Anchorage is the meeting they’ll remember from the first moose to the final glacier. Alaska’s most populous city is a prime location for a meeting, combining the incredible sights and activities to make the trip a success in the eyes of participants with the amenities organizers need to make the meeting run smoothly.

Surrounded by spectacular natural spaces, wildlife, and glaciers, and filled with metropolitan appeals, there are some great reasons to choose Anchorage.

The Best Of Alaska All In One Place

Anchorage combines city amenities with nearby glaciers, resident wildlife like moose and eagles, and mountain views from the meeting room. With five national parks within reach, the largest railroad transportation hub in Alaska, and busiest seaplane base on the planet, it is the best place to see all the iconic sights of Alaska.

Visits are like a wish list for those with a love of the natural world. Moose browse through city parks, eagles soar over neighborhoods, beluga whales cruise coastal waters in search of salmon. The city sits next to one of the largest state parks in the nation, Chugach State Park, with 500,000 acres of parkland.

It’s All About You

Alaska may be a big place, but its most populous city is only 300,000 people. Your event will get a warm welcome and plenty of attention. Alaskans are known for their friendliness and hospitality.

Urban Appeals

While many of the most breathtaking experiences are natural, the city itself holds plenty. With two convention centers in a pedestrian-friendly downtown neighborhood, the city can comfortably host events of up to 3,000. With plenty of hotel rooms in walking distance, and a surprising complement of diverse eateries, world-class museums, and vibrant local art galleries, the city is the perfect place for a meeting.

Incredible in Any Season

Summer may shine, but Anchorage sparkles in any month. From mid-September to mid-April, the northern lights dance over Anchorage. Some of the best experiences never go into hibernation. Any date is a prime chance to explore the trails, visit a glacier, find wildlife, or see the landscapes of Alaska from the air.

Freshest By Far

Seafood gets top billing in Anchorage for a reason: the bounty of Alaska waters is on the menu closest to the source. Salmon, crab, halibut, and shellfish get the attention, and you‘ll also find locally grown veggies, foraged berries, birch syrup, and Chaga tea.

Affordability

Costs in Anchorage are competitive with those in other destinations. A gallon of coffee is $39.95 at the Anchorage Convention Centers. Also, there’s no sales tax in Anchorage.

Getting Here Is Easy

Getting to Anchorage is a snap. Connections from all over the country and around the world continue to expand. Existing carriers are increasing frequency or flying larger aircraft, and new service is arriving as well. The added service makes reaching Alaska’s most accessible destination even easier.

A+ Attendance

“I’ve always wanted to go to Alaska.” It’s a dream destination, so holding the meeting in Anchorage can fuel better attendance and often breaks records.

Learn more at anchorage.net/meetings.

In Seattle, one of America’s most influential cities, transformation is as vital to the cultural fabric as coffee. The progressive, do-it-yourself culture has made it a birthplace for innovation, technology, and music, to name a few. This environment offers a prime culture for productive, exciting meetings.

Last year, Seattle hotel inventory increased by twenty percent, augmenting an already outstanding hotel package. This increase brought the total downtown room count to 14,160 at the end of 2018, with an expected additional five percent increase in 2019.  The brand-new Hyatt Regency Seattle added 1,260 new rooms to downtown Seattle alone, and many of the city’s existing hotels have also been updated. The Sheraton Grand Seattle completed renovations in 2018 that included updates to all 1,236 guestrooms, the lobby, the lounge, and the 78,327 sq. ft. of meeting space.

As for convention facilities specifically, the Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) is seeing one of the most significant additions to accommodate the bursting interest in the city. In 2022, WSCC will open Summit, adding almost 250,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 66 total rooms, and 58,000 sq. ft. of ballroom space. This complements the existing and already-bustling facility, Arch, with 205,700 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 79 total rooms, and 44,000+ sq. ft. of ballroom space. Both Summit and Arch are centrally located in downtown Seattle and sit only a block and a half from each other.

Major landmarks, like Pike Place Market and the Space Needle both recently underwent renovations that highlight some of the most unique parts of Seattle, and inevitably inspire memorable experiences for attendees. The Space Needle’s additions honor the beauty of Seattle by allowing guests to “fly” 520 feet above the city while standing on the new revolving glass floor, dubbed “the Loupe.” New waterfront access at Pike Place Market, offers attendees an additional setting to appreciate Seattle’s natural beauty with their colleagues.

Seattle is known to be one of the fastest growing hubs for tech startups as well, with venture capital investments at near-record levels. It is home to mega-giants like Amazon and Microsoft, and many other iconic companies like Starbucks, Boeing, and Nordstrom.

This contemporary startup growth is also defined by gender inclusivity, which resonates with attendees. Some of these local trailblazers include Sandi Lin, the ex-Amazon programmer who co-founded Skilljar to help businesses adopt and retain new tools and products; and Maria Colacurcio, co-founder of one of the world’s leading collaborative software as a service (SaaS) platforms, Smartsheet.

The momentum of Seattle is unstoppable. You can see it in the addition of the Summit building at WSCC, Seattle’s added tourism infrastructure, along with the diverse leadership and businesses in the city. All of these developments make the city an invigorating destination to host a meeting.

What is the best way to turn your annual meeting into a must-see event? Host it along the California coast at a sprawling resort located on 78 waterfront acres with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.  Your ticket just became that much more valuable. Better yet, guests will feel rejuvenated each morning as they wake up to the sounds of the ocean rising to shore.

