Why Austin Should Be Your Next Meeting Destination

Recent and Upcoming Developments and Awards

Austin’s blend of culture, innovation and genuine hospitality makes it the perfect choice as a host city for meetings and special events. Check out some of Austin’s impressive accolades and exciting plans that will make this star city shine even brighter.

Downtown Austin and Congress Avenue Bridge. Credit Grace Kim.

Austin Accolades

Austin frequently tops best-of lists, showcasing the city’s dynamic and wide ranging appeal. Among the recent standouts are:

• Cvent selected Austin as No. 11 on its 2025 list of Top 50 Meeting Destinations in North America. Defining factors were its innovative meeting spaces, walkable downtown, live music, entertainment districts and places to paddle, hike and bike.
• Austin snagged the No. 7 spot on Time Out’s Best Cities in America list for 2025. Some of the reasons cited were the amazingly “weird” things to do, the nightly show of Mexican free-tailed bats, three MICHELIN-starred barbecue joints and paddling Lady Bird Lake.
• Milken Institute placed Austin in the No. 1 spot in its 2024 ranking of Best-Performing Cities. The annual index considered Austin’s employment and wage growth, plus its robust high-tech sector. This was the sixth consecutive year that Austin appeared among the Top 5 cities.
• Southern Living magazine ranked Austin No. 8 on its 2024 list of The South's Best Cities. Among the reasons were the new hotels that are pushing the city’s roster of accommodations to the next level.
• Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is No. 10 on the AirHelp list of the Top 10 Best Airports in the United States for 2024 (it claimed the No. 44 spot for international airports). The main factors were on-time performance, customer opinions, food available and shops. Austin-Bergstrom’s score was 7.95, while the top score was 8.28.

Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Credit Dan Herron.

Exciting Upcoming Projects

World-class venues in Austin are taking it up a notch with exciting, innovative projects aimed at ensuring the city is the top choice for hosting meetings and events.

The Austin Convention Center, a massive downtown hub for meetings and events, recently closed for a major renovation, but will reopen with state-of-the-art improvements and even more space. The $1.6 billion Austin Convention Center redevelopment and expansion recently began, with site preparation to pave the way for construction later this year. The Center’s renovation will be complete by the end of 2028, just in time to host South by Southwest in spring 2029. The expansion will significantly increase the rentable square footage of the facility to 620,000 square feet, giving large-scale events a home in Austin. 

The Journey with AUS expansion program is in full swing at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The city's airport already offers numerous direct flights and excellent connectivity for travelers. Improvements in the multiyear project, which began in 2024 and continues through 2030, will help the airport meet evolving needs as the region grows. Cargo and fuel facilities were among the first construction projects. International arrivals will experience a quicker process this year. The new baggage handling system will be fully operational in 2026, in addition to gate improvements and expansions to the TSA checkpoint and ticketing area. Looking ahead to 2030, a new Concourse B will include a tunnel connecting it to the Barbara Jordan Terminal, taxiways and a parking garage. Keep updated on the project’s timeline.

The Austin Transit Partnership has recommended adding a light rail system to improve the city’s public transportation network. As detailed in the Project Connect, it is recommended that the first phase of the 9.8-mile electric train system travels from 38th Street to Oltorf and Yellow Jacket, stopping at 15 stations and crossing Lady Bird Lake at Trinity Street. The projected number of daily riders is 28,500.

Improvements are also coming to the lively East Sixth Street district downtown, returning the area to its historic glory. Properties have been purchased, designs drawn and height restrictions eased. Still to come is the first round of construction on the exteriors of about 30 buildings owned by Stream Realty Partners. The vision includes creating an inviting, walkable streetscape with pavers on wide sidewalks lined with storefronts and strategically placed greenery. A particular focus will be placed on bringing in restaurants to occupy the newly renovated buildings.

Assembly Hall. Credit James H Ruiz Photography.

Meetings-Friendly Austin

Distinct districts in Austin offer a variety of venues for hosting successful meetings and special events. A wide range of venues cater to various preferences and budgets, and all areas offer an array of things to do after meetings adjourn.

Hosting a meeting in Downtown Austin comes with built-in perks in this walkable nightlife district that features an array of attractions, restaurants and hot spots. A great option is taking advantage of the partnership between next-door neighbors ACL Live at The Moody Theater and W Austin. The largest room at ACL Live, an entertainment and event venue, can accommodate 2,700 people.  For a smaller space, schedule meetings in ACL Live’s 3TEN for 150 seated or 350 standing. Book attendees’ stays in 251 rooms and 32 suites at the W Austin hotel with a plaza that faces scenic Lady Bird Lake. Seven event rooms and six breakout rooms are available; the largest space accommodates up to 400 people.

Feel the nostalgic vibe in South Austin, flush with vintage shops, restaurants and green oasis Zilker Park. A bonus is the convenience of a cluster of hotels offering 11,000 rooms within a three-mile radius. With two large exhibit halls totaling 70,000 square feet of space, the two-level Palmer Events Center, just 1.1 miles from downtown, is a prime spot for meetings. Attendees will appreciate the Austin skyline and water views. The maximum capacity is 3,146 attendees, but several spaces — including outdoors and on a balcony — accommodate smaller groups.

Fast-growing, walkable East Austin features a bevy of new shops, restaurants and music venues to keep meeting attendees entertained in their free time. The industrial yet elegant Assembly Hall, with 16-foot ceilings and exposed beams, offers three areas — the 5,500-square-foot Main Hall, 1,000-square-foot Meeting Room and 2,000-square-foot Courtyard — with a maximum capacity of 750 guests or 250 seated.

The proximity to popular shopping and entertainment areas like The Domain and The Arboretum is an attractive perk for scheduling a meeting in North Austin. Contact The University of Texas to book its Commons Conference Center on the J.J. Pickle Research Campus. Several rooms, ranging from the auditorium to a classroom, can accommodate from 16 to 345 attendees. Enlist its Common Cafe to cater breakfasts and lunches. Arrange a captivating keynote by an expert for one of your sessions by contacting the UT Speakers Bureau.