Due to its great location, unique venues and facilities, memorable “Lone Star” cultural attractions and extraordinarily favorable business climate, Texas has become a favorite destination for corporate and incentive meetings and events. From enjoying world-renowned BBQ in Austin to experiencing world-class meeting facilities in Dallas, to the state’s overall cultural richness, Texas is a destination for meeting planners who are looking for everything from high-tech urban venues to secluded Hill Country resorts.

Centrally located, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport makes Dallas an easily accessible destination for companies to gather for conventions, meetings and incentive events. With multiple entertainment districts and continuous new hotel openings and upgrades, the venue options throughout the area are constantly evolving. This means that corporate event planners can tap into diversified meeting experiences for events of all types and sizes.

Dallas also provides affordable event costs without compromising quality or experiences for attendees. In addition, varied cultural offerings mean events planners will find no shortage of entertainment to offer attendees, including the vibrant Dallas Arts District, as well as numerous professional sports teams.

Plano

Recently named the 2025 Destination of the Year by the Texas Travel Awards, Plano, Texas is truly the land of plenty. Blending historic charm with modern luxury, the city brims with attractions and amenities. With about 60 hotels of various price points, more than 1,000 restaurants, world-class shopping, a lively arts and nightlife scene, abundant natural beauty and four walkable shopping, dining and entertainment districts, Plano is the perfect destination for a meeting of any size.

Conveniently located near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport, Plano offers everything corporate meeting planners are looking for, including fine dining, exceptional shopping, nearby sports venues, top-notch public golf courses, inviting day spas, a variety of interesting and entertaining attractions and much more.

Angie McCart, event coordinator at WealthWave, held an event at the Dallas/Plano Marriott at Legacy Town Center earlier this year, bringing in 1,000 attendees to the annual convention and awards gala.

“We have attendees from all over the country so Texas is a nice centralized location,” McCart says. “The Dallas/Plano area is great because of the proximity to the airports and the Legacy Town Center is a great venue for an event.”

McCart says that the weather and ease of travel in and out of Texas also makes it a great location for an event.

What keeps planners coming back to Plano is the fact that three of Plano’s four walkable entertainment districts are within a one-mile radius and are located right outside the doors of their respective hotels.

For instance, the 404-room Dallas/Plano Marriott at Legacy Town Center is the anchor hotel at The Shops at Legacy, an outdoor shopping and dining district in an urban village setting. The outdoor luxury shopping and dining district, Legacy West, is situated right outside the doors of the Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West Hotel. And the Hilton Dallas/Plano Granite Park is next to The Boardwalk at Granite Park, a unique restaurant park overlooking an inviting water feature and live music stage. This is extremely favorable to meeting planners and attendees, as attendees can find post-meeting dining and entertainment within walking distance from their meeting site and hotel.

Plano also has several outstanding venues that offer various options for corporate meetings and events. The Plano Event Center, which has capacity for up to 5,000 attendees, features a column-free exhibit hall that recently underwent renovations. The city’s distinct walkable districts also combine business with leisure and provide world-class shopping, award-winning restaurants, and art venues to explore.

Recently, the City of Plano officially broke ground on the Miyako Hybrid Hotel Plano, a more than $100 million development. Slated for completion in fall 2027, this elegant property will become the third Miyako Hybrid Hotel in the United States and the first in Texas.

The 350,000-sf luxury hotel will offer 217 thoughtfully designed guestrooms, a signature restaurant and a rooftop bar with sweeping views of Legacy. The project will introduce a collection of flexible, modern meeting spaces that directly address the region’s growing demand for high-quality corporate meeting accommodations.

Known for its blend of sustainability and Japanese-style hospitality, the Miyako Hybrid brand emphasizes exceptional, intuitive service. The Plano property will further this mission with eco-friendly building materials, water-conservation systems and advanced energy-efficient technologies, delivering a hospitality experience where innovation and warm, attentive care meet.

Fort Worth

Fort Worth is the Unexpected City, where Texas hospitality meets modern amenities, creating a standout setting for meetings and events. Downtown’s Sundance Square is steps from the convention center and packed with restaurants, shops, nightlife and galleries. Just minutes away, the Cultural District brings added luxury with The Crescent Hotel Fort Worth, home to Canyon Ranch’s first wellness club, and Bowie House, Auberge Collection, one of only three Texas hotels to earn two MICHELIN Keys.

