Texas.

Things tend toward the large in the Lone Star State. Texas has several large meeting cities; most states can boast of only a couple. Adding to the allure is a crop of newly expanded facilities, all willing to negotiate to fill the space. And Texas cities are competitive among themselves, so bringing a meeting to Texas means you'll likely get a good deal.

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Exciting convention center hotels are on the drawing boards in Fort Worth and San Antonio, and sparkling new Hilton properties in Austin and Houston are successfully serving the convention markets in those cities. Grapevine, home of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, saw the opening of the landmark Gaylord Texan last year.

Speaking of DFW Airport, it may have lost the Delta hub, but it is putting the finishing touches on a new Terminal D, serving international flights. And it will also see the completion of the Grand Hyatt DFW this summer.

In Dallas, the entertainment and arts districts are growing. Like Dallas, Houston is touting a new light rail system that is convenient and user-friendly for convention-goers. Arlington, the "fun central" suburb between Dallas and Fort Worth is already beginning to capitalize on a public vote that will eventually move the Cowboys football team to a stadium near the Texas Rangers major league baseball club. Irving and Las Colinas have plenty to offer, too, with quality hotels, resorts, golf, restaurants, canals, and unique venues.

And the Texas landscape is so diverse that if you want to take your group "way out West" to El Paso or Amarillo or "down to the coast" to Galveston or Corpus Christi, you'll find helpful CVBs, modern facilities, great accommodations, and hospitality folks who know how to make you feel at home.

AMARILLO

NEW HOTELS, PERFORMANCE CENTERS

Amarillo may have a Western personality, but it is certainly not a remote site for convention-goers. There's nonstop service from Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Dallas's Love Field, Albuquerque, Denver, and Las Vegas. Interstate 40, where the bulk of Amarillo's lodging is situated, makes driving in easy, too.

Four new properties--the Ashmore Inn & Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, Courtyard by Marriott, and Homewood Suites by Hilton--have added more than 360 rooms and suites to Amarillo's accommodations. Several other properties under construction or development will add another 300 rooms to Amarillo's inventory.

The recent expansion of the Amarillo Civic Center included a new 24,500-square-foot exhibit hall and a 20,700-square-foot ballroom that can be converted into 20 breakout rooms. The 70,000-square-foot expansion of meeting, exhibit, and banquet space brings the civic center's total to almost 340,000 square feet.

The center's South Exhibit Hall also was upgraded with a new floor, new floor boxes with electrical and fiber optic cable, and updated wall treatments. Other improvements include expanded concourses and an additional box office to support events at the 5,000-seat Cal Farley Coliseum; a covered patio; a partially covered outdoor exhibit area adjacent to the South Exhibit Hall; and two new catering kitchens.

The Kwahadi-Kiva Indian Museum and Performance Center, which opened in 2004, is home to a great collection of Native American artifacts as well as the internationally known Kwahadi Indian dancers. The Kiva has several indoor and outdoor plazas that are suited for board gatherings, receptions, and meals.

A new small-group venue will open in 2005. The Mary Bivins Tropical Conservatory, a 6,000-square-foot, glass-enclosed facility at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens, will feature a variety of tropical flora and fauna.

Another big development on the horizon for Amarillo is the $27 million Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts. Scheduled for completion in October, the downtown, 1,200-seat venue will be home to professional ballet, opera, and symphony companies as well as host to a variety of concerts. It will be a great venue for special events during meetings and conventions.

ARLINGTON

HEART OF METROPLEX ANTICIPATES COWBOYS

Arlington is "fun central," but it's future-centered, too. Last fall, Arlington voters approved an initiative to bring the Dallas Cowboys to the city in 2009 by helping to fund a new stadium home for the team. Dirt should be flying by this time next year on the $650 million development adjacent to Arlington's entertainment district, which already includes Six Flags Over Texas, Hurricane Harbor, and Ameriquest Field, home of the Texas Rangers.

The fall football schedule is expected to boost Arlington's draw year-round. New hotels, restaurants, and expansions are anticipated. The new state-of-the-art facility should attract large-scale gatherings such as political assemblies, inspirational rallies, concerts, and additional sports events. Hopes for a Super Bowl are already emerging.

