2024’s Top Meeting Destinations
The Cvent numbers are in, here is the countdown of 2024’s top ten destinations for meetings and conferences in the United States. While some of these locations may or may not come as a surprise, here’s our opinion on what makes each of these cities a great location:
10. Austin, Texas
With Austin, Texas’ slogan being “The Live Music Capital of the World” and encouraging visitors to “Keep Austin Weird,” there is a tangible liveliness that makes Austin a great meeting location. Having the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and the Austin Convention Center less than a 20-minute drive from each other, it’s easy to see the marriage of culture and convenience when selecting this location for your meeting needs.
9. Phoenix, Arizona
Receiving only around 8 inches of rain each year, Phoenix really does give you a warm welcome. In addition to the good weather, Phoenix boasts a vibrant Southwestern atmosphere with the city’s rich Native American heritage to its dusty red mountains and cacti. Visit Phoenix sites that in the Greater area, there are over 500 hotels, which can host 69,000 rooms. In addition, 4,000 of those hotel rooms are within walking distance of the Phoenix Convention Center.
8. Denver, Colorado
Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, it’s easy to see why Denver is so appealing for meetings and conferences. Denver provides the perfect mix of all the necessities a city hosting a large meeting would need (plenty of hotels, eateries, and conference center spaces) and the draw that the surrounding mountains bring. Denver is a great city to host a meeting at, guaranteeing that many of its participants will want to extend their trip due to the world-class hiking and skiing opportunities.
7. Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is home of the World’s Busiest Airport and headquarters for Delta Airlines, making this destination an extremely accessible location to travel into. The city hosts the 200-acre Georgia World Congress Center, which is only a walk away from over 13,000 hotel rooms and popular tourist destinations like the Georgia Aquarium and the Coke Museum. Atlanta offers a diverse assortment of southern cooking and will greet you with a southern welcome.
6. Chicago, Illinois
It’s easy to see why Chicago made the top ten list of cities to host meetings. The Chicago O’Hare Airport was crowned 2023’s World’s Most Connected Airport and United Airlines is headquartered in Chicago, again making this location extremely accessible. Chicago offers a plethora of hotels, conference spaces, and tourist activities. In Chicago, you can enjoy a deep-dish slice, a cruise down the Chicago River, and a selfie in front of The Bean in this urban playground.
5. San Diego, California
San Diego prides itself on its beautiful beaches, the “Smithsonian of the West,” Balboa Park, charming Gaslamp quarter, and worldclass zoo. It’s easy to see why companies and meeting planners would advocate for San Diego as their meeting destination. In addition, San Diego hosts the San Diego Convention Center that impresses with beautiful views of the San Diego Bay which is about a 10-minute drive away from the San Diego Airport.
4. Dallas, Texas
With Dallas being perfectly centered between the east and west coast, having the third busiest airport, and both American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are headquartered there, hosting a meeting in Dallas is a logistical no-brainer. Dallas offers the sprawl of a big city, professional sports teams with some of the liveliest fans, and the Texas charm (and barbeque!) to compliment this location.
3. Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville has been on the rise in popularity the past several years, and it’s no surprise why! Voted Travel + Leisure Reader’s Top Fifteen Favorite Cities in the United States, Nashville offers some of the best country music which is incomplete without a walk down Broadway Street and trying Nashville’s famous hot chicken. The “Music City” hosts two major convention centers with plenty of local hotel options available.
2. Las Vegas, Nevada
It is no surprise that Las Vegas has made the list of top meeting destinations. Famous for its nightlife and shows, Vegas does everything over the top including the amount of hoteling and conferencing options. Las Vegas will sure to be a lively city to host an event at, which will attract and excite many guests with Vegas Mean Business citing an attendance increase of 9% when meetings are hosted in Vegas.
1. Orlando, Florida
While Orlando is typically known for its worldclass theme parks, it should also be known for its meeting planning popularity. Orlando has reigned number one on Cvent’s list for seven years in a row! Orlando has almost 500 hotels and world class restaurants to enjoy as well as the 2.1 million square foot Orange County Convention Center. Not only is Orlando the happiest place on earth, but it’s also the most popular city for meetings!
If you are interested in any of the cities highlighted above or need hotel sourcing for your next meeting, please reach out to Fab at for a free hotel site selection. We look forward to working with you soon!