Santa Fe, NM

Key Highlights

Hotels	82
Total Sleeping Rooms	9,741
Committable Meeting Rooms*	11
Largest Exhibit Space	17,836 Sq. Ft.
Largest Ballroom	18,000 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $92
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $71
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $269
*Maximum for a single hotel

Santa Fe, NM Meeting Planning Overview

Welcome to Cvent’s Santa Fe meeting planning guide – a city guide for Santa Fe meeting planning professionals. Santa Fe's breathtaking landscape, rich heritage and culture, and electrifying spirit have made it a favorite for business and leisure travelers alike. The city is frequently the recipient of awards and praise; not surprisingly, over 1.2 million people visit New Mexico's capital city every year.

Easily accessible, Santa Fe is located just an hour outside of New Mexico's largest airport, Albuquerque International Sunport. As the state's major air gateway, Albuquerque International offers non-stop service to 30 cities throughout the United States. Transportation within the city is just as convenient, thanks to public bus service and a light rail system. Many guests, though, find that this fairly-compact city is best explored by foot.

When it comes to meetings and conventions, both planners and attendees will sing the praises of the 72,000-square-foot Santa Fe Convention Center. A sparkling jewel in the city's meetings crown, this Pueblo Revival-style building is located in the heart of downtown Santa Fe, within walking distance of retail, restaurants and attractions, as well as 1,500 guest rooms. The center boasts an impressive 40,000 square feet of event space, spread across fantastic Santa Fe event venues such as the 2,500-square-foot art gallery and nearly 18,000-square-foot ballroom. What's more, the Santa Fe Convention Center is designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification, thanks to its rainwater and irrigation system, recycling centers and other eco-friendly features.

Smaller events will not be at a loss for space in Santa Fe, as the city offers an additional 184,000 square feet of unique space. Host a reception of up to 150 guests at the foyer, galleries and courtyard of the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, which features a collection of more than 3,000 American modernist works. Paying homage to Santa Fe's native arts, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture celebrates the diverse cultures of the Southwest and is a memorable backdrop for black-tie galas of up to 800 people. Meanwhile, Geronimo – New Mexico's only Mobil Four Star and AAA Four Diamond restaurant – makes a fantastic private event space for smaller lunch and dinner events.

The government is the largest employer in Santa Fe, followed by the hospitality industry. The city has recently seen a rise in technology-based businesses, and, with more than 240 art galleries and dealers, it is considered to be the 3rd largest art market in the United States. Higher learning holds a strong presence in Santa Fe, home to St. John's College, the College of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Community College and the Institute of American Indian Arts.

About Santa Fe, NM / Additional Info

Santa Fe is regarded not only as a world-class meeting locale, but also as an intellectually-stimulating yet peaceful vacation retreat. Situated at 7,000 feet in the foothills of the southern Rocky Mountains, the city is the highest capital in the United States. It's also the oldest, having been founded between 1607 and 1610 by European colonists. Its heritage, though, is a colorful patchwork of Pueblo Indian villages, Spanish colonial settlements and Mexican rule.

Today, this rich history is brought to life in every corner of Santa Fe. Just walking through downtown, guests encounter a number of examples of historic Spanish Territorial and Pueblo styles of architecture, both of which are reminiscent of the region's traditional adobe construction. Inside such structures, the past is brought to life as well, whether it be through the 20,000-item art collection at the New Mexico Museum of Art, or the Navajo textiles and historic pottery collection at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. All in all, Santa Fe boasts more than a dozen major museums that celebrate the art, culture, history and traditions of the region.

Santa Fe's appeal lies not only in its past, but also in its every day. Defined by four distinct seasons and an average of 300 sunny days per year, the city is a haven for outdoor activities. During warmer months, guests can hike the Aspen Vista Trail in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains or play golf at the scenic Pueblo de Cochiti Golf Course. Wintertime in Santa Fe brings out the ski bunnies in full force, who come to enjoy up to 300 inches of annual snow at one of the several ski resorts and cross-country trails.