For a taste of the West, attendees head to the Historic Stockyards for twice-daily cattle drives, a year-round rodeo and the Hotel Drover, Autograph Collection’s scenic patios overlooking the Trinity River. Explore what’s new across the city, from MICHELIN recognized BBQ and tacos to exciting venues that will give your next event a true Fort Worth feel.

The Fort Worth Convention Center is undergoing a major expansion. Phase 1 was recently completed and they are working on Phase 2. By 2030, the expanded facility will feature increased contiguous exhibit space, additional loading docks and new ballroom and meeting spaces at the north end of the building, making it an even better venue for hosting conventions. The convention center is surrounded by 4,000 downtown hotel rooms.

DFW International Airport is also expanding capacity with additional gates as well as the construction of a brand-new terminal.

Amanda Carter, CMP, PMP, chief events program manager at Emerson, recently hosted NI Connect, the annual flagship event, at the Fort Worth Convention Center. NI Connect brings together Test & Measurement industry leaders, partners and customers for several days of networking, education and collaboration. This year, Emerson welcomed approximately 2,000 attendees from across the globe.

“It was an exciting opportunity to create meaningful connections and showcase innovation in a dynamic setting,” Carter says. “Texas is always a strong contender for us because of its affordability and the competitive incentives offered by its cities. When we went to bid, Texas — and specifically Fort Worth — stood out as the best choice. Accessibility was another major factor. With DFW offering extensive flight options and the city’s central location, it’s easy for attendees from across the country and internationally to get here. Fort Worth also delivers a unique blend of Texas charm and modern amenities, which made it an ideal setting for NI Connect.”

On the planning side, Carter says the highlight was absolutely the people who helped make this event a success. “Moving our event from Austin to Fort Worth was a big transition, but our partners — from the convention center to the city and hotels — made it seamless,” she says. “Their collaboration helped us deliver an exceptional experience. As the program manager of a large event like NI Connect, I’m so grateful for a team of talented, passionate professionals that help make our event a success.”

For attendees, the standout moment was the conference party at Billy Bob’s Texas, the world’s largest honky-tonk. “We bought out the entire venue for an epic Texas-sized celebration complete with a fantastic local band, a custom cowboy hat experience and even a mechanical bull,” Carter says. “Attendees are still talking about that night almost a year later. It was classic Texas all the way, with the charm of the Stockyards right outside the door. The mini Highland cows, burros and longhorns were the biggest hit of all. Those authentic touches created an unforgettable experience that truly captured the spirit of Texas.”

Carter and her team at Emerson walked away from their first event in Fort Worth to nothing but praise from attendees and employees. The city is safe, walkable, and offers the perfect mix of Texas charm and bigcity experiences.

“Meeting planners should embrace the local culture and work with partners like Visit Fort Worth. They were instrumental in helping us create unique experiences that attendees will remember for years,” Carter says. “Texas offers incredible versatility, and Fort Worth, in particular, combines accessibility, hospitality and character. Build in time for attendees to explore the city’s cultural districts and dining. It adds a personal touch that makes the event truly stand out.”

The new Austin Convention Center, currently under construction, will nearly double the meeting and event space to 620,000 sf. It is slated to open in 2029.

Austin

Celebrated for its blend of tech-forward culture, amazing food scene, diverse venue options and vibrant entertainment, Austin has proven to be a favorite Texas destination for event planners. The city offers both polished and relaxed meeting and event venue options, making it a great choice for team-building, client engagement and attendee gatherings.

From sophisticated hotels and convention centers to authentic BBQs and outdoor spaces, Austin is teeming with meeting options.

Amanda Brubaken, CMP, event and tradeshow manager at U.S. Bank, has hosted a few events in Texas over the past year. Two favorites of hers come to mind: one was an approximately 25-person advisory board meeting held at The Loren Hotel Austin at Lady Bird Lake and the other was an approximately 90-partner roundtable at the Kimpton Pittman Hotel in Dallas.

“Since we have such a broad client and partner base across the country, we like to host these events in either a central location or cities that are easy for air travel – ample flight options, minimal connections,” Brubaken says. “Both Austin and Dallas can offer this.”

At the Austin event, Brubaken sourced snacks and drinks that were made locally to include in the welcome backpack that each attendee received upon check in at the hotel. Additionally, she had planned to host an evening event at a local barbecue restaurant with a mobile boot company to fit attendees with their own cowboy boots.

