales at Ultimate Ventures, says. “First of all, it’s easy to get here. With our enviable location in the center of the country, travel time to Dallas-Fort Worth is less than four hours from across the United States.”

In addition, the Dallas-Fort Worth area is literally seven destinations in one, each with its own unique personality. “Although cosmopolitan Dallas and cowboy-cool Fort Worth normally get top billing, there are also amazing experiences to be had in Arlington, Irving, Plano, Frisco and Grapevine,” Lovelace says.

Also, Dallas-Fort Worth is expanding exponentially, with a wealth of new hotels and resorts available for meetings of all sizes.

“We’re growing by leaps and bounds,” she adds. “Dallas currently leads the nation in new hotel projects, which translates to more choices for incoming groups.”

Regarding the recently opened Omni PGA Frisco Resort, with 510 rooms, Lovelace says, “This a game changer, especially when it comes to incentive programs. With two 18-hole championship golf courses; a lighted 10-hole, par-three short course; and a two-acre putting course and entertainment area, it’s a golfer’s paradise!”

The newly opened Omni PGA Frisco offers 127,000 sf of conference space and 500 guest rooms. Photo by Werner Segarra

The new resort also boasts 127,000 sf of meeting and private event space, including a 22,000 sf grand ballroom and a 5,000 sf pavilion with an adjoining patio and event lawn.

Their specialty at Ultimate Ventures is creating unique, custom events that match the tone and goals of their clients. Whether the event occurs in a hotel ballroom, offsite at a destination’s exceptional venues, or in a restaurant setting, the options are truly endless.

“Team-building activities are also quite popular as well as tours that sample the local cuisine, like “Tacos & Margaritas” or “BBQ & Beer,” Lovelace says.

In 2021, Ultimate Ventures worked with a client that brought their 900-person national conference to Dallas. This multi-faceted three-day program (including multiple off-site and onsite events, transportation, six tours, shopping shuttles and VIP airport transfers) featured some of the best venues and activities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Their first night’s Oktoberfest themed welcome event at Gilley’s Dallas was full of interactive entertainment and festive decor. On days two and three, Ultimate Ventures provided tour and activity options for VIPs and guests of attendees. Tours included a trip to Waco to get the “Chip and Joanna Gaines treatment;” a local BBQ and Beer tasting tour of the city; and visits to popular history and science museums. Shuttles to the Bishop Arts District and Northpark Mall, two of Dallas’s hottest shopping destinations, were also provided on both days.

“On the second night, we provided décor, entertainment and dessert for an after-dinner ‘glow’ event on the Omni Dallas Hotel Lawn,” Lovelace says. “The final night’s event was held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington where guests were given the VIP treatment, complete with an appearance by Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith.”

Rachael Glaws, principal and creative director at RGI Events, points out that everything is at your fingertips in Texas. “The hotel properties are top-notch with sophisticated production amenities. Activities and natural wonder for impactful, offsites abound. Food and beverage helps impart a sense of place to an event and some of the best in the world is available in Texas,” Glaws says.  “Locations themselves throughout the state are diverse and cater to a broad array of tastes, which is incredibly helpful in ensuring you please a crowd. And there’s no substitution for Texas hospitality.”

Recently, RGI Events orchestrated an incentives trip for a global beauty brand that was truly a hit. As Glaws explains, it was a multi-day event, full of entertainment, offsites and activities — not to mention fantastic food with a deep authentic Texas flair.

“We took full advantage of, in this case, all that Austin had to offer,” Glaws says. “All the guests were asking how they could ship barbecue back to their home states.”

According to Brittany Curry, event planner and co-owner at Uniquely Set Event Management, Texas has always been a state that stands out in people’s minds as a destination location. “You can point it out on any map and people would know what state it is,” Curry says. “There’s a multitude of styles of events and large cities that make for easy planning and accommodations. And the hospitality you’d find when working with groups to plan a Texas location is unlike any group you’d meet.”

Uniquely Set Event Management is one of the only coordination companies in the Bryan/College Station area of Texas that offers team-building events.

“We curated a set of activities that have proved to be fun and memorable amongst companies that take the mundane out of normal team-building ideas,” Curry says. “We curate every event to each group’s needs.”

San Antonio

Texas has plenty of great cities to choose from and San Antonio is at the top of many lists. With its charming River Walk, historic old Spanish missions and beautiful Hill Country, San Antonio simply can’t be beat as a corporate meeting destination. Sure, the region boasts extraordinary culinary delights and meeting venues aplenty, but it also offers a wealth of activities for attendees to enjoy long after the business events conclude. For example, groups can venture off to explore Alamo, which evokes the spirit of Texas’ colonial era. Or perhaps they wander along the extensive River Walk, which is complete with waterside walkways, charming shops and delightful eateries at every turn.

When is time to get down to business, San Antonio offers some of the area’s best options for events. Its recently renovated convention center is front and center in San Antonio’s walkable downtown area. The Henry B. González Convention Center (HBGCC) features 514,000 sf of contiguous exhibit space, along with an 86,500 sf column-free multipurpose space, 70 meeting and event spaces, and the largest ballroom in Texas, at 54,000 sf. The HBGCC is also within walking distance of the infamous River Walk and numerous historic attractions in the heart of San Antonio. The convention center’s recent expansion and modernization has resulted in even more technologically advanced flexible event spaces.

