Hill Country
VisitAustin.org; @VisitAustinTX
As the “Live Music Capital of the World®,” Austin has a unique appeal for visitors, according to Steve Genovesi, executive vice president of Visit Austin. “Our ‘soundtrack’ plays in hundreds of live-music venues every night of the week,” he says. “This energy extends beyond music into the city’s culinary scene, which is known for being local, inventive, and fresh, featuring everything from MICHELIN Guide-recognized barbecue to creative eateries.”
Expansion and redevelopment of the Austin Convention Center is projected to continue through 2028. “The new space will deliver a larger, more efficient meeting facility on a smaller footprint, ready to host more events and welcome greater community access,” Genovesi says. “During this time, Austin continues to host in-house meetings along with campus-style functions, as hotels and venues work together to create cohesive, unique attendee experiences. There has never been a better time to host an event in Austin.”
Several major convention hotels completed renovations in 2025, including the 450-room Hyatt Regency Austin, which features more than 45,000 square feet of function space; 1,012-room JW Marriott Austin, with more than 120,000 square feet of event space, including a 30,000-square-foot ballroom; and 297-room AT&T Hotel & Conference Center, located on the University of Texas at Austin campus, with 85,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
Other major event hotels include the 1,048-room Fairmont Austin, with 138,815 square feet of function space; 801-room Hilton Austin, with 95,000 square feet of event space, including a theater with a seating capacity of 3,410; 613-room Austin Marriott Downtown, with 61,000 square feet of function space; and 492-room Renaissance Austin Hotel, with 65,000 square feet of meeting and event space. There are 51,025 guest rooms throughout the city, with 15,313 in downtown.
Just outside the city, Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa has 493 guest rooms and 76,192 square feet of event space, plus outdoor lawn venues. Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa has 491 guest rooms and 300,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.
The Palmer Events Center features 131,000 square feet of space, including a 70,000-square-foot exhibit hall.
Expansion of the Barbara Jordan Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is expected to be completed in the spring, adding 84,500 square feet of space over three levels, new passenger amenities, and additional airline support space.
