Texas Capitol Building, Austin, TX

With nearly 32 million people, almost three million active businesses, and more than 4,700 associations, events are happening somewhere in Texas every day of the year. Coupled with a wide variety of venue options, excellent airlift and affordability, the state makes a compelling choice for meeting planners seeking both scale and experience.

Fort Worth

Fort Worth bills itself as “The City of Cowboys and Culture” and offers unique attractions, such as a twice-daily cattle drive in the Stockyards and a thriving arts scene.

Fort Worth has been home to the Texas Future Farmers of America (FFA) convention multiple times, including its 96th Annual Convention last year.

Jennifer Jackson, executive director, says that in addition to cowboys and culture, Fort Worth has been dubbed “The Unexpected City,” and she believes it consistently demonstrates in remarkable ways why it deserves that distinction.

“My experience working with Visit Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Convention Center has been nothing short of exceptional. From beginning to end, the hospitality of the Visit Fort Worth team, the convention center staff and our partner hotels is unparalleled. Their commitment to excellence ensures that our staff, and more importantly our members, experience a seamless and memorable convention. Every detail is carefully considered, and no aspect is ever left to chance.”

“Visit Fort Worth exemplifies the highest standard of hospitality and customer service. It’s an honor to work with such dedicated professionals and to spend so much time in a city I love, one that proudly represents Western heritage, hard work and high expectations. These values mirror the very heart of Texas FFA, making Fort Worth the perfect home for our convention.”

Fort Worth showcases its cowboy culture with cattle drives, rodeos and more.

Dallas

J. Melissa Wolpert, CMP, senior vice president of meetings, conventions and expositions for the National Automobile Dealers Association, is a fan of Dallas as an event location. “We selected Dallas because our event requires a unique combination of space and accessibility — more than 800,000 sf of exhibit space and at least 12,000 high-quality hotel rooms within a five-mile radius of the convention center. Our past citywide event in Dallas was a great success. It drew strong attendance thanks to the city’s central location and easy air access,” she says.

“Dallas offers vibrant neighborhoods and an incredible restaurant scene, making it an ideal fit for our hospitality and networking needs. We’re thrilled to be returning in 2035 to the city’s new convention center development. The new build, along with the additional hotels planned around it will elevate the attendee experience even further.”

The Austin Convention Center, currently under redevelopment, will be completed in 2029 with expanded meeting and event space.

Austin

Austin, the capital city of Texas, bills itself as the Live Music Capital of the World. As proof, live performances echo through the streets day and night. Beyond music, though, Austin has a soundtrack all its own. As residents are eager to point out, there’s Texas . . . and there’s Austin — much less cowboy and much more culture.

The Austin Convention Center is undergoing a $1.6  billion redevelopment project that will nearly double the facility’s size, expanding rentable space to 620,000 sf, adding public plazas and improving pedestrian access. Its eco-friendly design will make it the world’s first zero-carbon-certified convention center, as recognized by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). The building is projected to reopen in spring 2029.

When not in meetings, there is plenty for attendees to do in this vibrant city. It’s home to singular attractions such as the Museum of Ice Cream and the Cathedral of Junk, as well as cultural and history centers: the Blanton Museum of Art, LBJ Presidential Library and Texas Science & Natural History Museum. If visitors are interested in outdoor adventures, there are a lot of options that showcase the natural beauty surrounding the city.

Marcus Eng, CMP Fellow, DES, senior director of meeting operations for the American Public Transportation Association, says that Austin is a unique destination, combining a strong mix of excellent hotel packages, walkability, interesting restaurants, a vibrant nightlife and live music scene.

“Our association really wanted to bring a major meeting to Austin in order to work with the local transit agency, CapMetro. We kept being unable to find availability, because of strong demand for Austin from other associations and corporations, so when we finally were able to put together a great hotel package for one of our conferences, I knew we had to take advantage of the opportunity,” says Eng.

