< PreviousDESTINATION REPORT themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESJULY 2023 Louisiana New Orleans & Beyond By Christine Loomis Topping off this meetings bonanza is a calendar filled with festivals and events that draw attendees year after year. There’s Mardi Gras, of course, but groups should also consider meeting during the engaging New Orleans Jazz Festival, during which some properties may offer a hospitality tent onsite at the festi- val to add even greater value to the attendee experience. All that said, New Orleans isn’t the only topnotch meeting destination in Louisiana. Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s capital, also has plenty to draw associations, especially state and govern- ment associations that benefit from meeting in the state’s seat of government. And Shreveport-Bossier has its own vibe and hospitality style. New Orleans The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a global nonprofit association that connects educa- tors, students and businesses with a goal of creating the next generation of great leaders, met in New Orleans last spring. The group’s international conference and annual meeting brought in 1,250 attendees. Hyatt Regency New Orleans served as headquarter hotel. Reagan J. Alexander, CMP, director of learning and devel- opment for AACSB, says planning involved pivoting at several points along the way. “Our first event to go back to in-person was held in October 2021, and we had chosen to produce a hybrid conference. The events were overall very successful, but after further internal review, we decided to execute our events either virtually or in-person and tabled hybrid events for the time being. As for most associations, the financial implications of a hybrid event can make or break your financial success.” She says New Orleans has always been an attractive location for AACSB’s global membership. “We consider New Orleans a destination that provides a variety of hotel options to accom- modate our group size and needs. We’ve held events with 100 to 1,300 attendees. The airport is a short ride to the city center and any hotel location allows for walkable dining and enter- tainment options. Let’s not forget the phenomenal cuisine and variety New Orleans provides. Overall, the city can be defined as a center of hospitality. You never meet a stranger!” New Orleans & Company, the city’s CVB, has also played a critical role in the group’s meeting success. “New Orleans & Company is by far my favorite CVB to work with,” Alexander says. “Their team is always willing to go above and beyond dur- ing site visits, planning stages and show time. We can always count on New Orleans & Company to respond quickly, provide viable resources and connect without prompt. Should you find yourself in New Orleans, you will not be disappointed!” Although AACSB did not use the convention center, NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY Canal Streetcar in New Orleans here’s no question that New Orleans is one of the most popular meeting cities in America —with good reason. It has the expansive Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, every hotel brand a planner could want, and hotels of every size, including those with more than 1,000 rooms and more than 100,000 sf of meeting space. It’s a go-to for association conventions and city-wides, but also a destination with one-of-a- kind boutique hotels and enough highly regarded restaurants and independent venues to meet the needs of executive boards, VIP attendees and groups of all sizes. T 40Alexander has toured it. “I’ve conducted a site tour and found the facility to have lots of options for meeting space and a great location with hotels and entertainment close by.” She calls the Hyatt Regency New Orleans an ideal location for AACSB’s meeting last year. “The hotel provided ample meeting space for our group of 1,250. We found the meeting space easy to navigate and there are several areas for causal networking. The location of the hotel restaurant and bar, for example, was enjoyed by our attendees; its central location created many opportunities for social networking.” However, she adds, “By far, it is the hospitality of the hotel team that created a welcoming atmosphere for our event staff and attendees. You are always welcomed with a smile and a ‘cheers!’” In addition, Alexander says, “I have never heard so many compliments regarding hotel food. The chef stayed true to the city’s cuisine while accommodating our unique requests. Definitely order the grits.” She has high praise for the hotel’s event managers, who helped to make her job easier. “Our event managers immedi- ately obliged our requests and ensured we celebrated our suc- cesses. One of the event managers certainly went above and beyond accommodating our guest room requests and other asks. He always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. A meeting planner definitely appreciates this type of hospitality while executing a long week of events.” Alexander also notes that that event was her first at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans but says that her group will definitely return when the opportunity presents itself. The past couple of years have brought challenges, but also opportunities to learn. “If anything,” Alexander says, “the past few years have taught me that we must be agile and patient. Our industry is still rebuilding and both