< PreviousVISIT DALLAS D allas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started. Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will not only be impressive on the inside, but the outdoor event area will feature terraces with views of downtown Dallas and the Trinity River. Plus the center will connect business travelers with even more dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District. “This news is a game changer for Dallas and will put our city on the map as the preeminent large-city convention and meeting destination in the nation,” said Craig Davis, Visit Dallas President & CEO. The new district will be in addition to the many places attendees currently have at their disposal to explore after sessions. Dallas has a walkable downtown as well as 20 vibrant entertainment districts offering live music, shopping hotspots, cultural institutions, and dining options. “Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers need and have been asking for.” AT&T DISCOVERY DISTRICT: Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T cor- porate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining out- lets at The Exchange, a bustling food hall. NEW & NOTEWORTHY HOTELS: Names like the Hotel Swexan (Uptown) and JW Marriott (Downtown) are add- ing luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. Hotel Swexan, a new 22-story luxury property, has opened in Uptown’s Harwood District. It’s a sculptural wonder, with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge. JW Marriott, a new 15-story, 283-room hotel de- buted in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District in July. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar. INTERCONTINENTAL DALLAS COMING SOON: Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and ameni- ties, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space. | AC&F | VISITDALLAS.COM TEL: 214-571-1000 EMAIL: SALES@VISITDALLAS.COM FACTS & FEATURES Accessible: Two airports with direct daily flights from 200+ destinations. Walkable: Getting around is easy in Dallas. BEST OF THE BEST CELEBRATING THE Find Your All themeetingmagazines.com 40 ASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESSEPTEMBER 2023Downtown Dallas Start planning your meeting or event at VisitDallas.com Flying into Dallas for your next meeting is a breeze with two major airports servicing our city. Plus, our central location means you’ll be landing here within hours. Looking for easy to get to and get around? Dallas delivers.LOUISVILLE TOURISM L ouisville’s unique brand of Southern hospitality, one-of-a-kind attractions, Urban Bourbon Experience, rich culinary scene, convenience and affordability make it a world-class destination for any meeting or event. Your attendees will love our restaurant and bar scene, the thrill of visiting Churchill Downs, Museum Row (with iconic attractions like the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory and Muhammad Ali Center) and distillery tours. In no other city will you find the welcome you’ll receive in Louisville, one of “America’s Friendliest Cities” according to Travel + Leisure. Bourbon City proudly boasts not one, but two state- of-the-art convention centers – both with GBAC STAR Accreditation. The Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) is a hub of activity in the center of downtown Louisville, adjacent to 6,300 hotel rooms and within walking distance of museums, Bourbon City’s urban distilleries and two thriving entertainment districts along Fourth Street Live! and Whiskey Row. A recent $207M expansion and renovation created 200,125 contiguous square feet of exhibit space, a 40,000 square foot column-free ballroom with color-changing LED lighting, a 175-seat conference theater and 52 modern meeting rooms. The state-of-the-art building reflects Louisville’s personality through nods to the bourbon industry, local art, and cuisine, and is LEED Silver Certified. The Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) covers more than 1.2 million square feet of indoor exhibition space, meeting rooms and public areas including Freedom Hall, a 19,000-seat indoor arena. Located just minutes from downtown near the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, the Kentucky Exposition Center is the permanent home of large-scale events like the National Farm Machinery Show, Kentucky State Fair and the North American International Livestock Exposition. Bourbon City’s hotel scene is booming with over 2,000 rooms added since 2020 and hundreds more currently under construction. Right now, Louisville has more than 180 hotels and over 23,000 rooms in the metro area. CULINARY SCENE Louisville has been named one of the “South’s Best Food Cities” by Southern Living and one of the “Top Local Food Scenes” by USA Today. From bourbon- infused to international flare – Louisville’s cuisine could best be described as “New Southern.” Louisville also produces a third of the world’s bourbon, has more than 2,500 restaurants and numerous James Beard nominated and award-winning chefs, earning it the title of “Culinary Capital of Bourbon Country.” URBAN BOURBON EXPERIENCE Louisville’s first distillery since Prohibition, The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, opened in the heart of downtown in 2013 signaling a new era in Bourbon Country and becoming the first of a dozen and counting spirits-related attractions that comprise Louisville’s Urban Bourbon Experience. