The sister cities of Dallas and Fort Worth are a formidable pair when it comes to Texas-style event hosting. Together, they offer creative meeting spaces, cuisine for every palate, many hotels, and outside-of-the-box team-building experiences. History abounds here, reflected in event venues and restaurants that make gettingtogether a whole lot more fun.
Getting to the area is easy—attendees can fly from nearly anywhere in the U.S. in four hours or less. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport provides more than 200 nonstop routes, with American Airlines headquartered in Fort Worth and Southwest Airlines based in Dallas. The smaller Dallas Love Field airport offers a nice alternative, ranking fourth overall in traveler satisfaction on J.D. Power’s “2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study.” Attendees will find 35,000 hotel rooms in Dallas and another 4,000-plus in Fort Worth—just one reason why this metroplex consistently ranks as one of the most business-friendly areas in America according to Site Selection Magazine’s “2024 Business Climate Rankings” report.
“We know that meeting planners find Dallas attractive for a variety of reasons: connectivity, affordability, accessibility, and diversity of accommodations, to name a few,” says Visit Dallas CEO Craig Davis. “However, we know they also keep coming back because of Dallas’ people. Dallasites have a powerful can-do spirit and warm, welcoming hospitality that can’t be found anywhere else, and they are committed to creating and producing best-in-class meetings and events for our clients.”
Proof of that can be found in the plans for a new 2.5-million-square-foot expansion of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, construction of which is underway. The convention center is surrounded by a city that boasts world-class sports venues, global cuisine, and a canvas of distinct neighborhoods in which groups can find noteworthy activities between meetings. The Dallas area is home to 200 golf courses, six professional sports teams, and the country’s largest urban arts district. Parks and walkable neighborhoods lead to sleek high-rises, vibrant entertainment venues, and 10,000 hotel rooms within walking distance of downtown. This city is equipped for an intimate meeting of 10 or a gathering of 10,000—and everything in between.
In Fort Worth, history and cowboy culture are the draws. The Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District immerses attendees in a twice-daily cattle drive, historic buildings and saloons, live music, and special events that honor Texas culture. Attendees might take the free trolley to hotels, restaurants, and attractions, or book with a group travel company that offers everything from buses to luxury vehicles. Event spaces run the gamut from downhome to uptown, and Fort Worth’s 18 districts have something for just about any kind of gathering.
Meeting-Friendly Hotels
When The Crescent Hotel in Fort Worth opened in late 2023, it gained almost immediate admiration: Within one year it was named the No. 1 hotel in Texas in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards. Located in Fort Worth’s Cultural District, the hotel is less than a mile from Dickies Arena and the Will Rogers Memorial Center, but its park-like setting makes visitors feel like they’re outside of the hustle and bustle.
Jackie Allee, The Crescent Hotel’s marketing manager, says event planners are drawn to the property’s central location and noteworthy amenities. “Our spaces are filled with light and offer ample outdoor access, and since our event space is located on the opposite side of the hotel’s public areas, private events unfold seamlessly and without interruption, offering both privacy and sophistication.”
This October, the brand new Conservatory at The Crescent Hotel will open as a premier venue for events and meetings. This 4,000-square-foot space will feature large windows with abundant natural that Allee says are ideal for exhibitors, keynotes, and other customized experiences.
Groups experience the heart of the Fort Worth Stockyards by gathering at Hotel Drover, Autograph Collection. The 200-room hotel was designed to reflect the city’s Western heritage and honor the drovers that brought cattle to market from across the Texas plains. Planners can select from the available 40,000 square feet of on-site event space, including the 4,004-square-foot rustic barn for up to 450 people reception-style and the 3,215-square-foot Legacy Hall for up to 400, among other meeting rooms.
Dallas is filled with meeting-friendly hotels, too, including the Omni Dallas Hotel, which is connected via skybridge to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. The Joule, a centrally located Dallas classic, attracts attendees to its iconic underground spa. And the Hilton Anatole, a 45-acre property with 600,000 square feet of meeting space, wows with an expansive, resort-style pool complex for relaxation at the end of a busy day.
The boutique Hall Arts Hotel Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton, and its on-site Ellie’s Restaurant & Lounge, appeal to art and architecture lovers. “What sets Hall Arts Hotel apart for meetings and events is the unique blend of creativity, service, and atmosphere,” says Marisol Lopez, director of sales and catering at the hotel. “From the moment attendees arrive, they’re immersed in an environment where art lives not only on the walls but also in the spirit of the space.”
