With sweeping desert valleys and cactus-strewn landscapes, rugged mountains and stunning vistas, the four states of the beautiful and diverse Southwest offer a treasure trove of scenic destinations. From the hip and urban to the charming and intimate, each city possesses its own distinct flavor, energy and personality. Whether it’s a dynamic metropolis like Houston or a boutique city like Santa Fe or Tucson, the cities of the Southwest are virtual meccas for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurous spirits, as well as meeting planners seeking to add a little spice to their events.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (Ron Behrmann)

Set against the rosy backdrop of the Sandia Mountains, Albuquerque offers an array of hotel, entertainment and cultural options. With 310 days of sunshine per year, the historic capital city is not only a prime destination for outdoor-minded groups and visitors, but it’s also considered the hot air ballooning capital of the world. Famous for its chili-infused cuisine, the city features plenty of local restaurants that serve up the flavor and culture of the New Mexican destination.

One of Albuquerque’s most interesting developments is the recently opened Hotel Parq Central. Situated on historic Route 66 and built on the notable site of the city’s old Memorial Hospital, the 1920s-themed, 74-room boutique hotel’s design retains and references the site’s original features while integrating modern amenities. A business center and three conference rooms total 2,600 square feet of space, and groups can take advantage of the property’s rooftop bar with its skyline and mountain views for private events. The property also has lush landscaped gardens and a light-filled conservatory and is within walking distance of the trendy EDO (east of downtown) district, which has some of Albuquerque’s best restaurants and up-and-coming galleries.

Another hotel metamorphosis taking place is the multimillion-dollar transition of the Isleta Casino and Resort into the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Albuquerque. It’s a 201-room property with a six-story hotel tower, 30,000 square feet of convention space, a 100,000-sq.-ft. casino, indoor/outdoor pool and a 2,500-seat multipurpose theater. The rock ‘n’ roll-themed resort now bears the music memorabilia, cool vibe and hip merchandise that have made the Hard Rock brand a familiar favorite among travelers for decades.

Grapevine, Texas

Great Wolf Lodge

Named for the wild Mustang grapes that blanketed its land when settlers arrived in 1844, the city of Grapevine is not only an internationally recognized place in the wine industry, it’s also a popular destination for meetings.

The American Bus Association (ABA) returns to Grapevine in early 2012 for the second time to host the American Bus Marketplace due to overwhelmingly positive feedback following ABA’s first Grapevine event in 2007, says Eron Shosteck, the association’s senior vice president of communications. “Grapevine proved to be a very good combination of all the factors we look for in a host city,” says Shosteck. “It’s centrally located and has a very good regional portfolio of attractions that motorcoach operators and the ABA can build into their sight-seeing tours. They say everything’s bigger in Texas, so there’s that, blended with a very neighborly hospitality component, that gives you the best of both worlds. Grapevine has a lot to offer everyone and that’s why we’re going back.”

Conveniently located just 10 minutes from the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, the city features plenty of fun, historic and valued-added offerings for groups, including 19 hotel properties with 800,000 square feet of combined meeting space. Gaylord Texan Hotel and Convention Center alone has 400,000 square feet of flexible meeting, exhibition and pre-function space, as well as 1,511 guest rooms, including 127 suites. A majority of ABA’s events will take place at the Gaylord Texan property.

Grapevine also has several stops worth visiting in Historic Downtown Grapevine. Its shops, restaurants, wineries and artisan boutiques are set apart from big-box stores in the Grapevine Mills Mall area, which has every store or restaurant any attendee could want. New attractions debuting in Grapevine Mills next year include the Legoland Discovery Center and the Sea Life Aquarium, set to open in April and June, respectively. The attractions add to the sprawling mall, which already has a Bass Pro Shop, 30-screen movie theater and ice-skating rink.

The city hosts a range of events every year, including GrapeFest, the largest annual wine festival in the Southwest that celebrates the city’s winemaking heritage. Held for four days every September, wine lovers get uncorked and sample more than 130 Texas wines from more than 30 wineries while they listen to live music, try true Texas barbecue and stomp grapes.

