When events are in Santa Fe, N.M., attendance often doubles, says David Carr, director of sales for Tourism Santa Fe. The uptick in attendance is because spouses of attendees see the upcoming meeting as a chance to cross the destination off their bucket list.
With its mix of rich Native American culture, diverse culinary options, and vibrant arts scene, Santa Fe is a one-of-a-kind destination. Its direct access from Interstate 25 only adds to the appeal, especially when a conference is already calling one member of a household there.
While amenities in Santa Fe are unique, the magnetic force of a meeting within driving distance of attendees is universal. Meeting planners can save costs and limit carbon imprint while drawing large crowds happy to bypass the hassles of flying and remain in control of their schedule.
For instance, having a car on-site can increase the potential for attendees to spend an extra day or two in town, playing tourist. It also makes it easier for attendees to experience local entertainment and restaurants on open nights during the meeting.
The Southwest offers various attractive options for planners looking to keep a meeting close to home and provide a fresh experience in a familiar region. Here, we profile some drive-in destinations in the Southwest worth a road trip.
Scottsdale, Ariz.
Through its mix of popular amenities, including a wide range of resorts, spas, and dining and retail options, Scottsdale has emerged as a distinct market from nearby Phoenix. Scottsdale is a prime example of how a short drive outside a major city can provide attendees with a far different experience than they would otherwise have in a major city. A common perk is the region’s proximity to Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas—three major markets within a six-hour drive.
“Scottsdale eliminates the hassles and costs associated with air travel for many attendees. This drive-in accessibility means no flight delays, baggage fees, or airport security lines—just a scenic desert drive,” says Kelli Blubaum, vice president of sales and services for Experience Scottsdale.
Sara Jane Jones, an independent meeting planner, agrees about the accessibility and raves about the opportunities available to groups in Scottsdale. Among the highlights are horseback riding, exploring local art galleries, and eating at the restaurants, which range from high-end steakhouses to fast-casual spots. Notable attractions include Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Scottsdale’s Museum of the West.
“Scottsdale has an elevated vibe and truly offers something for everyone,” Jones says.
New developments include the November 2024 debut of Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort, following a $115 million transformation of the former Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch; a planned renovation at Hotel Valley Ho; and July 2025’s opening of The REMI, a Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel.
One outdoor excursion to include in your agenda is the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, which has 300 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking among the legendary cacti.
Anaheim, Calif.
Remarkably, it had been more than a quarter-century since the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association (CACSA) brought its springtime annual conference to Anaheim. After the experience this past May, Lindsey Carter, CACSA executive director, is confident the organization won’t wait so long to return.
In an era where many conferences rely on experiential moments, CACSA is a throwback. The 100 attendees, who are government workers and members of the nonprofit group, prefer to get down to business. They allow for one excursion during the weeklong meeting but otherwise don’t mix business and pleasure, Carter says.
and citrus and palm trees. Courtesy Visit Anaheim
Knowing the attendees’ preferences and small size, Carter opted for the Delta Hotels by Marriott Anaheim Garden Grove on Harbor Boulevard to maximize the event’s effectiveness. While Anaheim boasts proximity to several airports, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), it also offers easy drive-in access from regional destinations. Participants, who came from all of California’s 58 counties, drove from as far away as the Oregon border, capitalizing on the destination’s accessibility via Interstate 5 and California routes 92 and 22.
Despite the lack of frills during the meeting, Anaheim proved popular enough for the association to open its registration one year prior to the meeting, far earlier than normal. Some attendees brought their families and went to Disneyland at night, while others took advantage of nearby restaurants for group dining. The conference offered F&B for its opening reception and lunch for two days. A hospitality suite was available nightly.
The offsite excursion was held at Splittsville, a high-end bowling alley in Downtown Disney. Carter says the outing was a distinct change from the traditional bocce ball and barbecue, and drew raves as a fun networking event.
Ronnie Collins, chief sales officer for Visit Anaheim, says CACSA’s approach is a testament to the destination’s versatility, particularly for groups within driving distance.
“Anaheim continues to be a top choice for meetings and events, thanks to its unbeatable accessibility, strong regional drive-in market, and cost-effective appeal,” Collins says. “With millions of potential attendees within a few hours’ drive, planners benefit from flexible booking windows, lower travel costs, and strong turnout. Add in our walkable districts, ample parking, and the draw of world-class attractions, and it’s clear Anaheim offers much more than just a meeting space; it delivers a full destination experience.”
