An evolving melting pot of culture, history, and architecture, the Southwest puts on a regional show for planners and attendees unlike anywhere else in the U.S. “The Southwest is known for its vibrant art scene, unique cuisine, and friendly hospitality, making it an attractive destination for event attendees,” says Brenna Moore, director of communications and public relations for Visit Albuquerque in New Mexico. Embracing the region’s uniqueness—diverse landscapes, a rich cultural heritage distinguished by Native American and Hispanic influences, and a mild climate for year-round outdoor activities—is essential to planning, she says.
For example, the best way to craft an authentic event in Tucson, Arizona, is by engaging with the culture and community, says Mo Calderon, communications manager for Visit Tucson. “This means immersing yourself in our Mexican and Indigenous roots,” she says. “And the best way to experience our rich culture is through our food and through the beauty of the Sonoran Desert.”
Southwest Meetings + Events looked at several distinctive ways to incorporate the spirit of the region into events, ensuring attendees a heartwarming experience in the desert and mountain landscapes, and amid the region’s historic and cultural heritage.
Reflect the Southwest
Organizers might choose locations that reflect traditional Southwest architecture—like adobe buildings—and the region’s natural surroundings, Moore says. In Albuquerque, you will find this at Hotel Chaco, set in the city’s Sawmill District and located across the street from the new Sawmill Market food hall. The hotel is within walking distance of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, which has space for gatherings. Old Town’s popular shops, restaurants, and the historic San Felipe de Neri Parish are also close by, and Route 66, which will be celebrating its centennial next year, is just a few minutes’ drive away.
Hotel Chaco offers quick access to outdoor highlights like Petroglyph National Monument and the Sandia Peak Tramway. The latter is a 15-minute gondola ride to the tip of Sandia Peak, which is 10,378 feet in height and features sweeping city views. The hotel also offers easy access to the Paseo del Bosque Path, a 16-mile trail connecting cyclists and pedestrians to some of Albuquerque’s scenic spots, like the ABQ BioPark’s zoo and botanic garden, both with space for larger groups.
Inspired by the Ancestral Puebloans who lived until 1250 A.D. in Chaco Canyon—which is today Chaco Canyon World Heritage Site 162 miles northwest of Albuquerque—Hotel Chaco’s 118 rooms feature natural tones, handcrafted furniture, and art by contemporary Native American/New Mexican artists. Other amenities include meeting space, a spa, the Level 5 Restaurant, and a tasting room. Larger groups might also access eateries, bars, and 62,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space at the neighboring Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town.
Another uber-authentic locale is the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, Arizona, about 20 miles southeast of Phoenix on the Gila River Indian Reservation. Here, planners will find 29 venues, nearly 100,000 square feet of event space, and 500 newly renovated rooms. In an ode to the Akimel O’odham (Pima) and Pee-Posh (Maricopa) tribes, decor features deserty earth tones, artwork by regional artisans, and patio valences crafted from saguaro cactus ribs.
Situated in the high Sonoran Desert alongside the Gila River, the property welcomes visitors to cocoon in ancient vistas of roaming wild horses and the rugged foothills of the Sierra Estrella Mountains. Taste Native American-influenced cuisine at the resort’s restaurant Kai, Arizona’s only AAA Five-Diamond and Forbes Five-Star outlet, where attendees can choose from menu items showcasing Indigenous ingredients, including bison tenderloin, rabbit, corn puree, and saguaro-blossom syrup. Head to the on-site Aji Spa for massage therapies and treatments based on the healing practices of the Akimel O’odham and Pee-Posh people, or make a splash at the pool’s 111-foot waterslide, modeled after Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, which is 40 miles from the property.
Planners might arrange for attendees to explore Southwest desert lands by taking an Old West horse ride from nearby Koli Equestrian Center or hitting a round of golf at the Whirlwind Golf Club, home to 36 holes across two championship courses. If you have eventgoers who are feeling particularly lucky, direct them to one of four nearby gaming spots operated by Gila River Resorts & Casinos, including at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass and all located on the reservation.
Speaking of wagering, if lively nightlife and gaming are your group’s style, what better place for desert-based fun than Nevada’s Sin City of Las Vegas? Select from some 150,000 hotel rooms and 15 million square feet of event space. Among them is the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, which recently completed a $100 million remodel of its convention center. While adding modern tropical design and artwork by diverse and underrepresented artists, the unveiling also includes a renovation of all 424 rooms and suites at Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas (a hotel within Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino); upgraded technology for events in the convention center; original artwork by internationally known artists Thandiwe Muriu and Sarah Anne Johnson, also in the convention center; and the mini-golf and cocktail concept Swingers in the Mandalay Bay hotel.
Brushstrokes of the Region
Draw design inspiration from the outside world by incorporating a Southwestern color palette of earth tones like terra cotta, brown, and beige, as well as brighter hues of red, orange, blue, and green. Garnish an event with homegrown florae: yellow desert marigold and blue lupine in springtime, and Mexican hats (prairie cornflowers) of red and yellow, pink-hued fireweed, and creamy saguaro cactus flowers in spring and summer months, especially after relatively wet and rainy winters.