suppliers and plan- ners need to keep one another in mind. We all have a bottom line and we all have constraints. Nonetheless, we are all in this together.” Her advice: “Be forthcoming with your partners about budget, expectations and keys for success. During an event you’re a team and that allows everyone to win.” The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Educa- tion (AACTE) held its 74th annual meeting in New Orleans also last spring. There were approximately 1,400 to 1,500 attendees at the event, which was based at the New Orleans Marriott. New Orleans as a destination has much to offer associa- tions like AACTE. Matthew Wales, CAE, CMP, the former vice president of member services and events with AACTE, says of his experience there, “It’s a great, central location. The new airport and increase in affordable airlift made it easier for attendees to reach the city. And the event package we were able to create with the New Orleans Marriott and the Sheraton New Orleans was ideal, given that we are heavy on breakout space needs but do not have a large trade-show component that requires lots of space. Finally, the association prides itself in its work to diversify our classrooms, and New Orleans is a city rich with a culture that welcomes all of our attendees.” Wales says New Orleans & Company was an essental mem- ber of his planning team. “Whether it was securing hotel bids or creating contacts with offsite venues for our partner events, the CVB was a free and complimentary service that ultimately enhanced our experience,” he says. All of the group’s needs were met within the New Orleans Marriott, with some overflow of meeting space and guest rooms across the street at the Sheraton New Orleans. Wales calls the New Orleans Marriott the ideal spot for an event the size of theirs. “Given the number of room nights needed, as well as meeting and breakout space, we were able to fit about 90% of our annual meeting sessions within the hotel. The partnership and collabo- ration with the Sheraton New Orleans made it ideal for us to book their ‘French Quarter Con- nection’ package. That ensured we could keep all of our attendees close together, as network- ing and collaboration time is highly important to them. Additionally, this package saved us money as well, as we didn’t have to pay for any additional ground transportation costs.” Wales says the quality and commitment of their service teams was “beyond impressive,” and across all departments. 41 JULY 2023 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIES Reagan J. Alexander, CMP Director of Learning and Development, The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business I have never heard so many compliments regarding hotel food. The chef stayed true to the city’s cuisine while accommodating our unique requests. PHOTO BY JUSTEN WILLIAMS / NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY New Orleans is filled with music, culture and history. Go on a ghost tour and learn the stories behind the city’s historic buildings.“From the front desk to banquets and every place in between, the employees demonstrated that they were not just ready to assist us, they were genuinely glad we were there. Our attend- ees commented in their feedback surveys that not only did they feel welcomed, they were treated like VIPs. That per- sonal touch is so important as it goes a long way toward the overall success of our event.” Although this wasn’t the very first time AACTE held its annual meeting in New Orleans, this was the first time it was held at the New Orleans Marriott. Given their success- ful outcome, he says the association plans on returning in the near future. Staff willing to go above and beyond, as Marriott and Shera- ton staff did, is often a critical factor in a meeting’s success, and it may matter now more than ever. To planners considering New Orleans, Wales says, “A tip I would offer planners is some- thing most do already but it’s important to remember: Know what is most important to your attendees. As the labor shortage across the country continues, not all positions may be fully staffed and not all services may be avail- able. However, if you know something is truly a priority for your attendees and you commu- nicate that to your partners in advance, they will go out of their way to make it happen for you.” Baton Rouge Cindy Hayes, CMP, DMCP, CHI, general manager of PRA New Orleans, a destination man- agement company, works with many association groups. She says there’s a lot in Louisiana beyond New Orleans that fits the needs of association meet- ings. The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is also a plus. “Smaller cities located just one to three hours away from the airport, such as Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Lake Charles, offer less expensive hotel lodging and work well for associations that don’t have the budget for major destinations like New Orleans.” Baton Rouge, she points out, is just an hour from the New Orleans airport, an airport that offers many available flights in and out. “Baton Rouge is a hub for state associations and is always on the city rotation for those associations,” she adds. “It’s the capital of Louisiana.” Typically, she says, association groups don’t go into New Orleans when they meet in Baton Rouge, even though it’s not far. “They tend to lean toward staying in the Baton Rouge area,” discovering what that