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center at the Frazier History Museum is the place to plan a day full of bourbon tours topped off with the culinary and cocktail experience that is the Urban Bourbon Trail. | AC&F | 401 WEST MAIN STREET, SUITE 2300, LOUISVILLE, KY 40202 CONTACT: SONIA FONG, VICE PRESIDENT OF CONVENTION DEVELOPMENT | TEL: 502-584-2121 SFONG@GOTOLOUISVILLE.COM | GOTOLOUISVILLE.COM FACTS & FEATURES Convention Center FYI: The Kentucky Exposition Center offers abundant indoor and outdoor space, while the newly renovated Kentucky International Convention Center welcomes visitors to Louisville’s downtown core with state-of-the-art meeting space. BEST OF THE BEST CELEBRATING THE Meet in Bourbon City themeetingmagazines.com 42 ASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESSEPTEMBER 2023raise the bar in bourbon city. GoToLouisville.com/MeetMONTEREY CONFERENCE CENTER I n the heart of downtown is the Monterey Conference Center. With over 67,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the- art space available, MCC is the perfect venue for meetings of any size. Monterey Conference Center offers easy access, walkability and more than 1,200 centrally located rooms, providing convenient lodging options. Two adjoining hotels include the newly renovated Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay and Marriott Monterey. Both are directly connected to MCC and steps away from the waterfront, legendary Fisherman’s Wharf, more than 60 restaurants and more. ALL INVESTED MCC’s LEED® Platinum certification recognizes the facility’s sustainability efforts impacting indoor air quality, energy, water usage and more. It is one of only a few conference and convention facilities in North America to boast this highly coveted certification. MCC is also a GBAC STAR Certified Center, which recognizes facilities that have the practices, procedures and protocols in place to prepare, respond to and recover from outbreaks and pandemics. ALL IN MOTION Traveling to Monterey is easy with over 500 direct and one-stop flights from most major U.S. cities and many international cities. The convenient Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) has short, hassle-free security lines and is located 10 minutes from downtown Monterey. The destination is also an easy drive from San Francisco and Silicon Valley, or a scenic drive up famed Highway 1 from Los Angeles. The central location makes it a gateway to many iconic Monterey County attractions, including Pebble Beach Golf Links, Carmel Valley and Salinas Valley wine countries, Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea and more. $10,000 SAVINGS. 100% INSPIRATION. When you meet in Monterey County, it’s all possible. Like beachside brainstorm sessions. Or budgets finalized after a morning hike. Or team goals set while wine tasting. If you’re ready to get some real work done—in an unreal setting—bring your event to Monterey County. It’s sure to be unforgettable. Plus, right now you can save up to $10,000! Just book and host an event with 25 guest rooms or more between November 2023 and April 2024 and See Monterey will credit $20 per actualized room night. When it comes to taking your meeting to the next level, Monterey County is all in. | AC&F | ONE PORTOLA PLAZA, MONTEREY, CA 93940 CONTACT: TERESA SAVAGE, VP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT | TEL: 831-657-6414 TERESA@SEEMONTEREY.COM | MONTEREYCONFERENCECENTER.COM FACTS & FEATURES Connected Total Guest Rooms: 700 combined hotel rooms with adjacent properties Convention Center FYI: With cutting-edge technology, progressive sustainability efforts, a perfect location, and more than 40,000 beautiful square feet, the Monterey Conference Center is an industry-leading venue for next-level events. BEST OF THE BEST CELEBRATING THE The Perfect Venue For Meetings of Any Size 44 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESSEPTEMBER 2023NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY N ew Orleans & Company is proud to be a 2023 recipient of the Distinctive Achievement Award. Such recognition is a testament to the passion and dedication shown by the New Orleans & Company team who strive daily to provide exceptional service and create memorable meeting experiences. New Orleans is a vibrant and welcoming city, making it an excellent choice for conventions, meetings, and events. The experienced hospitality community ensures that complex events are executed with excellence, providing a seamless experience for organizers and attendees. New Orleans’ strengths lie in its state-of-the-art venues that cater to events of all sizes and complexities. Moreover, the downtown area is walkable, making it convenient for attendees to get around or explore the city on foot. The city’s cultural richness sets it apart from other destinations. With its unique blend of history, traditions, and customs, New Orleans offers a one-of-a-kind experience for association members attending events. The local community takes great pride in its diverse heritage, which is reflected in the people, renowned cuisine, world-class entertainment, and architecture. Beyond cultural appeal, New Orleans provides impactful opportunities for supporting local sustainability and coastal restoration efforts. Organizations hosting events in the city can actively contribute to these initiatives, leaving a positive and lasting impact on the local environment and communities. ONGOING DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL HOSPITALITY INVESTMENT Continuing global hospitality investment provides a range of accommodation options from luxury, lifestyle and charming boutique properties. Throughout the city nearly $1 billion in hotel renovations have been completed, are underway