Natural wonders, rich culture and unique meeting spaces

By Eming Piansay

Meet in the sun-soaked city of Tucson, where ideas bloom like the desert cacti between the meeting rooms and the canyons. Planners can skillfully craft an itinerary of culinary delights, welcoming meeting venues and heritage touchstones to elevate your event with this Southwestern gem of a destination. With plenty of room to connect, Tucson allows planners to have meaningful events that breathe in the warm Arizona air.

Resources

Visit Tucson

Mary Meade, CTA, vice president of sales

[email protected] | visittucson.org

 

5 Reasons Why Planners Love Tucson

San Xavier Del Bac Mission in Tucson
San Xavier Del Bac Mission, Tucson

  • Flock to the flora. Visit the Tucson Botanical Gardens, a lush urban oasis, to see the wide selection of native plants, with gardens dedicated to cacti and succulents, trees and Native American plants. A new permanent exhibit, Frida’s Garden—inspired by Frida Kahlo’s home, La Casa Azul—opens October 11, 2025. The exhibit will feature a replica of her Aztec pyramid and her famous blue walls.

  • Shoot for the stars. The great beyond will inspire your guests at the Pima Air and Space Museum for a trip through history and the possibilities of space travel. With nearly 400 aircraft on display, guests can see WWII bombers, Cold War jets, a Black Hawk helicopter and more. Not to mention the spacecraft and capsules on display and artifacts from NASA missions to excite your attendees’ inner explorers.

  • Dig those precious stones. If you have gem collectors in your group, the city is home to one of the biggest gem shows in February, the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. The Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase also takes place during Labor Day weekend. Treat your gem enthusiasts to the shimmer of moonstone rings and amethyst bracelets. Consider swinging by the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum for a dive into museum artifacts and the lives of copper miners in the 19th and 20th centuries.

  • Explore the Sonoran Desert. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum offers a little bit of everything—an aquarium, an art gallery, botanical gardens, a natural history museum and a zoo—all focusing on life in the Sonoran Desert. Explore outdoor paths while on the lookout for coyotes and mountain lions.

  • Accept the mission. Step through the doors of history at the San Xavier Del Bac Mission, founded by Jesuit missionaries in 1692. Designed in Spanish Baroque style with a dramatic interior and exterior, the mission is Arizona’s oldest intact European structure.

 

5 Places to Meet & Stay

Tucson Convention Center exterior

Tucson Convention Center is in the heart of downtown. An outdoor patio space provides guests views of Temple Butte (known to locals as “A Mountain”) and Tumamoc Hill.

Over 233,000 sq. ft. of meeting space

Omni Tucson National Resort & Spa meeting space

Omni Tucson National Resort & Spa is tech-ready and AV-equipped with state-of-the-art services, including video streaming and global meeting support. After the meeting, guests can spend their downtime in the spa or on the golf course.

22,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; 8 meeting rooms; 130 guest rooms

The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa pool

The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa is a 250-acre flourishing hideaway with a gorgeous view of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Guests can enjoy six outdoor pools and a 177-foot waterslide.

109,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; 487 guest rooms

Woman sitting in meeting space in Canyon Ranch Tucson

Canyon Ranch Tucson is a Michelin Key-designated property famed for its spa, which offers saunas, plunge pools, a relaxation lounge and a service menu that includes deep tissue massage, Hungarian scrub treatment, VENN collagen facial and more.

10,430 sq. ft. of meeting space; 168 guest rooms

People playing tennis at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort features two tennis courts, four pickleball courts and two award-winning Tom Fazio–designed PGA golf courses. The hotel also has two heated pools and a Jacuzzi.

38,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; 398 guest rooms

This article appears in the September 2025 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.