city has to offer. One thing that meeting planners considering Baton Rouge should pay attention to, especially if they’re booking in a shorter timeframe, is the schedule of LSU home games and whether any big-name performers are in town. “Lodging in Baton Rouge is less expensive than in New Orleans, Hayes says, “except when there’s an LSU home game or major con- cert, during which hotels book up.” Baton Rouge, Hayes notes, “is a great 3rd-tier destina- tion for mid- to small-size associations. It offers a great vari- ety of restaurants and museums, and while it’s very much a college town, it’s also the center for the state’s govern- ment. As for attractions that might interest groups, Hayes points out that the riverfront area was redeveloped in down- town Baton Rouge. “It offers several attractions such as the USS Kidd Veterans Museum, Riverfront Plaza and Louisiana Art & Science Museum. There are also historic sites, parks and additional attractions along the riverfront.” Shreveport-Bossier On the other side of the state, northwest Louisiana is heavily influenced by Texas. While Shreveport-Bossier is 314 miles from New Orleans, it’s just 188 miles from Dallas. Calling it “Louisiana’s Other Side,” the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau describes Shreveport-Bossier as “a mixture of spicy Cajun and the wide-open Texas spirit.” Among its offerings for meetings are a convention center with 350,000 sf, a variety of off-site venues and more than 10,500 hotel rooms. It is, the tourism bureau says, a place with “big-city amenities at small-city prices.” That’s appealing for asso- ciations on strict budgets. The area’s multiple casinos are a draw for some groups, but so too are its gardens, wildlife refuges, lakes, scenic byways and more. Plus, groups of 10 or more can immerse themselves in local experiences, “from roses and wine to music and science,” according to the CVB website. The fact is, Louisiana is more than New Orleans, which allows it to appeal to a diverse group of associations with diverse needs and budgets. But there’s also no question that New Orleans, a city with a celebrated culture, world-famous cuisine served up by world-famous chefs, and festivals and events, places high on attendees’ bucket lists. Its meeting venues, hotels and attractions have the collective capability to offer anything a group needs — and then some. Whatever your conference and event needs, Louisiana awaits. | AC&F | themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESJULY 2023 The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center boasts more than 1 million sf in meeting space. From Mardi Gras to the New Orleans Jazz Festival, there is always something happening in New Orleans, so plan acccordingly. VISIT BATON ROUGE © 2023 New Orleans & Company All Rights Reserved. NewOrleans.com | @VisitNewOrleans There’s always good food on the table, for every meeting and event. From grand dinners with colleagues to casual bites and intimate conversations with peers, the cuisine of New Orleans is what makes us Built To Host. Our food starts conversations and creates lasting memories so that business always feels as personal as bringing your family together. Call the New Orleans & Company Convention Sales Team at 877.393.5836 , email at cnvsales@neworleans.com or visit NewOrleans.com/meetings to make a lasting connection over a delicious meal. BOOK YOUR MEETING WITH NEW ORLEANS COURTESY PHOTO 42© 2023 New Orleans & Company All Rights Reserved. NewOrleans.com | @VisitNewOrleans There’s always good food on the table, for every meeting and event. From grand dinners with colleagues to casual bites and intimate conversations with peers, the cuisine of New Orleans is what makes us Built To Host. Our food starts conversations and creates lasting memories so that business always feels as personal as bringing your family together. Call the New Orleans & Company Convention Sales Team at 877.393.5836 , email at cnvsales@neworleans.com or visit NewOrleans.com/meetings to make a lasting connection over a delicious meal. BOOK YOUR MEETING WITH NEW ORLEANSDESTINATION REPORT themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESJULY 2023 Texas Lone Star Meetings: Beyond the Expected By Christine Loomis Corpus Christi More than 300 attendees gathered in Corpus Christi for Texas Energy Managers Association’s (TEMA) Connect 2023, the annual conference. Like others, TEMA is finally getting back to planning and executing meetings the way they used to. Now that the pandemic has essentially passed, they are trying to meet and plan as they did before. “We’re back to in-person events with a hybrid option for those unable to travel due to budget/time constraints,” says Cami Brumley, the association’s CEO. Offering a hybrid option for the conference is the new norm. “We don’t have many utilize this feature, but we keep it so that those who can’t attend in person can still benefit from our conference.” The Omni Corpus Christi served as the headquarter hotel this year and the group also used space at the American Bank Center (ABC) Convention Center, part of the American Bank Center complex. “The center was a great choice for our event; the site is large enough to accommodate our diverse space needs while also being cost effective. The people we worked with were incredible and made the event easy to plan,” Brumley says. “This is absolutely a selling point for planners. You