NORTHEAST
On a prime location spanning 21 acres at the northern end of the famed Atlantic City Boardwalk, the Resorts Casino Hotel features 942 guest rooms and suites in two hotel towers, an 80,000 square-foot casino, two theaters, two VIP slot and table player lounges, a casino bar, an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, a health club and spa, a salon and retail shops.
On-site dining can be enjoyed in a collection of 10 restaurants, including Margaritaville and the Landshark Bar & Grill, plus a food court featuring six additional eateries. Coming soon, the new Superstar Theater promises top entertainment. Meeting space at the property totals 64,000 square feet of technologically advanced space, including 24 meeting and function rooms, most with natural light and ocean views, and a 13,000-square-foot ballroom.
Ten minutes from BWI Airport, 20 minutes from Baltimore and Annapolis, and only 45 minutes from D.C., the Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland has luxurious accommodations that span 310 guest rooms, and VIP suites. Features include the glitzy Hall entertainment venue and a casino with 4,000 slots, 200 live-action table games, a lively poker room and more. Up to 4,000 attendees can gather in an on-site total of 50,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.
With over 20 beachfront acres on the Boardwalk, the Ocean Casino Resort has 1,860 guest rooms & suites; three upscale restaurants; three high-limit slot and table-game venues; a Top Golf Swing Suite with virtual golf, baseball and more; the HQ2 Beachclub & Nightclub, and the Exhale Spa. In addition, on-site meeting space totals 160,000 square feet and can accommodate up to 10,000 people, while the 70,000-square-foot Ovation Hall features top performers like Amy Schumer and Diana Ross.
Those seeking an iconic experience in New York City are delighted by the vibrant Martinique New York on Broadway, across the street from the Empire State Building. Designed by famed architect Henry Hardenbergh, who was Inspired by the grand chateaus of France’s Loire Valley, the hotel opened in 1898 and is a designated landmark. Features include 504 guest rooms, 7,424 square feet of event space and the signature Press Club Grill with a menu of Manhattan steak-house classics.
SOUTHEAST
A majestic palm-tree lined entrance gives guests a hint of the luxurious Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando. Alongside the headwaters of the Florida Everglades on 255 acres of enchanting flora, the hotel has more than 1,500 elegant guest rooms and suites whose Spanish Revival architecture is brilliantly accentuated by soft arches, wooden beams and oversized windows. Guests can enjoy an 18-hole Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, 15 dining options (including two AAA 4-Diamond restaurants) and a full-service spa, among other amenities.
Three impressive column-free ballrooms highlight fully 524,000 square feet of on-site meeting space; an exclusive VIP lounge is an intimate oasis featuring personalized concierge service and serene balcony views, while numerous outdoor spaces include an expansive open-air terrace. The property is conveniently near to the Orange County Convention Center and Orlando National Airport.
On the northernmost of the barrier islands on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, the luxury-class Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, has 446 newly renovated guest rooms and suites, complete with bathrooms outfitted with dual vanities, enlarged showers and free-standing bathtubs. An 18-hole golf course and a full-service spa beckon, and dining venues include the AAA 5-Diamond Salt and local-seafood eatery Coast. The hotel’s 48,8300 square feet of conference space can handle everything from trade shows and board meetings to wellness and corporate retreats.
Nature, history and hospitality come together at the Barnsley Resort in Northwest Georgia. With 3,000 acres and just 140 rooms, the resort provides a great atmosphere for group members to unplug, reconnect and escape together. Guests can enjoy the 18-hole Jim Fazio golf course, horseback riding, archery and even axe throwing. On-site restaurants range from fine dining to Southern comfort food. This storybook site offers 16,000 square feet of indoor meeting space as well as historic outdoor space such as the 1840s-vintage Manor House Ruins.
Reveling in its location on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach designed each of its 343 guest rooms to have picture-perfect views of the waterfront or an adjacent marina. Features include a full-service spa, an outdoor pool and hot tub and multiple dining outlets, including Ocean Hai for sumptuous Asian-inspired cuisine from executive sous chef Nana Darkwah. Meeting space encompasses 22,000 square feet across 20 meeting rooms (including the 10,621-square-foot Dunes Ballroom), able to host up to 720 people.
MIDWEST
On floors 14-27 of a building soaring 92 stories above the Loop and North Michigan Avenue, the 339-room Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago has a dedicated staff and an array of luxury features all in the service of creating a memorable guest experience. Guest rooms include one- , two- and three-bedroom suites, while the hotel’s 23,000-square-foot spa helps iron out the kinks in 12 treatment rooms.
