2024 Top Lists: The 5 Top Meeting Destinations in North America

87 percent of meetings were hosted in person in 2023, a significant shift from the past few years when virtual and hybrid events were the norm. With the return of face-to-face events and the Cvent Supplier Network (CSN) hosting a worldwide network of more than 125,000 planners looking for the best location for their next in-person meeting, CVBs have the perfect opportunity to promote their cities as prime meeting destinations.

The Cvent 2024 Top Meeting Destinations list features cities known for successful events and enjoyable business trips, providing invaluable insight for CVBs eager to amplify their own city’s appeal to planners and business travelers. In this guide, we explore the top five cities for meetings in North America, highlighting each city’s standout event venues and offerings that make them well-suited for events.

Methodology

In 2023, we reviewed over 12,500 cities on the CSN to determine the top meeting destinations globally based on group business performance.

Which data points did we analyze?

To accurately identify the cities best suited for our list, we analyzed meeting and event reservation activities for those listed on the CSN. The specific factors we considered include:

• The total number of distinct electronic requests for proposals (RFPs) sent directly through the marketplace to venues throughout the city.
• The total value of these submitted RFPs.
• The true awarded value for booked meetings.
• The cumulative total of booked room nights.

1. Orlando, Florida

Orlando upholds its reputation as the top city for corporate events by offering world-class venues, unmatched entertainment options, and exceptional accessibility. 

Visit Orlando fosters this success by providing “comprehensive destination expertise and insights, time-saving tools, ideas for unique events, and marketing support” for planners hosting events of any size to ensure a welcoming environment. In 2023 alone, the city’s venues received almost 7,000 RFPs—a five percent increase from the previous year.

What makes Orlando a top meeting destination?

Orlando is known for housing the second-largest convention center in the United States: the Orange County Convention Center. With 471,119 square feet of meeting space, 70 meeting rooms, and over 40 nearby hotels, planners are eager to reserve the center’s event space for corporate conferences.

Many other Orlando venues can also accommodate large-scale events, including Rosen Shingle Creek, with 99 meeting rooms, and JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, with 87 meeting rooms. The latter was also renovated in 2023!

For smaller groups, the Alfond Inn offers nearly 23,000 square feet of meeting space, 15 meeting rooms, and 112 guest rooms.

Why Orlando is perfect for events

• International appeal. Direct international flights to and from Orlando International Airport include 23 routes for Canada, 13 for Mexico, 12 for Puerto Rico, 11 for the UK, and many more.
• Multi-city access. Brightline rail connects Orlando and Miami, with stops in well-known Florida cities like Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale for a fun exploration day.
• Beach access. The city is known for its beaches and over 230 days of sunny weather, making it the perfect location for ocean-side networking events.
• Simulation technology. Orlando’s connection to the simulation industry brings many technology, science, and military professionals to the city for meetings, trade shows, and training events centered around virtual reality and augmented reality.
• The “theme park capital of the world." Orlando boasts world-famous attractions like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando, which are must-visits for bleisure travel with family and friends.

2. Las Vegas, Nevada

With its unprecedented venue flexibility, round-the-clock entertainment options, over 150,000 hotels to meet every budget, and excellent destination marketing strategies, Las Vegas is consistently one of the top US meeting destinations.

What makes Las Vegas a top meeting destination?

The Las Vegas Convention Center comprises North, Central, South, and West Halls. It boasts nearly three million square feet of meeting space, 2.5 million square feet of exhibit space, and 2.3 million square feet of outdoor event space. The West Hall expansion includes 150,000 square feet of meeting space, which can be customized to make 80 breakout rooms.

Many other venues in Las Vegas also offer their share of competitive benefits. For example, Resorts World Las Vegas Hilton, built in 2021, has 350,000 square feet of meeting space and 129 meeting rooms to accommodate events ranging from corporate meetings to product launches.

