Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a welcoming Southwestern destination with stunning landscapes, more than 310 days of sunshine a year, one-of-a-kind experiences, and centuries of history and culture blended with cutting-edge innovation and technology.
Albuquerque is a bucket list destination, where the experiences are truly unique and hard to replicate anywhere else. Meetings in an authentic destination with immersive, interactive experiences and a world-renowned culinary scene are truly memorable for attendees.
Albuquerque offers planners the chance to infuse meetings and conferences with the rich cultural, artistic, and environmental context of this high-desert city. The inspirational light and the landscape of open spaces give attendees a unique context for thinking differently about important mission-driven work during corporate, nonprofit, and institutional retreats or meetings.
Albuquerque’s downtown revitalization, developing smart infrastructure, and emerging innovation district — combined with the city’s dense creative population, world-class science and tech industries, and all-around affordability — make Albuquerque a premier location for the meetings industry, as well as just a really cool place to be.
Innovation and Intellectual Capital
Because New Mexico has three national labs employing the world’s top scientists, three research universities, and a cutting-edge commercial space facility, Albuquerque has access to renowned thought leaders on topics ranging from bioscience, photonics, and aerospace to cybersecurity and blockchain technology. Albuquerque is home to the minds of the future.
Albuquerque’s emerging innovation district in the heart of downtown has created intentional spaces that facilitate and encourage idea sharing among creative and tech entrepreneurs, businesses, national R&D labs, academics, and government.
Arts and Culture
Creative cultures flourish in Albuquerque. Home to more than 100 art galleries and studios, the city offers a variety of fine art, authentic Southwestern jewelry, pottery, and contemporary art. Its innovative theater scene spans everything from intimate black-box shows to international festivals. Albuquerque is a favorite cultural destination for visitors from all over the map.
Cuisine on the Cutting Edge of Tradition
Albuquerque’s mix of cultures makes it one of the most interesting food cities in the country, according to Food Network celebrity chef Bobby Flay. Hints of chile infuse everything from beer to chocolate, while Spanish wines and flavors hark back to the city’s founders and history. And while Albuquerque is long known for its New Mexican cuisine, chefs here are reclaiming and elevating Native American cooking — after all, indigenous cuisine is the original farm-to-table menu.
Outdoor Adventures
The Sandia Mountains soar to 10,678 feet, creating the city’s eastern boundary and an extremely accessible outlet for nature activities. No matter where you are in Albuquerque, biking, hiking, sightseeing, and more are within easy reach. Cutting through the city center, the Rio Grande is bordered by a fertile bosque (forest) of cottonwood and willow trees. Thousands of acres of protected parkland and wilderness have been set aside in and around the city, so wildlife habitats are plentiful.
A City on the Move: What’s New and Happening
The city is ever-evolving, and more than $300 million in public and private investments is reshaping its skyline. Recent developments have touched each of Albuquerque’s entertainment districts, with the majority of the revitalization centered on ABQ’s urban core. From elevated dining at over 10,000 feet and the state’s first food hall to immersive tech experiences and additional lodging options, there are many new exciting additions across Albuquerque.
Getting To and Around Albuquerque
Albuquerque is easy to get to no matter where you are coming from. Car trips, train rides, and flights to New Mexico’s largest city all offer spectacular scenery as you arrive. Airlines that serve Albuquerque include Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, United, and more. There are nonstop flights to and from more than 20 cities in the United States. Lack of congestion at the Albuquerque Airport (or Sunport) means visitors experience very few ground delays, and visitors often comment that Albuquerque offers one of the most unique and beautiful airports in the country.
The city is also a major stop on the Amtrak line between Chicago and Los Angeles. Greyhound buses stop there as well. The NM Rail Runner Express is a high-speed train servicing Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Los Lunas, and Belen and is an excellent options for day trips. The Alvarado Transportation Center, located downtown, is Albuquerque's transportation hub, directing both train and bus travel.
The Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) launched in November 2019 and includes 27 stations along 14 miles of Central Avenue, the city’s main corridor. ART connects the cultural district (zoo/aquarium); historic district (Old Town); business, innovation and entertainment districts (downtown); shopping and culinary district (Nob Hill); and university district (UNM) with enhanced transit service along the Route 66 corridor.