have to get along with the people you plan an event with, or the process is miserable. Add to that the fact of having a destination city for membership to enjoy and you have a winning event. Our attendees were offered a conference rate at the Omni Hotel for the weekend post-event, so many stayed to enjoy the fishing, golf and beach with their families or friends. It was a bril- liant addition that added value to our event; I’m grateful to the Omni for such a great opportunity.” Brumley says her team received great assistance from Visit Corpus Christi, the city’s convention and visitor bureau. “The Corpus Christi CVB is incredible! From day one, they made sure we were taken care of and happy. They offered excellent incentives and made us feel welcomed and at home. They offered landing pages, welcome booths, gifts for my attendees and they even surprised us with a videographer at our closing session. I had mentioned at a meeting that we might like the session videoed then totally forgot about that conversation — but they didn’t! They followed through and handled it all.” The American Bank Center Convention Center, Brumley adds, was fantastic from start to finish. “There are no per- fect events, but this was close. The staff at the ABC center is responsive, accommodating, and when something goes wrong, they make it right. Because my attendees are used to this event being in smaller conference centers, the size of the center was a little daunting. But, we made our extra steps an excuse to thoroughly enjoy all the wonderful food and fun that Corpus Christi has to offer.” The group is already planning to return for TEMA Connect 2026. “There are things that we now know to ask for, but it’s always a learning experience when you plan an event of this magnitude in a new venue. I can say with my whole heart that it’s a joy to move forward with our 2026 plans — and I can’t say that about every place we have been!” The group chose the Omni in Corpus Christi in part because exas is no stranger to meetings. Houston, Dallas and San Antonio are probably best known to planners for good reasons — stellar facilities, options galore and excellent airlift among them — but they aren’t the only cities to consider. Here are a few other Texas cities that easily meet planners’ needs, as well as some highlights of what the most well-known cities offer. T 44of its proximity to the convention center, but Brumley says, “Hon- estly, the hotel is beautiful! It’s right on the water and within walking distance to many of the city’s best restaurants. It also has a free shuttle from the airport, a huge bonus for those flying into the event. The Omni gave us an amazing rate for our attendees and, as I mentioned, extended the rate through the weekend.” Most meetings and functions took place at the ABC Center, but the group used a meeting room at the Omni for a class the day before the conference. “We also used a space for a pre- conference registration event,” Brumley adds. “Everything for those events was great.” Brumley is a believer in assessing compatibility with hosts from the start and moving on if it doesn’t feel right. To her fel- low planners, she says, “Build a relationship with those you’re planning with. If you don’t hit it off at the site visit, run don’t walk to the next site. You’ll be working with these folks on and off for months, so you’d better get along. Find people you can be totally honest with because there will be times where you need to be — and quite frankly, times when they need to be honest with you, too.” If you’re planning an event in Corpus Christi, she says, “Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need. Remember the say- ing, ‘You have not because you ask not.’ Their goal is to make you happy; if they can’t do something they’ll let you know. Make sure that all the right players are on all your communica- tions; don’t assume that if you tell one person something, that everyone will know. And don’t assume that they’ll intuitively know the right places for things, so be super specific from the start — they can’t read your mind. My biggest advice is to plan to be in Corpus Christi for your event sooner than later. The view is amazing, the seafood is great and the staff that will handle your event can’t be matched.” El Paso The Texas chapter of the American Planning Association met in El Paso late last year. Angela M. Martinez, state conference coordinator for the chapter, says the meeting rotates through- out Texas. Last year’s event was the first fully in-person meeting since 2019. They ran virtual and hybrid events in 2020 and 2021. Martinez says registration numbers are almost back to pre-pan- demic levels. “I expect by 2024 we will be fully back and over pre-pandemic numbers as municipalities’ budgets get better.” Asked if the group will continue hybrid meetings going forward, her answer is succinct. “Never again. AV costs make it financially unfeasible for our organization given the registra- tion fees we try to maintain to make our conference affordable for governmental employees to attend.” They try to keep airfare costs down as well, and El Paso had enough benefits to make it work. She says, “We knew 95% of our conference attendees would have to fly to El Paso but it was a risk we were willing to take. El Paso has so much plan- ning and development, and redevelopment going on, it was a no-brainer for our board. We were supposed to be there