Located along the U.S.-Mexico border and the Rio Grande, the cities of Laredo and McAllen are a few hours from each other but share some important traits. Both have embraced their locations as border cities, and they lean into the rich Tex-Mex culture that has shaped their respective regions. When hosting in either, planners will find these South Texas cities are similar, yet distinctive, and each has rich history, eclectic cuisine, and plenty of venues promising unforgettable experiences.
Getting to both cities is surprisingly easy. Laredo is two hours from San Antonio and home to Laredo International Airport, with direct flights from Dallas and Houston through American and United airlines. Allegiant and Aerus also fly in and out of Laredo. McAllen International Airport offers nonstop air service to and from major cities like Austin, Dallas, and Houston, and also is a reasonable 3 1/2-hour drive from San Antonio.
“Laredo is a not-so-small city with a small-town feel,” explains Sofia Soto, sales account coordinator at Visit Laredo, the city’s convention and visitors bureau. “[When] working with our office, we give attendees a curated experience and guide planners along the way. We give meeting attendees authentic experiences they won’t find anywhere else. As a border town, we offer the Mexican culture and experience to our visitors without them having to leave the U.S.” The city’s 43 hotels and distinctive venues give attendees the whole package—ample meeting space, great food, and plenty of opportunities to learn what makes the city so special.
A Warm Welcome in Laredo
Laredo’s 43 hotels include its only AAA Four-Diamond hotel, La Posada Hotel, in the city’s downtown. It is a mix of old and new—a historic venue with modern amenities and a touch of luxury. With 15,000 square feet of meeting space, the hotel accommodates a wide range of events. One of the property’s most distinctive meeting spaces is a converted 19th-century Spanish Colonial convent that blends Old World charm with a contemporary aesthetic. La Posada Hotel overlooks the city’s San Agustín de Laredo Historic District, the former city center of Laredo and now an area with cultural and historical significance. Event attendees can meander throughout the district and learn more about the area’s architecture and history while touring its many landmarks when business wraps for the day.
La Posada Hotel has been a repeat host venue for the Texas Medical Association’s Border Health Caucus. David Wilhelm, administrative director of public affairs with the association, calls La Posada “a great old hotel with a nice conference space that can hold a large group. We got the recommendation [for the hotel] from one of our member physicians, and we have continued to meet there. The staff is great, and it helps [Laredo] stand out as a city based on that.” With a convention center situated right next to the hotel, the property places attendees within walking distance of their event and a bustling downtown.
If convenience is a must-have, Courtyard by Marriott Laredo is near downtown and only 4 miles from Laredo International Airport. The newly remodeled hotel includes 900 square feet of meeting space, ideal for a small group. Another hotel, Embassy Suites by Hilton Laredo, is 3 miles from Laredo’s airport and includes 8,741 square feet of meeting space—including an exhibit hall space that can be divided into six breakout rooms.
Also downtown, Laredo Center for the Arts has two event spaces—the 7,000-square-foot Lilia G. Martinez Gallery suitable for larger groups, and the 2,850-square-foot Mezzanine Hall, perfect for intimate gatherings of up to 100 attendees. For larger
events like expos or trade shows, planners can consider venues like Sames Auto Arena or Uni-Trade Stadium. Regional attractions and landmarks like the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum, Fort McIntosh, and Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium are perfect for off-site team excursions or after-business exploring.
McAllen: Small City, Big Value
Some 2 1/2 hours from Laredo, the city of McAllen is another border city with a distinctively international feel and an identity all its own. “We’re a really unique region,” says Julie Reyes, manager of sales and event services at McAllen Convention Center. “The culture here is so distinctive because we’re so closely tied to the border, and it brings a flair you can’t find anywhere else.”
