Dallas: "Big D" is big attraction.

Dallas is the top visitor and leisure destination in Texas, and one of the nation's most popular sites for association meetings. Dallas's convention package knows few peers nationwide, with more than 47,000 area hotel rooms, the nation's second busiest airport, and one of the largest convention centers in the United States, including 800,000 square feet of exhibit space.

Virtually every major hotel chain has a flagship-quality hotel in Dallas, and the "Big D" boasts four times more restaurants per person than New York City Shopping is a participatory sport in Dallas, with more shopping centers per capita than any other U.S. city. For arts buffs, there are approximately 110 live performances each night in the city. More than 160 museums, galleries, and artistic attractions offer something for everyone.

Wyndham Anatole: Legendary Hotel Keeps Growing

No hotel in Texas and indeed the nation offers association meeting planners more than the Wyndham Anatole Hotel, located just two miles from the downtown Dallas business district. Often described as a village within a city, the Wyndham Anatole sits on 45 acres in the heart of all that makes Dallas one of America's top convention destinations.

The Anatole offers everything association meeting planners need for great meetings. Start with 1,620 upscale guest rooms in two atrium high-rises and a 27-story tower, including 129 suites of various sizes and designs. The 15 garden hospitality suites are specifically designed for entertaining up to 75 people, while six grand presidential suites occupy an entire penthouse corner. Concierge-level service features complimentary morning breakfast and evening hors doeuvres and cocktails, as well as additional VIP amenities.

The opening of the Anatole's Trinity Conference Center last year brought its total meeting space to an amazing 338,000 square feet. The $10 million addition of approximately 55,000 square feet of space included a 45,000-square-foot, multipurpose ballroom that is the largest ballroom in the Southwest. While not a typical ballroom, the column-free room has a formal entry, carpeting, adjustable lighting, and 25-foot ceilings that enable it to host larger general sessions, meal functions, and even exhibits.

The new addition of both exhibit and function space to an existing 74,000-square-foot exhibit hall brought total square footage of the conference center to 145,000 square feet. The Anatole also offers 60 meeting rooms, eight boardrooms, six major ballrooms, and six permanent theaters, including a 1,000-seat auditorium.

Once meetings conclude for the day, participants can unwind at the Anatole's 82,000-square-foot Verandah Club with indoor running track and basketball court; tennis, racquetball, and squash courts; indoor and outdoor pools; croquet court; extensive exercise facilities in a 3,000-square-foot workout room; separate whirlpool, steam, sauna, and massage facilities; and even a regulation horseshoe pit. Groups often hold corporate Olympics-type contests at the facility.

If just relaxing is in order, guests can stroll through the Anatole's seven-acre private park and enjoy its fish pond, gardens, and impressive sculptures. The park can also host outdoor functions for up to 8,000 people.

For dining, there's absolutely no reason to go anywhere else. Five-star dining is showcased at the Nana Grill on the 27th floor of the Anatole's Tower, where the best in innovative American cuisine is complemented by one of the city's best views and an impressive collection of fine art. Several other great restaurants and nightclubs are part of the Anatole, where guests can choose from sports bars and Mexican restaurants to jazz clubs and garden cafes.

One of the Anatole's most notable aspects is its impressive collections of art and antiquities. Priceless China vases, a Louis XIV bronze sculpture, rare malachite urns, 10 Picassos, and an entire gallery of carved antique jade are among the millions of dollars worth of exquisite pieces on display throughout the hotel, which also showcases 50,000 plants and 180,000 square feet of glass atop its two atria.

Hyatt Regency Dallas: Expanding a Memorable Landmark

The most recognized landmark in Dallas is about to become an even greater venue for association meetings and conventions. The Hyatt Regency Dallas is in the midst of a $65 million expansion that will add 183 guest rooms, a 32,000-square-foot ballroom, and a 44,000-square-foot exhibit hall when completed in February 2000.

The Hyatt Regency is part of the 50-story Reunion Tower complex, where the top-level geodesic dome offers unforgettable views of the spectacular Dallas skyline from its observation deck and revolving restaurant and lounge. When the expansion is complete, Reunion Tower and the expanded hotel will be enclosed in one environment.

Already a major meetings destination, the Hyatt Regency currently offers 940 guest rooms and 72,000 square feet of meeting space that divides into 36 meeting rooms, three ballrooms, and a 27,000-square-foot exhibit hall with pre-function area.

The Hyatt Regency's expansion will add tremendous options for association meeting planners. The new grand ballroom will be one of the largest and most technically advanced in Dallas. Production balconies around the perimeter, the latest audiovisual capabilities, and 30-foot open ceilings will make the new Hyatt ballroom extremely production friendly for the most elaborate events. The Hyatt's famous luxurious fabrics and finishes will continue to be featured. The ballroom will divide into four sections, and it will accommodate 3,000 people for a reception or theater-style seating.

With a commercial loading dock offering three bays and 21st century telecommunication and electronic capabilities, the hotel's new exhibit hall will set a new industry standard. The new exposition facility will accommodate 180 8-by-10 booths or serve 4,000 people for a reception and 3,100 for a banquet. Divisible into two sections, this versatile room will also offer nearly 10,000 square feet of pre-function space. Upon expansion, the Hyatt Regency Dallas will offer more than 160,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space.

Numerous other improvements are being added to the hotel as well, such as an expanded lobby area, additional elevators, an expanded second-floor atrium area with new meeting rooms and increased seating in each of the two restaurants, a new specialty coffee boutique in the lobby, a redesigned front entrance and front drive, additional underground parking, new and enlarged public restrooms and public phone center at the lobby level, and an expanded main kitchen to service the new meeting facilities.

All guest rooms will also receive an upgraded telephone system with two-line phones for computer/modem access. Upon expansion completion, there will be 1,123 guest rooms at the Hyatt, making a wide variety of association meetings possible under one roof.

The Hyatt Regency Dallas is located on the west side of the city's central business district, a short walk to the Dallas Convention Center and the excitement of the city's West End entertainment district. It is also a stop on the Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail system, which conveniently connects meeting attendees to all the shopping, nightlife, and dining that makes Dallas such a great association meetings destination.

Adam's Mark - Dallas: Renovation Creates Downtown Landmark Hotel

The old saying that everything in Texas is big certainly rings true when applied to the Adams Mark Hotel in the heart of downtown Dallas. The hotel, a complex of an existing hotel connected via skywalk to two converted office towers that were the former Southland Center, now boasts 1,844 guest rooms and more than 230,000 square feet of meeting space.

The massive hotel, which was created through a recently completed $200 million expansion project, now features five ballrooms, including the 41,000-square-foot Lone Star ballroom that can seat up to 3,500 guests. Seventy meeting rooms, a 60,000-square-foot ballroom, and 11 boardrooms also are available to groups, which have a personal convention services manager assigned to assist with pre-planning arrangements and on-site facilitation.

More than 200 suites of four different designs, including 23 presidential suites, add more options for meetings, hospitality functions, and other entertainment and events.

The hotel is only a five-minute ride on the Dallas light rail system to the Dallas Convention Center and Reunion Arena.