Meanwhile, Arlington is going about the business of attracting meetings. The Arlington Convention Center has an exhibit hall with almost 50,000 square feet of flexible, column-free space and a 30,000-square-foot, hotel-quality ballroom. There's also a gallery, a terrace, and 8,500 square feet of meeting rooms.

And all this is situated in the heart of the city's entertainment district, on Interstate 30 between Dallas and Fort Worth, just 15 minutes south of DFW International Airport.

AUSTIN

DOWNTOWN'S BOOMING AND RESORTS ARE NEARBY

Convention planners and attendees are clearly impressed by Austin. The city's meeting and trade show business has risen steadily during the past five years, largely because it doubled the size of its convention center, expanded air access, and secured a convention center hotel.

The Texas Library Association, whose convention draws about 7,500 annually, left Austin in the late 1960s for bigger venues but returned in April 2005. Austin-based TLA used the Hilton Austin Convention Center Hotel and the Austin Convention Center, which covers six city blocks downtown.

Among Austin's attractions are the Sixth Street and Warehouse District entertainment areas, Town Lake, offbeat shopping districts, the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Austin supports a rich cultural community. The Jack Blanton Museum of Art is scheduled to open on the University of Texas campus, just north of downtown, in 2006.

Austin is known widely as the "live music capital of the world." That reputation is part of the draw for two new conventions coming to Austin in 2005 and 2006. This July will mark the first time the International Music Products Association, Carlsbad, California, known as NAMM, comes to Austin, but it won't be the last. NAMM is already contracted to return in 2008 and 2010. The summer trade show and conference is expected to attract about 20,000 attendees and should have a $20 million impact on the city. Austin also will be hosting the 18th annual North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance in February 2006.

Sports are big in the hometown of the Texas Longhorns. Last year Austin hosted the Association of Volleyball Professionals, Los Angeles, and a beach volleyball tournament that featured many participants who went to the 2004 Olympics.

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A unique Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott is coming to downtown Austin. The combined facility will have 420 rooms and suites and will share a restaurant/sports bar, breakfast cafe, Starbucks, indoor pool and fitness center, and 6,600 square feet of meeting space.

Marriott is now managing the Horseshoe Bay Resort on Lake LBJ, northwest of Austin. A new tower opened last fall, bringing the property's room total to 349, of which 115 are suites. There are three Robert Trent Jones golf courses, a marina, and eateries as well as conference space, a 12,000-square-foot ballroom, and outdoor function areas.

The Hyatt Regency resort planned by Woodbine Development on a 405-acre site southeast of Austin broke ground last fall. The hotel will have 500 rooms and more than 50,000 square feet of meeting space. The project includes an 18-hole golf course, a full-service spa, and other amenities. Completion is scheduled for summer 2006 and group bookings have already begun.

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CORPUS CHRISTI

SHOWCASING NEW CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION

Corpus Christi is proudly showcasing its newly expanded and renovated convention center. The AmericanBank Center includes a new 10,000-seat multipurpose arena connected by concourse to the convention center's pre-function hall. Both the arena and the convention center offer spectacular views of the bay.

The convention center features two ballrooms, one 25,366 square feet, divisible into two rooms, and the other, 18,530 square feet, divisible into four separate spaces. State-of-the-art audiovisual and data communication systems and two large catering kitchens serve the complex, which also includes the Selena Auditorium.

This spring, Nolan Ryan is bringing a Houston Astros Double A team, the Corpus Christi Hooks, to town. Whataburger, a Corpus Christi-based corporation, is putting its name on a new $21.5 million stadium for the team. Located near the Ortiz Center on the cruise port of the city, the new stadium will have more than 5,000 seats and 19 luxury suites.

The city is also working on a new bayfront seawall and has plans for a boardwalk and beach expansion. Other bay attractions, such as the Texas State Aquarium and the U.S.S. Lexington Museum, offer special event venues.

Corpus Christi has more than 9,200 rooms citywide. Closest to AmericanBank Center, the Omni Corpus Christi Bayfront and Marina Towers have a combined 820 rooms and 38,000 square feet of conference space, and the Holiday Inn Emerald Beach has 368 rooms.