“Because our conference is actually two conferences co-located together, when the city announced it was closing the existing convention center in order to construct a new one, I was confident we could be creative and put together a hotel package utilizing two large hotels to accommodate our needs and create a campus environment. Our logistical needs aligned perfectly with the strategy the city was employing due to the convention center’s temporary closure,” he adds.

“The conference was a great success. We hosted one component at a hotel that accommodated a general session for 1,200 people, six breakouts and an exhibit hall for 90 booths, and another hotel accommodated 400 attendees. We also utilized a vacant lot near one of our hotels for an outdoor lunch for 1,200 while making use of the hotel’s valet street parking area for an outdoor bus display of eight vehicles. We used another venue to set-up our Bus Roadeo competition, which includes a driving course for over 30 Bus Roadeo teams,” Eng says.

The San Antonio River Walk is an urban waterway and pedestrian network that includes restaurants, shops, hotels and more.

San Antonio

More than just a tourism destination, San Antonio combines a vibrant cultural landscape with world-class infrastructure, making it a premier meeting and event destination. The city’s convention district is among the most walkable in the country, thanks in large part to the iconic River Walk. It connects major hotels, attractions and restaurants to the Henry B. González Convention Center, offering a unique blend of convenience and ambiance. And just steps away is Civic Park at Hemisfair, which includes 5 acres of public park land with a sizable lawn area able to accommodate events of all sizes.

The Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) held its annual coaching school and convention in San Antonio this summer, and they will be holding it there again in 2027, 2029 and 2030. Joe Martin, executive director of THSCA, says San Antonio has long been one of the association’s most successful and well-attended host cities.

”San Antonio’s central location makes it accessible for members from across the state, while the Henry B. González Convention Center offers the perfect setup for an event of our size with room for educational sessions, exhibits and networking opportunities, all under one roof. Beyond the facilities, the hospitality and partnership we receive from Visit San Antonio and local vendors make planning and execution seamless,” says Martin.

“This city offers an unmatched combination of Texas charm, top-tier meeting infrastructure and entertainment for our coaches and their families. Our attendees enjoy the walkability of downtown, the variety of hotels and restaurants, and of course the iconic River Walk, all of which gives our convention a true sense of community and fun, while the cultural attractions provide a great backdrop for our members to relax and connect outside of sessions. San Antonio always delivers a warm welcome, and our attendees leave feeling energized, connected and proud to be part of the Texas coaching family,” he adds.

El Paso

El Paso is an increasingly attractive destination for meeting planners seeking a blend of versatile event infrastructure and an affordable and engaging locale for attendees. Being a border town, the mix of cultures here is enticing. There is a wealth of vibrant art venues to explore, including museums, winery tours and historic districts. The diverse culinary options are an added bonus.

At the heart of the city’s offerings is the Judson F. Williams Convention Center. Located downtown near restaurants and cultural venues, the convention center offers 133,100 sf of total event space including 80,000 sf of column‑free exhibit halls and 14,900 sf of dedicated breakout and meeting rooms.

Plano

Plano, situated in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, offers visitors a diverse assortment of restaurants, attractions and activities. In addition to conventions and meetings, Plano is particularly well suited for sports teams and their fans, offering high-quality sports facilities and convenient hotels with group-friendly amenities, and northeast of town is Southfork Ranch, made famous as the setting for the TV series “Dallas.”

Betsy Cabrera, owner of Cabrera Solutions, an event management company based in Richmond, VT, says, that her clients are looking for a conference area that has amenities such as shopping and dining, but not a full resort.

“The view of a resort or a golf course right outside the conference window can be distracting for meeting attendees, serving more as an invitation to ditch the conference and play than an added benefit. Plano is the perfect balance with plenty of thriving restaurants in walking distance and shops for after meeting hours,” says Cabrera.

Grapevine

Grapevine is located in the vicinity of the Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington metroplex.