Impressive Event Venues
Attendees in Fort Worth value the city’s dedication to preserving its heritage, which is showcased in its event spaces. Stockyards Station, one of the most sought-out areas in this city, has turned 100-year-old buildings into four elegant, Western-chic spaces available for groups of 50 to 750 people. Its history as the last big stop in Texas for cowboys traveling the Chisholm Trail from Texas to Kansas during the post-Civil War era makes this venue a notable experience. After meetings, eventgoers can walk to some 54 shops and 46 bars and restaurants nearby.
The Fort Worth Convention Center also offers opportunities to take a stroll. It is just steps from the Fort Worth Water Garden, where a postmeeting walk will traverse terraced landscape architecture, water features, and beautiful gardens. Or, planners might opt for less conventional meeting options such as the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame; River Ranch Stockyards with banquet, cocktail, and theater-style reception areas; or the Kimbell Art Museum, which offers private gallery access.
Big-city Dallas makes it easy to find the perfect meeting or event location with abundant options in one location, and grandeur is not in short supply. The Arts District Mansion, built in 1890, is an elegant reminder of life in Dallas as it transitioned from a Southern frontier town to a modern city. A wraparound reception space connects to a terrace, where attendees take in fantastic views of the city skyline. Planners can opt to divide the 7,000-square-foot ballroom into four spaces to accommodate groups of all sizes, and the mansion’s atrium fills with natural light due to its glass ceiling and hosts groups of 50 to 150.
“Aesthetically, our guests love the historic aspect of the space,” says Hillary Slatton, catering sales manager at the upscale and versatile property. “Practically, they appreciate the convenience and low cost of our underground attached parking garage.”
For ultra-modern, vibrant event options, the AT&T Discovery District is a one-stop shop. It’s composed of nine very different venues in one location serving a variety of needs when it comes to capacity, atmosphere, and privacy. Planners can choose from indoor/outdoor food halls and restaurants, a high-tech meeting room, an outdoor plaza with a 104-foot LED screen, a multimedia-immersive lobby space, and The Globe outdoor stage.
Team Building & Dining
Considered by many to be a refined Fort Worth venue, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth brings culture to events of all sizes and is an artistic alternative to traditional meeting spaces. Teams can wander galleries with soaring ceilings and contemporary floor-to-ceiling windows. A scenic reflecting pond, gardens, and outdoor sculptures provide fresh air and group photo opportunities. And dining here is a top-notch affair—Wolfgang Puck Catering based in West Hollywood, California, is the venue’s exclusive culinary provider.
If the emphasis of your time in Fort Worth is team building, camaraderie, and fun, a private gathering at the Fort Worth Zoo might be in order. The zoo accommodates events of all sizes and styles, whether attendees are dressed to the nines or in jeans and boots. Scavenger hunts, team games, animal presentations, group photo areas, and caricature artists complement the zoo’s already impressive menagerie of add-ons. From picnic lunches to in-house catered dinners, the zoo makes it possible to spend a few hours or an entire day.
Dallas presents some unique and lively entertainment venues as well. The Margarita Mile, a self-guided tour of the best margarita spots in town, is a nod to this city’s claim to fame as home of the first frozen margarita machine, invented in Dallas by Mariano Martinez in 1971. Attendees tour the city’s sites while popping into their choice of 35 restaurants and bars, and teams or individuals compete for swag and prizes along the way. For a more exclusive experience, dine at Mariano’s Hacienda, Meso Maya, or El Fenix, all of which offer catering and private dining spaces. The McKinney Avenue Trolley drops riders safely at each location, and private groups can reserve the trolley for exclusive use.
The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, showcases a refined vibe in which Chef Dean Fearing creates delicacies for groups at Fearing’s Restaurant and its seven venues. Alfresco dining puts eventgoers on the Live Oak patio; the vibrant and colorful Ocaso room features a stunning, glass-enclosed space; and Dean’s Kitchen provides an opportunity for small groups to interact with the chef as he shares culinary creations from his eponymous restaurant.
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex successfully earns its place as one of the most business-friendly destinations in America as specified by Site Selection Magazine, with the area offering attendees everything from upscale elegance to casual camaraderie for intimate gatherings, arena-size crowds, and nearly any kind of meeting and event in between.
