Successful Meetings - October 2008 - (Page 46) ADVERTISEMENT San Antonio CVB Metropolitan accommodations and old-world influences Bask in the warmth of San Antonio—the way its affectionate culture opens the doors to centuries of inspiration. Originally part of colonial Spain, San Antonio has evolved into an ideal meeting destination. Today, it stands as the seventh largest city in the nation with metropolitan venues and lavish accommodations, all while maintaining old-world roots. E nter the heart of San Antonio through the doors of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center; a merging of steel, style, and state-of-the-art technology along the banks of the picturesque River Walk. With a footprint of more than 1.3 million square feet, the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center offers flexibility and numerous options to meet planners’ needs. Its 600,000 square feet of meeting space includes 440,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space. Other key features encompass three hotel-quality ballrooms with a premier 40,000-square-foot grand ballroom, 63 breakout rooms, the Lila Cockrell Theatre for the Performing Arts (which seats more than 2,500), and an executive assembly hall with interpreting rooms for international meetings. The facility plays host to more than 300 events each year and more than 750,000 convention delegates from around the world. Beyond the convention center’s topnotch meeting facilities, its grand facade, art-filled details, and River Walk location help make San Antonio a unique convention destination. San Antonio has something for everyone, with more than 36,000 hotel rooms throughout the metro area—and more than 12,500 located in beautiful downtown. Expect to find world-class meeting hotels, lavish resorts, and historic boutiques. San Antonio recently welcomed the new Grand Hyatt, with 1,003 rooms and 115,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting space, much of which overlooks the River Walk. This highly anticipated property is also adjacent to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Best known for perfecting Tex-Mex, a must-experience for every itinerary, San Antonio continues to emerge as a major culinary destination that delves into the savory delights of European cuisine and Gulf Coast seafood. For a local splash, make arrangements for a dinner cruise along the San Antonio River. With 300 days of sunshine a year, San Antonio’s temperate climate provides a year-round retreat complete with award-winning golf courses, spas, theme parks such as SeaWorld San Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta Texas, culture-rich districts, nationally acclaimed museums, and historic icons including the Alamo and four other Spanish colonial missions. Centrally located between the East and West coasts, the San Antonio International Airport hosts more than 20 airline carriers. The airport is approximately eight miles from downtown, where the River Walk connects the convention center and other meeting facilities with hotels, restaurants, and recreation. San Antonio is an easy city to get around, whether by foot, river taxi, trolley, or cab (where four people ride for the price of one). For more information: (866) 517-7771; convention@visitsanantonio.com; www.visitsanantonio.com http://www.visitsanantonio.com
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