< PreviousW elcome to Laredo, Texas, where the streets are immortalized in song, paved with history and lead to adventure around every corner. Set along on the banks of the Rio Grande, Laredo is a vibrant city brimming with culture and charm. The adventure begins with the His- toric Laredo Walking Tour. Step into 269 years of rich history, with stories whis- pered in both English and Spanish. Mar- vel at the architectural beauty of the San Agustin Cathedral. Lose yourself in the tales of the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum and Villa Antigua Border Heri- tage Museum. Soak in the colors as you stroll through San Agustin Plaza. Here, the streets speak through stunning murals with modern tales of heritage and hope. From the Chacon Creek Trail to the lush habitats of Lake Casa Blanca Inter- national State Park, and everywhere in between, Laredo is a haven for hun- dreds of species of local and migratory birds. Bird lovers and hikers alike can explore Laredo’s riverfront, creek sys- tems, nature trails, and private ranch- lands all year round. When sports are your goal, Laredo scores big time! Laredo is home to Los Tecos Baseball Team, the two-nation organization and five-time winners of the Mexican Baseball league. They’ll play 90 adrenalized games this year. The action continues with the Laredo Heat, champions of the Lone Star Conference Championship. Catch the excitement at Texas A&M International University and feel Laredo’s sporting spirit. Around here, all roads lead back to la cocina, no reservations required. In Lar- edo, the essence of “Mex-Tex” cuisine comes alive in every bite. Laredo kitchens have more than 200 years perfecting the fusion of two distinct cultures into dishes that define Laredo’s “Mex-Tex” flavor. From sizzling fajitas, tasty tacos, to carne asada and more. From traditional dishes to global gas- tronomy, Laredo’s culinary landscape is as diverse as its heritage. Choose between Thai, Italian or Japanese, and of course, the Lone Star State’s famous BBQ and steakhouses. Afterwards, treat yourself to the sweet delights of local confection- ers, offering everything from fresh dough- nuts to tres leches. Come sunset, toast your adventure with an ice-cold IPA or cocktail. Catch the game at a sports bar, or dance the night away. Laredo nights make unwind- ing the day easy. Whether you're a history buff, an art lover, just passing through, or simply in search of a new adventure, Laredo caters to all. From the cobblestone alleys to the bustling markets of San Bernardo Avenue, from serene riverbanks to artisanal coffee shops, every moment here is a discovery. So, pack your bags and set your sights on Laredo, where every visit is a journey through the heart of Mex-Tex culture. | AC&F | Laredo The Cultural Jewel of South Texas Total Guest Rooms: 4,000 Total Hotels/Resorts: 53 FACTS & FEATURES FIDEL E. HALE IV Sales Account Coordinator 956-795-2200 fehale@ci.laredo.tx.us CONTACT AMERICA'S PREMIER MEETING & CONVENTION DESTINATIONS 2024 38 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESMAY 20242201 SECOND STREET, SUITE 600 FORT MYERS, FL 33901 TEL: 239-338-3500 MEETINFORTMYERS.COM P lan an immersive experience for meeting attendees in a place where innovation and creativity come naturally — Fort Myers’ islands, beaches and neighborhoods. Create memorable networking and team-building events cus- tomized to your group’s interests. Meeting attendees will love our vibrant neighbor- hoods, historic landmarks, serene parks, and lush gardens. The greater Fort Myers area is an inspiring place to work and play. Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or a larger event, we can accom- modate it, thanks to 230,000 total square feet of meeting space. Venues include open-air restaurants, historic homes, hotel ballrooms, and the Caloosa Sound Con- vention Center & Amphitheater — located in the heart of downtown. Book comfort- able rooms at the nearby Luminary Hotel & Co., Autograph Collection, and meeting attendees will be within walking distance of daily sessions. Plan a meeting at a waterfront hotel, where you’ll have everything you need in one convenient location. The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village has over 29,000 square feet of collaboration space overlooking the Caloosahatchee River. ‘Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa on Captiva Island has a variety of indoor and outdoor meeting spaces plus group activities, like private boat cruises. The area’s newest offering, Margaritaville Beach Resort, offers flexible meeting areas, including ballrooms and outdoor terraces. Meeting attendees can take advantage of on-site amenities — like white-sand beaches, pools and spas — between ses- sions or at the end of each day. Attending a networking event or team dinner is as easy as heading downstairs. Creative thinking doesn’t happen only in a boardroom. You can send teams to a historic home, art center or wildlife ref- uge to encourage unconventional think- ing. The historic Burroughs Home & Gar- dens can accommodate corporate events and meetings up to 150. Reserve the rooftop at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in Fort Myers and catch a stunning sunset over the downtown skyline. Meet- ing attendees can immerse themselves in nature at Six Mile Cypress Slough Pre- serve, where 3,500 acres will feel like their personal meeting room. New meetings scheduled