San Antonio is booming, with a transformed convention center and expanded offerings surrounding it, as well as a Tricentennial celebration coming up next year. Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit San Antonio has had a front-row seat to the city's big changes. She took some time out of her busy schedule to speak with Successful Meetings about what's new and what hidden gems meeting planners might consider when visiting this exciting city.
What's new in the city for groups?
The focal point of San Antonio's meeting revolution is the transformed Henry B. González Convention Center that debuted March 2016. The Center's $325 million expansion increased its footprint to 1.6 million square feet, with 514,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space and the largest ballroom in Texas. Sitting on the River Walk in historic downtown, the convention center is within walking distance of historic sites, restaurants, museums, theaters, shops, and thousands of hotel rooms.
The Witte Museum has recently opened after undergoing a dramatic renovation and expansion. Visitors to the new Witte enjoy dynamic new exhibits, including the Naylor Family Dinosaur Gallery, People of the Pecos, the McLean Family Texas Wild Gallery, and the historic Acequia Madre and Diversion Dam. It's a great place for guests to immerse themselves in state history, from millions of years ago to the present. In fact, the Witte makes for a wonderful offsite venue for groups, special events, and galas.
Based in the 1883 Pearl Brewery Complex off the river, Pearl retains its historic charm while offering exciting modern eateries and venues. This mixed-use development on the Museum Reach of the River Walk also provides a wide range of activities and events, including the recent opening of music venue Jazz, TX in the cellar of the old Bottling Department. The old brew house was transformed into Hotel Emma, a riverfront hotel full of hospitality and history. HemisFair Park is undergoing a complete renovation to create a mixed-use development in the heart of the city. The park is already a popular place for groups since it is easily accessible, adjoining the convention center, and the new expansion will offer even more versatility while experiencing the local environment. And lastly is San Antonio's investment of $43 million into its 65,000-seat Alamodome in time to host the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four. The Alamodome also hosts the Valero Alamobowl and UTSA's Division 1 football team, along with many association and group meetings.
What's a venue or activity that's a "hidden gem" for visiting groups?
The original stretch of the River Walk, which is a hub for many meetings, is brimming with activities, such as riding the river barge for narrated tours, cocktail and dinner cruises, as well as river taxis. There also are theaters such as the outdoor Arneson River Theatre and the historic Majestic Theater. The River Walk is such an iconic venue with many great nooks and hidden treasures and has made for fantastic group scavenger hunts. The River Walk has been expanded twice in recent years and both sections -- the Museum Reach and Mission Reach -- offer unique teambuilding activities. The Museum Reach section was added in 2009 and offers a cultural and culinary immersion with numerous museums, public art installations, and Pearl -- an 1800s brewery reincarnated into a very cool urban district with boutiques, restaurants, a farmers market, event venues, the new Hotel Emma, and the brand-new Jazz, TX music venue. The Mission Reach -- added in 2013 -- links four of our five Spanish colonial missions. These are the missions that were designated as a World Heritage Site this past summer. Aside from exploring the missions, meeting attendees can hike, bike, and kayak this stretch of the river. San Antonio has many thrilling options for visitors the double as unique meeting locations. We truly believe that a strong leisure destination is a great draw for meeting attendees. This summer will see the unveiling of new rides and attractions to keep things fresh at both SeaWorld San Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Both of these offer meeting and event venues as well. Meeting planners are attracted to out-of-the-box venues that draw attendees into the experience and San Antonio has many great options to offer.
What's a good outing for a group looking to get a sense of the city's culture or history?
You can view a suggested group itinerary here. It is a four-day itinerary because there are so many unique options for groups who are interested in exploring the city's culture and history.
Where should a group go to get a truly local culinary experience?
San Antonio's restaurant culture has moved into the limelight as acclaimed chefs, as well as talented new graduates from the Culinary Institute of America San Antonio (one of only three locations in the nation) continue to make their marks. With the combination of quality, variety, and hospitality, dining in San Antonio offers incredible food served everywhere from upscale steak houses to unique food trucks. For a truly authentic San Antonio experience, Mi Tierra Café, started in 1941 by the Cortez family, is now a world-famous landmark -- the place hometown regulars and hungry tourists go for authentic Mexican food and a warm Texas welcome. Still owned by generations of the Cortez family, its location at Market Square in downtown is rich with art, history, entertainment, and shopping. The Cortez family also owns La Margarita (also located in Market Square). La Margarita is well-known for being the first American restaurant to serve sizzling fajitas. And it's pretty famous for amazing margaritas, too! Both Mi Tierra Café and La Margarita have private dining rooms, can hold large groups and make a great base camp for group excursions.
Anything else that you think makes your city a great destination for groups?
San Antonio continues to serve as an exciting destination for both leisure and business travelers. There are so many appealing reasons to have a meeting in San Antonio, it's hard to describe them all. One of the top aspects has to be the accessibility of it all. The airport is only 15 minutes from downtown or pretty much anywhere in the city where we have nearly 45,000 hotel rooms city-wide. Just in the downtown area there are 14,000 rooms, all within walking distance of the convention center and River Walk.
The River Walk is referred to as the "World's Largest Hotel Lobby." It is a great place to network and congregate while being immersed in the rich culture and beautiful scenery of one of the nation's top leisure destinations.
Meeting planners and attendees are attracted by downtown's walkability as it saves on transportation costs and heightens attendee experiences and engagement.
And lastly, please note that we're gearing up for San Antonio's Tricentennial in 2018, and we are very excited. It will be a yearlong celebration three centuries in the making. Once a remote settlement, our city has since become the seventh largest in the nation and one of the country's top tourism destinations. Keep an eye out for our Tricentennial countdown as we begin celebrating the incredible people, unforgettable heritage, and brilliant future of our great city.