AN ANTONIO GETS TO THE heart of meetings with new and renovated meeting venues and
attractions that are now open and ready to welcome groups. The city’s famed River Walk now has
over a mile of new attractions, connecting the downtown meeting scene to museums and the historic Pearl Brewery. Along the northern bank of the expansion lies the new Pearl Amphitheatre (1,280 seats), which enjoys a top location in the Pearl Brewery redevelopment, alongside the Culinary Institute of America’s new cam- pus, top restaurants, and the Pearl Stable event venue. Not only does the Culinary Institute of America anchor San Antonio’s dining scene, it also offers, with its roster of food-enthusiast classes and tours, a unique alternative for off-site events and activities. The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention
Center is home to the new Lonesome Dove Room. Offering seating for 150 to 500 people, the Lonesome Dove Room is more than a ballroom: Its fine Western art and rich furnishings evoke the maverick history and rustic elegance of the landscape that inspired it. The venue flows out onto a river patio along a quiet stretch of the River Walk, transforming it into an al fresco set- ting for events. Also at the convention center, the Lila
Cockrell Theatre reopened this month after a $26-million refurbishment. Two all-new function rooms located on the river level — The Mayor’s Room and the O’Gorman Room — complement the theater. Within walking distance of the con-
vention center and the River Walk, the Alamodome just debuted San Antonio’s newest specialty theater and live enter-
24 convene at a glance
Hotel rooms: 42,000+ citywide, nearly 13,000 downtown
Convention facilities: The Henry B. Gon- zalez Convention Center has more than 600,000 square feet of space, including 63 meeting rooms, three ballrooms, and four exhibit halls (with approximately 440,000 square feet of contiguous space). The complex also features the Lila Cockrell Theatre, which following a reno- vation will have about 2,250 seats.
Attractions: The Alamo, Spanish Colonial Missions, The River Walk, Morgan’s Won- derland (world’s first ultra-accessible park for those with special needs), San Fer- nando Cathedral, SeaWorld San Antonio, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio Zoo, Smithsonian-affiliated Museo Alameda, San Antonio Museum of Art, McNay Art Museum, Tower of the Americas, Spanish Governor’s Palace, Market Square (nation’s largest Mexican market), more than 50 golf courses and practice greens
For more information: San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau, 203 S. St. Mary’s Street, Suite 200, San Antonio, TX 78205; phone: (866) 517-7771; website: www.visitsanantonio.com
tainment venue, The Illusions Theater. It has a capacity of 3,500 to 11,000 people, and its state-of-the-art curtain and LED lighting system create an exciting setting with tremendous versatility for concerts, performances, corporate presentations, and general assemblies. Topping it all off, San Antonio Interna-
tional Airport — already recognized as a leading airport for customer service — has a brand-new $100-million-plus terminal. San Antonio’s hospitality community is
united in providing stellar meetings from start to finish. Whether it comes to flying in qualified meeting professionals to experi- ence the city firsthand or simply providing an authentic meeting destination, meeting planners always find more in San Antonio.
beYonD the oRDinaRY: Fine Western art and rich furnishings are among elements that make the new Lonesome Dove Room at San Antonio’s Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Cen- ter more than just another ballroom. The city’s famed River Walk links the convention center with shopping, dining, and historic attractions.