between May 1 and Dec. 31 and before Dec. 31, 2027, are eligible for our Island Incentive Offer. When you book an event throughout Fort Myers’ islands, beaches and neighbor- hoods with a minimum of 10 rooms on peak nights and 150 total room nights, you can save up to $5,000. Ready to connect? We can help. Fill out an RFP at MeetInFortMyers.com, and our team will connect you with venues that meet your group’s criteria. See how our white-sand beaches, natural settings and unique meeting venues inspire cre- ativity and innovation — then start plan- ning your meeting. | AC&F | Fort Myers Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods Plan productive meetings in a naturally inspiring place. Total Guest Rooms: 11,000 Total square feet of meeting space: 230,000 square feet Convention Center FYI: The Caloosa Sound Convention Center has 40,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and is located in the heart of downtown. FACTS & FEATURES JILL VANCE Director of Sales Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods jvance@leegov.com CONTACT AMERICA'S PREMIER MEETING & CONVENTION DESTINATIONS 2024 40 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESMAY 2024YOU’RE THE ONE WHO WE HELP YOU MAKE IT LOOK EASY. LEADS THEM TO Innovation. Inspirational surroundings Expert conference services team Wide variety of accommodations and meeting rooms near RSW airport THE WESTIN CAPE CORAL RESORT AT MARINA VILLAGE Connect and collaborate at The Westin Cape Coral Resort, and let our waterfront space set the stage for an energizing event. WestinCapeCoral.com 239-541-5040 Ready to connect? We can help. Call 1-800-237-6444 or submit an RFP at MeetInFortMyers.com400 W. WISCONSIN AVE. MILWAUKEE, WI 53203 TEL: 414-908-6000 VISITMILWAUKEE.ORG/ MEETINGS-AND-CONVENTIONS B aird Center's $456 million expansion is complete, mak- ing Milwaukee home to the state's largest and most flexible convention center— located in the heart of downtown. Situated on the Wisconsin Center District campus with Miller High Life Theatre and UW- Milwaukee Panther Arena, Baird Center is ushering in a new era of accessibility and innovation for meetings and events. By doubling its total space to 1.3 mil- lion square feet, Baird Center can simul- taneously accommodate all types of meetings and events. Meeting planners and attendees can expect 300,000 con- tiguous square feet of exhibition space; 24 new meeting rooms (for a total of 52); the new rooftop Baird Ballroom with out- door terraces, natural light and the Baird Sky View Terrace offering skyline views; a solar roof; all-gender bathrooms; dedi- cated sensory rooms; 400 indoor parking spaces; six new loading docks (for a total of 22) and so much more. Do More in Milwaukee The city awaits, and Baird Center is within walking distance of top attrac- tions, dining and nightlife minutes from Milwaukee's stunning lakefront. The rich, diverse experiences span 191 distinct neighborhoods, and attendees can find 200+ locally owned downtown restau- rants, 18 James Beard-recognized chefs, and over 15 downtown museums. The Hop streetcar connects visitors to some of the most popular neighborhoods and attractions on its 2-mile route. Beyond downtown, there are 1,400 acres of beach- front, 135+ miles of trails and RiverWalk and 150 state and county parks. More New Milwaukee Venues The center of the city is experienc- ing a renaissance. Opened in the spring of 2023, The full-service Trade Hotel, located across from Deer District, added another Marriott Autograph collection property to Milwaukee's hotel industry. Next to Fiserv Forum, home to the Mil- waukee Bucks, the forthcoming FPC Live venue will feature a new state-of-the-art concert venue that accommodates up to 4,500 people. Across town, the Iron Dis- trict venue will introduce a professional soccer team to the city in an 8,000-seat stadium, along with a brand-new upscale hotel, dining and retail coming in 2026. Finally, the Bronzeville Center for the Arts will open as a 50,000-square-foot development in the heart of Milwaukee in the coming years. "We're reaping the benefits of our city's reinvestments in our infrastructure with new developments getting noticed," said Marty Brooks, CEO of the Wisconsin Cen- ter District. “The expansion of the Baird Center caught the eye of the Republican National Committee, securing its place as one of the host venues for the 2024 presi- dential nominating convention." With this announcement, Milwaukee became the first city to win back-to-back Democratic and Republican national con- ventions since 1972 — largely due to the cutting-edge innovations at Baird Center, as well as the world-renowned amenities and attractions Milwaukee offers. | AC&F | Baird Center Delivering More in 2024 Total Square Feet of Meeting Space: 1.3 million square feet Convention Center FYI: At more than 1.3 million square feet, Milwaukee’s Baird Center is the largest and most flexible convention center in Wisconsin after a $456 million expansion. Make your mark in Milwaukee. FACTS & FEATURES LESLIE JOHNSON VP of Sales and Event Experience VISIT Milwaukee 414-287-4259 ljohnson@milwaukee.org CONTACT AMERICA'S PREMIER MEETING & CONVENTION DESTINATIONS 2024 42 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESMAY 2024The Expansion Debuts in May DISCOVER IT ALL AT VISITMILWAUKEE.ORG/MEET Baird Center expansion is complete. Now that the convention center has doubled to more than 1.3 million square feet, Milwaukee is home to the largest and most flexible convention center in Wisconsin. Make your mark in Milwaukee.