Imagine a destination that offers pleasant weather year-round, affording opportunities like dining alfresco in December and playing a round of golf in January. Perhaps your mind jumps to the Caribbean or another island locale, and you sigh, realizing that such a place is not within the budget of many clients. But you needn’t travel that far to enjoy temperate weather and plenty of unique meeting and event space. Located at the southern tip of Texas, McAllen offers major amenities in a subtropical climate.
“McAllen is an ideal location virtually yearround. It’s perfect for outdoor activities, and at the CVB, we love to help planners customize their groups’ experiences—from a ranchstyle cookout to an upscale cooking class to a day at the beach or a visit to some of our excellent art museums and galleries,” says Nancy Millar, vice president and director of the McAllen Convention and Visitors Bureau. “I’m proud to say the McAllen CVB has received 100 percent satisfaction results from meeting planners for three years running. We pride ourselves on making the meeting planner the hero, and making things as easy as possible for meeting planners.”
McAllen is located on the migratory path for birds and butterflies, making it one of the prime bird-watching spots in the world. The World Birding Center—a collaboration between Texas Parks and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services—consists of nine locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley, one of which is located in McAllen. Ecotourists take advantage of the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the nearly 540 species of birds that are found in this natural habitat.
For more outdoor recreation, Palm View Golf Course’s 72-par championship layout is one of the premier golf courses in south Texas. The With a fleet of 70 golf carts, the course is ready to accommodate group outings and events. The dining room, overlooking the scenic golf course, offers full banquet service with a menu of Tex-Mex and American foods like beef enchiladas and chicken fried steak.
McAllen’s historic downtown area is the hub of a thriving art scene, with more than two dozen galleries. The Spanish Colonial Nuevo Santander Gallery—with stunning architecture both inside and out—houses museumquality Old West arms and fine Mexican collectibles. The area hosts a first Friday art walk monthly from September to May.
The multinational community of McAllen is a major shopping destination for much of south Texas and northern Mexico. Check out retail areas like Main Street in the historic downtown, which offers both high-end and bargain shops. La Plaza Mall, the premier shopping center of the Rio Grande Valley, offers over a million square feet of both upscale and mainstream retail space.
“When people travel to McAllen for the first time, or the first time in many years, they are often stunned. Many have no idea that our region boasts 1.5 million people, and has the infrastructure to back it up. We hear great compliments on our wide array of restaurants and varied cuisine, and on the quality of our hotels. And, of course, our superb shopping,” Millar says. “We encourage planners to offer their attendees a little free time to explore our specialty boutiques and shopping districts.”
When it comes to meeting and event space, the McAllen Convention Center offers a beautiful setting for groups both small and large. It occupies 18.5 acres and boasts 174,000 square feet of event space, including an exhibit hall that has room for more than 5,000 people. The luxurious, column-free grand ballroom, outfitted with beautiful chandeliers, offers 10,000 square feet of space perfect for elegant events. Sixteen meeting rooms provide 25,000 square feet of space, while two elegant boardrooms offer a quiet retreat for executive conference sessions. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring light into richly appointed interiors. The light and airy Palm Lobby, lined with towering palm trees, offers space for up to 250 people.
Outside the convention center, 2.5 acres of tree- and flower-accented park space, known as Oval Park, provides a gorgeous setting for outdoor events. A lovely fountain and reflection pond add to the charming atmosphere. A bandstand with an acoustical shell offers an ideal space for musical performances.
The convention center’s exclusive in-house caterer, Centerplate, has 80 years of experience as one of the largest hospitality companies in the world. The caterer has the capacity to provide everything from boxed lunches for a small meeting to elegant banquet service for a group of thousands.
“Our convention center is one of the newest and best in the state,” Millar says. “It’s a state-of-the-art center surrounded by retail, hotels and restaurants, and is absolutely gorgeous, with its interior palm trees and nature theme throughout.”
The Renaissance Casa de Palmas Hotel
The Renaissance Casa de Palmas, a beautiful Spanish-style property built in 1918, features over 6,500 square feet of flexible event space. Eight breakout rooms provide space for small conferencing and team-building sessions, while the Royal Palm Ballroom has room for up to 250 guests. A 24-hour business center and full line of audio-visual equipment provide added convenience.
Featuring 165 guest rooms and 24 suites— all outfitted with pillow-top mattresses, feather pillows and gorgeous Spanish-style décor—the hotel offers a feel of historic luxury. Courtyard rooms overlook a lush outdoor area, complete with an Old World-style fountain and sparkling pool. As an added perk, the hotel offers complimentary shuttle service within a 3-mile radius, as well as to the airport.
Catering service includes upscale options like buffalo mozzarella bruschetta on herb crostini, citrus glazed hen, and regional favorites like salsa verde-accented enchiladas suizas. Vegetarian and gluten-free options include ginger glazed salmon and eggplant rollatini. Break packages include fun options like an ice cream sundae bar, mini hot dogs, and house made beef jerky with artisanal cheeses.
International Museum of Art and Science
At the Smithsonian-affiliated International Museum of Art and Science, the premier art and science museum of south Texas, visitors find over 50,000 square feet of exhibit space, including art galleries and hands-on science exhibits. RioScape Children’s Play Park, an outdoor interactive science playground, teaches visitors geography, geology and cultural lessons about the Rio Grande. The museum’s collections include folk art, decorative art, fine art and local geologic objects.
“One of my favorite event spaces is Clark Gallery,” says Jazmin Garcia, reservationist. “That space is very open to different types of setups and it has a nice backdrop with the art, which we rotate every few months.”
Located in the heart of McAllen, this 1930s Spanish Revival-style adobe mansion and manicured gardens provide a stunning backdrop for any event. At 10,000 square feet, the mansion is one of the largest adobe structures in Texas, and can accommodate groups of up to 350 guests. The 20-acre urban sanctuary, under the stewardship of the McAllen Convention Center and the World Birding Center, serves to educate the public on birds, plants and wildlife.
A number of event spaces cater to groups both small and large. The Grand Hall—accented by Spanish tile and gorgeous decorative arches— accommodates up to 80 people. The Cottage and Art Gallery provide a charming space for small meetings and events. The Courtyard, which features bursts of colorful flowers and palm trees, provides a lovely space for outdoor events.
The front lawn, with space for up to 350 seated guests, is set against the stunning profile of the mansion and features a Cantera stone patio. The Wooded Meadow, shaded by towering oaks and elms, boasts a stone amphitheater with room for 70 guests.
For daytime events, the mansion is open to the public, meaning that certain areas (reception area, nature exhibits, cedar hall, art gallery, gift store, courtyard, kitchen, grounds/trails and restrooms) will allow public access. Music, entertainment and alcohol are not allowed during business hours.
The facility is closed to the public during evening events. Evening rental fees include a facility manager, security guard, parking attendants and drivers for two eight-passenger golf carts. Nonprofit organizations are eligible for a 30 percent discount off the facility rental rate.
