New Mexico, America's "Land of Enchantment," reveals its splendor in highly elevated desert plateaus, stark mountain ranges, dense national forests, and the beautiful Rio Grande River that snakes its way through the state.
"New Mexico has this incredible subtle beauty," says Kevin Holsapple, executive director of the Los Alamos Meeting and Visitor Bureau. "It's like nowhere you've ever been. The setting is gorgeous."
The appeal for attendees has grown in recent years thanks to the destination's wealth of diverse, growing communities that offer planners plenty of options for hosting and entertaining groups.
"I think New Mexico is gaining more and more popularity among [planners] because of what communities can offer to groups outside of their meetings," says Brad Treptow, executive director of the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center. "The state is extremely well positioned with what they can offer many different types of groups."
AlbuquerqueFamous for its annual International Balloon Fiesta, when hundreds of brilliantly colored hot-air balloons soar through the sky over New Mexico, Albuquerque also lifts planners' perceptions with its rich cultural venues and updated meeting facilities.
Leading the development charge is the Albuquerque Convention Center, currently undergoing major cosmetic improvements aimed at reflecting Albuquerque's cultural heritage in its updated decor. Enhancements to the facility, which houses 100,000 square feet of meeting space and 167,000 square feet of exhibition space, are scheduled for completion by fall 2007.
The city's developments continue at the adjoining Doubletree Hotel Albuquerque, where a $6.5 million renovation is expected to begin this month and finish by year's end.
Other improvements include the unveiling of the Sky City Cultural Center and Haaku Museum in May; the Sandia Resort and Casino, which opened last December at the Pueblo at Sandia; and the opening of the AndersonAbruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum last October.
Aside from its many new offerings, Albuquerque also attracts meetings with its accessibility, says Linda Brown, vice president of convention sales and services for the Albuquerque New Mexico CVB.
"Our downtown is less than 10 minutes from the [Albuquerque International Sunport] airport," she says, adding that navigating downtown Albuquerque is also effortless. "As far as ease to get around the downtown area goes, it is a breeze compared with big cities. There are no traffic jams."
And for delegates who don't want to spring for a rental car, Albuquerque offers a mass transit bus system called Rapid Ride that efficiently transports passengers around downtown Albuquerque, as well as through a variety of neighborhoods outside of the central artery.
Old Town is one such district and also one of Albuquerque's most popular areas.
Visitors strolling through Old Town, which is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year, will encounter rows of adobe buildings, more than 130 shops and restaurants, and meetings-friendly properties such as the Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town and Sheraton Old Town.
Just east of downtown Albuquerque, with Route 66 running through its center, the neighborhood of Nob Hill attracts visitors with its trendy, hip atmosphere, presenting delegates with loads of diversions, including shops and restaurants.
Halfway between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa is a popular group retreat, with 21,000 square feet of meeting space, a spa and a golf course.
Santa Fe and TaosSanta Fe means "city of faith" in Spanish, and that may explain the overall spiritual feel of the area, which attracts droves of artists and creative-minded people to a city handsomely nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
"There is a true spirituality to where we are located," says Chris Madden, senior sales manager for the Santa Fe CVB. "We are naturally protected by those mountains and the experience is much more memorable here because of that state of mind."
Its natural beauty and relaxing mood bode well for attendee satisfaction, as does the city's downtown, anchored by a plaza surrounded by adobe buildings and a variety of amenities conveniently located within walking distance.
"The heart and soul of Santa Fe is our downtown plaza. The town is your meeting venue," Madden says. "It's a charming idea for people who come from larger cities. We have the feel of a small European town."
Regional and state association meetings of around 150 room nights to 200 room nights constitute the bulk of the city's group business, with the rest taken up by corporate, incentive, SMERF, and government gatherings.
And although the city will be celebrating its 400th anniversary in 2010 and has preserved its historical ambience, it has recently undergone revitalizations that are transforming it into an even more attractive meetings destination.
"We are going through the biggest revitalization of the downtown area in years," says Darlene Griego, executive director of the Santa Fe CVB. "We have a number of projects on the drawing board."
Three of the city's largest ventures are starting this year: the construction of a new convention center, a new history museum and a mixed-use development.
The region's dominant meeting venue, the Sweeney Convention Center, was demolished this spring to make way for an updated building, which has yet to be named. The new facility, scheduled to open by the end of next year, will feature 8,750 square feet of breakout meeting space and 20,000 square feet of exhibit space.
A visit to The New Mexico History Museum is expected to be a hot ticket once it opens in spring 2008 with a 205-seat auditorium, and construction is also slated to begin this year on a $100 million mixed-use project called the Santa Fe Railyard Park and Plaza. Scheduled for completion by the end of next year, it will include a 10-acre public park, walking and biking trails, and retail and commercial space.
The list of meetings-friendly hotels in the destination includes La Fonda on the Plaza, the Inn and Spa at Loretto, the Eldorado Hotel and Spa, Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza, La Posada de Santa Fe, and The Lodge at Santa Fe.
Located about 70 miles east of Santa Fe, Taos lures visitors with its beautiful scenery, among other distinguishing traits.
"We are best known for our environment," says Joseph Quintana, board member for the Taos County Chamber of Commerce. "We have the sunshine, we are in the high desertat 6,900 feetand it's cool in the summer. It is absolutely incredible."
Due to its natural attributes, visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as skiing in Taos Ski Valley and hiking and biking on miles of trails spread throughout the region.
