Plano, TX

Key Highlights

Hotels	34
Total Sleeping Rooms	4,024
Largest Exhibit Space	21,600 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $99
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $61
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $206

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Plano, TX Meeting Planning Overview

A popular suburb just north of Dallas, Texas, Plano is quickly proving there is not just one shining star in the so-called Lone Star State. With a population of over 273,000 residents, Plano is the 9th largest city in Texas and has racked up an impressive set of well-deserved accolades. In 2010, Plano was number one on a list of "America's Safest Cities" compiled by Forbes magazine.

Praise for Plano as both a leisure and business destination is easily understood. The city offers convenient access, entertaining attractions, an impressive dining and nightlife scene and state-of-the-art meeting facilities. The Plano Centre is the premier convention venue in the city, offering 86,400 square feet of space on a beautifully-landscaped campus near Historic Downtown Plano. With column-free exhibit space, breakout rooms and banquet services, the Plano Centre is a perfect spot for any number of Plano conferences and meetings.

For smaller seminars and special banquets and galas, Plano also has several unique venues that provide plenty of space, top-notch amenities and a heaping dose of Texas charm. Just minutes outside of Plano, Southfork Ranch, famous for being the filming location of the hit television show Dallas, offers more than 63,000 square feet of elegant indoor space and acres of picturesque ranchland for events.

Within the city itself, groups and conventions can find plenty of spots to enjoy a post-conference cocktail reception or spend a weekend afternoon of team building. Plano's latest event space, event1013, resides in a 110-year-old building in the Historic Downtown District and features 4,000 square feet of versatile space, with catering and bar services and proximity to restaurants, hotels and a DART light rail station. Numerous downtown hotels and restaurants themselves offer ample private event space. The Marriott at Legacy Town Center, Bob's Steak & Chop House and Jasper's are among the places to meet and mingle with fine food and drinks.

Plano serves as the corporate headquarters for a number of sizeable and well-reputed organizations. Ericsson, Inc., Dell Services, JCPenney, Frito-Lay, HP Enterprise Services and Dr Pepper Snapple Group are among the companies calling Plano home. In addition, the schools in Plano rank as some of the highest in the nation, and two campuses of Collin College are in Plano.

About Plano, TX / Additional Info

With family-friendly attractions, vibrant nightlife and a plethora of historic and cultural museums, Plano draws visitors of all ages and interests. Situated in Texas' populous Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Plano is just a 30-minute drive from all that the metro area has to offer, though the city itself is brimming with things to do and see as well.

History buffs can travel back in time to Plano's early days at museums such as Heritage Farmstead, a four-acre campus full of buildings and livestock that re-create life in Plano in the prosperous early 1900s. The Interurban Railway Museum details the electric Interurban car that once served as an essential link between Denison and Waco. Meanwhile, the Plano African American Museum explores African American contributions to the development of Plano, Collin County and North Texas as a whole, all from its location in the historic Thornton House, once owned by the one of the first African Americans in Plano to own property.

Outdoor enthusiasts will also find plenty of ways to get their fill in Plano and enjoy its mild year-round temperature of 66°F. The city has over 3,600 acres of public parks that encompass 40 miles of recreation trails, 81 public tennis courts and five public swimming pools. The 200-acre Arbor Hills Nature Preserve is one of the most popular, offering miles of walking, cycling and jogging trials plus an up-close look at regional flora and fauna. Plano's scenic setting is also a haven for golfers, who can hit the links at courses at Chase Oaks Golf Club, Ridgeview Ranch and Pecan Hollow Golf Course.

Plano also has plenty of options for a recreational activity of another sort: shopping. In fact, the city is home to more than 70 shopping centers bursting with major retailers, unique boutiques, art galleries and more. With over 160 shops, the Collin Creek Mall is one of the largest in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, while Preston Park Village offers a more intimate shopping experience with 60 specialty stores. The Shops at Willow Bend have some of the best in upscale shopping options, and the relatively new Shops at Legacy center boasts shopping, dining and entertainment all in one location. In addition to retail stores, this Main Street-style center is known for being home to one of the largest independent book store in the country, one of the country's most successful cinemas dedicated to independent film and several restaurants run by some of the area's best chefs.

The Shops at Legacy is just one venue in Plano where guests can enjoy the city's flourishing dining and nightlife scene, which encompasses a number of settings and styles of cuisine. Italian, Mexican, Japanese, French and more are served in everything from sidewalk cafes to candlelit restaurants to traditional Southern tea rooms. Guests should make at least one meal truly Texan by indulging in a hearty steak, served just right at establishments such as Bob's Steak & Chop House and Steve Fields Steak & Lobster Lounge. After dinner, guests can grab a beer at any number of downtown pubs and bars, or kick things up a notch in true Texas style at Love & War in Texas. Created to "promote Texas, Texans and Texas heritage," this popular Plano venue features authentic Texas recipes, plenty of Texas wine and a steady roster of Texas music that keeps the party going until midnight.

