From left: Bismarck-Mandan, Seattle, and Cincinnati.

Despite today’s uncertain economy and geopolitical challenges, destinations across the U.S. continue to invest in their meeting and convention offerings. This includes everything from long-term new-build projects to short-term incentives designed to attract association groups.

Texas

In the state of Texas, there have been massive investments to renovate several venues. This includes a project to build an expanded, modernized facility adjacent to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas (KBHCCD), which will result in 2.1 million sf of total space, including 750,000 sf of exhibit space, 180,000 sf of meeting rooms and a 105,000-sf ballroom.

“The secret sauce is going to be the breakout space. We hardly have any breakout space. Now we’re going to have twice the amount,” says Visit Dallas CEO Craig Davis. He adds that while the future looks bright — the convention center has been sold 65 times for 2029 and beyond, sight unseen — the current renovation will present a challenging time.

“We are about to go into some pretty major headwinds with not having a convention center,” Davis says. “We are certainly selling the new convention center for 2029 and beyond, and associations are going to be the main driving force of what we’re going to be doing. A lot of our customers are trusting us.”

In the meantime, Visit Dallas is focusing on attracting smaller groups and associations, leveraging the city’s central location and strong airlift. Davis says that, compared to previous years, business has been softer due to instability in the marketplace, but he’s not worried. One highlight is that the city is preparing to host nine matches — more than any other North American city — in next year’s FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. Additionally, Goldman Sachs will be moving its headquarters to Dallas in 2027, as the city plans to launch the Texas Stock Exchange by next year.

To facilitate Dallas’ continued growth, American Airlines and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport are planning to expand Terminal F, doubling the number of gates and adding new facilities to expand international operations, among other improvements.

Meanwhile, the Austin Convention Center closed in April to undergo a $1.6 billion expansion and redevelopment project. Slated to reopen in early 2029, the new, larger facility will offer 620,000 sf of total rentable space — up from the existing 365,000 sf — including 70,000 sf of outdoor space.

Visit Austin executive vice president Steve Genovesi says that the CVB is providing a variety of incentives for groups to host multi-hotel meetings and events in a campus-style setting during the convention center expansion.

“We are also looking to launch a new meetings campaign in the fall — ‘More Austin’ — which speaks to us inviting groups to be innovative and think outside the traditional box to use multi-hotels and offsite venues,” he says.

Genovesi says that while the convention center is closed, Austin has been seeing double-digit growth in its one-hotel and multi-hotel bookings for short-term meetings not requiring a convention center. Regarding the new venue, he adds that there has also been a large increase in inquiries and leads further out than three years — which was the amount of time typically associated with requests for the smaller original building.

Says Genovesi: “Currently over 40% of our inquiries/leads are groups that would not have fit in our original building, so we are seeing the benefits of having much larger space to offer.”

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Spotlight: Laredo

Through strategic lodging, accessible tourism and cultural engagement, the Laredo Convention & Visitors Bureau (Visit Laredo) continues to strengthen its value as an all-encompassing resource for association groups.

The city recently set a milestone, earning “destination verified” status from Wheel the World for its commitment to accessibility and inclusive travel for people with disabilities. Laredo has confirmed 10 fully accessible attractions — including the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum.

Laredo is also creating even more meeting-friendly accommodations near major venues in the area, as construction has begun on the new four-story, 114-room Tru by Hilton hotel, which is expected to open by August 2026.

Such enhancements demonstrate the city’s continued drive to provide attendees with a unique and memorable experience, as Laredo remains a compelling choice for meetings and conventions.

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Spotlight: El Paso

With $7.2 million in upgrades already implemented at the El Paso Convention Center — and more expansion on the way — award-winning destination marketing organization Visit El Paso has successfully secured hosting rights for the 2026 TXDOT Travel Counselors Conference and Texas Travel Expo, reaffirming El Paso’s growing prominence in the region.

Meanwhile, the city’s downtown area has experienced a hotel boom that doubled the number of rooms within walking distance of the convention center in just 18 months.

That equates to even more affordable rates for association and corporate groups — plus attendees will love the area attractions, which include La Nube children’s museum, vintage streetcar routes, revamped parks and public art tours.

With such depth and diversity, El Paso continues to live up to its reputation as an amazing event destination.

