As the sixth-largest city in Texas, El Paso sits on the Rio Grande River where Texas, New Mexico and Mexico meet. This one-of-a-kind confluence of cultures has made El Paso a sought-after destination for leisure travelers as well as for business. In fact, more than 70 Fortune 500 companies have offices in El Paso. El Paso event venues benefit from this international atmosphere.
Visitors easily reach the city via the El Paso International Airport, home to the border's newest and largest passenger terminal serving over three million passengers annually. El Paso International has nonstop flights to more than 15 major destinations, including Las Vegas, Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Chicago.
El Paso convention venues, a collection of three convention and performing arts centers within just a few blocks of each other in downtown El Paso, combine to create a convention campus. The largest facility is the Judson F. Williams Convention Center, offering 17 breakout rooms and 80,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space. (It also has two lobbies at 13,000 square feet and 23,300 square feet each and an additional 14,900 square feet of meeting space.) Adjacent to the convention center is the Abraham Chavez Theatre, a stunning facility with a three-story-high glass entry and unique sombrero shape. In addition to 2,500 seats, the venue has more than 5,000 square feet of lobby space and an 800-square-foot meeting room for VIP receptions.
Just a few blocks away sits the Plaza Theatre, which, upon opening, was described as the largest facility of its kind between Dallas and Los Angeles. Newly restored, the Plaza has over 2,000 seats and state-of-the-art sound, in addition to unique features such as a Wurlitzer pipe organ, rooftop garden and on-site restaurant.
El Paso's other major performing arts venue is the McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre and Pavilion. Nestled in the Franklin Mountains just north of downtown, the amphitheater and pavilion are two separate facilities, accommodating up to 1,500 and 300 people, respectively. With its unique scenery and stunning views of the mountains and cityscape beyond, McKelligon Canyon is a popular spot for ceremonies, concerts and other special events such as Viva El Paso!, an annual musical celebrating the city's cultural heritage.
A wealth of special event sites in El Paso showcases the vibrant culture and history of the city. Located less than a mile from the U.S.-Mexico border, the Territorial-style Magoffin Home is a glimpse into the life of a prominent 19th-century El Paso family in the and offers its grounds and courtyards for meetings and events. Near the Williams Convention Center, the El Paso Museum of Art offers rental spaces in addition to its collection of more than 6,000 works of art. Or, take a trip north to the Mesilla Valley to visit Zin Valle Vineyards. Just about 20 minutes outside of El Paso, scenic Zin Valle is available for groups of up to 100 people.
At the end of the day, groups can reconvene and regroup with dinner at one of El Paso's many restaurants that serve everything from Mexican specialties to Texas-size steaks to Italian. Jaxon's Restaurant & Brewing Co., the fourth-oldest brewpub in Texas, is known for its award-winning brews and King margaritas and offers banquet facilities equipped with multimedia equipment. Consistently ranked as one of the best steakhouses in El Paso, Cattleman's Steakhouse is located on an authentic ranch and is available for company parties, picnics, weddings and more. Cafe Central, Geogeske and Mesa Street Grill are among the other great restaurants in El Paso open to private dining.