Incorporating Southwestern arts and crafts into event decor, such as turquoise jewelry or traditional pottery, can further create a rich and authentic atmosphere, Moore at Visit Albuquerque says. “Additionally, engaging local vendors for catering—featuring traditional New Mexican cuisine that highlights ingredients like green or red chiles—will enhance the experience.”
Celebrate with a group tour of Albuquerque’s National Hispanic Cultural Center, watching live performances of ballet and bilingual opera, viewing the Art Museum’s collection of more than 3,000 works within the cultural center, and setting eyes on the magnificent “Mundos de Mestizaje” fresco that illustrates 3,000 years of Hispanic history. The “Flamenco Capital of the U.S.,” Albuquerque is also the place to watch Flamenco dance, namely at Tablao Flamenco inside the Hotel Albuquerque.
Explore the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, also in Albuquerque about 1 1/2 miles from Hotel Albuquerque. It is considered the gateway to the 19 pueblos of New Mexico, which include the Taos Pueblo—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and Acoma Pueblo, the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in North America.
“When they’re here at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, attendees learn a little bit of what our ancestors or our elders have taught us,” says Monique Silva, of the Isleta Pueblo, director of guest experience at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
Offering both indoor and outdoor event spaces, the cultural center’s Indian Pueblo Kitchen serves up Indigenous fare with favorites like Indian tacos; Pueblo cookies and pies; and stews with green chile pork, red chile beef, or bison. Work off your tasty meal with a tour of the exhibition galleries, then head to the cultural center’s courtyard for traditional dances and handmade wares by Puebloan artisans.
To the north in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Ed Pulsifer, director of sales at La Fonda on the Plaza, says it is important to host events that honor the area’s rich culture. “We partner with the Lightning Boy Foundation [a nonprofit offering traditional hoop-dancing instruction] to feature local hoop dancers, adding an unforgettable cultural experience that connects guests to the heart of New Mexico’s heritage,” he says. “We also use locally sourced food and spices whenever possible, ensuring that each meal evokes a strong connection to place, giving guests a true taste of the region’s unique flavors.” La Fonda on the Plaza has multiple meeting rooms, including the Lumpkins Ballroom with space for 700 reception-style.
A half-mile away, infuse more regional culture into culinary history with a group lunch or dinner at the Santa Fe School of Cooking, says Joanne Hudson, public relations manager for Tourism Santa Fe. “In addition to amazing food that can be customized to the group’s preferences, the school entertains attendees with an area chef demonstrating how to make the menu unique,” she says.
Over in Arizona, regional cuisine is a direct window into Tucson’s history, traditions, and values, says Calderon. The first designated UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the U.S., Tucson’s cuisine represents 4,000 years of growing edible foods in the desert, from chiltepin chili peppers to Indigenous tepary beans. Along with the celebrated Sonoran-style Mexican fare—including Sonoran hot dogs, chimichangas, and desserts made with prickly pear syrup—Tucson is as authentic as it gets on this side of the border, says Calderon.
And don’t overlook the region’s legendary art galleries, festivals, and museums, which feature everything from Native American pottery and weaving to traditional and contemporary masterpieces. Consider gathering at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and Santa Fe Indian Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico; the Phoenix Art Museum in Arizona; and the Heard Museum, also in Phoenix.
Outdoor Revelry
From red-rock arches, mesas, and cliffs to canyons, desert valleys, and rugged mountaintops, the Southwest boasts some of the world’s most varied and iconic geographic wonders. Defined by arid and semiarid climates with temperate spring and fall months, plus cooler high-altitude regions, the Southwest makes it easy to integrate the outdoors into your meetings throughout the year.
Experience Tucson’s unique natural beauty, Calderon says, which visitors won’t find anywhere else on the planet. That includes Saguaro National Park, a prime destination for viewing endemic saguaro cactuses and for stargazing at the night sky—the national park is also a world-class birding destination.
Featuring diverse vegetation mixed with varied elevations of low deserts and elevated “Sky Islands,” officially the Santa Catalina and Santa Rita mountains, Tucson is part of a critical migratory path for more than 550 bird species annually. “While we are a desert, we are in the wettest and the most biodiverse desert in the world,” says Calderon. With 10 national parks, numerous national monuments and national recreation sites, and destinations like Lake Tahoe and Park City, the Southwest’s great outdoors beckon with adventure.
A multicultural mainstay replete with colliding cultures and history, ancient and modern cuisine, and enough world-class museums, galleries, and festivals for a lifetime of gatherings, the Southwest affords an endless selection of authentic experiences for all occasions.
cabq.gov
hotelchaco.com
lvcva.com
mandalaybay.mgmresorts.com
marriott.com
nmnaturalhistory.org
nps.gov
playatgila.com
sandiapeak.com
sawmillmarket.com
visitalbuquerque.org
visittucson.org