The last few years have seen a wealth of additions to San Antonio’s venue offerings. A few years ago, Canopy by Hilton opened and features 1,148 sf of meeting spaces. Their outdoor terrace overlooking the River Walk is an ideal option for smaller gatherings.

Another unique option is the Red Berry Estate. A short drive from downtown San Antonio, the Red Berry Estate has been renovated to its former glory and features more than 15,000 sf of event space. The adjacent lake is a wonderful backdrop for outdoor events being held on the lawns, veranda or fountain areas.

Austin

Although Austin is the state capitol of Texas, it has a laid-back vibe all its own. Exceedingly popular among meeting and event planners, Austin has experienced a recent boom in downtown redevelopment. While Austin is growing, it’s downtown is relatively east to get around.

The capitol offers some unique venue options including the Blanton Museum of Art, the Austin Convention Center, Palmer Events Center and the Moody Center at the University of Texas, to name a few. The city’s Q2 Stadium, which houses major league soccer, also offers an outdoor amphitheater, an ideal spot to enjoy the city’s vistas in the great outdoors.

Fort Worth

Although Fort Worth celebrates its cattle-trading roots, it also has become a modern, sophisticated city that it teeming with wonderful options for meetings and event experiences. One special group experience is available at Fort Worth’s Stockyards National Historic District. Charm abounds along the cobblestone streets, which feature gaslights reminiscent of decades past. Attendees can explore the restored cattle pens and enjoy the artisan-made wares gracing the many shops. Other group outings can include the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo or the Will Rogers Memorial Center.

According to the Fort Worth Conventions & Visitors Bureau, the downtown area of the city is bustling with corporate meetings and events thanks to the recently completed Dickies Arena, which is adjacent to the Will Rogers Memorial Center. The arena has 90,000 sf of exhibit space and includes a 10,500 sf exhibit hall.

For smaller affairs, Mule Alley, which is located in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, offers an array of restaurants, entertainment venues and creative spaces to host events.

The 888-room Loews Arlington Hotel is scheduled to open in 2024. Courtesy Photo

Arlington

Although Arlington is separate town, it’s close proximity to Fort Worth means meetings and events held in this smaller locale can also enjoy all that Fort Worth has to offer. But within Arlington proper, you will find Choctaw Stadium, which is the home to the Texas Ranger and also has evolved into a full-fledged entertainment complex complete with several different event spaces.

The Arlington Convention Center is also a wonderful venue for events and boasts an awe-inspiring 30,000-sf Grand Hall, and several other meeting room spaces. Adjacent to the convention center is the new Loews Arlington hotel, which is connected to the convention center via skywalk. Together, they feature 251,000 sf of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space.

Houston

Houston, the largest city in Texas, is a financial hub, has a bustling port and has grown into a sprawling metropolis that boasts a wealth of attractions for meeting and event attendees. As the country’s fourth-largest and fastest-growing city, Houston offers many diverse activities, beyond just meetings and conventions, including its much-celebrated culinary scene, world-renowned theater and performing arts district, a wealth of outdoor spaces and natural environments, professional and semi-pro sports teams, and iconic attractions like the United States’ largest Texas-shaped lazy river, and Space Center Houston.

Houston also boasts two premiere convention centers — George R. Brown Convention Center, with 1.2 million sf of meeting space, and NRG Park, with 706,000 sf of contiguous exhibit space — that can successfully accommodate both small and large-scale events. Located downtown, the George R. Brown Convention Center is connected to headquarter hotel via sky-bridges. The site also features Avenida Houston, the state’s largest convention and entertainment campus, which is available for outdoor programming and events, and steps away from a massive urban park that offers free concerts and a ton of outdoor fun for attendees.

Grapevine

Also near Fort Worth is the charming little town of Grapevine. In addition to numerous wineries in the area, Grapevine boasts more than 1 million sf of meeting space across nearly two dozen hotels within the city. In addition to hotels, Grapevine also offers some unique venues that will add a memorable flair to any event. Some of these include the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, Grape Vine Springs Winery, Grapevine Convention Center and the Grand Gallery. The Grapevine Botanical Gardens at Heritage Park and the Grapevine Lake are great outdoor spaces for more intimate gatherings.

Irving

Located between Dallas’s two international airports, Irving is an ideal location for corporate meeting and event planners looking for a smaller-scale and easily accessible location near Dallas.

Located on 40 sprawling acres, the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas offers nearly 100,000 sf of event space and is part of the planned mixed-use entertainment district, which includes an indoor/outdoor amphitheater and the Westin Convention Center Hotel. The adjacent Toyota Music Factory offers wonderful team-building opportunities and event spaces for groups up to 4,000.

Savvy Planning

When it comes to planning a meeting or event in Texas, Lovelace advises corporate and incentive meeting planners to plan ahead. “Business travel is back in Texas, and we are busy,” Lovelace says. “Some of our favorite venues and vendors are booked months in advance.”

In addition, Glaws advises meeting planners to lean into the destination – whether it be San Antonio, Houston or Dallas. “Embrace amenities that make an event feel truly Texan. Travelers attending events are looking for an experience,” Glaws says. “There’s so much available to you in Texas that will give them just that.”

Also, Curry advises planner to not take away the things that makes Texas truly great. “Mix in the amazing food and incorporate the scenic views,” she says, “and it’s guaranteed to be memorable.” C&IT