Planners can work with up to 26,000 square feet of function and meeting space, including six salon rooms, several boardrooms and a grand ballroom, all equipped with the latest technology. In-house dining takes place at outlets such as the 2-star Michelin-rated Sixteen restaurant, serving modern American cuisine by Executive Chef Thomas Lents; the rooftop bar Terrace 16 overlooks the Windy City’s storied skyline, while in the luxe Experiential Tasting Lounge, patrons can enjoy world-class wines and whiskeys.
In Bloomington, Minn., the 500-room Radisson Blu Mall of America has sleek, modern décor and local Minnesota flair. Amenities include a pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center with Peloton bikes, a spa and the FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar. The hotel, just minutes from MSP International Airport, is connected directly to the mammoth Mall of America via a skybridge designed to mimic the Minneapolis Subway System. For meetings and events, 26,300 square feet include two elegant ballrooms.
Just six blocks from the Minneapolis Convention Center in the heart of the city’s midtown, the 585-room Marriott Minneapolis City Center recently completed a $30 million refresh that touched upon all guest rooms, public spaces and nearly 45,000 square feet of meeting space. Speaking of which, the hotel’s largest venue is the 15,000-square-foot Grand Portage Ballroom that can be divided into four smaller rooms. Nearby is the city’s theater district, shopping and a wide variety of restaurants, all accessible via a climate-controlled skyway in cooler months.
Sprawling across 175 acres in Northbrook, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, the 369-room Marriott Lincolnshire Resort offers a spa, a fitness center, two pools, two restaurants, a championship 18-hole golf course and facilities for tennis, pickleball and more. The resort also has an extensive 64,348 square feet of event space across 26 spaces ranging from elegant ballrooms to high-tech meeting rooms to lush outdoor venues. A dedicated in-house event-services team is on call throughout the planning process.
In downtown Grand Rapids, Mich., the 656-room Amway Grand Plaza began life as the Pantlind hotel in 1913, and the main building retains many classic early-20th-century architectural touches, complemented by a modern 29-story glass tower. In addition to a spa, rooftop pickleball and eight diverse dining choices, the hotel has 47,120 square feet of meeting space, including four elegant ballrooms. A climate-controlled skywalk connects the property to the 162,000-square-foot DeVos Place Convention Center.
A glitzy casino, live entertainment, three restaurants, four lounges and a spa are among the attractions at the MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit. The property is a model of elegance, from the artwork on the walls to the Chihuly light fixtures, all highlighting Detroit’s cars, culture and sports. Among newly renovated 67,500 square feet of meeting space is a stylish banquet-style hall spanning 19,604 square feet for groups of up to 2,500 people, as well as a lively concert venue and theater space.
SOUTHWEST
The 1,000-room San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter on San Antonio’s vibrant River Walk is ideally situated due to its close proximity to attractions such as the Alamo and other historic sites, museums, dining and entertainment. On-site food options include Tributary, helmed by noted Chef Joseph Martinez with a farm-to-table focus that celebrates the best of Texas, and Cafe Bocadillo, a grab-and-go market with Starbucks coffee, beverages, snacks and house-made pastries. The hotel also provides guests access to its neighboring property across the street, the San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk, which includes three restaurants of its own.
For business and social gatherings, the property offers more than 70,000 square feet of space, including a grand ballroom that can accommodate up to 6,400 people for a reception and up to 3,080 for a banquet. A top catering team and curated services enables event planners to tailor menus that meet their needs.
Offering guests its famous “Howdy Hospitality,” the 250-room Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center in College Station is on the historic Texas A&M campus. The property has earned AAA’s coveted 4-Diamond rating and is decorated with historic photos and treasured Lone Star State memorabilia. Features include multiple dining options, a rooftop pool deck with views of the campus and a newly refurbished conference facility with 35,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
On the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, the 297-room AT&T Hotel and Conference Center has four on-site eating spots (part of a food program devoted to sustainability), an outdoor pool and a fitness center. Conveniently near a bevy of local cultural attractions and restaurants, the hotel has approximately 85,000 square feet devoted to meetings and events in a variety of spaces, including ballrooms, tiered classrooms, a 300-seat amphitheater, an executive boardroom and small breakout rooms.
In downtown El Paso, Tx., the Hotel Paso Del Norte, Autograph Collection, was built in 1912 and reopened in 2020 following a nearly four-year, multimillion-dollar renovation. With 351 guest rooms spread over 17 floors, the property features 32,000 square feet of meeting and event space spread among elegant ballrooms, a private board room and private dining areas; the El Paso Convention Center is a five-minute walk away. Attendees can easily explore downtown shops and attractions by hopping aboard an El Paso streetcar.