or are in the planning phase, demonstrating New Orleans’ commitment to being a premier meetings and events destination. Art galleries, antiques and shopping are abundant while new and expanded attractions like the National WWII Museum and the Vue Orleans Observatory provide poignant cultural experiences. A $557 million dollar revitalization is underway at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center upscaling 140 meeting rooms and the entire exterior experience. And the recent Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification evinces a commitment to sustainable practices. New Orleans is equipped with cutting-edge technology and a thriving innovation community, making it an ideal location for forward-thinking companies and industries. AWARD WINNING HOSPITALITY PROFESSIONALS The diverse hospitality community and the New Orleans & Company convention sales, services and marketing teams are unified, and focused on providing expert support, knowledge, and resources to our customers. When you work with New Orleans & Company you gain an invaluable partnership. Bring your meeting to New Orleans and see for yourself why New Orleans is Built To Host. | AC&F | 2020 ST. CHARLES AVE., NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130 CONTACT: STEPHANIE TURNER, SR. VP CONVENTION SALES & STRATEGIES | TEL: 877-393-5836 CNVSALES@NEWORLEANS.COM | NEWORLEANS.COM/MEETINGS FACTS & FEATURES Total square feet of meeting space: 3 million sf City Highlights: Compact walkable destination , with nearly 26,000 hotel rooms in a 2-mile downtown area. BEST OF THE BEST CELEBRATING THE Built To Host 46 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESSEPTEMBER 2023© 2023 New Orleans & Company All Rights Reserved. NewOrleans.com/meetings | @neworleansandco From grand banquets 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 a conversation and creates lasting memories, delivering successful experiences no matter the sizeor scale of your event. 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 ORLEANSVISIT TAMPA BAY T ampa Bay is where dynamic meetings happen nearly effortlessly. With cutting-edge venues, new upgrades to the Tampa Convention Center and a vibrant array of amenities, Tampa Bay meetings come together with an easy, stress-free vibe. It’s called The Tampa Bay Effect, and it’s what makes meetings here shine. THE CROWN JEWEL OF TAMPA BAY MEETINGS. Just steps from modern hotels, must-see attractions and award-winning restaurants is the centerpiece of Tampa Bay’s walkable convention district — the Tampa Convention Center on the sparkling Hillsborough River. New waterfront meeting rooms were just added to this treasured venue. And more updates are on the way. Inside, attendees will benefit from upgraded elevators, escalators, air conditioning and interior design elements such as new artwork and wall coverings. Outside, the venue will be enhanced to feature a new facade, LED lighting and more. Rounding out the updates are new local food and beverage options from Tampa Bay’s award-winning culinary scene. AN ARRAY OF NEW WAYS TO STAY. There’s a hotel option for every attendee with the new JW Marriott Tampa Water Street that boasts sprawling views, a rooftop pool and 100,000 square feet of event space. For attendees who want a unique boutique hotel, Hotel Haya is the perfect choice. Just minutes from downtown on the free streetcar, Hotel Haya boasts midcentury Cuban flair, wraparound balconies, stunning artwork and innovative menus, all in historic Ybor City. SUSTAINABILITY MEETS WELLNESS. Outside the venue, the innovative Water Street Tampa neighborhood is the first in the world to earn WELL Certification for integrating sustainability and wellness into buildings and pedestrian spaces. There are extra- wide sidewalks to promote foot traffic, water bottle refilling stations, recycling bins and buildings with cutting-edge energy conservation. BRINGING TOGETHER A WORLD-CLASS CONVENTION DISTRICT. The Tampa Riverwalk conveniently links the Tampa Convention Center and many must-experience destinations like gems on a string. With 2.6 miles of scenic waterfront views, attendees can stroll or bike to celebrated museums, beautiful parks, award-winning restaurants and unique attractions, such as The Florida Aquarium on the path’s south end. For an even more adventurous experience, attendees can rent a standup paddle board, or take the Pirate Water Taxi. SAVOR NEW TASTES. The 2023 MICHELIN Guide to Florida, bestowed Tampa Bay restaurants with a coveted MICHELIN Star — bringing the total number of restaurants included in the guide to 25. Plus, Tampa Bay offers two Instagram-worthy food halls, Sparkman Wharf and Heights Public Market at Armature Works, with fresh Gulf seafood and an array of award-winning local craft beer. Discover more at TampaMeetings.com today. | AC&F | 201 N. FRANKLIN ST., SUITE 102 TAMPA, FL 33602 CONTACT: ADAM DEPIRO, VICE PRESIDENT OF CONVENTION SALES | TEL: 813-342-4061 ADEPIRO@VISITTAMPABAY.COM | TAMPAMEETINGS.COM FACTS & FEATURES Total Guest Rooms: 25,619 Total Hotels/Resorts: 200 Total Convention Center Space: 600,000 sq ft BEST OF THE BEST CELEBRATING THE Gather brightly 48 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESSEPTEMBER 2023meet Vibrantly Tampa Bay is where dynamic meetings come together nearly effortlessly. With an ever-evolving array of luxury and boutique hotels, cutting-edge waterfront venues, and award-winning culinary — all with a stressfree vibe. tampameetings.com tbcvb_49899_41_Meetings_Ad_FullPg_M.indd 1tbcvb_49899_41_Meetings_Ad_FullPg_M.indd 18/25/23 9:54 AM8/25/23 9:54 AMNext >