Tommy Keown, CMP, an account manager with Arrowhead Conferences and Events headquartered in Vista, CA, thinks that Grapevine is a hidden gem. “As the city closest to the DFW Airport, it’s the perfect destination for everything from large conferences to family reunions or small board meetings” he says.

“Meeting planners will not be disappointed in the services, support and assistance Grapevine’s CVB provides in finding the perfect event location . . . and making it successful. Gaylord Resort, Great Wolf Lodge and a host of other hotels are suitable for meeting of every size. With so much to see and do, it’s an ideal destination for a conference,” he adds.

Frisco

Frisco calls itself “The City That Plays,” and it has the bona fides to back it up. Take golf, for example; its PGA Frisco complex is a 2,500-acre campus that’s home to PGA of America, Omni PGA Frisco, PGA District, two 18-hole championship golf courses, a lighted 10-hole par 3 short course and a 2-acre putting course. The Trails of Frisco Golf Club is another public course located within the city.

If golf is too time-consuming for convention attendees’ off hours, there’s a diverse and entertaining array of museums in which to spend free time: the National Soccer Hall Of Fame, Frisco Discovery Center, Frisco Heritage Museum, Museum of The American Railroad and the National Videogame Museum. If the outdoors is preferable, there are more than 60 parks in and around Frisco plus 70 miles of trails and green space.

“The City of Frisco checks all the boxes for several of the conferences Texas Electric Cooperatives (TEC) hosts each year,” says Martin Bevins, vice president of communications and member services at TEC.

“Our association hosts 13 conferences and two exhibit shows each year ranging in size from 50 to 800. TEC’s membership is all in Texas, and finding a city that offers geographic convenience for drive-in attendees and easy access to a major airport makes good sense for us. There are multiple hotel options for us to select from and the walkability and easy access to off-site restaurants and sports venues give our conference attendees plenty of options once our events wrap up for the day,” Bevins says.

Laredo

Located in South Texas on the north bank of The Rio Grande, Laredo stands as a vibrant testament to the blending of cultures, histories and traditions. Founded in 1755, this historic city has grown from a small Spanish settlement to a thriving international hub.

Sports are big in Laredo. State-of-the-art athletic complexes offer a variety of options to host indoor or outdoor championships, tournaments and special events for basketball, baseball, golf, hockey, soccer, softball, football, tennis and track and field.

Vicki Watson, executive director of the National Community Development Association, headquartered in Washington D.C., says they chose Laredo because of its rich diversity and excellent value.

“The city combines a unique cultural atmosphere with affordable hotels and event spaces. Conference guests enjoyed the historic charm of the La Posada Hotel, while the Max A. Mendel Municipal Golf Course provided a memorable reception overlooking the scenic Rio Grande River and the renowned Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course. Both locations impressed with delicious food and outstanding service,” says Watson.

Arlington

The 38,000-member American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) takes advantage of all Arlington has to offer. The chief operating officer, Bobby Heard, MBA, CAE, says the heart of Arlington’s Entertainment District is an incredible setting for professional meetings.

“With the Loews Arlington Hotel and Convention Center, surrounded by iconic venues like Globe Life Field and AT&T Stadium, everything our attendees need is within walking distance. The energy, the convenience and the sheer variety of dining and entertainment options, including the inspiring new National Medal of Honor Museum, make it a destination that truly elevates the meeting experience.”

“For us, Arlington delivers an unbeatable combination of accessibility, value and excitement. The Loews Arlington Hotel and Convention Center is stunning — modern, polished and perfectly situated among world-class attractions. Our attendees love the compact, walkable campus where they can go from a cutting-edge educational session to a Major League ballgame or an incredible dinner without ever needing transportation.”

From culture and history to business strength and modern infrastructure, Texas remains a powerhouse for meetings. Its accessibility, variety and larger-than-life personality continue to draw planners from across the country looking to create events that truly stand out.  | AC&F |