Carter engaged with Visit Anaheim two years before the meeting, and the CVB helped locate hotels willing to reserve a relatively small room block for a meeting with a longer-than-normal timeframe—the conference runs from Monday to Friday. The Marriott proved to be “far and away, one of the easiest I have worked with,” Carter says.
While the organization’s rotation between northern, central, and southern California destinations prohibits an immediate return trip, Carter says she will consider Anaheim for a smaller board meeting.
Estes Park, Colo.
This entry point into Rocky Mountain National Park is an emerging market for corporate meetings, retreats, and specialty and youth events. Estes Park has maintained its small-town charm despite more than four million visitors entering the national park annually.
It includes a fine selection of upscale and affordable dining. Accommodations range from historic and luxurious, such as the “haunted” Stanley Hotel, to budget-friendly options. The YMCA of the Rockies has 4,700 guest rooms, 61 meeting rooms, and its own house musician: Cowboy Brad, the former park ranger turned country singer who plays free concerts regularly at Bond Park and other local venues.
Will Talbott, who runs the Larimer County Dept. of Natural Resources’ Ranger Excellence School annually at the Holiday Inn Estes Park, says his main consideration for the weeklong training is Estes Park’s central location for attendees, most of whom are in-state. Just 90 minutes from Denver, Estes Park offers drivability and affordable hotel rates in early May, before the hikers take over the town.
“We go to Estes Park because of the conference center itself,” Talbott says. “It is a venue that is well equipped for what we need, and it’s easy to get to.”
The Ranger Excellence School’s programming stays exclusively within the hotel until the final day, when attendees participate in a scenario at a nearby park, followed by a barbecue.
Attendees are free to explore the city on their own for dining and entertainment. Fortunately, it is walkable and safe, and offers the potential for wildlife sightings, notes Chris Bierdeman, sales and events manager for Visit Estes Park.
“Estes Park is the ideal mountain meeting destination—easily accessible from Denver and the Front Range, yet a true escape into nature,” says Bierdeman. “It’s a place that naturally fosters connection, creativity, and collaboration.”
Henderson, Nev.
Driving an extra 15 minutes is well worth it for attendees eager to get a taste of Las Vegas but stay in a more relaxed environment. Think of Henderson as a “PG-rated Vegas,” complete with more affordable prices without sacrificing quality, according to Ed Kirby, sales executive for Visit Henderson.
Groups from Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah—four- to six-hour drives to Henderson—regularly capitalize on the destination’s prime location for a drive-in meeting, adding to the cost savings.
Attendees can choose to head to the Strip for an evening out or take advantage of gaming options at Henderson’s luxurious Green Valley Ranch. The resort has 69,000 square feet of meeting space and can host events of up to 5,000 attendees. M Resort is doubling its room count to 800 as part of a major addition, Kirby says. It offers 92,000 square feet of event space. Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa and The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa, both convention hotels located in Henderson, are also receiving upgrades.
Meanwhile, Water Street District is a walkable area with restaurants, bars, and retail opportunities.
Darla Huckaby, a global account executive with ConferenceDirect, a third-party planning firm, raves about her experiences planning events for corporate groups and a California-based association in Henderson, specifically at The Westin.
“It’s just not Las Vegas,” she says of Henderson. “It’s an easy drive, and then you’ve got a resort and golf. It’s scenic.” Huckaby adds, “You really do feel like you are in a different market. Henderson has a nice little niche for meetings and incentives.”
Michele Stephenson, owner and founder at MDS Events, notes corporate groups might prefer staying off the Strip for fear that attendees might get too caught up in the gaming action to attend all of their meetings. The Westin is her preferred headquarters hotel, but she likes to take advantage of Henderson’s unique offsite venues. “There are a lot of mansions you can reserve, and they just got a new Chicken N Pickle (restaurant/sports bar with pickleball courts),” she says. “There is a ton of stuff you can do without going anywhere.”
Mike Uhl, a regional vice president for HelmsBriscoe, suggests Henderson’s more subdued nature may be just what certain meetings are looking for. “It might be a confidential meeting or meetings intensive, where there isn’t any time to go on the Strip,” he says.
The endorsements are music to Kirby’s ears, who has seen the destination evolve to meet the demand for a Las Vegas alternative.
“When I started with the city 22 years ago, we didn’t really have much of a downtown,” Kirby says. “It’s really blown up in the last six or seven years.”
