The American Academy of Periodontology recently held their organization’s 109th Annual Meeting in Austin with more than 4,000 attendees, at the Austin Convention Center, as well as the Hilton Austin, with some events, like the student and new periodontist reception, taking place at off-site venues, like Bull and Bowl (pictured). Photo by Erchel Raymond

When Annette Hicks, CMP, vice president of meetings and events at the Texas Food & Fuel Association, planned the organization’s 2023 Southwest Fuel & Convenience Expo in Texas, specifically at the Omni Fort Worth, she based her decision on this: Texas is known for its legendary cowboy culture, its diverse landscapes and delicious cuisine — and its southern hospitality and charm abound for sure.

Hicks is not alone. Meeting and event professionals worldwide are drawn to the land of Stetsons. The Lone Star State is shining bright and its main hubs — Fort Worth, El Paso, San Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas — have made themselves more appealing, developing at lighting speed and creating venues perfect for holding city-wide events to smaller meetings.

Fort Worth

With the growth of Chic Western amenities, hotels, restaurants and upcoming attractions, Fort Worth has one of the best meeting packages in the country. And while it has become a sophisticated, modern city, it hasn’t forgotten its cattle-trading roots. The growth of Fort Worth’s downtown area, which includes the 35-block Sundance Square shopping and entertainment center, is boosting the demand for meetings and conventions. As Hicks explains, the 840 attendees at the Texas Food & Fuel Association Expo enjoyed the close proximity that the Omni Fort Worth offered as it is across the street from the Fort Worth Convention Center.

“The Omni Fort Worth has great meeting space including two good size ballrooms, Bob’s Steak & Chop House (for customer dinners), Whiskey & Rye Sports Bar for after-hours gathering and Mokara Spa for those who need to refresh after a long week at a convention or conference,” Hicks says.

The Fort Worth Convention Center, Will Rogers Memorial Center and Dickies Arena can accommodate groups of all sizes. The Convention Center features over 253,000 sf of meeting space; the Will Rogers Memorial Center boasts 100,000 sf of exhibit space, and the Dickies Arena offers over 90,000 sf of meeting and event space.

The building The Sinclair, an Autograph Collection Hotel, has taken on various forms since its creation in 1929. What began as a bank later turned into an office building, and now the 164-room Sinclair offers more than 3,000 sf of meeting space.

Fort Worth also has a big F&B scene. Big culinary industry names and restaurants now have operations in the Fort Worth area. Recent openings include Le Margot, 61 Osteria, Dreamboat Donuts & Scoops, Musume and Maiden, and more are planned for this year.

Dallas

Amy Peters, vice president of events at ASIS International, says Dallas and ASIS International have a long and successful history. The organization’s annual conference — Global Security Exchange (GSX) — visits Dallas on a regular basis. But it’s not just a city rotation that keeps them coming back.

“Attendees love Dallas because of the great airlift, a wide variety of hotels, and a seemingly endless supply of amazing restaurants and entertainment,” Peters says. “Exhibitors love it because labor prices are reasonable and the labor talent pool is deep, and there are myriad options to entertain clients. And business event strategists love Dallas because working with the supremely talented and dedicated Visit Dallas and Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas teams is tremendous.”

The entire Dallas CVB team functions as a cohesive group, and they understand and value the economic impact of meetings and conventions.

“The CVB’s convention services team could conduct a masterclass on partnering with associations to help them meet and exceed their event goals,” Peters says. “But even more than that, it’s the warmth and personal touch that truly turns our business partners in Dallas into friends.”

Dallas is a favorite among meeting planners. After all, it is America’s most connected city, boasting two international airports, with 250 nonstop destinations and over 1,000 average flights per day. In addition, Dallas offers more than 35,000 hotel rooms throughout the city with properties to serve conventions and meetings of all budget levels. Boasting the largest urban arts district in the nation, spanning more than 20 blocks, Dallas’ art district boasts an impressive lineup of museums, such as the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and the Crow Museum of Asian Art. These — paired with performing arts spaces offering opera, theater, music, and dance — create an unparalleled hub of artistry.

The new Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, scheduled for completion in 2028, will drastically improve Dallas’ urban landscape and offer 2.5 million sf of space, 800,000 sf of exhibit space, a walkable entertainment district and easy access to public transportation.

Dallas has more hotel products in the pipeline than any other U.S. destination. Over the next several years, the Dallas CVB expects more than 20,000 rooms to be added to Dallas’ hotel inventory.

Hyatt Regency Dallas features a newly renovated Reunion Ballroom, offering 19,400 sf of Texas-sized elegance. Divisible into seven sections and located on the lobby level, the ballroom has capacity for up to 2,400 guests, as well as features spacious foyers and technological advancements.

Dallas’ first JW Marriott property opened in the heart of the city’s Arts District. This new hotel is 23 stories tall and features 267 guest rooms, three restaurants, a sky lobby, two ballrooms and meeting and conference areas. Its most notable feature is a mid-air pool and deck with 40-foot ceilings, a terrace bar, cabanas, and an outdoor event space with amazing views of downtown.