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 Cen- ter 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 Mon- terey Bay and Monterey Marriott. Both are directly connected to MCC and steps away from the waterfront, legend- ary Old Fisherman’s Wharf and more than 60 restaurants. 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 pro- tocols 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 secu- rity 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 gate- way 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. | AC&F | Monterey Conference Center Total Square Feet of Meeting Space: 67,000 square feet Connected Total Guest Rooms: 1,200 nearby rooms FACTS & FEATURES MICHELE PEARCE Senior Conference Sales Manager Monterey Conference Center 831-419-2524 MichelePearce@SeeMonterey.com CONTACT AMERICA'S PREMIER MEETING & CONVENTION DESTINATIONS 44 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESMAY 2024 1 PORTOLA PLAZA MONTEREY, CA 93940 SEEMONTEREY.COM/MCC 20241101 ARCH ST., PHILADELPHIA, PA 19107 DISCOVERPHL.COM/MEET F ew convention centers put their guests as close to his- tory, art, and entertainment as the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Recently ranked #1 for walkability by the Wall Street Jour- nal, the Center is located in the heart of Philadelphia just steps away from over 14,400 hotels rooms, world class muse- ums, James Beard Award-winning res- taurants and much more. The Pennsylvania Convention Cen- ter offers a million square feet of sale- able space including seven exhibit halls totaling 679,000 square feet of exhibit space — of which 528,000 square feet is contiguous. In addition, the Center boasts more than 82 meeting rooms that can be set in banquet, classroom, or theater seat- ing and one of the largest ballrooms in the Northeast, equivalent to the size of a foot- ball field. The size of the Center provides planners with the ability to host multiple large trade shows and conventions simul- taneously and comfortably. Over the past few years, the Pennsylva- nia Convention Center has invested $78.8 million in capital improvements for the facility. The Center is also working on a major renovation that will provide meet- ing planners with a space to host board and executive-level private meetings. Led by new general manager Tony Hodgins, a 30-year veteran of Freemans, the Center is focused on customer service and upgrad- ing the meeting experience. Progressive work rules and streamlined services provide customers with just the right amount of flexibility and independence they need, resulting in greater cost efficiencies and a better overall customer experience. And, most recently, the Center and its trade show labor partners launched the new Hospitality Industry Advancement Trust (HIAT) Fund — a joint initiative believed to be the only one of its kind in the country — dedicated to expanding and building upon existing training programs in the areas of safety, development of technical skills, customer service and hospitality. Philadelphia has welcomed several new hotels over the last few years including the W, Element and Canopy, expanding the city’s downtown offerings to more than 14,400 rooms. The Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, the city’s largest hotel with 1,408 rooms located just steps from the Pennsylvania Convention Center, has been fully renovated and introduced new amenities and experiences including Liberty Lanes, a bi-level bowling alley offering cocktails and light fare. From your initial outreach to the clos- ing session, Philadelphia has the perfect resources for planning your next event. With in-depth knowledge of Philadelphia and expertise in meetings, conventions, and events, the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Pennsylvania Con- vention Center provide a team of experts to help you plan a successful meeting. Start planning today at www.discoverPHL.com. | AC&F | Pennsylvania Convention Center In the Heart of Philadelphia Exhibit Hall Space: 679,000 square feet Number of Exhibit Halls: 7 Largest Ballroom in the Northeast: 55,408 square feet Total Meeting Rooms: 82 Total Square Feet of Meeting Space: More than 1 million square feet Convention Center FYI: Ranked #1 for walkability by the Wall Street Journal, the Pennsylvania Convention Center places attendees in the center of Philadelphia with access to top attractions, dining experiences and hotel rooms. FACTS & FEATURES JASON JORDAN Vice President of Sales, PHLCVB 215-636-4405 ConvSales@ discoverPHL.com CONTACT AMERICA'S PREMIER MEETING & CONVENTION DESTINATIONS 2024 46 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESMAY 2024PHILLY IS THE PLACE FOR TRADESHOWS THAT STAND OUT The Pennsylvania Convention Center is just steps away from over 14,400 hotel rooms, unique offsite venues, award-winning restaurants, and familiar favorites like the famous LOVE statue and historic Liberty Bell. Located in the heart of downtown, the Center is an accessible venue for conventions. With progressive work rules combined with streamlined services and adaptable spaces, planners have the ideal mix of flexibility to ensure a memorable and impactful event. Start planning your next meeting today. DISCOVERPHL.COM FLAWLESSLY managed CONVENTIENTLY LOCATED,Next >