Embrace the Sommelier Life

Wine country is where enthusiasts go to learn more and show appreciation, and where non-enthusiasts go to be converted. While there are many locations to “wine” along the California coast, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara’s proximity to Santa Barbara Wine Country makes it the prime choice; groups can have an event at a private winery nearby or invite a sommelier to the Foley Tasting Room, the 12,000-bottle wine cellar located at the resort.

Be an Ambassador of the Environment

After the meeting, consider blocking out some time in the agenda to go on an expedition. There’s no shortage of nature to see along the two-mile natural beach on which the resort is located. Jean-Michel Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures Society, is an expert on all things nature; and The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara  partnered with Cousteau to show guests the natural wonders along Gaviota Coast. As you trek along the Chumash Nature Trail, you’ll learn how the Chumash tribe survived on the land for thousands of years.

Have you ever watched the sun rise and set on the horizon from the same viewpoint? The Bluff at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara boasts such views.   While the sun hangs in the sky, groups can attend outdoor team-building activities, farm-to-table lunching, cocktails, and when the sun finally sets, stargazing up at the night sky.

Take the Scenic Route

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara ensures every detail of your stay is one to remember, even how you get there. The resort offers its guests an exclusive route along the coast from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to the property. The 100-mile trip from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is just as beautiful. And once you arrive, half of The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara’s 70,000 sq. ft. of meeting space provides views of the Pacific Ocean.

Big! That word alone captures the essence of Texas. Whether it’s size, design or innovativeness, the Lone Star State knows how to make an impression. Hotel properties and other attractions in the state are following suit, much to the planner’s advantage. 

Meet in Sky-High Spaces

We’d all prefer to meet in a well-designed space. It somehow makes the meeting better when some effort has been put into the space. Newly renovated, The Westin Galleria Houston took it a step further when it placed the Monarch Ballroom on the 24th floor. Home to more than 65,000 sq. ft. of event space, this 5,000-square-foot ballroom provides a gorgeous view of downtown Houston. It wouldn’t be surprising if Houstonians held meetings in the Monarch just for the sake of the view.

Be Connected to the Action

Time is one thing many planners can’t seem to get enough of—the schedule is often packed so tight during events that there isn’t much time to get out. Certain factors, such as distance, can dramatically decrease the time that planners have on their hands. But when your host property is connected to a mall, you’ll have no problem squeezing in a little time to shop, seek out entertainment or grab a bite from some fine-dining options.

The Westin Galleria Houston and The Westin Oaks Hotel are connected to The Galleria, the No. 1 tourist destination in Houston and one of four top shopping and entertainment destinations in the United States. Other mall rarities include a private health club and The Ice, the first ice skating rink to be built inside of a mall. The Galleria also provides group tours of the property for 10 or more.

The ideal meetings and events are ones that flow seamlessly, allowing you to focus on the essentials – like engaging your guests, launching that product or creating valuable connections. The newly renovated The Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio has reinvented its meeting spaces and enhanced its offerings to create events that flow as smoothly as the San Antonio River.

Situated in the heart of historic San Antonio, near the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and close to the airport, the hotel offers the ideal location to experience the city’s history and attractions like the Alamo, early Spanish missions, and live music, sports and events at the Alamodome.

“The newly renovated The Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio has reinvented its meeting spaces and enhanced its offerings to create events that flow as smoothly as the San Antonio River.”

From the moment you enter, you’ll be transported back in time, with sophisticated Spanish Colonial design reflecting the city’s past. The lobby is elegantly appointed with Victorian chandeliers, gold leaf mirrors and plush mid-century-style armchairs, providing welcoming spaces to meet and catch up on emails. The newly renovated hotel embraces innovative ideas to help your attendees to find balance so they can eat, sleep, work and play well while they are miles from home.

Wellness is at the center of the hotel’s essence. You’ll find guest rooms designed to ensure a restful stay, with plush Westin Heavenly® Beds, luxurious duvets, spa-like showers and well-lit workspaces for when you need to be productive. The Spanish Colonial theme is incorporated throughout with wrought-iron details, gold leaf embellishments and mid-century furnishings.

This focus on wellness extends to the hotel’s meeting and event offerings. Professional event staff members are on hand to assist meeting planners and hosts, with the spaces kept clutter-free except for the essentials like fresh water, pens and papers. All 28,271 square feet of meeting space has been reinvented, including the introduction of Tangent™ at Westin, an intimate room for teleconferencing featuring smart technology and intuitive design so you can seamlessly plug in and connect with online attendees.

You’ll find 20 unique venues, capturing the essence of the location. The La Babia Boardroom is a timeless setting for meetings with its leather furnishings, wood-paneled walls and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the San Antonio River, while the El Rincon Meeting Room has the intimacy and elegance of a Southern library. The 5,900-square-foot Navarro Ballroom’s pre-function area extends outside to three terraces by the Riverwalk, and the 3,100-square-foot Hidalgo Ballroom offers gorgeous windows looking out onto the river.

To keep attendees focused, you can choose from a mouthwatering selection of catering options, including nutritious smoothies and healthy snacks. A seasoned culinary team can create the perfect menu for your event, or for formal lunches, dinners and cocktails, you can enjoy authentic Italian flavors and river views from the patio of Zocca Cuisine d’Italia. You will also find a multitude of dining and entertainment options along the Riverwalk.

Maintaining a delicate balance between classical and innovative, relaxed and focused, The Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio isn’t just reinvented, it’s a rejuvenating option for your next San Antonio event.