"Quality of life in Taos is why people come to our community," Quintana says. "Our success with group meetings is based on the high quality of life, the incredible diversity of Taos, the cuisine, and the culture."
The city's main meeting venue is the Taos Convention Center, containing more than 23,000 square feet of function space, followed by hotels such as Sagebrush Inn, Don Fernando de Taos Hotel and Suites and Fechin Inn. Additionally, Angel Fire Resort is another option for groups wishing to mix meetings with activities such as skiing and golfing.
The well-known artist colony also invites attendees to enjoy off-site events at the Harwood Museum of Art and at eateries such as Orlando's New Mexican Cafe and The Apple Tree Restaurant.
Northwestern New MexicoFor a small city, Farmington is big on group satisfaction, according to Tonya Stinson, marketing manager of the Farmington CVB.
"Being a smaller city of around 45,000 people, it is really nice because it is easy to get around for your group, and everything is pretty close together," Stinson says.
The city's downtown Main Street is sprinkled with shops and restaurants, serving as inviting diversions for attendees in search of fine cuisine and attractive boutiques.
The Farmington Civic Center and the McGee Park Memorial Coliseum are the city's main meeting spaces.
Group-friendly hotels in the area include the Courtyard Farmington and Best Western Inn and Suites.
After meetings, attendees can enjoy leisurely experiences such as a stroll along the five-mile river walk.
Around 1945, Los Alamos was considered a secret location, housing the world's greatest scientists for the Manhattan Project, a mission to create the first atomic bomb.
The city is no longer a secret, and today visitors can enjoy traveling back in time at the Bradbury Science Museum to view the labs where scientists worked during the historic time.
Properties such as the Best Western Hilltop House, Hampton Inn and Suites and Quality Inn and Suites are popular options for groups.
Native American history is also a part of the Los Alamos experience; the nearby Bandelier National Monument showcases native ruins and hiking trails.
Southern New MexicoFollowing the crash of an alleged UFO in the summer of 1947, Roswell has capitalized on its supernatural fame with the International UFO Museum and Research Center along with roadside shops and restaurants featuring extraterrestrial paraphernalia for visitors looking for an out-of-this-world experience.
Yet potential alien encounters aren't the only thing groups can experience in Roswell, located approximately 200 miles southeast of Albuquerque.
Groups can get their fill of cultural enrichment by visiting the Rogers Aston Indian Gallery, the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art and the Roswell Museum and Art Center.
The Roswell Convention and Civic Center is the city's largest meeting venue, with more than 19,000 square feet of function space.
West of Roswell, groups will enjoy the small town of Ruidoso, known for the Ruidoso Downs Track and Casino and the surrounding natural beauty of the Sacramento Mountains, as well as for being the former stomping ground of Wild West bad boy Billy the Kid.
"You are up in the mountains, you get the fresh aroma of the pine trees, and you are able to see the wonderful sunsets of New Mexico," says Treptow of the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center.
Ruidoso welcomes groups at the 33,000-square-foot Ruidoso Convention Center (RCC). Discussions are under way for a possible expansion and renovation of the center, but plans have not been finalized.
Meetings-ready properties include the newly renovated and expanded Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino in nearby Mescalero, Hawthorne Suites Conference and Golf Resort (adjacent to the RCC) and the Comfort Inn Hotel.
New Mexico State University (NMSU) resides in Las Cruces, a town that is going through exciting redevelopment.
"We've had about 300 hotel rooms open within the last year and are expecting to close on another 300 within the next 12 to 18 months," says Ken Mompellier, executive director of the Las Cruces CVB.
In addition, Mompellier says talks have been under way regarding the construction of a new convention center as well as a conference hotel at NMSU, but plans are still on the drawing board.
Yet according to Heather Pollard, executive director of Las Cruces Downtown, a nonprofit organization promoting the revitalization and restoration of Las Cruces' Main Street, there is a $250 million downtown redevelopment project under way that will transform the city's civic plaza with a new city hall, a federal courthouse, an updated main street area, and attractive retail outlets by 2011.
"We are looking to establish a niche market with specialty retailers, restaurants, boutiques, and art studios, so Las Cruces will become a different kind of destination than going to the mall," Pollard says.
Small to midsize groups can meet at the Hilton Hotel Las Cruces, the Hotel Ramada de Las Cruces and the Best Western Mesilla Valley Inn Las Cruces Hotel and Conference Center.
Historic Mesilla, located nearby, is a popular excursion option. Groups can enjoy the town's quaint plaza, shops and group-friendly dining establishments, such as La Posta Restaurant and The Double Eagle and Peppers Cafe.
Northeast of Las Cruces in Cloudcroft, planners will find a quiet retreat at The Lodge Resort and Spa. The 60-room property houses 13,000 square feet of meeting space, and it is close to both White Sands National Monument and Carlsbad Caverns National Park, both of which are ideal for post-meeting excursions.
For More Info
Albuquerque New Mexico CVB 505.842.9918
www.abqcvb.org
Farmington CVB 505.326.7602
www.farmingtonnm.org
Las Cruces CVB 505.541.2444
www.lascrucescvb.org
Los Alamos Meeting and Visitor Bureau 505.662.8105
www.visit.losalamos.com
Roswell COC 505.623.5695
www.roswellnm.org
Ruidoso Valley COC and Visitors Center 505.257.7395
www.ruidosonow.com
Santa Fe CVB 505.955.6200
www.santafe.org
Taos County COC and Visitor Bureau 505.758.3873
www.taoschamber.com