Of all the places in the world people can travel, Fort Worth is among the best. According to Travel + Leisure’s 50 Best Places to Travel in 2024, planners looking to give attendees big-city thrills should consider booking a venue in Fort Worth. Named on the list among world-class cities like Bangkok and Montreal, Fort Worth, with a population of approximately 960,000, brought in $3 billion in tourism revenue last year, showing that it’s no longer a best-kept-secret among Texans.
In anticipation of the global visitors and uptick in meetings, two luxury hotels recently opened in the cultural district: The Crescent Hotel, Fort Worth and the Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection. For large events, the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District offers multiple venues with Western ambience and flexible meeting space. A new convention center is under construction and set to open in early 2026. Attendees can watch live cattle drives down Exchange Avenue, root for local bull riders live at Billy Bob’s Texas, and see the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, the oldest continuously running livestock show and rodeo.
Other U.S. cities joining Fort Worth on the list in the category of big city thrills include Louisville, Kentucky; Kansas City, Missouri; Cleveland, Ohio; and Las Vegas, Nevada. Other U.S. destinations making the top 50 are Sonoma County, California, for its wine and dining; Aspen Mountain, Colorado, for its natural beauty and après ski style; Big Sky, Montana, for adventure in the great outdoors; Anna Maria Island, Florida, for its less touristy beach vibes; and Hawai’i Island, for sunset viewing in support of relief efforts for this year’s disastrous fires. Coastal Alaska and the Mississippi River were listed as must-see places for memorable moments on the water.