“Grapevine continues to grow its hospitality opportunities for meeting planners, convention attendees, as well as leisure travelers,” says Lisa Samuel, media relations manager of the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Grapevine visitors [can discover] a vintage Texas experience with all the modern-day technology and facilities necessary to operate a first-class meeting or event.”

Houston, Texas

George R. Brown Convention Center

Besides its rugged pioneering and ranching heritage, Texas is home to a variety of convention cities big and small. And if big is your thing, Houston just might be your perfect meetings destination. With its impressive array of hotels and meeting, convention and event spaces, groups find plenty of room to stretch out in the country’s fourth largest city.

As its convention hub, Houston’s downtown area lays claim to two of the top convention facilities in the country: the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Reliant Center. But recent economic development has made the area even more of a draw, with newer amenities including the 12-acre Discovery Green park, hotels, restaurants and the Houston Pavilions multiuse entertainment and retail development. When it opens in 2011, a 262-room Embassy Suites Hotel, which will include 6,000 square feet of meeting space, will overlook Discovery Green.

New offerings give repeat groups something to look forward to. The National Association of College Stores (NACS) is scheduled to hold its Campus Market Expo at the convention center in late February and early March. “Our last meeting was in Houston in 2006 and our attendees are really looking forward to all the new economic development that has occurred since then,” says Hugh Easley, NACS vice president of meetings and expositions.

Houston’s great value, two large airports, weather and added downtown options have made the city more desirable for NACS attendees, he says. “The downtown Houston area will provide a great deal of options for our people to enjoy lunch and dinner outside and still walk back to their hotel,” he says. “Our event is in February/March so the weather will be wonderful for our attendees and exhibitors. All our members that are in cold weather climates will enjoy the opportunity to do things outside after being cooped up all winter.”

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Sante Fe Convention Center

Known for its ancient pueblos, adobe churches, flavorful cuisine and art galleries, scenic Santa Fe offers meeting planners an authentic Southwest experience.

“Santa Fe is a great location,” says Kristen Joyner, executive director of the South West Transit Association (SWTA), which held its 30th Annual Conference and Expo at the Santa Fe Convention Center in February. “It has an easy public transportation system, it’s a walkable city with great food … and has a relaxing art and spa atmosphere. The [convention center] is beautiful and has everything necessary to make you look great to your members and clients. Our attendees thought this was the best conference SWTA has ever produced,” says Joyner.

Located within walking distance of the city’s downtown hotels, restaurants, museums and shopping, the state-of-the-art LEED Gold-certified convention center features 40,000 square feet of event space, an 18,000-sq.-ft. ballroom, 11 breakout rooms, building-wide wireless Internet and a central outdoor courtyard. Art and historic amenities are plentiful in Santa Fe, so groups have plenty to occupy themselves outside the meeting room, including a couple of new attractions worth checking out. Featuring permanent and temporary exhibitions spanning the early history of indigenous people, the 2-year-old New Mexico History Museum is the centerpiece of a diverse campus dedicated to New Mexico historical education and research. Another must-see is the new Santa Fe Railyard, a 50-acre, multipurpose gathering place that includes a farmers market, a 10-acre park including a kid’s play area, as well as a host of restaurants, shops and art galleries.

Tucson, Arizona

Mission San Xavier

Nestled in a scenic valley adorned with groves of saguaro cacti, the Sonoran Desert city of Tucson is one of southern Arizona’s best meeting destinations. Due to its unique blend of hotels, resorts and meeting venues, as well as added affordability in the summer months, Tucson is a favorite repeat destination for many.

As a budget-conscious group that doesn’t mind the desert heat, Up With People (UWP) International Alumni Association keeps coming back to Tucson year after year. Association members like the city so much, its annual reunion has been held there 15 times within the last three decades, says association President Jeff Zadroga.

“The affordability of Tucson in the summer is a big advantage for us and it has been home for UWP for many years,” says Zadroga. “The JW Marriott Starr Pass Tucson Resort and Spa is a beautiful resort and the staff is extremely accommodating. We always feel welcome and part of the community.”