in 2020 but Covid ruined those plans, so we made sure our first full in-person conference would be in El Paso.” Often, she continues, “The west and northwest of the state, as well as the Rio Grande Valley, are left out due to logistics. The cost and incentives received from Destination El Paso made El 45 JULY 2023 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIES VAN ZANDT VISUAL, LLC COURTESY OF BECKY BUNTE The 2023 TASBO Engage Conference was held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, which has 514,000 sf of contiguous space. The Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association held their 2022 conference at the El Paso Convention Center. The new Arlington Convention Center and new Loews Arlington hotel, connected via a skybridge to Live! by Loews Arlington, will offer combined 1,188 guest rooms and 251,000 sf of indoor/outdoor space. Paso work out, and F&B costs at the convention center were a little lower than what we see at other metropolitan areas.” Martinez says that during site visits in 2018 and 2019, the group was “blown away” by everything the city has to offer — especially downtown. “During our first visits, Hotel Paso Del Norte and Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park were under renovation. Our organization has named El Paso Street and San Jacinto Plaza as part of our Great Places in Texas. Since much of our membership had never been to El Paso or only driven through it, we decided on two orientation tours to showcase the city. Our group left with a completely different view of what they thought El Paso was. I try to get back as often as possible just on a personal level.” During the bid process, Destination El Paso, the city’s CVB, introduced the group to hotel managers, made recom- mendations for entertainment and made connections with the Chihuahuas organization. “We had a great team to work with while we were there. Plus, we were provided with an incentive that helped offset some costs,” she says. The conference and awards reception were set in the El Paso Convention Center. Martinez says, “Everything worked very well. The breakout rooms were a perfect size where people were not crammed together but presenters felt like the rooms were full. We don’t have a lot of exhibitors like a typical trade show so we should have put our sponsors and exhibitors in the lobby versus the exhibit hall as it seemed very empty, but that’s on us. We were trying something a little different and it didn’t work.” With a group of 750 attendees, Martinez notes that Hotel Paso Del Norte, across the street from the convention center and 15 to 20 minutes from the airport, is the only hotel large enough to qualify as host hotel. “It’s a full-service hotel with a fitness room, pool, cigar lounge, spa, two full-service restau- rants, a grab-and-go breakfast/lunch/coffee shop, business center, complimentary airport shuttle and two bars,” she says. The hotel’s ballroom was the setting for the opening reception. “We always have our opening reception at our host hotel as it helps with negotiating our room rates.” Other hotels the group used included Courtyard by Mar- riott, DoubleTree by Hilton, Aloft and Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park. “They were all great to work with and everything went as planned,” she says. “El Paso is a wonderful place,” Martinez emphasizes and encourages planners to give it a try. “There’s so much to see and do. Destination El Paso is there to help you throughout your planning process and beyond. Engage them and ask for recommendations. They helped us tremendously.” San Antonio Last fall, the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) held its annual meeting in San Antonio, with 3,900 in attendance. The San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter on the River Walk, San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk and Hyatt San Antonio served as the main hotels. Like other groups, BMES is back in person, and although they tried a hybrid approach with some components of the meeting offered live to remote audiences, Chanel Ricks, CMP, director, events, says there was little or no ROI in actual atten- dance. “Fewer than 30 of the 250 virtual registrants logged in, and almost none stayed in the live stream for the full event.” While registration numbers are still a little low, she expects full recovery by 2024. Rising costs are an issue. “We’re being very cost conscious and looking at raising registration fees to account for the rising costs of our destination meetings,” she says. “Historically, we have lower attendance on the West Coast, so it’s been a struggle to find that sweet spot of raising registration fees, accounting for higher event costs and keeping the draw for our attendees to attend our 2023 West Coast meeting. Last year’s event was our first fully in-person meeting. It was very clear that our attend- ees want to see each other and present to their colleagues; we experienced an enthusiasm we hadn’t seen in a long time.” San Antonio is a good location for the group. “We don’t offer a lot of meals as part of programming, so our attendees love being in downtown properties where they can walk, get some fresh air and not have a lot of people at the food outlets. San Antonio is a perfect location for all price points and our large student audience loved it.” The bulk of meetings were set in the convention center, which