Plans for a new Four Seasons flag are underway in Dallas’ Turtle Creek neighborhood. The 233-room hotel will be located in the heart of Dallas’ urban core, offering a world-class experience for guests.

Opening in 2025, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts will return to Dallas at Cityplace Tower, in Uptown, featuring iconic design and sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including a rooftop infinity pool and lounge and more than 21,000 sf of event space.

San Antonio

Alicia Perez-Arrieta, CMP, associate director of meetings at the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), says San Antonio is a great destination for SAME because there is a significant military presence in the area and attendees love visiting the city and enjoying its many attractions.

“We liked it so much we held both of our citywide meetings in San Antonio last year,” Perez-Arrieta says. “The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center has great meeting and exhibit space, but most importantly, it has wonderful staff and partners. The support and guidance we received during the planning process and onsite were excellent. The venue and vendor contacts were very responsive to our needs.”

Indeed, few destinations provide a sense of place like San Antonio. The city’s Riverwalk with its Spanish colonial architecture, and parks and plazas make it one of America’s most picturesque cities. More than just a tourism capital, San Antonio is a meeting and convention powerhouse offering a dynamic landscape to attract and entertain. Full of art, history, amazig cuisine and attractions, San Antonio offers something for everyone.

Brittany Tyrrell, CMP, DES, senior meeting and events manager at Irrigation Association (IA), says San Antonio provided a vibrant and welcoming backdrop for her association’s 2023 Irrigation Show and Education Week. The venue’s atmosphere added a unique touch to the event, contributing to a positive and energized atmosphere throughout the conference.

“Attendees actively participated in IA University sessions, Industry Insights and various networking opportunities, fostering valuable connections and knowledge sharing of the irrigation industry,” Tyrrell says. “The incorporation of San Antonio’s rich cultural heritage into the conference was a highlight. From local cuisine to river tours, attendees had the chance to immerse themselves in the unique flavor of the city, creating a truly memorable experience. I am confident that the positive momentum generated in San Antonio will carry forward, setting a high standard for future conferences,” Tyrrell says.

Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation of both guest rooms and meeting spaces, including the Hill Country Ballroom, Fredericksburg Ballroom and all indoor breakout rooms.

Hemisfair, home of the 1968 World’s Fair, is adjacent to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and has been undergoing a redevelopment. Civic Park’s Phase 1 recently opened and includes five acres of public parkland, a five-pooled water feature, and a great lawn area for concerts and events.

Houston

Houston offers many diverse activities, beyond just meetings and conventions, including a culinary scene, world-renowned theater and performing arts district, miles of outdoor space and nature, and iconic attractions.

When it comes to meetings, Houston delivers. The city’s premiere convention center, the George R. Brown Convention Center, can accommodate small and large-scale events. Located downtown, the George R. Brown Convention Center is connected to headquarter hotels via sky-bridges. The site also features Avenida Houston, the state’s largest convention and entertainment campus. It is steps from a 12-acre urban park and is available for outdoor programming and events.

The city has experienced the development of several hotels and venues that are ideal for meetings and events including the Omni Houston, which features more than 38,000 sf of indoor function space and is minutes from The Galleria, a unique shopping center. The resort-style property also offers access to Memorial Park Golf Course and jogging trails for attendees to enjoy.

At the end of 2023, Houston has welcomed an amazing 51 million visitors to the city. And 2024 is proving to be an even more exciting year in Houston as several new venues opening, offering innovative meeting and event spaces, as well as entertainment options for attendees visiting the city.

Frisco

For Brittany Boortz, director of conferences, Student Mobilization, selecting Frisco was the perfect choice for her organization’s conference.

“The Comerica Center is the perfect arena-style venue for our main sessions and is such a quick walk to the Frisco Convention Center which houses all our breakouts,” Boortz says. “With 3,000 people in attendance, we need a lot of hotel rooms and having 10 hotels within walking distance of both of these spaces provides the dream location for our conference. We love hosting our event in Frisco and we look forward to doing so for years to come.”

From over 4,263 hotel rooms and 417,000 sf of flexible meeting space, Frisco is proving to be a great place to host a meeting. Frisco has multiple full-service properties, including the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center, where you’ll find one of the largest ballrooms in the state of Texas. The centrally located Hyatt Regency Frisco and the Westin Stonebriar Golf Resort and Spa are highly sought after convention and meeting hotels. The Omni PGA Frisco Resort opened in 2023 with more than 500 rooms and suites and over 127,000 sf of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space.

Frisco’s HALL Park is undergoing a $7 billion redevelopment plan that will deliver one-of-a-kind experiences to visitors, including Frisco’s first Autograph Collection Hotels property and an art-focused park, both opening in 2024.

The Woodlands

Spend time in The Woodlands, Texas and you’ll find this is far from the ordinary events destination. With neighboring proximity to major Houston airports, The Woodlands boasts various meeting spaces that overlook The Woodlands Waterway. In addition, team-building opportunities also abound with Texas TreeVentures (a three-story aerial ropes course), golf courses, kayaking and art tours. As an added touch, the free, air-conditioned Town Center Trolley runs daily, seven days a week, making it easy to explore The Woodlands before or after an event.