Outside of Henderson, Hoover Dam and Lake Mead are worthwhile group excursions or for attendees to enjoy on their own before or after the gathering. Both are approximately 20 minutes from Henderson.
Santa Fe, N.M.
Geoff Fox, chief financial and chief operational officer of Redwood Art Group, which runs an annual boutique art fair in Santa Fe each July, says the destination’s appeal is evident by its summer crowds.
He notes that the moderate temperatures and distinct culture convince many individuals from California and Texas to purchase a second home there. They are among the built-in qualified attendees who have made Art Santa Fe, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, among the destination’s most anticipated events of the year.
“It’s a regional show,” Fox explains of the appeal. “You get such a swath of people from around the country.”
The 2025 event was able to sync its dates with the city’s Art Week, adding some valuable marketing opportunities to help attract more than 3,000 attendees. Approximately 80 vendors drove in to showcase their work and share trends and techniques during the three-day event.
While not a business conference, the show is a good example of the versatility of Santa Fe Community Convention Center, located in the heart of downtown. The event’s displays, education sessions, and opening night soiree are all held in the convention center’s ballroom to capture the crowd, just as a trade show operates. Fox and his team elevate the experience with special carpeting, panels, and lighting to highlight the art.
Tourism Santa Fe’s Carr says such care is part of Santa Fe’s appeal, particularly among attendees in markets like Colorado Springs, Austin, Dallas, and Phoenix. “The organizations in those markets really find Santa Fe accessible,” he says.
Logistics play into the destination’s favor. Once you’ve parked your car, you may not need it until departure.
Many of the venues, including galleries and boutique event spaces, are walkable in downtown. Museum Hill is a collection of cultural experiences, including the Museum of International Folk Art and the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens.
The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is also located in downtown Santa Fe and within easy walking distance of the historic Plaza, making it a popular venue for receptions and special events.
Taos, a famous Native American reservation, is 90 minutes away and a popular excursion, adding to attendees’ excitement for events in Santa Fe.
“The nice thing about Santa Fe is that it is both a nationally and internationally known city, and it’s kind of one of those bucket-list cities that people have,” Carr says.
Park City, Utah
The sun will continue to rise in Park City despite the recent announcement that the Sundance Film Festival is moving to Boulder, Colo., in 2027. According to Christy Froehlich, co-owner and senior planner of Precision Planners, one of the destination’s appeals is its 300 days of sunshine.
“Summer is the hidden gem season of Park City, allowing for outdoor events, dining, and activities to balance out indoor meetings and programming,” says Froehlich, who lives, works, and holds multiple events annually in Park City.
Part of Park City’s mystique is its ability to surprise despite the fame from hosting the 2002 Winter Games (and the future 2034 Winter Games) and the popular film festival founded by Robert Redford. Among the unexpected perks is its easy accessibility, Froehlich notes.
“I think many people associate Sundance with glitz, glamour, movie stars, and swanky producers. There definitely was that component to Sundance, but that was only 10 days out of the year,” she says. “There is a very approachable side to Park City. It is a town that is easy to navigate, easy to plan in, and has a very friendly, welcoming, and down-to-earth vibe.”
The destination is approximately 30 to 40 minutes from Salt Lake City, and the road along I-80 leads to a far different experience than the state capital. Park City’s variety of boutique shopping and restaurants adds to its appeal.
There are 26 meeting properties in Park City serving all sectors of the industry, from luxury incentives to budget-friendly groups, notes Carolyn Creek-McCallister, national sales manager for Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau.
Froehlich, for instance, opted for The Lodges at Deer Valley and High West Distillery when hosting 100 attendees from Groupe Beneteau, a luxury yacht dealer.
Beyond its walkable nature—attendees can leave their cars parked upon arrival—the destination is actively protecting its natural resources, which are vital to activities like skiing, mountain biking, flyfishing, horseback riding, and more.
In addition, Park City has developed an extensive network of bike trails and pedestrian pathways to encourage non-motorized transportation. There are also 200 ebikes available for rental, providing yet another transportation option and allowing attendees to park their cars until heading back home.
“Through innovative programs, community engagement, and forward-thinking policies, we are striving to achieve ambitious sustainability goals,” says Creek-McCallister. “One of our most significant sustainability milestones is our commitment to becoming carbon neutral and achieving net-zero carbon emissions community-wide by 2030.”
