NORTHEAST
Photo Credit: Baltimore Marriott
Strategically located on Baltimore’s picturesque Inner Harbor and within walking distance of major attractions and the Baltimore Convention Center, the 750-room Baltimore Marriott Waterfront strives to offer an elevated experience for meeting planners and their attendees. For starters, four on-site ballrooms are uniquely designed to serve a variety of purposes, from intimate executive gatherings to multi-thousand-person conferences. Together, these venues provide planners with the ultimate flexibility to craft events of any size or style.
In all, the hotel offers a total 50,527 square feet of meeting space. Beyond the ballrooms, there are 40 breakout rooms and meeting spaces, each equipped with the latest A/V technology, strong Wi-Fi and ergonomic furnishings. Planners also love how easy the hotel is to navigate; with most meeting spaces located on dedicated event floors, guests move from plenary sessions to coffee breaks to dinners without logistical headaches. Pre-function spaces are wide, open and well-lit, making them ideal for registration, exhibit booths and more.
Plush carpets, high-tech capabilities, natural light and ocean views — that’s what meeting professionals find at the 942-room Resorts Casino Hotel on Atlantic City’s famed Boardwalk, a prime location spanning 21 acres. Among the property’s 64,000 square feet of flexible event space are 24 meeting and function rooms, along with a 13,000-square-foot ballroom. In addition, the hotel offers an 80,000-square-foot casino, two theaters, 10 restaurants, a food court featuring six eateries, a casino bar, an indoor-outdoor swimming pool, a health club and spa, a salon and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Entertainment Complex, a world of fun in itself.
Just seven miles from Westchester County Airport and a quick train ride from New York City, the 403-room Sonesta White Plains Downtown entices planners with newly renovated features that include a refreshed 20,000 square feet of flexible event space. From well-appointed boardrooms to convenient areas throughout the property, the hotel makes it easy for planners to organize and find the right room for their attendees — as well as to reach a wider audience via advanced hybrid-meeting capabilities.
SOUTHEAST
Photo Credit: The Tennessean
In Knoxville, the 82-room Tennessean Hotel offers 16,000 square feet of flexible event space adjacent to the World’s Fair Convention Hall and steps from the Knoxville Convention Center. The hotel exudes elegant ambience in a number of dedicated areas. The Executive Boardroom, for example, provides stylish comfort with seating for 16 people and is equipped with the latest technology. Next-level luxury can be found in the Governor's Suite, with over 1,600 square feet that includes a large sitting area with a fireplace and a baby grand piano.
Among other spaces, the relaxed, plush Drawing Room with its mix of bar seating, tables and lounge areas accommodates up to 50 guests for a happy-hour social or other friendly gathering, with a signature cocktail menu crafted to offer creative drinks and old-fashioned classics. The hotel’s 1,800-square-foot Iris Room is the ideal backdrop for any occasion from an on-point corporate event to a milestone celebration, while an intimate outdoor patio showcases beautiful water features and park vistas.
As East Tennessee’s only hotel directly connected to McGhee Tyson Airport, the 171-room Hilton Knoxville Airport enables guests to walk from the terminal to their room or meeting without stepping outside. The property’s total of 20,000+ square feet for events includes 17 flexible meeting spaces accommodating up to 600 guests. The 9,500-square-foot Grand Ballroom and pre-function areas recently were renovated with modern lighting, A/V and design upgrades. Also available to attendees are an on-site restaurant, an indoor pool and a fitness center.
In South Florida, the 369-room Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort has over 30,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor event space, including ballrooms, breakout rooms and colorful prefunction areas with mesmerizing views of the beach. The resort’s 15,000 square feet of interior meeting space is gathered along the ninth floor, creating an inspired enclave insulated from distractions, where collaboration, motivation and productivity thrive. After the meeting, attendees can unwind at one of the resort’s iconic bars or take a stroll along the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk.
MIDWEST
Photo Credit: Waldorf Astoria Chicago
At the 214-room Waldorf Astoria Chicago, approximately 12,201 square feet of flexible event space unfolds within 13 beautifully appointed rooms, making it a top destination for high-level meetings, galas and other private gatherings in the Midwest. On the hotel’s fifth floor, the plush Sinclair Ballroom can accommodate up to 230 people for a reception or 200 for a banquet. On the third floor, the elegant Thoreau Salon can host 100 for a reception and 80 for a banquet.
