Texas covers a lot of territory, and while its big cities get most of the meeting headlines, smaller destinations that might run under the radar boast a canvas of modern venues complemented by historic charm. These small-town communities are close-knit and friendly, welcoming meeting and event attendees with open arms.
To find the right location in a small city or town, consider focusing on a region of Texas that suits the culture of the meeting, or save on the travel budget by choosing a destination close to home. “We have found that meeting planners can stretch their planning budget further in our market due to our affordable accommodations and local attractions,” says Lindsay Barker, director at the Wichita Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Once you know what region suits your budget and industry, you can explore the many opportunities available through area convention and visitors bureaus or reaching out to venues directly. Some of the most remarkable Texas destinations are in small cities, so Meet in Texas is excited to bring you a few ideas in each region to get you started.
Gulf Coast
Winter or summer, the Gulf Coast is a warm and welcoming region. Pasadena gives planners a small-town option just south of downtown Houston. The Pasadena Convention Center and Municipal Fairgrounds is undergoing an expansive $50 million renovation to be completed in spring 2026 and slated to feature a new 76,000-square-foot arena and remodeled meeting rooms.
Located just off Interstate 10, Beaumont’s Doggett Ford Park Entertainment Complex includes an arena for 9,000 conference attendees and a 48,000-square-foot exhibit hall. Flexible meeting space at the Downtown Event Centre includes a 14,000-square-foot patio overlooking a small lake. Known for its many museums, Beaumont is home to the Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum, depicting the oil boom through historic buildings and a working replica gusher attendees can explore.
South of Houston, Friendswood will welcome a new hotel later this spring. The Residence Inn Houston NASA/Clear Lake is just 20 minutes away from the Kemah Boardwalk along the bay that juts inland from the coast. The new property will offer 123 guest rooms and meeting space for up to 30 attendees.
Piney Woods
East Texas charm and woodland adventure invite attendees to relax and unwind. Tyler’s W.T. Brookshire Conference Center with nearly 24,000 square feet of event space is located near Tyler Municipal Rose Garden for scenic—and fragrant—breaks between sessions. The renovated historic Mayfair Building reopened last year for speakers, performances, and other events.
South of Tyler, Nacogdoches is a small town with big charm. The Fredonia Hotel & Convention Center, with 20,000 square feet of event space, showcases the town’s history while delivering modern amenities in a boutique setting. Future options include the 210,000-square-foot convention center in the east Montgomery County town of New Caney, expected to open next year, and the proposed 36,000-square-foot conference center in Jefferson City.
Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake Conroe–Houston has a water park, an 18-hole golf course, and unmatched sunset views along with 72,000 square feet of meeting and event space. “Our grand ballroom, which is divisible by three, offers sophisticated decor, crystal chandeliers, and flexible space for large meetings, banquets, and elegant receptions,” says Tom Faust, vice president of sales and marketing for Margaritaville Lake Resort.
A half hour to the north in Huntsville, the 4,000-square-foot William Hodges Education Building offers meeting rooms, and the 61-room Comfort Inn & Suites Huntsville Near University offers 900 square feet of meeting space.
Prairies and Lakes
Outside the bustle of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, small towns surprise planners with roomy conference centers and a strong lineup of amenities. In Sherman, just south of the Oklahoma border, the recently opened Courtyard Sherman offers 3,220 square feet of meeting space that can be used as a ballroom or flexed into smaller breakout areas. The 83-room Hampton Inn & Suites Sherman also is open with an 850-square-foot meeting room.
In nearby Paris, a dual-branded hotel offers a menu of meeting rooms and space. The 62-room Fairfield Inn & Suites Paris showcases a 535-square-foot meeting room, and TownPlace Suites Paris provides an additional 51 guest rooms. The recently opened Paris Venue along Clarksville Street features 3,200 square feet and space for up to 244 attendees for receptions.
For larger gatherings east of Dallas, Opportunity Central in Forney provides an arena with 32,000 square feet of floor space ideal for trade shows or configured with 6,500 fixed seats for other events. Its banquet hall can seat up to 350 attendees, the theater can seat 600, and multiple classrooms and other spaces are also available. The 89-room TownPlace Suites Forney offers an additional 2,150 square feet of meeting space for up to 250 attendees.
Southwest of the metroplex, the Cleburne Conference Center in Cleburne has capacity for 680 banquet attendees in the 10,300-square-foot exhibit hall, in addition to several smaller spaces for gatherings and a performing arts theater. Less formal events in Cleburne will find barns and other rustic venues available along the Chisolm Trail.
For larger gatherings, the Midlothian Conference Center, 30 miles south of Fort Worth in Midlothian, boasts 39,000 square feet, including 13,000 square feet of column-free exhibition space for trade shows and conferences. Attendees can stay at the on-site Courtyard Dallas Midlothian at Midlothian Conference Center.
Texas Hill Country
Venue possibilities abound in the rolling hills of Central Texas. The Brownwood Event Center Complex, opened last year, consists of redeveloped buildings in the historic depot civic and cultural complex. Home2 Suites by Hilton Brownwood just opened, providing additional rooms for attendees gathering at the new center.
The area surrounding Austin allows planners access to big-city vendors in small-town settings. Marble Falls’ new Ophelia Hotel and Conference Center broke ground last August and will offer 12,000 square feet of meeting space. In Round Rock, Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Round Rock is a go-to for large events. Its water park, adventure park, and spa provide plenty to do during downtime, and planners will appreciate access to on-site rooms and restaurants.
If history is on the agenda, Fredericksburg’s Main Street is ripe for exploration. The city is 1 1/2 hours west of Austin. Venues include the Inn on Barons Creek and the new Albert Hotel. “Fredericksburg has several boutique hotels, inns with a ‘village’ setting, as well as
unique meeting venues,” says Shannon Overby, national sales director of the Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau. At The Sycamore, a mixed-use center opening this year, attendees can walk from hotels to retail shops and The Salt Lick BBQ and
Salt Lick Cellars wine-tasting room.
West Texas
Sitting between two regions, South Texas Plains and West Texas, and just north of the Mexico border, Del Rio is a small town with a proud Western heritage. The newly opened Hawthorn Extended Stay by Wyndham Del Rio offers 700 square feet of seminar space and a meeting room for 20 attendees.
In Laredo, Uni-Trade Stadium has a capacity of 6,000, as well as a private club level for up to 450 attendees. For trade shows, exhibits, or conventions, the 178,000-square-foot Sames Auto Arena offers 32,000 square feet of open floor space with seating capacity of 10,000, six meeting rooms, luxury suites, and a private club. Smaller gatherings can be held at Home2 Suites by Hilton Laredo Airport, which provides 74 guest suites and a 2,500-square-foot meeting room. Its sister property that opened last summer, Home2 Suites by Hilton Laredo North, offers an additional 107 guest suites.
Farther north in Wichita Falls, modern flair is combined with Western style in the new Delta Hotels by Marriott Wichita Falls Convention Center. The venue boasts 40,000 square feet of flexible event space. “Since the opening of the property, the convention and visitors bureau, in partnership with the Delta Hotels sales team, has been successful in securing bids for new events and conventions, and is booking events as far out as 2026 and 2027,” says Barker.
Additional new properties in Wichita Falls include the 94-room Best Western North Side Inn with meeting space for up to 30 people, as well as the 92-room Hampton Inn by Hilton Wichita Falls North with a 750-square-foot meeting room.
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visitmarblefalls.org
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