Austin continues to dominate as a top-tier choice for meeting professionals, fueled by a multi-billion dollar commitment to infrastructure and world-class hospitality. For planners, the Live Music Capital of the World is offering more than just a vibrant atmosphere—it’s providing tangible, high-value incentives to make Austin the smartest choice for your next event.
The More Austin Incentive Program: Your Competitive Edge
The centerpiece of Austin’s current planner support is the More Austin Incentive Program. Designed to streamline the planning process while adding local flair, this program offers critical advantages for upcoming events (visit the website for eligibility):
- Financial Benefits & Flexibility: Tailored incentives to support budget goals
- Fly-In Incentive: Planners can receive site visit travel reimbursement to experience the city firsthand
- Enhanced Experiences: Specialized support for live music and dedicated planning assistance to ensure your event feels authentically "Austin"
New & Notable: Hotel & Venue Updates
Austin’s hotel and venue landscape is rapidly expanding to support events:
- High-End Renovations: Properties such as the JW Marriott Austin and Hyatt Regency Austin recently completed major refreshes to guest rooms and event spaces, while the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center is refreshing its 85,000 square feet of meeting space and adding a new junior ballroom, to be complete by mid-2026.
- Upcoming Openings: Look for the eco-driven 1 Hotel Austin and the cosmopolitan Hotel Trinity by Autograph Collection to debut in late 2026. The boutique Inn at Green Pastures is now open, offering serene retreat space for up to 275 guests.
- Unique Event Spaces: For off-site networking, Franklin Backyard (from the legendary Franklin Barbecue) can host 250 guests, while Popstroke, a Tiger Woods–backed entertainment venue, offers team-building through mini-golf and pickleball.
Convention Center Transformation
The Austin Convention Center is currently undergoing a massive $1.6 billion redevelopment. Since moving into the construction phase in December 2025, the project will nearly double the venue’s rentable space to 620,000 square feet by early 2029.
- Zero-Carbon Design: The facility is on track to become the world's first zero-carbon-certified convention center.
- Urban Integration: A "below grade" exhibit hall design will reconnect the downtown city grid, improving walkability between Waller Creek and the urban core.
- Campus-Style Meetings: During the closure, Austin’s hospitality community is utilizing a "campus-style" approach, leveraging nearby hotels and venues to accommodate groups of all sizes.
Airport Expansion: A Gateway to the Future
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is nearly doubling its capacity with a $5 billion expansion that will add 32 new gates by the early 2030s. This growth is anchored by strategic long-term airline commitments, including Southwest Airlines becoming the primary tenant of a new 26-gate Concourse B and Delta Air Lines investing $250 million to anchor a modernized Concourse A with 15 dedicated gates. Both airlines have further deepened their commitments through the creation of crew bases in Austin.
"Our airport is serving 21+ million annual passengers, five years ahead of what our AUS 2040 Master Plan projected. This project is about more than adding space, it’s about delivering a better experience for every traveler as quickly as possible” said Ghizlane Badawi, Chief Executive Officer, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
It’s clear that there’s never been a more exciting time to meet in Austin. Go to AustinMeetings.org or contact our team to learn more about our incentives and opportunities to bring your next meeting to Austin.