For visitors looking to connect with both nature and themselves, Santa Fe's spas are legendary. Blessed with a high, dry climate, natural hot springs and sun-drenched days, the city is a welcome respite to other bustling, on-the-go metropolitans. Whether downtown or secluded in the mountains, Santa Fe's spas offer everything from hour-long hot stone massages and herbal body wraps to week-long revitalization trips that feature art classes, organic meals and more. The renowned 10,000 Waves Japanese Health Spa, RockResorts Spa at La Posada, and Jemez Springs Bath House are among the rejuvenating options.

Dining in Santa Fe can be an equally indulgent experience. Featuring everything from regional flavors and ingredients – including the traditional red and green chiles – to international fare, Santa Fe's culinary scene has something to suit any taste. Enjoy a taste of the Southwest at The Compound Restaurant, or French Asian fusion at the award-winning Geronimo. Whatever guests' taste may be – when it comes to food, attractions, culture and more – they're sure to find it in Santa Fe.

Santa Fe, NM Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Mountain Time (MT)
Convention Center(s):

Santa Fe Community Convention Center

Hotel at Convention Center? No
Sleeping Rooms 1 Mile from Convention Center: 19

Airport(s):

Destination Type(s):

Golf Destination
Smoke-free Restaurants
Historic Destination

Special Event Venues
25
Population
184,416
Restaurants
200
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
7.30%
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 Santa Fe, NM

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Albuquerque, NM	63 mi	1 hr 8 min	n/a	N/A
Taos, NM	70 mi	1 hr 47 min	n/a	N/A
Phoenix, AZ	526 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 5 min	USD $227+
Las Vegas, AZ	632 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 25 min	USD $273+
Dallas, TX	744 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 50 min	USD $375+

Santa Fe, NM Climate Information

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High (°F)	43	48	54	64	74	84	87	84	81	68	52	45
Avg. Low (°F)	19	22	26	34	44	53	58	56	50	39	24	19
Rec. High (°F)	64	68	73	81	92	98	98	95	92	85	71	63
Rec. Low (°F)	8	-10	-	14	27	37	49	45	35	20	-4	-7
Rainfall (in)	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.9	0.7	2.0	2.3	0.6	0.6	0.3	0.3

Santa Fe features four distinct seasons with cool winters and very warm summers. Temperatures can fluctuate around 30 degrees during the day, due to the city's elevation and cool evenings. The city is warmest in July, when temperatures average a high of 86°F and a low of 54°F, but can reach the mid- to upper-nineties. The coldest month is January, with an average high of 48°F and average low of 15°F.

Santa Fe receives an average of two to three inches of rain per month in the summer, with July and August as the rainiest months. It can also see about five inches of snow per month over the winter season; snow can even fall as late as April. The best time to visit Santa Fe is in early summer and fall, both of which offer abundant sunshine and moderate humidity.

Meeting Planning in Santa Fe, NM

Santa Fe Community Convention Center

Unveiled in 2008, the 72,000-square-foot Santa Fe Convention Center was built in the Pueblo Revival style to reflect and honor Santa Fe's historic architecture, while still allowing for modern meeting capabilities. The center offers 40,000 square feet of event space, as well as a full suite of cutting edge audio and visual capabilities.

Located in the heart of downtown Santa Fe, the center is within walking distance of various restaurants, museums and shopping, as well as 1,500 hotel and bed and breakfast rooms. Additional amenities include a 512-vehicle underground parking garage, planning assistance, on-site registration assistance, access to convention center-approved catering and business services and even Santa Fe city and facility tours.

The Santa Fe Convention Center is divided into two buildings: the Community Building and the Convention Center. The Community Building features a 2,500-square-foot art gallery, business center, four meeting rooms and an outdoor terrace. Each meeting room is equipped with its own dedicated data lines; the Pojoaque, Nambe and San Juan rooms offer a combined 1,408 square feet, while the Tesuque boardroom accommodates 16 guests and even features its own fireplace and private outdoor terrace.

The Convention Center building welcomes guests with a spacious 3,139-square-foot, two-story Main Lobby. Events at the center can enjoy the 17,925-square-foot Sweeney Ballroom, divisible into five spaces, as well as seven additional flexible meeting rooms ranging in size from from 749 to 1,028 square feet. Each meeting room features its own pull-down video screen, overhead projector and data and phone lines.

The Santa Fe Convention Center is designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. The center counts a rainwater collection and irrigation system, recycling centers and lighting, sensors among its eco-friendly features. It was even constructed using bricks and light fixtures recycled from the city's previous convention center.

