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1 week ago | 
meetingsmags.com | Amy C. Durham |Linden M. Bayliss
Texas covers a lot of territory, and while its big cities get most of the meeting headlines, smaller destinations that might run under the radar boast a canvas of modern venues complemented by historic charm. These small-town communities are close-knit and friendly, welcoming meeting and event attendees with open arms.
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Jan 23, 2025 | 
meetingsmags.com | Amy C. Durham
With $1.6 billion in expansion plans moving ahead, the Austin Convention Center will close for the 40-month construction period after the South by Southwest event in March. But what does this mean for annual events that take place at the center and for incoming conferences that want to book the space? Three area hotels have banded together to offset the loss of room revenue while supporting planners who want to bring big events to the city.
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Jan 21, 2025 | 
meetingsmags.com | Amy C. Durham
Texas cowboy life is legendary. Planning a meeting in a Western setting gives attendees the chance to immerse themselves in the ranching tradition. Whether the venue is close to major airports or off the beaten path, a ranch provides attendees with the feeling of being out in the country away from it all. The wide-open spaces showcase a peaceful backdrop for inspiration, bonding, and focus.
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Jan 13, 2025 | 
meetingsmags.com | Amy C. Durham
San Antonio’s first Kimpton property, Kimpton Santo, opened in August. The hotel development and opening season is one of the busiest times in the life of any hotel team. “It’s a whirlwind—from finalizing operations to onboarding staff and ensuring everything is ready for our guests,” says Lynn Snyder, Kimpton Santo’s general manager.
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Jan 6, 2025 | 
meetingsmags.com | Amy C. Durham
The next busy summer travel season is just around the corner, so airlines have added a number of flights to help travelers going to and from Texas make it to their destinations with ease. Southwest Airlines introduced new weekday nonstop service between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in addition to seasonal flights between Austin and Reno-Tahoe International Airport in Nevada.
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Dec 30, 2024 | 
meetingsmags.com | Amy C. Durham
The first phase of a $2 billion renovation to the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston will begin this year. A new building will include additional parking, exhibition space, meeting rooms, and ballrooms. Overseen by Houston First Corp., the city’s destination marketing organization, the plan also includes a new skybridge connecting to the Toyota Center arena, more restaurants and retail venues, and additional green space and sidewalks in the east downtown area.
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Nov 15, 2024 | 
meetingsmags.com | Amy C. Durham
Celebrating 16 years with Visit Lubbock, Sales Manager Lisa Grinstead did not start her career in the association world. “Before my first job in an association, I had never heard of a CVB (convention and visitors bureau), much less know what they do,” she says. Grinstead started in the corporate and business arena, but today, the hustle and bustle of a CVB feels like home.
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Nov 14, 2024 | 
meetingsmags.com | Amy C. Durham
Opened in 2020, a Grapevine sports and social lounge is thriving with memorable offerings for groups. With a 3,800-square-foot expansion, the newly dubbed Crush It! 2.0 features games and food service. “Our venue offers a variety of activities, from duckpin bowling and auto scoring darts to immersive golf simulators, plus delicious food and refreshing drinks,” says owner Mike Speets.
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Nov 8, 2024 | 
meetingsmags.com | Amy C. Durham
Women dominate the events industry. Statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau in 2022 show that 76% of the 135,000 meeting, convention, and event planners around the country are women. However, it is also true that men still hold 80% of the total C-suite positions in the nation, including CEO, president, and board chair, among others, according to a global survey conducted jointly by the PCMA Foundation headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and Business Events Sydney, based in Australia.
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Nov 4, 2024 | 
meetingsmags.com | Amy C. Durham |Linden M. Bayliss
Texas covers 268,596 square miles. It takes 13 hours to drive from north to south and 11 hours to drive from Texarkana in the east to El Paso in the west. To put that in perspective, that means El Paso is closer to the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, California, than it is to Texarkana. The state covers eight climate zones, ranging from arid in West Texas to subtropical in East Texas. While the north is cold and dry, the south might be hot and humid.