Corpus Christi International Airport has completed a $40 million expansion and provides an easy connecting flight to Houston or Dallas hubs.

DALLAS

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CONTINUE GROWING

Last year the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau introduced a new logo and powerful tagline, "Live large. Think big." This new branding effort reflects the ways in which Dallas inspires big thinking. When visitors come to Dallas, they will experience a true frontier of business, fashion, arts, and entertainment.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is not only a hub for American Airlines but also the third-busiest airport in the world. It offers nonstop flights to and from more cities than any other airport in the United States.

Dallas offers a unique mixture of arts, culture, shopping, dining, and fun. With 6,500 dining options, some of the best shopping in America, more than 100 golf courses, six professional sports teams, outstanding performing and visual arts, and 10 entertainment districts within three miles of downtown, there is definitely something for everyone.

The Dallas area has more than 70,000 hotel rooms, including some unique historic and boutique properties. And the number is steadily growing. Five new luxury hotels are under development: the Grand Hyatt at DFW International Airport (July 2005); the full-service boutique Joule on Main Street, the W Dallas Victory Hotel in Uptown, and Kimpton's Palomar Hotel at Mockingbird Station (all in 2006); and a luxury Ritz-Carlton in Uptown (2007).

The Dallas Convention Center has more than a million square feet of exhibit space and is conveniently located on one of the nation's fastest-growing light-rail lines. It boasts the world's largest singular column-free exhibit hall at 203,000 square feet--and it has 40-foot-high ceilings. The convention center was the first 100 percent wireless convention facility in the nation. Included in the convention center are a 9,816-seat arena, a 1,170-seat theater, and 105 meeting rooms.

EL PASO

CULTURAL CROSSROADS WELCOMES MEETINGS

Texas, Mexico, and New Mexico come together in the rich cultural mix that is El Paso. It's a land of wide, open skies, mild mountain desert weather, and dramatic sunsets. Native America, vestiges of the Old West, the color of Mexico and Spanish explorers, and the leading edge of the future converge here.

Reasonably priced accommodations (7,500 rooms citywide), a newly renovated international airport, an expanded convention center, and the special attention that comes with meeting in a city El Paso's size make a conference in El Paso a pleasure.

The El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center offers 80,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space and advanced connectivity. Three halls and 17 meeting rooms in the convention center complement the 2,500-seat performance theater.

The historic Plaza Theatre is undergoing a $38 million restoration that will be completed in the fall. Its elaborate decor will complement any group meeting.

Spanish mission tours, excursions into Mexico for dining and shopping, barbecues, mariachis, and folklorico dancers are some of the entertainment your group can enjoy. Within walking distance of the convention center is the beautiful El Paso Museum of Art. Great nightlife is nearby, too. Golfers, hikers, and mountain bikers will be right at home any day of the year. Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino lies just across the New Mexico border. If your attendees extend their stay, they can enjoy winter skiing in New Mexico or a drive to Carlsbad Caverns or White Sands National Monument.

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FORT WORTH

NEW CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL ON THE WAY

Fort Worth is booming. The biggest news in the city's hospitality community is the development of a new convention center hotel. Plans call for a 600-room Omni Hotel to be constructed across from the Fort Worth Convention Center. The proposed $90 million project will offer 48,000 square feet of meeting space, a ballroom, two restaurants, and other first-class amenities. Final negotiations are under way between Omni Hotels and the City of Fort Worth.

The hotel will complement the Fort Worth Convention Center's $75 million expansion that was completed in 2003. The convention center has 253,000 square feet of exhibit space, 41 breakout rooms with almost 59,000 square feet, a 28,160-square-foot ballroom, and a 13,500-seat arena. An events plaza links the convention center to the Fort Worth Water Gardens.

The 517-room Radisson Plaza Hotel, across from the convention center, recently finished a $2 million upgrade of all its public and meeting spaces and a total refurbishing of 300 guest rooms.

The historic 203-room Courtyard by Marriott Blackstone-Downtown Fort Worth will soon complete a $1.5 million renovation.