Allen Hunter, executive director of Texas Transit Association (TTA), was pleasantly surprised by McAllen, calling it a “hidden gem.” The association stages the TTA Annual State Conference, Expo, and Roadeo, which brings together transit professionals and businesses that support them in a different city each year within its various districts across Texas. The TTA selected McAllen for last year’s event because “when selecting a host city, our checklist typically includes accessibility, affordability, convention space flexibility, hotel capacity, area partner support, and overall attendee experience—and McAllen checked every one of those boxes,” Hunter explains. The McAllen Convention Center was the primary venue, which Hunter considers “a modern, well-designed space that easily accommodated our general sessions, breakout meetings, large expo hall, and networking events under one roof.” He adds, “The staff was highly responsive, experienced, and collaborative throughout the planning and execution phases. Also, the food at the convention center was fantastic.” According to Reyes, these things are what make the venue stand out. She says, “We handle any kind of accommodation. We’re ready to make all requests work. Planners will find they’re typically met with a team who is ready to check all of their boxes.”
Affordability was a key box for TTA that McAllen checked easily. “Compared to some of the larger markets, the city allowed us to deliver a high-quality conference experience at a more reasonable cost for both the association and our attendees,” says Hunter. “This is important for our members, many of whom represent small urban and rural transit agencies with limited travel budgets.”
Likewise, a smaller market like Laredo allowed the Texas Medical Association’s Border Health Caucus to execute a top-tier event at a much lower rate. “It’s very well-priced,” says Wilhelm. “We are [based] in Austin, and everything [here] has gotten cost-prohibitive, from venue spaces to food options. A smaller city like Laredo gives you a good value for what you are putting together. We have great service and food.”
Best-Kept Secrets
Smaller, hidden gem-type cities like Laredo and McAllen give many attendees the perfect excuse to discover areas of Texas that might be new to them. “Hosting our conference in a smaller, vibrant city like McAllen provided attendees with a fresh experience,” Hunter says. “The culture, hospitality, and energy of the Rio Grande Valley added a distinctive character to the event that was consistently highlighted in attendee feedback.”
He admits when TTA announced McAllen as the location, reactions were mixed. “After they were there, many attendees said it was one of the best conferences of ours that they have been to,” he says. He praises the McAllen Performing Arts Center, where TTA held its Roadeo Awards Banquet, calling the banquet “absolutely one of the best events we have had yet.” He adds, “The McAllen Performing Arts Center is such a beautiful space.” Winners of the Roadeo competition were brought into the building and seated, only to learn later they were in fact sitting on the stage as the stars of the event. “We could not have imagined anything better,” Hunter says. He adds that the food was incredible, noting, “Each meal seemed to be better than the last. It also gave us a chance to incorporate some South Texas flair.”
Attendees were so impressed with McAllen that Hunter now faces the challenge of outdoing last year’s event. “It’s not often we will get surveys back after the event and not only have no complaints, but also attendees asking to come back,” he says.
Reyes says the McAllen Convention Center hosts events ranging from small meetings to large multiday conventions. Food and beverage needs are easily met, as well. She says, “Oak View Group [a venue development and management company based in Greenwood Village, Colorado] handles our catering, and there are many restaurants within walking distance. Oak View Group has a sizable menu and can handle nearly any request.” The broader convention center campus includes the convention center; an outdoor garden—perfect for receptions and smaller events—that comes equipped with a stage, should a group want to add entertainment to their itinerary; and the McAllen Performing Arts Center, which holds 1,800 people.
Among McAllen’s hotels, Embassy Suites by Hilton McAllen Convention Center; Casa De Palmas, Trademark Collection by Wyndham; and DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel McAllen are all centrally located, easily accessible, and capable of hosting events of various sizes. City attractions like McAllen Stained Glass and International Museum of Art & Science are perfect for postevent exploring, team-building experiences, or shopping at the end of the day, and menus at nearby restaurants—like BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse and Poncho’s Restaurant—will satisfy diverse palates.
For experiences attendees will never forget, in places they might never have thought they would visit, cities like Laredo and McAllen prove that sometimes smaller is better.