And that community continues to grow. One of the city’s newest hotel properties is The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. Located at the foothills of the Tortolita Mountains, it features 250 guest rooms and suites, three ballrooms (9,000, 5,000 and 21,000 square feet), five meeting rooms, three restaurants, a 27-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, and a 17,000-sq.-ft. spa and fitness center. Adventure-seekers can take advantage of horseback riding, hiking, cattle penning, biking, bird watching and stargazing offered by the resort.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa Convention Center

Oklahoma inspired the famed Rogers and Hammerstein musical bearing its name, and though the state’s Old West spirit remains alive and well, it’s a thoroughly modern destination. Nowhere is that more obvious than in the comfortably cosmopolitan city of Tulsa. Affordable and easy to navigate, this Southwest city has become a favorite meetings destination for groups that prefer friendly, personable places with plenty to do and see. Teach for America, which held its annual induction event in downtown Tulsa in June, is such a group.

“Tulsa has an abundance of big-city benefits like the professional sports teams, downtown nightlife and major art attractions, yet maintains small-city perks like short commutes, low cost of living and affordable event prices,” says Justin Harlan, Teach for America operations associate. “The people in Tulsa are always welcoming visitors with open arms and are excited to show off their town. With great meeting spaces available and [all the] entertainment options, I have found Tulsa to be a great place to plan events.”

The past year has been a busy one for the city, with several new hotels and meeting and entertainment venues making their debuts downtown. The recently completed $50.5-million renovation and expansion of the Tulsa Convention Center created the state’s largest ballroom at 30,000 square feet. The new $39.2 million ONEOK Field ballpark in the Greenwood District, home to the Tulsa Drillers baseball team, is located near several entertainment districts that feature bars, coffee shops, pubs and restaurants.

The mix of big-city amenities in a small-town atmosphere appealed to the American Farm Bureau (AFB), which held its Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Conference in Tulsa in February. “When Oklahoma was selected, Tulsa quickly rose to the top because of the value the city had to offer,” says Dan Durheim, AFB coordinator. “There was a lot of nightlife for our attendees and yet the city is safe for families. The diversity of the offerings was superb,” says Durheim. “Once you commit to the site visit, you will simply fall in love with the people who represent Tulsa.”

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Southwest Tips
Words of advice for planners headed to the Southwest.

Meet in Irving: In January, the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex adds another convention space to its crop. The $133 million Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas opens, giving Irving five times more meeting space than it has in any existing facility with its 50,000-sq-ft. exhibit hall. It officially opens Jan. 27; the next day, the Zest Fest spicy food festival moves in, bringing up to 25,000 people to town.

Ride the Wave: Meeting attendees in Houston have a new way to get around the Washington Avenue dining and nightlife district. They can hope a ride on the Washington Wave, a jitney service that takes riders up and down the three-mile corridor for $10 all night. Riders wear a Wave bracelet, which also gives them discounts at a few cafes and bars.

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Special Places
Find out more about the Southwest meeting venues and attractions below by clicking on the photos.

Houston Downtown Aquarium

Mini-Time Machine Museum

Musical Instrument Museum

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Destination Spotlights
Read about these other Southwest cities by clicking on the photos.

Frisco, Texas

Las Cruces, New Mexico

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One of the biggest travel trends in the past few years has been the growth of regional airlines and their expanded service to smaller cities.

While total domestic airline capacity has dropped about 6 percent since 2009, regional airline capacity has soared nearly 150 percent, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Traffic for major carriers also dropped during this time by 2 percent, but regional airline traffic increased by more than 200 percent.

The trend has had a positive impact on the convention and meetings industry in smaller cities across the country. In Greenbrier, W.V., for example, Delta Airlines begins daily regional service from Atlanta and New York LaGuardia this summer. Greenbrier, with a populations of 34,000, is currently only serviced by daily flights from Cleveland.

“Meeting planners have many options to choose from, and one of the first things they look at when considering potential cities is accessibility,” says Kara Dense, executive director of the Greenbrier Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Once we have flights into Greenbrier from three different major cities, it will go a long way toward helping us secure more meetings and events.”