The Woodlands Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton, recently completed a $26-million-dollar, property-wide renovation. This refresh enhanced the 400 guest rooms and 73,000 sf of meeting space, further cementing the property’s ranking among the best resorts in Texas.

Grapevine

Out of all of the markets Stephanie Buckley at National Seating & Mobility had to choose from when planning her company’s event, Grapevine and Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center personnel were the most accommodating to their needs. “They had the most to offer overall,” Buckley says. “The convenience factor and ease of traveling to and from were very attractive and then add in the amenities provided by Grapevine and Gaylord Texan — it was an easy choice for us.”

Centrally located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Grapevine is easy to get to and the city’s Southern hospitality and charming small-town atmosphere can be a wonderful escape for meeting attendees.

In addition, there is more than 1 million sf of convention and exhibit space with more than 20 hotels to choose from. Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center and Great Wolf Lodge recently underwent multi-million-dollar renovations of their meeting spaces. And Hilton DFW Lakes also completed multi-million-dollar room renovations. For those association meeting planners looking for team-building opportunities, look no further than Grapevine. Attendees can have hands-on experiences including games of pickleball, the fastest growing sport, at Chicken N Pickle. Grapevine also boasts ax throwing, vintage arcade games, escape rooms, excursions on Lake Grapevine, classic movies at the Historic Palace Theatre and the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, featuring vintage locomotives and 1920s era coaches. All of these places can be utilized for events.

Austin

Lisa Parse, director of meeting services at the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), recently held her organization’s 109th Annual Meeting in Austin. The AAP is a national dental organization representing approximately 8,000 periodontists and other dentists, and the annual meeting is AAP’s largest outward-facing event of the calendar year. The meeting was held primarily at the Austin Convention Center, with some events taking place at the Hilton Austin and some off-site venues, with over 4,000 attendees.

In AAP’s case, Austin and its venues are a good fit for the size of the annual meeting,” Parse says. “The hotel block we used was walkable to the convention center, which is always a plus. There are many restaurants and activities in the downtown area so attendees have options for entertainment and dining once the meetings conclude for the day.”

Parse found the staff at Visit Austin and the Austin hotel community to be solid partners in orchestrating the event as are the staff at the Austin Convention Center.

“They were so responsive and knowledgeable and acted as true partners for us during the planning process and on-site at the meeting,” Parse says. “It was AAP’s first Annual Meeting in Austin, and it was a very positive experience for the AAP staff as well as the attendees.”

Steve Genovesi, executive vice president of Visit Austin, adds that “Austin, with its unique and authentic vibe, provides a new meetings’ destination attendees embrace with excitement and anticipation. Austin is a college town that delivers a variety of entertainment districts, a rising culinary scene and outdoor beauty, featuring lakes and hills. Austin’s core essentials, including hassle-free airport access, and quality hotels and venues, are unmatched.”

The Hyatt Regency Austin features a newly designed Zilker Ballroom, offering over 14,000 sf of beautiful event space. The ballroom boasts 22-foot ceilings and an upstairs terrace, making it a new favorite venue in Austin.

Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa features over 76,000 sf of flexible meeting, event, and pre-function space, including the 14,532 sf Brazos Ballroom, almost 15,000 sf of event lawns, and the indoor/outdoor Hill Country Pavilion. For leisure activities, the resort includes four distinct 18-hole golf courses, each with stunning Hill Country scenery and a 13,000 sf Mokara Spa.

El Paso

El Paso is a hidden gem on the western edge of Texas, anchored firmly in place by the Franklin Mountains. Meeting planners are met with open arms to experience El Paso’s true Texas hospitality during their meeting or event. El Paso seamlessly blends safety, affordability and vibrancy, creating a standout destination for both business and pleasure. Downtown El Paso is amid a remarkable renaissance fueled by a half-billion-dollar investment, transforming its landscape into a thriving hub of activity. Downtown’s growing collection of new shops, venues and restaurants offer a luxurious and convenient stay while in town.

The El Paso Convention Center is the city’s largest meeting space and has reinvented itself as a preeminent meeting space with 133,100 sf of event space and modern amenities — helping it keep pace with the industry’s growing needs, turning meetings into unforgettable experiences.

The City of El Paso alongside the El Paso Neighborhood Coalition held the 48th Annual Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) Conference at the El Paso Convention Center.

“The Convention Staff went above and beyond for us. They ensured every guest had a wonderful and safe stay,” says Nickole Heater Rodriguez, community development program manager at City of El Paso. “This was particularly important as we had a nationwide audience attending when the National Order of Title 42 was lifted. NUSA Convention attendees appreciated the ease of access from the nearby hotels and overall accessibility.

If Texas wasn’t on your radar, the above narrative will certainly give you something to think about. The Lone Star State has views, tastes, tracks in history and southern hospitality unlike any other in the modern West. | AC&F |