Meetings and Events Thrive in Tucson
Tucson, Ariz., is so confident that planners will love its mix of modern amenities and Southwestern charm that the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau will treat any qualified meeting professional and a guest to a customized, three-day, two-night tour of the city, including activities and airfare.
It’s a bet that pays off for the city – a good number of hosted planners wind up booking events here. No wonder – with an average of 350 days a year of sunshine and resorts at every price point, most groups can find a perfect fit in Tucson.
“We have a wide range of venues, affordable lodging and activities in Tucson,” says Toby Parks, director of convention sales. “Everyone loves Tucson's mild climate, spectacular scenery, scrumptious dining and exciting, world-famous attractions.”
SMERF meetings of every stripe will find something to suit them in Tucson. In fact, in July alone, groups as diverse as the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Up With People International Alumni are meeting in Tucson. The Vietnam Vets are using more than 1,000 room nights at the Hilton El Conquistador, while Up With People is taking more than 1,500 room nights at the Westin La Paloma.
Planners are attracted by both the facilities and the easy access offered to the destination, Parks says. “Tucson boasts resorts and hotels at all price levels,” she says. “You get more for your money, with meeting spaces [similar to] expensive destinations at a fraction of the cost.”
In addition to a broad range of hotels, the Tucson Convention Center offers 205,000 square feet of exhibition and meeting space, along with 462 guest rooms, right in the heart of downtown. The center is within walking distance of hotels, shops and many restaurants. With three exhibit halls that comprise 89,760 square feet, and a 21,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom featuring tiered ceilings with elegantly lit chandeliers, this state-of-the-art facility offers the size and flexibility to accommodate most every type of meeting, convention, trade show or banquet event. The Grand Lobby contributes another 11,200 square feet of multi-purpose space for registration, merchandise sales, Internet cafés and cocktail receptions. Breakouts can take advantage of eight meeting rooms that range in size from 700 square feet to 1,800 square feet, with motorized sliding partitions providing flexibility of space. A courtyard adds space for outdoor activities and leads to the adjacent Leo Rich Theatre and the Music Hall, both of which have large stages and support facilities. The entire complex is connected by a cable system for video and audio transmission, high-speed Internet connections and wireless connections, and all telephone services.
When the workday is done, the city offers a slew of unique venues for evening functions, including real movie sets where John Wayne westerns were filmed or ranches where you can host a cookout under the stars. You can also treat your attendees to a cocktail party among the native foliage at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, the second most popular tourist attraction in the state. The 21-acre facility, encompassing a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, can host more than 500 people for dinner in a combination of indoor and outdoor spaces. In their free time, attendees can also browse the shops and restaurants at La Placita Village in downtown Tucson.
Golf and spa enthusiasts alike will also find a lot to like in Tucson: according to Condé Nast Traveler. According to the magazine, two of the four top destination spas in the country are found nearby, as well as golf courses designed by the likes of Robert Trent Jones Jr., Tom Fazio, Tom Weiskopf and Jack Nicklaus. This hasn’t escaped notice of the top names in golf – starting in February 2007, the Accenture Match Play Championship, part of the World Golf Championships, will move to Tucson’s Gallery at Dove Mountain.
As if the fine weather and unique array of facilities isn’t enough, the city offers another enticement to qualified meetings using the Tucson Convention Center: a $10,000 credit toward local transportation, rental costs or a reception dinner. And all meetings benefit from the professional, experienced staff of the CVB’s convention services department, which can highlight programs and activities and provide imaginative ideas for special-interest itineraries, tours, unusual parties and spouse programs, as well as a variety of materials to promote your event and increase attendance.
Services include the convention services portfolio, a special guide to help plan spouse trips and special events, select delegate merchandise and other logistics. The portfolio also features a thorough checklist of things to remember when planning a Tucson meeting; Tucson destination marketing collateral for attendees; online materials and e-blasts to generate enthusiasm, and a Tucson information booth for Tucson Convention Center delegates. Convention delegate registration assistance is also available for a small fee.
While the CVB makes putting together a meeting a breeze, arriving in Tucson is just as easy. Currently, 11 different airlines provide Tucson with nonstop service to 16 cities and connections to more than 121 destinations, making for quick connections across the country. In addition, low-fare airline JetBlue is launching new, nonstop service to Tucson from New York’s John F. Kennedy airport at the end of September.
For More Information
Contact Toby Parks, director of convention sales at the Convention & Visitors Bureau by phone at 520-770-2174 or by e-mail at tparks@visitTucson.org.