FAR WEST
At the Pacific Ocean’s edge on 22 acres between two of Maui's golden sand crescent beaches, the Wailea Beach Resort has 547 residential-style guest rooms, including 56 suites. The property’s signature restaurant, Humble Market Kitchin from Chef Roy Yamaguchi, serves Hawaiian-inspired fare and is opened for breakfast and dinner. Groups have access to water sports and many unique cultural activities, such as taking an immersive voyage on a traditional Outrigger canoe, where Hawaiian values of respect, care and collaboration are highlighted.
For meetings and events, the resort has more than 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space in 29 flexible rooms, including the elegant 13,000-square-foot Aulani Ballroom, which can host up to 1,500 seated guests. For a space with unique Maui flair, the Luau Gardens provides a stunning waterfront lawn with unset views, ideal for banquets and any open-air gathering.
Fresh from a multimillion-dollar renovation, the most extensive since its launch more than 30 years ago, the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, has 777 guest rooms, including 57 suites, plus an enclave of 50 luxury villas that each span at least 3,200 square feet. Guests can pursue the resort’s world-class art collection, savor award-winning cuisine at eight on-site restaurants, relax in a world-class spa and enjoy tennis, beach yoga and even learn how to play the ukulele.
Perched along 40 acres of lush, tropical gardens fronting Maui’s Wailea Beach, the property has 100,000 square feet of meeting space in a total of 28 indoor and outdoor venues. A savvy events team stand ready to assist with everything from intimate retreats and workshops to gala receptions for up to 3,000 guests.
Not many resorts can provide 2.25 million square feet of event space, more than 7,000 spacious guest suites, more than 40 restaurants and lounges, the world-class Canyon Ranch Spa and famed Grand Canal Shoppes, but the storied Venetian Resort Las Vegas can. Smartly designed, the resort’s meeting and trade show space is just a short walk from the guest rooms, while said meeting rooms and exhibit areas are organized vertically and connected by escalators, enabling attendees of larger events to easily move from room to room.
There’s a lot to like about the 224-room Doubletree San Diego Del Mar, beginning with the expansive outdoor pool set amid lush gardens, and where at night inviting firepits draw colleagues and friends together to enjoy food and beverage service right by the water. Inside, the Mosaic Restaurant & Bar serves fresh, locally sourced cuisine. The hotel has 5,630 square feet of indoor/outdoor event space including patios, a ballroom (for meals and receptions for up to 100 guests) and several meeting rooms.
With 1,030 stylish guest rooms, an outdoor pool, a fully equipped fitness center and the signature nFuse Restaurant (offering fresh local food with a global twist), the Anaheim Marriott in Southern California is near the Disneyland Resort and an abundance of dining, shopping and entertainment options. The resort also features 169,662 square feet of total event space spread among 23 rooms, the largest of which can host gathering for up to 3,585 people.
INTERNATIONAL AND U.S. TERRITORIES
Opened in November 2022, the Waldorf Astoria Cancun sits on 100 acres of secluded coastline set amongst the verdant-green mangroves of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The 173 luxurious guest rooms and suites feature private balconies with soaking tubs and ocean views. Public spaces feature textured glass, inlaid pearl shell accents, metal trim, cove lighting and illuminated crystal. The hotel’s 40,000-square-foot spa has 21 indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, a salon, sauna, extensive thermal area, an outdoor spa pool and garden.
Dining takes place at the signature Malpeque restaurant, showcasing fine seafood from Executive Chef Stuart Roger. The all-day brasserie Chaya offers a relaxed and cozy breakfast. For meetings and events, the property has more than 68,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, shared with the all-inclusive Hilton Cancun next door.
A quick 20-minute drive from Cancun International Airport, the Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun has 602 oceanfront suites with private terraces, its own secluded white-sand beach, more than a dozen dining options (including the AAA 5-Diamond Le Basilic) and frequent art exhibitions. The resort’s more than 60,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space can host gatherings of from 10 to 1,700 people and includes the lavish 15,351-square-foot Grand Coral Ballroom along with 13 breakout rooms.
On 500 acres along the northeastern shore of Puerto Rico, the 400-room Wyndham Grand Rio Mar offers a secluded golden beach, two 18-hole championship golf courses, nine restaurants, a spa and a casino. Approximately 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space includes the 48,000-square-foot Oceanfront Conference Center. And everywhere, guests enjoy spectacular ocean, rainforest and lush tropical views.