Plan to impress with unforgettable venues and activities
By Eming Piansay
The third-largest city of the Lone Star State has a lot to give to planners looking to create an engaging and awe-inspiring experience. Whether attendees have an eye for the arts and culture scene, the food or the local sports teams, they will not be left wanting in Dallas.
Fun Fact
The State Fair of Texas, Sept. 27-Oct. 20, is one of the largest in the United States. Overseeing the annual Dallas event is the famous 55-foot-tall cowboy statue nicknamed Big Tex.
5 Places to Meet
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas is connected to the Omni Dallas Hotel via skybridge. An expansion to the center is coming in 2029. The venue also offers pop-up food and beverage choices for any event.
1 million sq. ft. of exhibit space, 88 meeting rooms and 1,001 guest rooms.
Read More: Convention Centers: A History
Omni PGA Frisco offers guests the chance to play through their 18-hole championship courses and take a dip into their four onsite pools. Not to mention a rooftop, adults-only infinity pool!
127,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, 19 meeting rooms and 500 guest rooms.
Irving Convention Center sits on 40 acres in the heart of Irving’s Las Colinas Urban Center. It also includes the Westin Convention Center Hotel and the Toyota Music Factory.
275,000 sq. ft. of meeting and exhibit space, 20 breakout rooms and 350 guest rooms.
Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West Hotel is in walking distance of the top dining and shopping spots in Dallas Plano. Planners can utilize the two ballrooms; one also includes a private terrace.
34,869 sq. ft. of meeting space, 17 event rooms, 9 breakout rooms and 304 guest rooms.
Fort Worth Convention Center spans 14 city blocks, but attendees are able to utilize the free transportation of Molly the Trolley to get to where they need to go with ease.
253,226 sq. ft. of meeting space and 38 meeting rooms.
5 Reasons Why Planners Love It
While in Texas, why not catch the Rangers, MLB’s 2023 World Series champs, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, just a half hour from Dallas? The retractable-roof stadium is state-of-the-art and near two Loews Hotel venues, so attendees can walk to and from the ballpark.
Looking for a fun group activity? Check out Dallas World Aquarium. Visitors can explore the three levels of the Orinoco Rainforest and see sloths and monkeys. There is also a South Africa exhibit where you can hang out with penguins and leaf-tailed geckos.
Read More: Texas: The Lone Star Keeps Shining
Stomach growling? Hop on the luxury motorcoach or walking tours offered by Dallas Sites & Sights Tours to get a taste of some of the best eating Dallas has to offer. Options include Dallas’ Best Tacos & Margaritas. The Dallas by Chocolate Tour and Dallas’ Best BBQ & Brewery Tour
Take a trip back in time to the Old West at Fort Worth Herd, where groups can witness the world’s only twice-daily cattle drive. Watch real Texas cowhands participate in a historically accurate drive of Texas longhorns in the Stockyard National Historic District.
Check out the Fort Worth Water Gardens, conveniently near the Fort Worth Convention Center. The downtown oasis, designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson, encourages visitors to contemplate the waters as they cascade and flow while indulging in quiet meditation.
This article appears in the July/August 2024 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