Most gathering space at the hotel features natural light, soaring ceilings and beautiful architectural detail, while breakout spaces are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and ergonomic design. Also on offer to attendees is a curated collection of unique holistic group wellness experiences including guided inner-peace journaling sessions, yoga and fitness workshops. When the meeting or event is done for the day, the hotel offers easy walking access to an impressive array of designer boutiques, celebrated restaurants and Lake Michigan’s scenic shores.
In Detroit, the 400-room MotorCity Casino Hotel features a substantial 67,500 square feet of function and banquet space divided among venues like the 19,604-square-foot Grand Ballroom, seven other flexible rooms (able to host up to 1,500 people in total), four boardrooms (each holding up to 26) and a large theater. All meeting rooms are fully equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, including video and teleconferencing capabilities. Free-time attractions include the property’s own glitzy casino offering more than 2,400 games of all kinds and for all tastes.
Bringing refined luxury and famed Hoosier hospitality to Indiana’s capital city, the 170-room InterContinental Indianapolis features a total of 15,000 square feet of well-appointed meeting space, including a 7,300-square-foot ballroom, perfect for larger events, and an additional 7,700 square feet of breakout rooms and pre-function space. For planners needing more space, nearby is the Indiana Convention Center with its own 566,600-square-foot exhibit hall, along with 113,302 square feet of breakout/meeting space and 62,173 square feet of ballroom space.
SOUTHWEST
Photo Credit: JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa
Amidst 600 acres of picturesque landscape, the 1,002-room JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa provides over 265,000 square feet of customizable meeting and event spaces, including the 40,080-square-foot Nelson W. Wolff Exhibit Hall, and two ballrooms — the 40,500-square-foot Grand Oaks Ballroom and the 21,120-square-foot Cibolo Canyon Ballroom.
The Grand Oaks Ballroom is the largest event space on the property and in the area. With a seating capacity of 6,300, it is the ideal setting for conferences and conventions. For more intimate gatherings like retreats and receptions, the Sunday House is a charming stand-alone venue with breathtaking views of the Texas Hill Country. The resort’s expansive offerings are reflected in its unique outdoor spaces ranging from 8,000 to 30,000 square feet and 19 breakout rooms with a combined indoor space of 20,000 square feet. The infrastructure caters to ever-changing technology needs with a dual 10-gig backbone, an on-site support team, high-speed reliable wireless capabilities, fiber-optic cabling and HD projection.
The 367-room Marriott San Antonio Airport is a versatile and well-equipped meetings venue just minutes from San Antonio International Airport. With over 13,000 square feet of total event space across 15 flexible rooms, the hotel can host a wide range of gatherings, from large-scale conferences to intimate executive meetings and milestone celebrations. The centerpiece of the property’s event offering is La Cantera Ballroom, which can host up to 650 guests and is fully customizable, ideal for corporate general sessions, trade shows, galas and weddings. The venue also includes 19 breakout rooms, allowing for seamless transitions between plenary sessions, workshops or private consultations.
With 85,000 square feet of meeting space and 297 guest rooms in Downtown Austin, the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center is an ideal location for planners, set among the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. The property’s event space is spread among 53 rooms and includes a 10,000-square-foot ballroom with wood beams and chandeliers, able to host up to 1,000 guests; a 3,400-square-foot junior ballroom; a 2,700-square-foot tiered classroom and more. The hotel was constructed to LEED Gold certifications and continues to operate with an environmental conscience, including IACC certification.
FAR WEST
Photo Credit: Portoloa Hotel
In Monterey, Calif., the 379-room Portola Hotel & Spa is a standout for hosting events, thanks to more than 60,000 square feet of flexible indoor space and nearly the same amount of outdoor space, all divided among 25 conference, banquet and meeting rooms plus assorted scenic outdoor venues. Among the many on-site choices is the newly renovated Bonsai Ballroom, which offers over 2,500 elegant square feet of space for corporate and social gatherings of up to 200 people.