New Orleans

New Orleans, LA, has invested nearly $1 billion in hotel renovations since 2023, while the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is undergoing a renovation costing more than $550 million and expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Despite economic uncertainties, future bookings remain strong for the city, particularly for long-term meetings, according to Stephanie Turner, senior vice president, convention sales and strategies for New Orleans & Company. “The biggest impact this has had is on short-term meetings. We’ve seen a little bit of a slowdown in shorter-term meetings.”

She also notes that current geopolitical and economic concerns have led to cancellations of government meetings, among other side effects. “You’re seeing it show up in people who might have attended an association meeting that are either part of the government or government adjacent. So, it’s having an impact on many associations’ attendance.”

But this year’s Super Bowl being held in the city had a positive impact on future bookings, according to Turner. Also drawing groups are attractions such as the National World War II Museum — which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary — and the Audubon Nature Institute, which are both valuable venues for associations, Turner says.

Seattle Convention Center’s Summit building offers one-of-a-kind flexibility for planners. Photo by Tim Rice

Seattle

Seattle, WA, is promoting the recent debut of the Seattle Convention Center’s Summit building, which nearly doubled the campus’ footprint. “It’s been two years since the Summit’s opening. We’re continuing to let planners know about our added capacity,” says Chris Connelly, senior director of sales for Visit Seattle. “The two-building campus offers one-of-a-kind flexibility for planners, not only with the opportunity to tailor spaces to a group’s needs, but also in hosting concurrent groups and smoothly transitioning between meetings.”

Despite the current political and economic environment, Connelly is optimistic about Seattle’s future bookings. “Recently, we had the pleasure of meeting with an association that was planning their 118th annual meeting,” he says. “This serves as a reminder that while the current environment is uncertain, maybe even disheartening, that this segment of the industry has evolved over a century and has overcome wars, recessions and countless other changes over the past 100 years. We have absolute confidence that this time will be no different.”

Louisville

In Kentucky, Louisville Tourism has an optimistic outlook regarding association meetings in their city. According to Doug Bennett, the organization’s executive vice president, nearly half of the 850 attendees at the recent PCMA EduCon event were planners, indicating strong interest from the association market.

In addition, he says, most of the associations that have met in Louisville from January to May have had right around the same number of attendees as the previous year, though a few have been down. “There isn’t anything alarming, but as the chatter continues — and maybe even gets a little bit louder — we feel like, from a DMO perspective, we have to go out and support our hotels and put some dollars out there to keep Louisville in a good position to capture (and steal, frankly) some market share, which is mostly association-driven for our city,” Bennett says.

Tactics include the current project to expand the city’s Kentucky Exposition Center to an estimated 1.38 million sf, which will position it as the fifth-largest exhibit facility in the country. Though overall it’s about a 30-month project, the first new building is expected to come online around January 2027, according to Bennett.

To address economic uncertainty and a slight downturn in hotel business, the CVB is also offering incentives targeting third parties such as Helms Briscoe. “We’re scaling a promotion to where we incentivize, based on size and peak room night between July 1 of this year [and] December 2026.” Bennett adds that this is designed to help associations looking to save a few dollars, whether on rental, F&B or transportation support.

Louisville Tourism is also investing in the Northeast market — particularly New York, Boston and Philadelphia — with a focus on health care, insurance and pharmaceutical segments, promoting Louisville as an affordable destination.

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Spotlight: Bismarck-Mandan

The Bismarck-Mandan Convention & Visitors Bureau (BMCVB) continues to evolve, providing a wide range of support for association groups holding meetings, conferences and other events in the heart of North Dakota. City leaders have recently been evaluating the development of a new hotel that would be directly adjacent to the Bismarck Event Center, providing attendees with a new accommodation option to make the destination an even more attractive proposition for event planners.

Meanwhile, attendees will enjoy the Bismarck-Mandan Art Trail experience pass, a free mobile-friendly digital experience they can use to explore more than 100 public art locations. They can take advantage of check-in features, merchant discounts and prize incentives as part of this initiative, which not only enhances visitor engagement but also provides local flavor for those touring the city outside of meeting hours.

These are just a few of the ways Bismarck-Mandan is reinforcing its value proposition to meeting planners looking for accessible, memorable venues.

St. Louis

St. Louis, MO, is another affordable destination that has so far avoided the impact on group business that some other cities are seeing. “We’re enjoying strong interest from planners looking for easily accessible cities that are affordable, walkable and ready to host,” says Brad Dean, president & CEO, Explore St. Louis.