“A few weeks before the event, one of our suppliers fell through and I had to pivot. Instead, we brought our attendees to the flagship Tecovas store for a shopping experience — where they could still be fitted for their own boots,” Brubaken says. “Tecovas was so accommodating and our attendees loved being at the flagship store.”

The Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa boasts an 18-hole golf course and 127,000 sf of meeting and event space.

Frisco

Frisco has long been featured as a favorite Texas locale for corporate events — thanks in part to its award-winning facilities, such as the impressive Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa golf course, as well as the culinary scene, modern venues and unique team-building activities. Recently, Frisco has seen a “boom” of sorts in terms of new venues and options for corporate meeting planners to consider.

The recently opened Rollertown Beerworks is ideal for hosting large-scale events, festivals and concerts. The production facility features a brew house with a 13,000-sf, two-level indoor/outdoor taproom, beer garden and rooftop deck.

For planners looking for interesting outdoor venue options, consider the Kaleidoscope Park & HALL Park Hotel, Autograph Collection in Frisco. Opened late last year, Kaleidoscope Park is a place where nature meets culture and art abounds. This nearly 6-acre dynamic, innovative arts and culture destination is home to free, year-round public programming, including films, diverse musical and dance performances, and a variety of health and recreational activities. Corporate teams and attendees can enjoy cultural experiences and artistic productions throughout the year.

Last year, Active Arena opened in Frisco, bringing more than 15 interactive experiences that blend physical games with cutting-edge tech — perfect for corporate groups and teams to enjoy. Interactive games are built for laughs, adrenaline and unforgettable memories. At Active Arena, the goal is to provide a fun and safe space where attendees can try exciting new experiences — and maybe even get inspired to explore them in real life.

The popular San Antonio River Walk offers a narrated boat tour, dining, shopping and entertainment.

San Antonio

San Antonio is defined by its unique blend of historic charm and modern amenities. Not only does the region provide meeting planners with diverse venues from which to choose — like ranches, riverfront locales and historic theaters — but San Antonio also offers a wealth of entertainment options and new venues that are ideal for corporate groups.

For instance, Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa recently unveiled a $40 million refresh. The resort features 496 guestrooms, including 34 boutique-style villas and an adults-only floor, all showcasing refined regional décor inspired by Texas’ iconic King Ranch Estate.

The historic Gunter Hotel also completed a $57 million renovation with refreshed guestrooms, redesigned 20,000 sf of meeting spaces, rooftop pool, new dining/bar venues, and a music-themed vinyl library concept. The hotel originally opened under a different name in 1837, and after many changes, opened under its current moniker in 1909.

Recently, San Antonio also welcomed Pullman Market in the Pearl District featuring 40,000 sf of full-service restaurants, artisan butcher and fishmonger concepts, unique team-building classes and much more.

The city is also eagerly awaiting the 200-room Monarch San Antonio, which is coming to the downtown area next spring. Adjacent to Hemisfair and near the Henry B. González Convention Center, this luxury hotel will also bring 10,000 sf of event space to the region.

When it comes time to relax and enjoy all that San Antonio has to offer, attendees will revel in the easy access to the city’s most-celebrated gems, including the Alamo, River Walk, museums, zoo and SeaWorld. For team-building activities, attendees can enjoy Let’s Roam app-led scavenger hunts near the Alamo, as well as team-focused yoga events, walking trails and other destination-experiences that celebrate San Antonio’s history while helping attendees recharge between sessions.

Laredo & El Paso

Since Laredo and El Paso both lie along the Rio Grande, the natural border between Texas and Mexico, the local culture is a melting pot. This fusion translates into everything, including the cuisine. The area is known for its affordability.

Visit El Paso, which was named DMO of 2024 at the annual conference of the Texas Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus, can help planners navigate their stay. There are plenty of meeting venues available from boutique spaces to the convention center for large gatherings. The new Mexican American Cultural Center offers 20 unique rental options. Accessibility is made simple, as its Streetcar Transit System shuttles people from the convention center to downtown hotels and attractions with ease.

In Laredo, the historic Plaza Theatre is under renovation. But there are plenty of other spaces available, including at the Sames Auto Arena, which is the largest indoor convention space in South Texas. It includes 32,000 sf of continuous open floor space. It has a seating capacity of up to 10,000 with 14 luxury suites, six meeting rooms and a private club. Other popular spaces for events include Texas A&M International University, the Laredo Center for the Arts and more.

With everything Texas has to offer, whatever your group’s size and requirements, there’s a city waiting to give you a Lone Star-size welcome with exactly the facilities you need to hold any event. C&IT