Other on-site venues include the 10,000-square-foot De Anza Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 1,000 attendees. The 760-square-foot Boardroom seats up to 20 guests and is ideal for business meetings, sessions and breakouts. The newly refreshed 760-square-foot Executive Room offers a sophisticated setting and state-of-art technology, while the Cottonwood Room spans a spacious 1,500 square feet and can accommodate up to 100 guests. The Portola also is the area’s only U.S. Green Building Council LEED Certified property.
When it comes to providing state-of-the-art facilities, innovative design and exceptional attendee experiences, the 516-room Hyatt Regency Irvine in Southern California checks all the boxes. The hotel has 56,027 square feet of event space spread among 24 meeting rooms, including the 14,660-square-foot Regency Ballroom that can host up to 2,100 guests. A uniquely tiered space, the Theater seats up to 110 people for lectures and other presentations, while a 10,264-square-foot lawn can host up to 1,000 people and connects with the Patio, for a total 14,000 square feet. The hotel is less than three miles from John Wayne – Orange County Airport and 42 miles from Los Angeles International Airport.
As the centerpiece of the Avenue Bellevue development, the 208-room InterContinental Seattle Bellevue offers over 12,000 square feet of richly designed event space, each room of which is crafted to reflect refined elegance and functional versatility. Whether hosting an executive board meeting, a product launch or a lavish gala, planners discover a range of venues here that combine architectural beauty with modern flexibility. At the heart of the experience is the Avenue Grand Ballroom, an airy, light-filled space with soaring ceilings, polished finishes and contemporary chandeliers that make a bold visual statement.
With 740 guest rooms conveniently set adjacent to a major transportation hub, the Westin Ls Angeles Airport embraces nature-inspired design to help events take flight. Water elements, native Southern California plants and organic materials permeate the hotel’s more than 56,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, The centerpiece is the 13,100-square-foot Los Angeles Ballroom, features soaring 18-foot ceilings and room for up to 1,500 guests. For more intimate gatherings, planners can choose from a variety of breakout rooms, modern boardrooms with executive seating or the light-filled Hangar Rooms.
INTERNATIONAL AND U.S. TERRITORIES
Photo Credit: Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun
Event space in the Caribbean is taken to a new level at the 1,005-suite Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun, where a bold combination of tropical luxury and flexibility leads to immersive group experiences. At the heart of the offerings is a 25,000-square-foot on-site conference facility able to host up to 1,500 attendees and featuring an illuminated checkerboard ceiling and modular capabilities that allow it to divide into three distinct spaces. Outside the property, ocean-view terraces offer stunning backdrops for cocktail receptions and private dinners. The resort also makes full use of its beachfront, poolside lounges and an open-air theater, allowing creative setups for team building and networking.
The all-inclusive property also has 10 bars, a water park and no less than a dozen themed restaurants. Highlights include the Cove, a private venue sporting a Mayan-inspired menu; Gourmet Marché, serving up an international buffet; Taj, an Indian restaurant helmed by a native chef; and the acclaimed Hunter Steakhouse.
At the edge of Mexico’s Sea of Cortez, the 198-room Viceroy Los Cabos has a total of 64,000 square feet of event space and all the fixings for truly special events, whether an executive retreat, incentive group, cocktail party or anything in between. The new Rooftop, for example, is a 2,300-square-foot open-air venue accessible from the property’s Cielomar restaurant via private sky bridge. Designed to host up to 80 guests, this unique space features jaw-dropping views of the Sea of Cortez. The hotel’s 3,552-square-foot Great Ballroom is a glittering gem, while Miraflores is a conference room that blends floor-to-ceiling windows with a picturesque patio and garden to spark conversation for up to 45 people.
Located near Seven Mile Beach, the 282-room Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman offers more than 7,500 square feet of flexible, modern event space designed for occasions of all sizes. At 6,720 square feet, the Azure Ballroom is the property’s largest and most breathtaking venue, able to host up to 598 people and featuring vaulted ceilings, sleek chandeliers and expansive windows that flood the space with natural light. For more intimate gatherings, the Sapphire Boardroom offers a polished and private space for executive meetings, exclusive presentations and collaborative brainstorming sessions.