Another city to benefit from regional airline growth is Cheyenne, Wyo. (population 55,000). American Airlines will begin offering daily nonstop flights to and from Cheyenne from Dallas Forth Worth International Airport (DFW) this summer, in addition to its current daily commuter flights to and from Denver. “This is huge for us,” says Darren Rudloff, CEO of Visit Cheyenne. “It will present all kinds of new opportunities for planners to come to Cheyenne and allow us to compete for conventions and meetings that have not considered us before.”

In 2007, DFW expanded regional jet service to and from Roswell, N.M. Four direct flights a week to and from Los Angeles were also added last year. “There’s no doubt that this has increased our meetings and convention business significantly,” says Brian Michaelz, the assistant marketing director for the city of Roswell, which has 45,000 people.

“Regional flight service has given us the opportunity to bid on out-of-state conferences and continuing training and educational opportunities that we did not qualify for in the past, when our primary focus was on inner-state and regional drive markets,” adds Reneé Roach, the manager and marketing director for the Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau. Roswell has landed bids for the Association of Counties (coming June 2011), Association of Museums (awarded October 2008) and the Governor’s Conference on Tourism (awarded April 2008). Since October 2008, Roswell has experienced a 47 percent increase in visitor traffic, an 87 percent increase in facility rentals revenue, and a 16 percent increase in event, conventions and professional meetings, says Roach.

At present, Las Cruces CVB offers convention groups more than 2,200 hotel rooms and 98,000 square feet of meeting space.

The spa’s various amenities include the eucalyptus steam room, sauna, relaxation room, and individual oxygen pods to help travelers acclimate to the change in altitude. The hotel’s special spa menu consists of natural elixirs featuring ginseng, kola nuts, Asiatic cherries, and Chinese peony. Native turquoise soap and Nidah Spa products are just a few of the items that enhance the spa’s philosophy of the Native American Wheel.

“Your Life’ is the Native American word for this 4,300-sq.-ft. spa. For more information call 800-9556-4535.

Read more.

The Southwest-Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma-is an amalgam of contradictions: rugged, lush, arid, remote, urban, flat, hilly and unique. “There’s no place else in the country like this area,” says Kimberly Freer, director of travel industry sales for the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau. “You can come here during any season and everything’s accessible: golf, hiking, hot air ballooning, horseback riding, spa treatments or just hanging out by the pool.”

That enthusiasm is echoed across these four states. “You’ve got a little bit of everything in Texas, which appeals to a lot of groups,” says Ashlee Van Blarcom, tourism sales manager for the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Grapevine has small town charm; Dallas is 180 degrees different; and then there’s Fort Worth and the whole cowboy, cattle-drive aspect.”
The Southwest also rolls out an inviting road map when it comes to post-meeting pursuits. New Mexico, for example, features an entire cuisine based around its marvelous green chilies, while Oklahoma offers visitors more genuine cowboy/cowgirl history and culture than anywhere else in the country.

There’s also a Baby Boomeresque charm about this part of the country. “It represents something in many attendees’ own pop culture past and they want to experience it personally,” says Freer. What better way, then, to relive memories of the popular TV shows “Route 6″ or “Dallas” (South Fork Ranch), than by meeting in the places that inspired them?

HOSPITALITY NEWS
In New Mexico, the historic La Posada de Albuquerque expects to reopen this spring following a $30 million rehab. The Radisson Hotel Albuquerque has wrapped up a $20 million renovation of its 312 guestrooms and meeting space. The Albuquerque Hilton Hotel is undergoing a $14 million “greenovation” project that will incorporate energy and water conservation amid a contemporary Western décor. Just south of Albuquerque, the Isleta Casino & Resort has opened a 200-room hotel that also sports a themed spa, Asian bistro, family center and nightclub. Meanwhile, the Sheraton Uptown has completed a $25 million renovation of its 295 guestrooms and meeting space. Later this spring, groups can plan a fission/fusion theme party at the new $13 million National Museum of Nuclear Science & History.

