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Placed on the banks of the beautiful San Marcos River and saturated with all the charm of the Texas Hill Country, San Marcos is one of the top getaways in the Lone Star State. Where better to host your next meeting, incentive trip, conference or event than one of the most picturesque and creative towns in Central Texas? With so much to offer, don’t be surprised if your guests decide to extend their stay and turn their work trips into vacations.
Ready to host an event they’ll never forget? Here are five reasons San Marcos is the ideal meetings destination.
1. The Location
No matter where your attendees are coming from, they will have no trouble reaching San Marcos. The city is conveniently served by some of the biggest airports in the nation. San Antonio International Airport and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport are less than 45 minutes away. If your guests are coming from farther away, the city is a three-hour drive from George Bush Intercontinental Airport—located in Houston.
Don’t feel like flying? Interstate 35 conveniently connects San Marcos to much of the Midwest and beyond.
Once here, your guests will find that many of Downtown San Marcos’ best sites, shops and nature preserves are reachable by bike or foot. And of course, the San Marcos’ CVB team is available to help you arrange private transfers, be it by a charter bus, a limousine or even a private jet.
2. The Facilities
San Marcos’ hotels are ready to accommodate any size group and any type of event. The Embassy Suites by Hilton San Marcos Hotel Conference Center has 283 two-room suites featuring a wide range of amenities, including mini kitchenettes. The hotel also has more than 78,000 square feet of flexible space that can be easily customized to host expositions, as well as general and breakout sessions, making it one of the most popular places in Central Texas to hold an event. The hotel’s 28,800-square-foot Veramendi Ballroom alone can accommodate up to 3,000 guests.
The Hilton Garden Inn and Holiday Inn also offer a warm Texas welcome. Both hotels provide the comforts of home and the convenience of the office for small-to-midsize groups. The Hilton Garden Inn and Holiday Inn have more than 3,000 square feet of customizable meeting spaces, on-site catering and complimentary Wi-Fi.
3. The Food Scene
The culinary scene in San Marcos is one everyone will be talking about, days after they leave. After all, this is the state that helped put Tex-Mex and barbecue on the map. Several of the restaurants offer meeting spaces that can be arranged to accommodate your group’s needs. Host an executive dinner featuring legendary barbecue from Black’s Barbecue or Hays Co. BBQ, both of which have large meeting spaces for up to 200 people. Or treat your guests to an all-they-can-eat fajita buffet at Grins Restaurant. At Palmer’s Restaurant & Courtyard, you can host a chic cocktail party amid the fountains and greenery in the delightful courtyard and patio space. Another favorite is the Blue Dahlia Bistro, which serves delectable French cuisine on a cozy outdoor patio.
San Marcos is also making a splash in the beer scene. The city is home to four excellent breweries. Start at Roughhouse Brewing for a farmhouse-style beer and Middleton Brewing for any of their 17 offerings before heading downtown. Once you’ve made your way Downtown San Marcos, responsibly of course, you can pop in and treat yourself to a brew or two at two more breweries/brewpubs within a two-block radius: AquaBrew and Sean Patrick’s.
No matter where you all go, you and your attendees will be treated to the Texas hospitality and friendliness San Marcos is known for.
4. The Fun Activities
San Marcos’ local businesses offer your group the chance to tap its creativity and problem-solving skills in a fun and relaxing environment. Watch the artisans at Wimberley Glassworks create stunning pieces of hand-blown glass and then learn how to make your own one-of-a-kind glass art or jewelry at Silo Glass. Helpful staff are there to walk you through the process and mimosas and discounts are available for groups.
For a relaxed off-site event, treat your group to a day of history and culture. Check out the Commemorative Air Force Central Texas Wing for historic military warbirds housed in a 1943 vintage wooden hangar. Or take a Glass-Bottom Boat Tour at The Meadows Center where you’ll see the bottom of crystal-clear Spring Lake and the hundreds of bubbling springs that make up the San Marcos River.
5. The Outdoors
Home to more than 2,100 acres of hiking and biking trails and public access to river frontage, San Marcos has plenty of ways your team can enjoy nature. The crystal-clear San Marcos River remains at a constant 72 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, so no matter when you visit, it’s the perfect time of year to treat your group to a nighttime clear kayak adventure with Paddle SMTX. During the day, your group can enjoy nature activities like hiking and birding. Or they can simply bask in the area’s natural beauty while exploring downtown’s murals and public art.
San Marcos’ Hill Country appeal, convenient location and meeting-friendly facilities makes it the ideal place to host your next event. Find out more, and submit your RFP, here.