Why Las Vegas is perfect for events

• Concentrated location. Most Las Vegas meeting venues, hotels, and entertainment options are along the Strip, which is a huge selling point for planners looking to provide the most convenient experience for their corporate clients.
• Airport distance. Amplifying the city’s convenient location, Harry Reid International Airport is just five miles south of the Strip.
• The Vegas Loop. This innovative tunnel system connects all Las Vegas Convention Center halls and extends to Resorts World through dedicated passenger stations. It transports over 4,000 event attendees cross-campus every hour.
• Groundbreaking event spaces. Las Vegas consistently expands the mold for what makes an event venue exceptional. For example, the city's integration of advanced technology resulted in the Sphere. This event venue is the first of its kind, allowing planners to create highly customized events and a completely immersive experience for attendees. CVBs should promote their city’s own innovative infrastructure to reach more corporate planners.
• One-of-a-kind activities. Team visits to The Neon Museum, the High Roller Observation Wheel, and Cirque du Soleil shows are experiences that make the city so novel. While the latter is available in many cities, some shows are only performed in Vegas. Leisure activities might include a classic casino night, watching street performers, taking helicopter tours, and booking a ride at a sports car race track.

3. Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville combines Southern hospitality with a vibrant music culture and bustling entertainment scene in the heart of Tennessee. With 68 hotels near the Central Business District and Downtown, this dynamic city offers a seamless blend of business and entertainment for meeting attendees.

What makes Nashville a top meeting destination?

A leader in the hospitality industry, Nashville offers extensive meeting capabilities through venues like the Music City Center. This venue supports meetings and large-scale corporate events with 350,000 square feet of meeting rooms and an additional 353,143 square feet of conference exhibit space.

Additional Nashville venue options include the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, with 76,000 square feet of event space, 86 event areas, and 106 breakout rooms. 

Nashville also delivers if you’re looking for the best cities for small conferences. The city is home to the beautiful Hermitage Hotel, which was renovated in 2021 and has four meeting rooms and 4,575 square feet of meeting space.

Why Nashville is perfect for events

• Ideal location. Nashville is one of six cities in the United States where three states converge. On top of that, more than 40 percent of the country’s population lives within roughly a day's drive of Nashville. CVBs use the city’s geographic positioning as a strong selling point for organizations with multi-state operations looking to maximize attendance.
• Airport access. Nashville International Airport is roughly eight miles from downtown and offers daily nonstop flights to and from 98 other airports.
• Group volunteering. There are over 12,000 nonprofits to partner with for social responsibility activities and corporate team building. CVBs can specify which industries resonate best with each organization to simplify planning.
• Music culture. There are ample performances to attend as a group and distinctive team-building opportunities through music-focused activities.
• Classic city destinations. Attendees can visit Lower Broadway's entertainment district for post-meeting networking and dine at diverse locations, from local hot chicken to upscale restaurants.

4. Dallas, Texas

Dallas saw record growth in event bookings in 2023. Dallas-Fort Worth area venues received proposals from 8,000 distinct planning entities, and there was a 60 percent increase in awarded room nights from the previous year. While previously ranked seventh, the city now ranks fourth for corporate gatherings, demonstrating its ability to increase group business successfully.

The team at Visit Dallas has attributed their success to constantly monitoring the market and evolving to meet new planner needs, such as helping with itineraries, transportation, accommodations, and venue inspections. This reminds other CVBs that comprehensive support for planners makes your city more appealing for corporate events.

What makes Dallas a top meeting destination?

The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas spans 1.3 million square feet, with an expansion project set for completion in 2029. Currently, 120 meeting rooms are spread over 400,000 square feet.

Other Dallas venues include the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, which has over 490,000 square feet of meeting space and 87 meeting rooms. Alternatively, the Renaissance Dallas Hotel—newly renovated in 2019—has 34 meeting rooms across almost 52,000 square feet.

Why Dallas is perfect for events

• Multi-airport access. Dallas offers two airports, the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport. The two airports facilitate a combined total of nearly 2,500 daily flights.
• Ample guest rooms. Downtown offers plentiful stay options for meeting attendees, with over 13,000 hotel rooms.
• One-of-a-kind arts district. Dallas has the country’s largest continuous urban arts district, covering 68 acres.
• Outdoor space. The city has 350 parks and year-round warm weather, the perfect outdoor settings for team activities.
• Connected downtown. The climate-controlled Dallas Pedway runs through downtown Dallas, allowing attendees to move comfortably between venues, hotels, and restaurants using a series of tunnels and bridges.

5. San Diego, California

San Diego combines year-round perfect weather with coastal beauty, big-city convenience, more than 20,000 hotels, and a supportive CVB, the San Diego Tourism Authority. The SDTA offers complementary services and also accompanies certified planners on facility visits.

In addition to consistently ranking highly on Cvent’s tops list, San Diego has also been recognized as one of the best cities for meetings by other organizations, including:

• Conde Nast Traveler's Top 10 Best Big Cities
• Successful Meetings magazine's Pinnacle Award for Best CVB/DMO in the West

What makes San Diego a top meeting destination?