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Santa Fe, NM Airport Information

Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)

Approximate taxi fare: $171.13 USD

About an hour's drive north of Santa Fe, Albuquerque International Sunport sees more than six million passengers each during an average of over 500 daily takeoffs and landings. At 574,000 square feet and three levels, the airport's terminal sees traffic for non-stop service to over 30 cities across the country.

Designed in a Spanish Pueblo theme, the Sunport is also an attractive example of Southwestern architecture. Inside, the theme continues with a permanent collection of artwork on display throughout the terminal, including Native American, Hispanic and contemporary works by local artists. Other highlights housed in the airport include an original 1914 Curtiss Pusher Byplane, believed to be the last surviving plane of the time period, and Sunport Serenade, a year-round concert series featuring local artists performing everything from classical to mariachi.

Albuquerque International features an array of restaurants, casual eateries, retail stores and kiosks. Free wireless Internet is offered throughout the entire terminal. Parking is available at the four-level, 3,400-space short-term parking garage, as well as at the 500-space long-term parking lot. Short-term parking ranges from $1 to $10 per day, while long-term parking ranges from $1 to $8 per day.

Airline carriers serving Albuquerque International Sunport

AeroMexico
American Airlines
Delta

Frontier
Southwest
United

US Airways

Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF)

Approximate taxi fare: $32.86 USD

Santa Fe Municipal Airport specializes in private charter flight operations, but also began commercial service in June 2009. The airport currently offers two daily flights between Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport and Santa Fe via American Eagle Airlines. Passengers can board private reservation-required shuttles or hail taxis for direct service to downtown Santa Fe.

Airline carrier serving Santa Fe Municipal Airport

American Eagle Airlines

Santa Fe, NM Train Information

Santa Fe Amtrak

The closest Amtrak station to Santa Fe is located about 20 miles away in Lamy, New Mexico. The Lamy station is served by the Southwest Chief route, which travels daily between Los Angeles and Chicago. The station provides reservation-required shuttle service to many downtown Santa Fe hotels.

Santa Fe, NM Public Transportation

Santa Fe Trails Bus Line

The Santa Fe Trails bus line serves the Santa Fe and Eldorado areas, including downtown Santa Fe. Santa Fe Trails' nine routes operate Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 10 PM and Saturday from 8 AM to 8 PM. A limited Sunday route schedule runs from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM.

Bus fare is $1 per trip. Daily passes can be purchased for $2 per passenger. Passengers ages 18 and under ride free.

New Mexico Rail Runner Express

In 2008, the New Mexico Rail Runner Express began light rail service between Santa Fe and towns to the south including Bernallio, Albuquerque, Los Lunas and Belen, among others. Santa Fe is connected at three current stations: the Highway 599 Station, the South Capitol Station and the Santa Fe Depot Station. The northernmost stop in the entire light rail system, the Santa Fe Depot Station, is located at the city's railyard development district of restaurants, retail shops, art galleries and museums. The South Capitol and Santa Fe Depot stations feature direct connections to the Santa Fe Trails bus system, while the Highway 599 Station is serviced by shuttle and bus connections to southern Santa Fe and Los Alamos.

Rail Runner Express service is offered daily: weekday hours are from 4 AM to 11 PM; Saturday hours from 6:20 AM to midnight; and Sunday hours from 9 AM to 9 PM. Fares are based on a zone system. Full weekday fare starts at $1 for one trip in one zone. Passes can be purchased online for a discounted rate.

Rental Cars

Albuquerque International Sunport's car rental center features Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty. The airport offers a free shuttle between the terminal and car rental center. Agencies Avis and Hertz can be found at the Santa Fe Municipal Airport.

Taxis

Visitors to downtown Santa Fe can hail taxis on the street or from hotel stands. Taxi service to downtown Santa Fe is available at the Albuquerque International Sunport and Santa Fe Municipal Airport. Fares vary, as all taxis are metered.

Distance To...

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Albuquerque, NM	63 mi	1 hr 8 min	n/a	N/A
Taos, NM	70 mi	1 hr 47 min	n/a	N/A
Phoenix, AZ	526 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 5 min	USD $227+
Las Vegas, AZ	632 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 25 min	USD $273+
Dallas, TX	744 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 50 min	USD $375+