The $256 million expansion and facelift of the America’s Center Convention Complex in downtown St. Louis is almost complete, and the city is already seeing the benefits of having expanded space and a new culinary garden, Dean says. Recently, a $54 million upgrade was announced for The Dome, the indoor stadium attached to the America’s Center. These enhancements — along with plans for a major redevelopment project in downtown St. Louis and an upgrade of the city’s international airport — position it for tremendous growth potential, according to Dean.

“We’re anticipating growth in association group business,” Dean says. “We recognize that some groups may need to scale back due to economic uncertainties, but because we offer strong airlift, competitive prices and a vibrant entertaining and dining sector, planners aren’t backing away from St. Louis.”

The destination is also on the map for the upcoming 100th anniversary of the famed Route 66 highway, which is sure to be a draw for many groups.

Courtesy Rendering

Spotlight: Cincinnati

As the $240 million renovation of Duke Energy Convention Center (DECC) is expected to continue through January of next year, Visit Cincy still exceeded its 2024 sales goal by 11%, generating an estimated $176 million in economic impact.

The centerpiece of a Cincinnati revival, the completely reinvented DECC will feature new ballrooms, tech upgrades and more. In addition, construction is set to begin on the city’s long-awaited Convention Headquarters Hotel, which is being built just south of the convention center. Set for completion in 2028, it will feature 700 rooms (including 36 suites) and more than 62,000 sf of flexible meeting space, as well as an outdoor event terrace (including a lawn and deck) and a skybridge connecting to the convention center.

These are just a few of the steps Cincinnati is taking to reshape its convention infrastructure, giving planners access to more modern, incentive-rich options to host events of all kinds.

Chicago

As the starting point of Route 66, Chicago, IL, will also be celebrating the anniversary. In addition, the Barack Obama Presidential Center will open next year on the South Side, offering a one-of-a-kind event space for groups. Unique events such as these are pretty standard for Chicago, which recently hosted U.S. Travel’s International Pow Wow (IPW) — a travel trade show designed to drive international visitation to the U.S. — at McCormick Place. During IPW, Choose Chicago unveiled its new brand campaign “Never Done, Never Outdone,” targeting meeting and event planners and other groups.

Dustin Arnheim, senior vice president of sales and services for Choose Chicago, says that although international attendance for association meetings is being impacted by economic uncertainties, including factors such as Canada’s downturn, Chicago’s association market remains strong, as evidenced by the fact that the city will be hosting conventions for the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) in 2026 and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) in 2028.

“We are seeing other international markets pick up and even compensate for some of the losses that we’re seeing out of the Canada marketplace,” Arnheim says. “Quite often, if a convention is down internationally, it’s just slightly down because markets like Central America are performing. We’ve got strong numbers [for the] next couple years, and then [it’s] really ramping up for 2028 to be a fantastic year in Chicago.”

Another success this year was RISKWORLD, a show put on by RIMS (The Risk Management Society). “The attendance started extremely slow but picked up closer to the show date. The number of attendees who confirmed within 14 days of arrival was phenomenal, but it makes it extremely hard on the association, as well as their suppliers and vendors, in executing an event,” Arnheim says.

Denver

Like Chicago, Denver is noticing resilience in its association group business. Both association and corporate conventions are performing better than expected, with only minimal impact from reduced international attendance, according to Lee Ann Benavidez, senior vice president – chief sales and services officer for Visit Denver.

She notes that the CVB’s marketing team recently launched its Meet Uplifted campaign, highlighting Denver’s elite restaurants and more than 250 unique venues, in addition to the city’s solid airlift, with over 220 nonstop flights.

Denver also unveiled its expanded Colorado Convention Center, which now includes 80,000 sf of flexible meeting and ballroom space, plus 35,000 sf of pre-function space and a 20,000-sf outdoor terrace with views of the Rocky Mountains and city skyline.

San Francisco

To attract group and association business and help redefine the city’s image, the San Francisco Travel Association is promoting a new marketing initiative called “Believe in San Francisco.”

“The new campaign that we’re marketing toward our group … and association customers — that’s everything that we’re embracing,” says the organization’s executive vice president and chief sales officer, Nicole Rogers. “We’re trying to redefine the perception of what people are seeing. That is what we’ve been fighting over the last couple of years. San Francisco continues to improve. We continue to get more business, but we can’t seem to be able to get that message out.”