Ricks calls “Awesome.” She says the city is perfect for a fall meeting. “San Antonio is a warm city in the fall, the Riverwalk is a huge draw, the pricing was every economical (it’s not a union city) and function space was well laid out.” Among the destination staff that Ricks found most helpful were those at the convention center, the onsite registration team and the DMC, Access Destination Services San Antonio. She also notes that they used — and loved — the space at Marriott Rivercenter, setting more than 20 receptions there. Sometimes, politics impact destination choice, but not every city in a state is the same. More than a few members themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESJULY 2023 Pictured: TASBO Board officers, executive directors with guest speaker Chet Garner at the conference in San Antonio. Attendees liked the Grand Hyatt for its proximity to the convention center, as well as meeting space. COURTESY OF BECKY BUNTE This news is too exciting not to share: In 2028, Dallas will unveil a new convention center and entertainment experience. Get an early look at ConventionCenter.VisitDallas.com Omni Dallas Hotel, Downtown Start planning at DallasDelivers.com If you’re looking for something fun to do in between your meet ing or event, Dallas boasts twenty entertainment districts with walkable access to live music, boutiques, art and, of course, amazing food. VDAL23017 - Trade Pub Print - 8-125x10-875_r1v5.indd 16/12/23 5:44 PM Angela M. Martinez State Conference Coordinator, Texas chapter of the American Planning Association We had a great team to work with while we were there. Plus, we were provided with an incentive that helped offset some costs. 46This news is too exciting not to share: In 2028, Dallas will unveil a new convention center and entertainment experience. Get an early look at ConventionCenter.VisitDallas.com Omni Dallas Hotel, Downtown Start planning at DallasDelivers.com If you’re looking for something fun to do in between your meet ing or event, Dallas boasts twenty entertainment districts with walkable access to live music, boutiques, art and, of course, amazing food.objected to meeting in Texas. Ricks says, “Our board received a few reservations and complaints on social media con- cerning Texas laws related to women’s reproductive health. We received some strong reactions to the meeting being held in Texas, such as ‘Just cancel the meeting and move it!’ comments with- out them knowing the context and how difficult and expensive that could have been. We also had to contend with the fact that most of our California schools had a ban on state funding to Texas, and we thought it would affect our attendance significantly. We were proactive about addressing those issues from the board, and it ended up being fine. There were no complaints leading up to the annual meeting or onsite. The CVB helped with providing language on San Antonio being a diverse and inclusive community, which went over really well with our attendees.” The Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) met in San Antonio earlier this year at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk for its 2023 TASBO Engage Conference, draw- ing just over 3,000 attendees plus 324 exhibit booths with an additional 1,312 exhibitors. The conference is fully back in person and registration has exceeded pre-pandemic numbers. “Our members love San Antonio and the River Walk,” says Becky Bunte, CAE, deputy executive director. “The meeting/ exhibit space is perfect for our needs. We use a lot of meeting space for education and it’s more than adequate. Did I men- tion we had wonderful weather…?” She says Visit San Antonio was very helpful. “The CVB was instrumental in helping us find outside venues for our board and staff, as well as helping with overflow hotels, maps, etc. They were available for a pre-planning visit, as well as our pre-con meetings.” TASBO used meeting space at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio and conven- tion center. “We need space at both places to meet the needs of the 100-plus courses we offer during this week. We’re there from Sunday to Friday and hold 40-60 events per day. The exhibit-hall space works for our 300-plus exhibi- tors. We held our general session at the convention center in the Hemisfair Ball- room, which was perfect. We’ve used the Stars of Texas Ballroom before and love it as well,” Bunte adds. She says the group likes the Grand Hyatt for its proximity to the conven- tion center, as well as the meeting space. “The food and beverage were really great at the convention center and Grand Hyatt. Service was awesome! We’ve already contracted for 2028 for the same space. The closeness of the two facilities, as well as so many hotels near the convention center, is a crucial part of our decisions.” To planners considering San Antonio, Bunte says, “It will be a popular destination so be sure you have plenty of guest rooms. We had to keep adding but the CVB and hotels were very helpful.” Arlington Located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Arlington is less than 20 minutes from DFW International Airport. Arling- ton’s tagline, “a world of wonderful,” tells part of the story. It’s home to AT&T Stadium, Six Flags Over Texas, the Texas Rangers and their new Globe Life Field. The International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame is there, with a lot of event space, and