Last December, the 504-room Renaissance Worthington, a popular Sundance Square hotel, finished an $8 million renovation in sophisticated Western style.

New properties in Fort Worth include the 39-room Ashton Hotel, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, in downtown; the 145-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott on Interstate 30, near Texas Christian University and the cultural district; a 150-suite Residence Inn by Marriott in the new South of Seventh development between downtown and the cultural district; and the AmeriSuites, a $7.1 million, western-themed 102-room hotel in the heart of the Stockyards National Historic District.

The Doral Tesoro Hotel and Golf Club is adjacent to a new championship golf course and sits across from Texas Motor Speedway in north Fort Worth. The 286-room hotel offers 22,000 square feet of conference space and a 9,000-square-foot ballroom.

The Texas Civil War Museum; the Fort Worth Mercado, a Mexican-themed market and commercial area; and Cabela's, an outdoors outfitter, are new attractions to Fort Worth in 2005. They join many the city is already known for--the Fort Worth Zoo; the Kimbell Art Museum; the Amon Carter Museum, featuring American and Western art; the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth; Casa Manana Theatre; Bass Performance Hall; the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame; the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame; the Historic Stockyards; the U.S. Treasury Department's Bureau of Engraving and Printing; and more.

GALVESTON ISLAND

TROPICAL SETTING, NEW CONVENTION CENTER

The Galveston Island Convention Center at the San Luis Resort, which opened in May 2004, offers the perfect combination of executive facilities and relaxing resort activities. Featuring 43,100 square feet of exhibition space, a 15,500-square-foot ballroom, and 12,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, this two-level beach-front structure with magnificent gulf views is great for meetings and conventions. The new center features state-of-the-art audiovisual technology, soundproof meeting rooms, and ergonomic seating.

More than 700 hotel rooms are adjacent to the new convention center and another 1,400 are within two miles. Galveston Island boasts 4,000 sleeping rooms and more than 185,000 square feet of combined meeting space at various hotels.

Just 50 miles south of Houston, Galveston Island is only 40 miles from Hobby Airport and 75 miles from Bush Intercontinental Airport.

MOODY GARDENS: A MEETING-FRIENDLY RESORT

The four-diamond Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa, and Convention Center is Galveston Island's premier meeting destination. Located under one roof are 428 luxurious guest rooms, 100,000 square feet of meeting space, two restaurants, two bars, a full-service spa, fitness center, indoor lap pool, business center, and parking garage. Besides the usual amenities, the hotel has complimentary high-speed Internet access in all guest rooms, wireless Internet in both bars and poolside, dual phone lines, 24-hour room service, turndown service, refrigerators in most rooms, and bathrobes. The hotel will block up to 400 rooms per night for groups.

The new 60,000-square-foot Convention Center Expo Hall is ballroom quality and has retractable carpeting for meetings and social events. The custom-made chandeliers, state-of-the-art sound and lighting, and soundproof walls make it excellent for all types of events. It can accommodate up to 4,000 for dinner.

As an exhibit hall, it is equipped to handle 375 eight-by-ten-foot exhibits. There are floor boxes every 30 feet with power, water, compressed air, data lines, and drains. Loading docks and drive-in ramps are on both ends of the hall. It has telescopic seating for 5,000, making it ideal for cheerleading and other sports-related competitions.

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With its convenient location just south of Houston, tropical resort amenities, excellent dining options, and the impressive attractions of Moody Gardens--the Rainforest Pyramid, the Aquarium, the IMAX 3D Theater, Ridefilm Theaters, Palm Beach, and the Colonel Paddlewheel Boat--the Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa, and Convention Center has everything you need for a successful meeting.

GRAPEVINE

MEET CLOSE TO--OR WITHIN--DFW AIRPORT

Home of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Grapevine offers convenient access as well as high-level amenities for meetings and conventions. Grapevine hotel properties include the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, two Hyatt properties, the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center, the Embassy Suites Outdoor World, the Terraces Hotel and Conference Center, and numerous limited service hotels.

