Smart Meetings

They don’t call it “The Land of Enchantment” for nothing. Highways awash with scenic splendor, towns alive with creativity and art, a superlative devotion to health and well-being and, not least of all, the cultural richness inherent to the state’s Hispanic and Native American legacies, make New Mexico nothing less than America’s cherished jewel.

No surprise, then, that New Mexico’s prime destinations for meetings and events—Albu-querque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Taos and Ruidoso—have a way of rejuvenating weary souls and awakening the creative spirit.

Just as the fabled Turquoise Trail, a 65-mile byway linking Albuquerque and Santa Fe, runs through the very heart of New Mexico, a sentiment just as identifiable should thread the core of your meeting: inspiration. To remain uninspired in this corner of the country is close to impossible; New Mexico truly makes people feel new, from the inside out. The result is that creativity and illumination manage to permeate—and enchant—every visitor.

Albuquerque’s more than 100 art galleries and studios should be the first clue that the city tends to provoke the creative spirit. A mere glance around explains the city’s inspirational effect: beguiling Spanish architecture, the Rio Grande’s evocative banks and more than 310 yearly days of low-humidity sunshine certainly can’t hurt when it comes to motivational factors. Neither can the fact that Albuquerque’s downtown has as its main street quite possibly America’s most famous road: Historic Route 66. And though Albuquerque has a small-
town feel, don’t be fooled: it’s actually the state’s largest city and has more than 14,000 guest rooms spread throughout recognizable big-name hotels (think Hilton, Embassy Suites
and a Hyatt Regency) as well as one-of-a- kind, only-in-New Mexico independent
properties like Nativo Lodge and Sandia Resort & Casino.

Since the Duke City (as New Mexicans call Albuquerque) was established in 1706, the
city just held its tercentennial in 2006, making it one of only 22 U.S. cities to claim a 300-year mark. In preparation, the city devoted $350 million to revitalizing its downtown for the big event.

Of particular interest to meeting planners is that Albuquerque is surprisingly affordable, and Albuquerque’s CVB (itsatrip.org) sees to it that professionals who bring group business to the city get the best deals possible.

According to Linda Brown, vice president of convention sales and services for the CVB, “Albuquerque combines a unique blend of culture and heritage attractions, museums, stunning landscape, galleries, dining and shopping to create a distinct experience for every type of group. The mystique and beauty of the Southwest draw attendees from around the country to meetings held in Albuquerque.”

MEETINGS VENUES
Downtown’s Albuquerque Convention Center (albuquerquecc.com), which already holds 9,000 people in its almost 170,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, recently received $6 million for improvements such as security upgrades, sound system modernization, exterior landscaping and the addition of 3,500 new chairs and 850 new tables, among other developments. The center has $1.3 million set aside specifically for IT infrastructure improvements, which will provide attendees with free wireless hot zones throughout the center.
Conveniently, more than 900 of Albuquer-que’s 14,000 guest rooms are mere steps from the convention center.

Another Albuquerque facility, the 236-acre, centrally located Expo New Mexico (exponm.com) has hosted thousands of events. The facility can accommodate 12,000 people for indoor events and 20,000 for outdoor functions; exhibit halls leave room for more than 300 exhibits.
For academic-minded groups, the University of New Mexico’s (unm.edu) light-filled, 21,000-square-foot Student Union can host 1,200 people.

For arts-inclined groups, the $22.5-million Roy E. Disney Center for Performing Arts at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (nhccnm.org) has several theaters and auditoriums, the largest of which has 691 seats. The Disney Center is typcially used to showcase theatrical and musical productions, but it can be rented for special events. For the sports-oriented group, Isotopes Park (albuquerquebaseball.com), home of the Albuquerque Isotopes baseball team, is a fun place to gather.

UNIQUE VENUES
The Albuquerque Museum of Art & History (albuquerquemuseum.com) is an inspirational visit; planners can either rent out the whole facility, which can accommodate up to 1,000 people, or book only individual spaces, like the 88-seat auditorium, or the sculpture garden, where 350 guests can mingle amid the art.

Other fun options include a celebration at Anasazi Fields Winery (anasazifieldswinery-.com) in nearby Placitas (winemaker dinners and team-building activities are available) and Eaves Movie Ranch (eavesmovieranch.com), a Western movie set and special-events venue.
To truly pamper and soothe your attendees, steer them toward Betty’s Bath (bettysbath-.com), an Ayurvedic-oriented day spa in a peaceful garden setting.

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Getting There