Arlington has enough excel- lent BBQ joints to satisfy. The new Arling- ton Convention Center and new Loews Arlington hotel, connected via a skybridge to Live! by Loews Arlington, will offer combined 1,188 guest rooms and 251,000 sf of indoor/outdoor space. Those are just a few reasons to consider Arlington soon. Irving Conveniently located between Dal- las and Fort Worth and adjacent to DFW International Airport, Irving is another great choice for planners. That said, it has its own intriguing vibe and is a destination in its own right. Irving is well known for an eclectic music scene and the vibrant Las Colinas Entertainment District. The city has more than 13,000 rooms, with options from five-star luxury to budget- friendly stays. The Irving Convention Center features 275,000 sf, plus there’s a pavilion that converts from a 2,500 inti- mate theater, to a 4,000 capacity indoor theater and opens up to an 8,000-person capacity boutique open-air pavilion. Dallas The biggest news in Dallas is the planned new convention center. Dal- las city council approved plans for a new 2.5 million sf convention center themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESJULY 2023 Dallas offers plenty of hotels and resorts that cater to meetings, as well as more than 20 entertainment districts offering attendees plenty to do and see. Chanel Ricks, CMP, Director, Events, Biomedical Engineering Society The CVB helped with providing language on San Antonio being a diverse and inclusive community, which went over really well with our attendees. JOSEPH HAUBERT / VISIT DALLAS 48located adjacent to the current center. When complete it will feature 800,000 sf exhibit space and 400,000 sf of breakout space including a 100,000-sf ballroom. Construction will begin next year and wrap in 2029. Craig Davis, Visit Dallas president & CEO, calls it “a game changer” for the city that will make Dallas “the preeminent large-city convention and meeting destination in the country.” The center will anchor an entire convention-center district with restaurants, retail, lodging and entertainment. Dallas has more than 20 entertain- ment districts offering walkable access to music, shopping, arts and award- winning global cuisine, including the AT&T Discover District, which boasts a multi-sensory experience including outdoor event space with views of its 6K resolution, 104-foot-tall media wall and the AT&T Theater, fit for advanced screenings or corporate meetings. Dallas’s only five-star property, The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, offers up 19,000 sf of meeting space, including a ballroom that can accommodate large groups up to 1,100 people. They have been work- ing on renovating the rooms, meeting spaces and more. Another great venue is The Hyatt Regency Dallas, which offers more than 130,000 sf of meeting space with two main ballrooms, an exhibit hall and up to 40 breakout spaces, in addition to more than 30,000 sf of outdoor space. If you have a large meeting, then Hil- ton Anatole, just north of Dallas, might be a good bet with its 600,000 sf of event space, including nine ballrooms and 79 meeting rooms. It has an outdoor pool complex with slides and a lazy river, an award-winning fitness club, a spa, din- ing options and more. Houston In downtown Houston, Post Hous- ton has multiple spaces for event and function rentals, as well as a multi-story food hall, concert venue and five-acre rooftop park with sweeping views of the city skyline. If you need a lot of space, look no further than Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center (GRBCC), one of the 10 largest convention centers in the country. It offers about 1.85 mil- lion sf of meeting and exhibition space. The Convention Center’s 6,000-seat arena features telescopic seating, which allows for the accommodation of very large events. But there is something for all sizes of events, from the 31,500 sf George Bush Grand Ballroom to a 3,600- seat theatre hall. It also has an outdoor reception space with nearly 3,000 sf of meeting space. The Marriott Marquis Houston is home to the largest ballroom in Hous- ton – the grand Texas Ballroom, and it is one of two ballrooms. Altogether, they have more than 50 event rooms and 37 breakout spaces. Within their more than 153,000 sf of event space, they can cater to groups of up to 4,300 people. There are so many other options to consider. Hilton Americas-Houston, with its 117,457 sf of meeting space, offers a new R24 Rooftop Lounge with breathtaking views of the city. The Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria offers a vari- ety of meeting venues and has more than 19,000 sf of event space. No matter what destination you choose, you are sure to find something to fit your meeting or event within the Lone Star State. | AC&F | JULY 2023 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIES 49 vv Imagine a world where “can’t” doesn’t exist. Located just 15 minutes from DFW International airport, Arlington o ers everything you need to make your next event memorable. Arlington is also growing by the day. Our new 888-room luxury hotel and Arlington Convention Center is opening in 2024. So whether you’re planning for an event in the next few months or next few years, Arlington is ready. Email us at sales@arlington.org, and let’s talk about what we CAN DO for you. NEW CONVENTION CENTER OPENING IN A convention that doesn’t feel so conventional?Next >