The CVB is also offering discounts on Moscone Center rentals and complimentary visits to entice planners. “We’ve started a program [for] our customers — if they’ve decided that San Francisco is one of the top cities that they’re looking at, we’ll fly them out,” Rogers adds. “We have a partnership with United Airlines, and we will fly two people out … and put them up [at no cost so they can] experience the city for themselves.”

The outlook for San Francisco in 2025 and 2026 is promising, with projected room nights significantly increasing from 2024. The city will host 32 events at the Moscone Center in 2025, up from 25 last year. In the first three months of 2025, Moscone Center hosted eight events — including the NBA All-Star Fan Experience — which generated an estimated $174 million for the city and drew more than 126,000 attendees. Upcoming events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Super Bowl are expected to further boost occupancy.

According to Rogers, the projection for 2027 and 2028 looks to be to be growing considerably, although the city is still not near its goal of about 850,000 room nights. “We’re not there yet, but we look to be back on pace,” she says.

Tampa

Through April of this year, Tampa Bay boasted one of the nation’s highest hotel occupancy rate (more than 81% on average YTD), and May was also strong.

“Our main numbers were very, very strong on the hotel taxable revenue side,” says Santiago Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. “Every month of our fiscal year, starting in October, has been a record-setter. We’ve had seven consecutive months of over $100 million in hotel taxable revenue. That’s never happened here, and the preliminary numbers indicate we’re going to have eight consecutive months.” Corrada says that groups are even being booked out to 2038 and 2040.

Visit Tampa Bay also introduced its “Treasured Savings” initiative, offering deposit refunds for conventions. “If you book with us for future years, during select times of the year [that might] be perceived as shoulder periods or soft, we will pay down your deposit at the convention center up front, and it will be a cost to us, not to you,” Corrada explains. “I think that’s a great way to assure people that they can have a great meeting here — by us putting down that deposit at contract signing. So that’s been very well received.”

The CVB’s “Meeting the Moment” program recognizes meetings that feature community contributions, such as incorporating sustainable practices, social responsibility and community engagement. Recipients will gain visibility across Visit Tampa Bay’s marketing platforms and be highlighted in select media outlets. They will also be honored at Visit Tampa Bay’s National Tourism Week luncheon.

Although it’s still in the very early stages, the city is looking into another expansion of Tampa Bay Convention Center, which added 18 new waterfront meeting rooms during its last upgrade. Another project in the works is a $56 million expansion of West Riverwalk, which is currently scheduled to begin later this year, with a projected completion in 2027.

Anaheim’s tourism and convention industry is booming, with a 10% increase in group bookings for 2025 and strong future projections. Courtesy Photo

Anaheim

Anaheim’s tourism and convention industry is booming, with a 10% increase in group bookings for 2025 and strong projections for the next few years.

“Our future pace for ’26, ’27 and ’28 also looks very encouraging,” says Mike Waterman, president and CEO of Visit Anaheim. “We continue to see high demand for our group customers, both corporate and association. The groups that I’ve chatted with that have come through Anaheim over the last three to six months, almost every single group has come out and said they’ve had the best show they’ve ever had…”

Already home to the largest convention center on the West Coast, Anaheim is set to open OCVIBE by the end of next year. It will feature more than 35 restaurants, plus various live entertainment venues. Transportation links from OCVIBE to Anaheim Convention Center are being planned and could potentially include an aerial gondola system.

The venue is also going to launch two new hotels, according to Waterman, who says: “They won’t be open until most likely ‘28 or ’29, but we’re talking to two major developers. One’s looking to build a 1,500- to 2,000-room hotel complex in Anaheim. They already secured 23 acres of land that could break ground sometime next year. And then another major development partner is looking at purchasing a hotel on the convention way, which is right down the street from the convention center.”

Anaheim is also preparing to host the men’s and women’s indoor volleyball competitions for the 2028 Summer Olympics. In addition, the city is moving ahead with DisneylandForward, an approved development that will double the density of the park over the next 10 years, according to Waterman. The plan allows for theme park attractions alongside hotels on the west side of Disneyland Drive, as well as next to new shopping, dining and entertainment to the southeast, in what is currently the Toy Story Parking Area.

Says Waterman: “[OCVIBE and DisneylandForward] are two pretty amazing opportunities for us.”  | AC&F |