Drive as far west as you can in Texas, and you will wind up in sunny El Paso. Situated along the Rio Grande and across the Paso Del Norte bridge that connects to Mexico, El Paso is nestled against the Franklin Mountains. With a blend of modern American industry and historic Mexican adobe architecture, the city is a fusion of cultures. “El Paso’s renovated meeting spaces, revitalized hotels, new restaurants, and attractions offer unforgettable experiences during your meeting or convention,” says Brooke Underwood, executive director of Visit El Paso.
Vibe: El Paso, known as the Sun City, is in the Chihuahuan Desert. With clear skies most of the year, the city has hot summers and short winters. The area is known for its spectacular views over the mountains. “Sunsets in El Paso are incredible,” says Rene Wong, director of marketing and communications at Visit El Paso. “The captivating shades of orange, purple, and pink illuminate the evening skies in a truly beautiful El Paso fashion.”
Transportation: El Paso International Airport is centrally located with easy access to the downtown area. Planners can arrange shuttle service to and from the airport, and several car rental options also are available. For inexpensive public transportation, Sun Metro buses offer routes throughout the city.
Hotels: “The Sun City boasts affordability, versatility, and a wonderful selection of facilities to create the perfect setting for every event,” Underwood says. Hotels include the historic Hotel Paso Del Norte, Autograph Collection, with 33,000 square feet of meeting space. The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel El Paso Downtown offers 200 guest rooms and 6,000 square feet of meeting space for up to 300 attendees. The Holiday Inn El Paso West-Sunland Park, An IHG Hotel, offers 4,600 square feet of meeting space, and the Marriott El Paso features 13,500 square feet of meeting space.
Meeting Venues: The downtown area with walkable streets offers plenty of venues and hotel rooms. The Judson F. Williams Convention Center, referred to as the El Paso Convention Center, is in the heart of downtown. The center’s 133,000 square feet of usable space includes 80,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space and 17 breakout rooms. The 2,000-seat Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Center was built in 1930 and is near the convention center. For outdoor events, the McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre in the Franklin Mountains boasts 1,503 seats.
Restaurants: Located in the Hotel Paso Del Norte, Autograph Collection, 1700 Degrees Steakhouse offers elegant dining with a menu featuring wagyu steaks, tamarind pork chops, and cocktails like the Apple Pie Mule. Taft Diaz inside the Stanton House hotel offers Chilean sea bass, rack of lamb, and truffled duck breast. For something more casual, groups can visit L & J Cafe, which features burgers and a bean and cheese dip appetizer, as well as Tex-Mex favorites like enchiladas, flautas, and burritos.
Must-Sees & -Dos: The El Paso Museum of Art hosts 7,000 works of art from the Byzantine era to the present, while the El Paso Museum of History explores 1,000 years of area history through exhibits and artifacts. The El Paso Zoo sits on 35 acres and features exotic animals from around the world for groups to see up close.