Plano, TX Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Central Time (CT)
Convention Center(s):

Plano Centre

Hotel at Convention Center? No

Airport(s):

DFW International Airport

Destination Type(s):

Golf Destination
Smoke-free Restaurants

Special Event Venues
26
Population
260,000
Restaurants
33
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
8.25%
Currency
U.S. Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
10-20%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Cities Near Plano, TX

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Dallas	18 mi	25 min	N/A	N/A
Fort Worth	51 mi	55 min	N/A	N/A
Austin	215 mi	3 hr 41 min	50 min	USD $173+
Houston	258 mi	4 hr 22 min	50 min	USD $172+

Plano, TX Climate Information

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High (°F)	53	58	66	73	80	88	93	93	85	76	63	55
Avg. Low (°F)	31	35	42	51	61	69	72	71	64	53	42	34
Rec. High (°F)	87	95	97	100	105	108	112	118	110	99	93	89
Rec. Low (°F)	-7	-5	7	25	27	44	50	53	39	15	11	-4
Rainfall (in)	2.0	3.0	3.0	4.0	6.0	4.0	2.0	2.0	3.0	4.0	4.0	3.0

Plano's humid subtropical climate brings hot summers and mild winters. July and August tend to be the hottest months, seeing average lows of 70°F and highs of 93°F. The coolest months of December, January and February can see low temperatures drop into the low to mid-30s and highs around 55°F. The most rainfall occurs in May, averaging 5.7 inches.

Meeting Planning in Plano, TX

Plano Centre

Located conveniently off US-75, the Plano Centre sits on a picturesque campus near downtown Plano and a variety of shops, restaurants and hotels. With 86,400 square feet of space, the facility can easily accommodate groups of five to 5,000 in its versatile spaces.

For tradeshows and conventions, planners can use the 21,600 square feet of column-free, carpeted exhibit space, complete with a master stage and street-level move-in access. The Plano Centre also boasts 17 breakout rooms, including two boardrooms for 12 or eight guests, respectively. Collinwood Hall can seat up to 1,500 guests for banquets, and additional space on the outdoor courtyard and rose garden can be arranged for social events.

Amenities at the Plano Centre include in-house audio-visual equipment, complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access, a full-service business center and on-site gourmet catering and bar service. Parking is also available for 750 vehicles.

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Plano, TX Airport Information

DFW International Airport (DFW)

Approximate taxi fare: $60 USD

Located about 30 minutes from Plano, the DFW International Airport is the world's 3rd busiest airport, serving 1,900 daily flights and 60 million passengers every year. DFW International offers flights to 135 domestic and 38 international locations, including daily non-stop departures to Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, Europe and Asia.

Comprised of five terminals, each with its own baggage claim, ground transportation area, ticket counters and security entrances, the airport is connected by the Skylink high-speed train. The train quickly ferries travelers where they need to be, with an average ride time of fewer than five minutes between terminals.

The airport also has more than 100 specialty shops and retail stores and more than 120 food and beverage locations, as well as amenities such as airport-wide wireless Internet access, massage salons, shoe shine stations and playgrounds. DFW International's multi-million dollar Public Art Program showcases more than 30 local, national and international artists throughout the terminals and in the DFW Sculpture Garden. Additionally, two on-site hotels – the 298-room Grand Hyatt at International Terminal D and the 811-room Hyatt Regency DFW adjacent to Terminal C – offer meeting and function space.

Airport parking is available among the more than 28,000 total spaces located adjacent to each terminal. An additional 7,000 express parking spaces and 4,800 remote parking spaces are located at the north and south ends of the airport. DFW International features direct access to Trinity Railway Express, the commuter rail service to Dallas and Fort Worth.

Airline carriers serving DFW International Airport

Air Canada
AirTran Airways
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
American Eagle
British Airways

Continental Airlines
Delta
Frontier
KLM
Korean Air
Lufthansa

Mexicana
Midwest Airlines
Sun Country Airlines
TACA
United
US Airways

Plano, TX Public Transportation

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) operates throughout Dallas and 12 surrounding suburbs with light rail and bus service. More than 220,000 passengers use DART every day within its 700-square-mile service area.

DART's light rail system operates along 45 miles of track, with 35 stations and a 115-vehicle fleet. Its fleet of over 650 buses operates on 120 routes serving over 12,000 stops. Plano is served by both buses and, more recently, the Red line of the light rail.

Both services run daily. The light rail trains run every five minutes during the peak hours of 6:30 to 9 AM and 3:30 to 6 PM and every 10 minutes during off-peak hours. Bus schedules vary based on route.

One-way DART fares are $1.75 for local bus routes and rail service and $3.50 for system buses and trains. Day passes are $4 for local service and $7 for system service.

Rental Cars

Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, E-Z Rent-A-Car, Hertz, National and Thrifty are all located at DFW International's Rental Car Center near the airport's south entrance. Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty serve Dallas Love Field.

Taxis

Taxi service is available on the upper level of Terminals A, B, C and E and on the lower level of Terminal D at DFW International Airport. Airport fares start at $2.25 and increase at $0.20 for each additional 1/9 mile. Taxis charge a $3.60 airport exit fee or $2.60 airport drop-off fee. Fares to Historic Downtown Plano average around $60.

Taxis at Dallas Love Field can be found on the upper level across the street from the baggage claim area at the Main Terminal. Fare to Plano is around $40.