The Hyatt Regency DFW recently completed a $32 million renovation, including a new restaurant, lobby bar, and coffee bar as well as the installation of high-speed Internet access for all 811 guest rooms. Its 92,000 square feet of function space includes 74 meeting rooms, a 21,000-square-foot ballroom, and the 18,050-square-foot Constellation Hall.

The Grand Hyatt DFW, opening in July 2005, is part of the new International Terminal at DFW International Airport. This luxury property will feature 298 rooms, restaurants, 17,100 square feet of meeting space, a full-service spa, and a rooftop pool.

As its name suggests, Grapevine offers a unique Texas wine experience. Grapevine's seven local wineries and tasting rooms offer sampling and education as well as bottle and case sales.

Other attractions include Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Grapevine Mills mall, three golf courses rated among the top 50 in the nation, the Grapevine Vintage Railroad excursion train with service from downtown Grapevine to the Fort Worth Stockyards, and more than 200 restaurants. The vibrant downtown Main Street is listed on the national Register of Historic Places and features art galleries and studios, home decor and clothing boutiques, antiques, jewelry, live theatre, wineries, unique dining, and a weekly open-air market.

GAYLORD TEXAN RESORT--EVERYTHING UNDER ONE ROOF

The Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center opened to a sold-out house in April 2004. Situated on a bluff overlooking Lake Grapevine, the newest and most complete convention facility in the area is less than 10 minutes from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

The Gaylord Texan's 1,511 rooms include 127 suites. All have Texas decor, high-speed Internet access, voice mail, and two telephones.

The convention center has more than 400,000 square feet of convention, meeting, and exhibit space. The 50,000-square-foot Texas Ballroom offers a 40-foot by 100-foot stage with lighting and sound. The Grapevine Ballroom measures 32,000 square feet, and the Yellow Rose Ballroom is 3,200 square feet. Seventy meeting rooms are situated throughout the resort. To accommodate exhibitions, the Gaylord Texan has a 180,000-square-foot hall with 17 dedicated docking bays.

Fiber optic cable runs throughout the resort, and T1, ISDN, and T3 communications are easily accommodated.

The 4.5-acre glass atrium houses three colorful Texas-themed areas: the Riverwalk, Hill Country, and Lone Star. An upscale shopping corridor is located in Lone Star Tower.

Another highlight of the world-class Gaylord Texan is Relache Spa, a full-service 25,000-square-foot spa, with 12 treatment rooms, a salon, and a fitness center. The 20-meter indoor lap pool is located in the spa, and the outdoor pool is outside the Hill Country Atrium. The resort grounds offer jogging and walking trails, a vineyard, and acres of lush gardens. Adjacent to the property is Cowboys Golf Club, an 18-hole championship course. Water enthusiasts can book boating, sailing, fishing, and other activities through the nearby Silver Lake Marina on Lake Grapevine.

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Celebrated Texas chef Stephen Pyles's Ama Lur restaurant offers contemporary Southwestern cuisine in the Hill Country Atrium. The Gaylord Texan features six restaurants and seven lounges.

HOUSTON

HOUSTON'S RENAISSANCE INCLUDES NEW LIGHT RAIL

In the past three years, six new hotels and 90 restaurants, clubs, and bars have opened in downtown Houston. The renaissance has made Houston a place to return to for a fresh, entertaining destination, with all the expected big-city amenities but surprising affordability. And for post-conference activities, the Gulf is just 45 minutes away and cruise ships now dock at the port of Houston.

Houston's new 7.5-mile METRORail system links the George R. Brown Convention Center and the 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston with everything that a convention-goer could wish for--restaurants, museums, theater, shopping, nightclubs, sporting events, and more.

The METRORail runs from downtown through the Museum District and the Texas Medical Center and ends at Reliant Park. Houston's renowned Theater District is just blocks from the rail. Sports fans will appreciate that Toyota Center, home of the Houston Rockets, Comets, and Aeros, and Minute Maid Park, home of the Astros, are just a short walk from a rail station, too.

Houston, SpaceCity, has become a first-class convention city. A $165 million expansion project completed in 2003 virtually doubled the size of the George R. Brown Convention Center to nearly 1.2 million net square feet of exhibition, meeting, and registration space. Attached by a double-deck pedestrian sky bridge, the Hilton Americas-Houston offers 91,000 square feet of meeting space, including two ballrooms and 30 flexible meeting rooms; three restaurants; a full-service business center; and the Skyline Spa and Health Club.