The San Diego Convention Center is the city’s best-known corporate events venue, with over 430,000 square feet of meeting space, 129 meeting rooms, and 615,701 square feet of exhibit space.

Other notable San Diego venues include renowned education institutions like UC San Diego, San Diego State University, and the University of San Diego—all within the metro area. Planners can reserve meeting space at these venues and create opportunities for academic collaboration during corporate events.

Why San Diego is perfect for events

• Three airports. The San Diego International Airport and Tijuana International Airport via CBX make it easy for US and international attendees to reach downtown. The McClellan-Palomar Airport has done commercial flights before, but it is primarily used for corporate jets and private aircraft.
• Biotech hub. San Diego's impressive connection to the life sciences industry makes it an ideal destination for healthcare and science-focused events. The city’s high concentration of research facilities attracts industry leaders year-round, offering unique opportunities for site visits and networking.
• Coastal activities. San Diego is known for its sunny weather and warm temperatures, making it the ideal location for coastal activities like sailing, surfing, kayaking, or simply enjoying a beach day.
• Craft brewery scene. There are over 200 breweries to visit in San Diego, both large and quaint. These can be used as event spaces for networking events, post-event happy hours, team-building brewing lessons, or as a leisure activity to unwind after work.
• World-famous attractions. Attendees can visit the city’s many well-known attractions, such as the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, the USS Midway Museum, and the Gaslamp Quarter.

Tips for becoming a top meeting destination

Successful CVBs must emphasize their city as a complete package for corporate meetings. By thoughtfully presenting the following offerings to planners, CVBs can increase their meeting destination ranking.

1. Invest in transportation infrastructure. Transportation convenience must be spot-on. This means offering ample public transit from the airport to stations throughout the city, improved walkability between venues, hotels, and attractions, and innovative solutions like Vegas's Loop system or Dallas’s climate-controlled walkways.
2. Develop fresh venue portfolios. Diversify your venue offerings beyond traditional convention centers, and ensure your city offers spaces for events of all sizes and types. Transform historical buildings, create visionary spaces like Las Vegas's Sphere, and highlight venues unique to your city, like San Diego's impressive university venues.
3. Build strong hotel partnerships. Work closely with local hotels to create attractive room block packages. Develop relationships that allow for flexible pricing during off-peak seasons and special rates for large groups. Consider creating destination-wide booking initiatives that simplify the planning process.
4. Offer comprehensive services. Again, convenience is everything, and corporate planners appreciate end-to-end assistance from city experts. Your services might include site inspection coordination, transportation coordination, custom itinerary development, marketing support, and comprehensive accommodation packages.
5. Embrace technology. Invest in smart city infrastructure that benefits event attendees, like digital wayfinding systems, mobile apps for local navigation, virtual site tours, and real-time transportation updates.
6. Foster industry partnerships. Build local partnerships with venues, catering companies, industry clusters, cultural organizations, sports teams, and popular entertainment businesses to enhance your destination's appeal.
7. Promote authentic local experiences. Emphasize what makes your destination original. This might look like emphasizing your city’s distinctive downtown atmosphere, connections to specific industries, and experiences that can’t be replicated in other cities. Then create special access programs or VIP packages for corporate groups.
8. Focus on bleisure appeal. As bleisure grows in popularity, it’s essential to capitalize on this trend. Offer pre/post conference activities, highlight family-friendly attractions, showcase special local dining scenes, feature cultural experiences, and emphasize outdoor leisure options.
9. Develop sustainability initiatives. Implement city-wide green initiatives that appeal to environmentally conscious planners. Focus on public transportation improvements, renewable energy projects, waste reduction programs, local sourcing initiatives, and green building certifications.
10. Stay ahead of marketing trends. Staying updated on current destination marketing trends is essential to keeping your destination competitive. Explore emerging platforms, innovative promotional strategies, and new ways to showcase your city's distinct selling points to meeting planners to support your city’s promotional efforts.

Positioning your city for success in 2025

Whether you’re inspired by Orlando’s impressive growth, Las Vegas’s innovative venues, Nashville’s singular experiences and environment, Dallas’s dedication to learning and adaption, or San Diego’s planner support services, your city has individual strengths that can help you stand out, too. Use them to your advantage!

Want to learn what hotels are doing to attract more group business? Check out our companion piece on the Top Meeting Hotels of 2024.