A conversation with Mary Meade of Visit Tucson
Visit Tucson’s Mary Meade has enjoyed a long career in hospitality. Before joining Visit Tucson 19 years ago, she worked at Starwood Hotels for 18 years, at properties in Seattle and Tucson. Currently, as vice president of sales for Visit Tucson, she leads the organization’s convention sales, services, and tourism departments. “We are a scrappy but mighty group of 10. We are passionate about our beautiful city, and our greatest joy is sharing our destination with the world,” she says. While Visit Tucson hosts an average of 350 to 400 meetings each year, most meetings fall between 100 and 400 rooms per night, with 600 rooms per night ideal for Tucson Convention Center, she notes. Here, Meade gives an inside look at what Tucson offers as a meetings and events destination.
What makes Tucson a great destination for meetings and events?
Meeting planners select Tucson for our weather, natural beauty, and wide array of hotels, resorts, destination spas, and dude ranches. They often return to Tucson because of our strong sense of community.
How does Tucson’s cultural identity and Sonoran Desert setting translate into unique, memorable experiences for conference attendees?
Tucson’s cultural identity—a rich blend of Native American, Spanish, and Mexican traditions—combined with its unique Sonoran Desert setting, offers conference attendees memorable, immersive experiences. Attendees can engage with UNESCO-recognized gastronomy, explore historic neighborhoods, such as Barrio Viejo, and experience the Sonoran Desert firsthand across five mountain ranges surrounding Tucson. As the first U.S. city designated a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Tucson offers unique culinary experiences, including Sonoran-style cuisine, food tours, and dining in 150-year-old adobe homes. Events like Tucson Meet Yourself and the Mariachi Festival showcase local heritage.
What infrastructure and venue options are available, and how has Tucson invested in event-friendly development in recent years?
Tucson is very fortunate to have its own Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district, called Rio Neuvo, which invests in downtown projects like the AC Hotel and the Mercado San Agustin shopping and entertainment plaza. This has helped create a lively downtown with restaurants, live-music venues, basement bars, and rooftop clubs. Tucson’s downtown is a great mix of historic old homes and buildings and brand-new modern complexes.
Rio Neuvo also assisted in Tucson Convention Center’s $65 million comprehensive renovations and expansions, which included upgrades to the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, Leo Rich Theater, and additional meeting space and parking.
One of the most event-friendly developments downtown has been the addition of the modern streetcar connecting Tucson to the University of Arizona area. This allows downtown attendees to enjoy two distinctive regions. With more than 40,000 students at the university, downtown Tucson has an energetic vibe.
How does Visit Tucson collaborate with local businesses, Indigenous communities, and culinary partners to create authentic offsite experiences for groups?
Groups are seeking authentic and unique experiences, and Tucson delivers both. Many of our groups are also holding events offsite, and Tucson has several venues perfect for gatherings.
The Barn, nestled at the base of the Rincon Mountains, has space for up to 482 guests and boasts stunning views of Saguaro National Park, a spectacular dining room with oversized panoramic doors, and an expansive exterior lawn. From the charming rustic bar to the equestrian-inspired decor, The Barn leans into Tucson’s roots and is the perfect choice for an upscale western event.
Tucson’s newest event space, La Rosa, located in the beautifully restored former Benedictine Monastery, is loaded with history and character. Situated in midtown Tucson, it’s an ideal location for events, private concerts, and celebrations. La Rosa can accommodate up to 700 guests.
The Plaza at Hotel Congress is the epicenter of downtown Tucson. With a 750-person capacity and shaded by historic trees, this is Tucson’s premier outdoor venue, renowned for hosting live music and events. It features state-of-the-art sound, an epic built-in stage, two full bars, a food truck, its own neon cowgirl sign, and an Airstream green room.
Many groups will take advantage of our local businesses by offering locally sourced F&B at their events or by having local artists either demo their crafts or sell items at their events. Tucson’s Indigenous communities can offer a Native American blessing at an opening general session and give live performances of dance, music, or drumming. Some can offer crafting demonstrations.
What would you want to share about Tucson as a meetings destination that might surprise and resonate with planners?
Tucson feels like a small town, but it’s the second-largest city in Arizona, with more than 1.3 million people in the Tucson area. It’s easy
to get to and offers a world-class array of activities, outdoor adventures, and attractions. The food scene is top-notch, with chefs using recipes passed down for generations.
With nature considered the “new” luxury, Tucson’s Sonoran Desert and surrounding mountains offer wellness-focused activities grounded in serenity, space, and authenticity. Tucson redefines luxury for its clean air, nature-oriented spaces, and sustainable, biophilic design, all of which help attendees combat the stress of meetings and business travel.