The convention center is flanked on the south by the Toyota Center arena and on the north by Minute Maid Park. Within one mile are 15 hotels and more than 5,000 of the 55,000 hotel rooms in the Greater Houston area.

You can now take the rail from downtown to Houston's other major event facility, Reliant Park, which consists of Reliant Stadium, the 1.4 million-square-foot Reliant Center, Reliant Arena, and the Reliant Astrodome. Reliant Park is one of the most versatile complexes in the world.

Buoyed by hosting a Super Bowl and a Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Houston has capitalized on incredible revitalization and is prepared to contend for major conventions. Great deals are to be had in Houston now, and the Greater Houston CVB will assist with all your meeting details--from online housing and onsite convention assistance to transportation, media relations, and special events.

IRVING

PREMIER RESORT, QUALITY HOTELS, IDEAL FOR SMALLER MEETINGS

Irving's marketing slogan, in between and far above, relates to its location and its service. Geographically, Irving is in between Dallas and Fort Worth, and its proximity to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport makes it easy to reach from anywhere.

The Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau prides itself on customer-friendly service and has received numerous awards for excellence, making it far above average. Irving CVB's team of hospitality professionals offers services to make your meeting in Irving successful--from registration, transportation, media support, and brochures to Web sites, videos, and assistance with booking photographers and entertainers.

More than 75 hotels and 11,000 rooms provide options for every need and budget, targeting meetings for 10-1,000. Irving's luxury and full-service hotels cluster around the airport and in Las Colinas, a master-planned development within the city. They include The Four Seasons Resort and Club, the Omni Mandalay Hotel, Dallas Marriott Las Colinas, and the Wyndham Hotel Las Colinas. Also serving the meetings market are the Clarion Hotel DFW South, Dallas-Fort Worth Airport Marriott, Embassy Suites-DFW Airport South, Harvey Hotel DFW, Hilton Garden Inn DFW South, Holiday Inn Select North, Radisson Hotel-DFW South, and the Sheraton Grand Hotel.

Irving's in-between location is great for excursions to Dallas and Fort Worth attractions, and there are plenty of off-site venues in Irving itself. Visitors can dine, shop, or ride a gondola along Mandalay Canal at Las Colinas. There's also an equestrian center with a covered indoor arena, a world-class polo club, and the Dallas Communications Complex, which includes The Movie Studios at Las Colinas tour for individuals and groups.

The Irving Arts Center has two exhibit galleries and two state-of-the-art performance theaters. Texas Stadium anchors the east end of town, while to the north are the Dallas Cowboys' headquarters and practice facilities and the Dr Pepper StarCenter, housing two Olympic-sized sheets of ice for public skating. And no visitor to Irving should miss photo opportunities with the bronze Mustangs of Las Colinas or the marble cows on Brune Hill.

Several options for golf outings exist. The Four Seasons Resort and Club, site of the annual EDS Byron Nelson Championship, offers the Byron Nelson Golf School, which is perfect for team building and corporate events. Conde Nast Traveler voted the Four Seasons Resort and Club at Las Colinas the number one golf resort in North America, and the luxury property is the only AAA Five-Diamond resort in the state.

Irving's restaurants offer everything from Texas barbeque and Tex Mex to Southwestern nouvelle and down-home cooking. Most dining establishments accommodate groups.

SAN ANTONIO

NEW HOTELS GRACE THE RIVER WALK

San Antonio has rapidly become a major meeting and trade show city, with increased air service, Texas-sized hospitality, great hotels, and the $218 million renovation and expansion of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The 1.3 million-square-foot convention center houses more than 400,000 contiguous square feet of exhibit space, 113,000 square feet of meeting space, and three hotel-quality ballrooms totaling 90,000 square feet.

An optional meeting and expo facility is the Alamodome, also in downtown San Antonio. The multipurpose venue can seat up to 77,000 and can be configured to offer 160,000 square feet of contiguous floor space and 30,000 square feet of flexible breakout meeting space.

