Time for a close-up
Stepping off the plane at Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) can leave even first-time visitors with a feeling of déjà vu all over again. The dramatic red rock desert was the backdrop for TV series and films as diverse as Better Call Saul, The Avengers and Stranger Things.
In fact, MovieMaker Magazine ranked Albuquerque as the No. 1 Best Large City for Filming in 2025. Smart Meetings took a group of top planners behind the scenes to check out blockbuster experiences in the hot air balloon capital.
Meet and Stay

A meeting at Hotel Chaco, the group’s home base, is a tribute to Ancestral Puebloan architecture and culture. The AAA Four Diamond boutique hotel mixes timeless design with modern luxury in the heart of Old Town Albuquerque. Regional art inside complements vivid mountain views of Chaco Canyon.
The 600,000-square-foot Albuquerque Convention Center is in the process of creating a 2,500-square-foot fresco celebrating New Mexico’s rich wine history, adding to the grandeur of the signature indoor-outdoor spaces nestled between the Rio Grande River and the Sandia Mountains in the heart of downtown Albuquerque.
Nearby, The Clyde Hotel pays homage to Clyde Tingley, the city’s beloved former mayor and New Mexico governor, whose visionary leadership helped to shape the state. Merging modern elegance with subtle Art Deco accents that evoke the dynamic era of his tenure, the hotel offers stylish accommodations in a prime downtown location.
Hotel Andaluz, the city’s first boutique hotel, was originally built in 1939 by Conrad Hilton and remains a symbol of timeless elegance. As a LEED Gold-certified property and part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, it is committed to sustainability while offering modern comforts and exceptional service.
Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown puts groups in the center of the city’s dynamic shopping and dining hub, ABQ Uptown, an upscale open-air hip spot.
Marriott Albuquerque, where visiting celebrities stay, was filled with the vibrant colors of the destination during its last renovation of all 411 guest rooms and 23,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Bo- nus trivia: Look for the sacred sun symbol of New Mexico’s Indigenous Zia tribe and icons of the New Mexico chile pepper scattered throughout the property.
Eat

More trivia: Did you know New Mexico is the oldest wine-producing region in the United States? Spanish settlers introduced vines in the 1600s. Casa Rondeña Winery offers a charming blend of award-winning wines, hospitality and history.
More dining with a view went down at Campo at Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm, a 25-acre estate boasting lavender fields, enormous cottonwood trees and lush formal gardens. The James Beard-nominated restaurant features dishes crafted from ingredients grown on the estate.
Experience
Smart Meetings FAM trips are all about immersing yourself in the destination. That is why a trip to Electric Playhouse for an evening of interactive art and technology had to be on the agenda. A chef-curated culinary journey combined inventive local flavors with a creative twist.
Another fun fact: Albuquerque is home to the longest urban stretch of Route 66, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. 66 Diner, which is housed in a repurposed Phillips 66 service station, takes visitors back to the golden age of the 1950s with neon lights, jukebox tunes and towering milkshakes. Not surprisingly, this was a popular selfie spot during our visit.
This article appears in the May 2025 issue. Subscribe to the magazine here.