December and January Groups Recap: 

Between December and January, the Destination Experience Team provided support to 11 groups convening in San Antonio, which represented approximately 47,000 attendees and more than 58,100 room nights.  The Destination Experience managers coordinated and led five planning site visits during the month for groups that will meet in San Antonio in 2022 or 2023.  

A representative from Destination Experience was present to promote San Antonio at the American Clean Power Association’s CLEANPower 2021 Conference and Exposition in Salt Lake City, Utah, from December 7-9. This group will convene in San Antonio from May 16-18, with an anticipated 6,000 attendees. 

Coming February Citywide Groups (1,000+ Peak): 

  • American Physical Therapy Association | 2022 Annual Combined Sections Meeting | February 2-5, 2022 | 4,029 peak | 8,500 attendance 
  • Texas Music Educators Association | 2022 TMEA Clinic/Convention | February 8-12, 2022 | 5,508 peak | 26,000 attendance  

Citywide Spotlight: 

Party at the Pearl | International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE) was last in San Antonio in 2019 and wanted to create a new experience for their attendees. While having dinner at Mon Chou Chou, the idea of busing attendees from downtown to the Pearl was introduced and “Party at the Pearl” was developed. On November 29, IAFE shuttled 500 guests from the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center to the Pearl District for a night of shopping, entertainment and dining. Upon arrival, guests were presented with a drink token sponsored by a local IAFE exhibitor to redeem for a Prickly Pear Margarita. Mariachis and folklorico dancers hosted by Visit San Antonio enticed guests down the Pearl Parkway with their beautiful music and lively dancing. Attendees browsed retail stores that willingly stayed open two extra hours to accommodate the IAFE guests. Drink tokens were redeemed at all three established Pearl-run bars, while attendees enjoyed the magical holiday scenery at the Pearl. Attendees were encouraged via the IAFE website to make reservations at the Pearl’s restaurants, which many did. Most if not all restaurants were packed to capacity with IAFE guests and additional guests on a waitlist. The Pearl’s food hall experienced great attention that evening as well. 

Convention Leads – 2021 YTD 

January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2021 75 102 122 145 163 174 224 178 139 169 173 161 1,824
2020 242 214 152 88 44 74 53 48 58 52 55 32 1,112

Convention Sales Event Production – 2021 YTD 

January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2021 10 16 17 25 23 34 36 30 49 27 26 50 343
2020 69 54 30 12 8 10 8 8 14 9 8 8 238

Long-term Convention Pace 

Sales Travel/Partnership Opportunities  

  • IAEE Expo Expo – December 7-9, Philadelphia 

Visit San Antonio attended this annual trade show in Philadelphia, where we networked with more than 1,500 attendees.  We exhibited with our Synchronicities partners, Visit Anaheim and Visit Baltimore. 

  • Tamale Lifts – Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio: 

We participated in our annual Tamale Lifts in these four cities, where we had overwhelming customer participation.  A highlight in Dallas and Austin was the addition of our very own Andrea "Vocab” Sanderson, San Antonio’s Poet Laureate, to help bring the San Antonio holiday spirit to these important customer markets. 

  • TSAE Holiday Celebration – December 7, Austin 

An annual event in Austin, we supported TSAE with a table sponsorship to this great customer event 

  • Association Forum Holiday Showcase – December 13-14, Chicago 

A Chicago staple and favorite amongst meeting planners in the Chicago area, San Antonio in collaboration with our Synchronicities partners participated in this trade show.  In addition, we held our annual holiday customer dinner in downtown Chicago, where we had close to 50 customers in attendance. 

  • CVB Reps of D.C. Holiday Luncheon – December 15, Washington, D.C. 

Summer Davey represented San Antonio at this important Washington, D.C.-area luncheon, an annual event. 

We will be participating in the following events in January:  

  • PCMA Convening Leaders – January 9-12, Las Vegas, Nev. 
  • Southwest Showcase – January 26, Austin 

To see additional opportunities to partner with Visit San Antonio please go to our Partners’ website.