The city now has almost 30,000 rooms and more than 10,000 of them are in the downtown district, many on the River Walk favored by convention-goers.

The 214-room Hotel Valencia and the 99-room Watermark Hotel and Spa opened in 2003 on the River Walk. Last year a La Quinta Inn and Suites with 350 rooms opened near the convention center.

The Hyatt Regency River Walk recently completed a $16.6 million hotel-wide renovation, and the 410-room Crowne Plaza Hotel (formerly the Adam's Mark) is in the midst of a $6.3 million interior and exterior renovation.

Hotel Contessa-Suites on the River Walk, a $30 million, 266-room property, is expected to open this fall next to La Villita. In 2006, Drury Plaza Hotel will bring 310 rooms to Commerce and St. Mary's Street, with 100 more rooms planned to open in 2007.

The 225-room Radisson San Antonio Airport Hotel recently wrapped up a $5 million top-to-bottom renovation in 2004. Dozens of new shops, restaurants, galleries, and nightclubs now line the 2.5-mile River Walk. Rivercenter, a dazzling three-level glass shopping and entertainment complex, is a leading attraction. Pat O'Brien's, an offshoot of the famous New Orleans French Quarter nightclub, keeps things hot in Alamo Plaza. Plenty of entertainment is also found at Sunset Station, the renovated historic 1902 Southern Pacific Railroad Depot. The River Walk provides easy access to the revitalized HemisFair Park and its landmark, Tower of the Americas.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

AMARILLO

Amarillo Convention & Visitors Council

1000 S. Polk St.

Amarillo, TX 79101

800-692-1338

806-374-1497; fax: [phone]

www.visitamarillotx.com

ARLINGTON

Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau

1905 E. Randol Mill Rd.

Arlington, TX 76011

800-433-5374

817-265-7721; fax: [phone]

www.arlington.org

AUSTIN

Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau

201 E. 2nd St.

Austin, TX 78701

800-926-ACVB

512-474-5171; fax: [phone]

www.austintexas.org

CORPUS CHRISTI

Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau

1201 N. Shoreline Dr.

Corpus Christi, TX 78401

800-678-6232

361-881-1829; fax: [phone]

www.corpuschristicvb.com

DALLAS

Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau

325 N. St. Paul, Suite 700

Dallas, TX 75201

800-C-DALLAS

214-571-1000; fax: [phone]

www.dallasmeetings.com

www.visitdallas.com

EL PASO

El Paso Convention & Visitors Bureau

One Civic Center Plz.

El Paso, TX 79901

800-351-6024

915-534-0600; fax: [phone]

www.visitelpaso.com

FORT WORTH

Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau

415 Throckmorton

Fort Worth, TX 76102-7410

800-433-5747; fax: [phone]

www.fortworth.com

GALVESTON

Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau

2504 Church St., Suite 200

Galveston, TX 77550

888-425-4753

409-797-5145; fax: [phone]

www.galvestoncvb.com

MOODY GARDENS HOTEL, SPA, & CONVENTION CENTER

One Hope Blvd.

Galveston, TX 77554

800-582-4673

409-741-8484; fax: [phone]

www.moodygardens.com

GRAPEVINE

Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau

One Liberty Park Plz.

Grapevine, TX 76051

800-457-6338

817-410-3185; fax: [phone]

www.grapevinetexasusa.com

GAYLORD TEXAN RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER

1501 Gaylord Trail

Grapevine, TX 76051

800-672-0037

817-778-1000; fax: [phone]

www.gaylordhotels.com

HOUSTON

Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau

901 Bagby St., Suite 100

Houston, TX 77002

800-4-HOUSTON

713-437-5200; fax: [phone]

www.visithoustontexas.com

IRVING

Irving Convention & Visitors Bureau

222 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Suite 1550

Irving, TX 75039

800-2-IRVING

972-252-7476; fax: [phone]

www.irvingtexas.com

SAN ANTONIO

San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau

203 S. St. Mary's St., 2nd Floor

San Antonio, TX 78205

800-447-3372

210-207-6700; fax: [phone]

www.sanantoniovisit.com

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