Downtown Phoenix has been transformed by a trio of recent major developments. After five years and three stages, the Phoenix Convention Center $600 million makeover and expansion is done. Highlights of the new facility include nearly 900,000 square feet of exhibition and meeting space, three ballrooms, $3.2 million worth of public art and green-friendly touches such as solar panels and a water-harvesting garden. The center also arrives with a new meetings property: the 1,000-room Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel. In December, Arizona’s capital also unveiled Phase 1 of its $1.4 billion METRO light-rail system, which will eventually makes tracks across 20 miles of the Valley of the Sun.

In neighboring Scottsdale, Resort Suites Scottsdale has been renovated and re-launched as the XONA Resort Suites, with 431 guest units (many with kitchens), a pool, a restaurant and meeting space. The W Scottsdale Hotel and Residences is now open with 224 guestrooms, three bars and a 21,000-sq.-ft. pool/recreation area adjacent to the Bliss Spa.

Tulsa’s $165 million BOK Center, a Cesar Pelli-designed, multi-purpose event and entertainment facility, opened last summer. Just across the street, the Tulsa Convention Center is undergoing a $50.5 million expansion and renovation that will add a 30,000-sq.-ft. ballroom and more than 52,000 square feet of new space by early 2010.

Austin’s hopping with new and renovated venues, including the Long Center for the Performing Arts, Mexican-American Cultural Center and Bass Concert Hall/University of Texas Performing Arts Center. Plans also call for a 31-story, 850-room Marriott convention center hotel and an 11-story, 150-room J.W. Marriott.

San Antonio’s McNay Art Museum has unveiled its new Stieren Center, part of a recent $50.8 million expansion and renovation. A new 1,000-room Grand Hyatt Hotel has opened, while the 1,000-room JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is expected some time in 2010. Work continues on the final phase of the $275 million Dallas Center for the Performing Arts (opera, musical theater, classical theater and ballet) with completion expected this coming October. The new, $65 million wing of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History also plans an October opening.

SPECIAL PLACES
Having seen (and marveled at) Germany’s historic castles during World War I, Oklahoman Bill Blecha returned home and eventually built his own version: Castle Falls. These days Blecha’s former homestead, set on five lush acres just outside Oklahoma City, includes an authentic German restaurant (Keller at Castle Falls) and romantic space aplenty for private parties. castlefalls.com

SPECIAL PLACES
Come September, 226-acre Fair Park Dallas plays host to-surprise-the world’s largest state fair, led by 52-foot Big Tex, the ultimate meet-n’-greeter. Venues run from intimate (the 130-seat Margo Jones Theater) to raucous, as in the iconic, 71,000-seat Cotton Bowl, plus an outdoor amphitheater, planetarium, IMAX theater, aquarium and eight museums. fairpark.org

VALUE ADD

• The Las Cruces (NM) CVB offers more than three dozen money-saving coupons for hotels, restaurants, recreation and area attractions.
• Before heading to Houston, check in with the Houston CVB’s to find out what the locals have to say on everything from museums and clothing stores to the opera and kid-friendly restaurants.
• For $15 the Tucson Attractions Passport can provide up to $400 in return discounts and 2-for-1 savings on Southern Arizona museums, attractions and recreation. visittucson.org/visitor/attractions/passport

CONTACT INFO:
ARIZONA
Greater Phoenix CVB
phoenixcvb.com

Scottsdale CVB
scottsdalecvb.com

Tucson CVB
visittucson.org

Flagstaff CVB
flagstaffarizona.org

NEW MEXICO
Albuquerque CVB
itsatrip.org

Las Cruces CVB
lascrucescvb.org

Santa Fe CVB
itsatrip.org

TEXAS
Austin CVB
austintexas.org

Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau
visithoustontexas.com

San Antonio CVB
sanantoniocvb.com

Dallas CVB
dallascvb.com

Fort Worth CVB
fortworth.com

Grapevine CVB
grapevinetexasusa.com

OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma City CVB
okccvb.org

Tulsa CVB
visittulsa.com