From iconic Mid-Century architecture evoking the Golden Age of Hollywood to some of the top resorts and golf courses in the U.S., Greater Palm Springs offers unique experiences for virtually any type and size of meeting or event.
Located in Southern California’s Coachella Valley and surrounded by four mountain ranges, Greater Palm Springs is comprised of nine cities—Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio and Coachella—making opportunities for groups vast (and the 300-plus days of sunshine is an added benefit, too!).
These opportunities are only increasing, as Greater Palm Springs is rapidly expanding, adding new venues, eateries and activities primed for meetings and events.
Here’s an overview of everything meeting and event planners need to know about what’s new in Greater Palm Springs.
New Airport Developments
In January, Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) launched a $2.2 billion modernization and expansion project that is set to nearly double its number of gates from 18 to 32, add two new concourses and a rental car area, expand its baggage claim and create a federal inspection station to accommodate new international air routes. The airport was also named one of America’s Most Stress-Free Airports by smartertravel.com due to amenities such as patio seating, a wine bar and play spaces for kids and pets.
Prior to the expansion, PSP added a number of new routes to the destination, including direct flights from Washington, D.C.; New York City; Denver and San Francisco, all of which are top markets for Greater Palm Springs.
PSP has introduced several new culinary options, including Las Casuelas Terraza, a four-generation Mexican restaurant that offers some of the same iconic dishes as its downtown Palm Springs location. The airport also recently added Coachella Valley Coffee, which serves locally roasted coffee with rich desert blends. Other new restaurant developments in PSP include The Pink Door and Vino Volo, which offers a selection of handcrafted wines paired with gourmet meals.
New Hotels and Culinary Experiences
The airport isn’t the only place where Greater Palm Springs’ gastronomy shines. Carolina Viazcan, vice president of sales for Visit Greater Palm Springs, says that there are multiple newly opened restaurants and eateries in Greater Palm Springs that planners should take advantage of.
“One of the restaurants that just opened and we are so excited about is Kestrel Kitchen at Indian Wells Golf Resort,” Viazcan said. “It was a vision by celebrity chef Richard Blais and this restaurant features a menu of wood-fired steaks, homemade pastas and amazing desserts, all with a beautiful view of their golf courses.”
Another notable F&B offering in Greater Palm Springs, in Palm Springs proper, is the HALL Napa Valley Tasting Room & Wine Lounge at the Thompson Palm Springs Hotel (one of the most talked about new openings in the valley), which features a luxurious and educational wine experience with wines from three esteemed brands—HALL, WALT and BACA. The lounge presents curated wine flights, wines by the glass and food pairings by restaurant Lola Rose that amplify its tasty offerings.
There are also a variety of new and renovated hotels in the works. The Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas recently completed a $64 million refresh that included a reimagining of its guest rooms and villas and rebrand to a Grand Hyatt.
The resort has also opened two new culinary experiences, Carmocha and Tía Carmen, by former Top Chef contestant, chef Angelo Sosa. Tia Carmen pays homage to the Sosa family roots with a menu that celebrates local ingredients and traditional flavors.
New Activities and Venues
For planners looking to have a bit of offsite fun during their group’s trip to Greater Palm Springs, the sunny destination is more than happy to oblige. The Palm Springs Surf Club is a recently opened water park experience with a state-of-the-art surfing simulator that has been utilized for a variety of offsite meetings and teambuilding events, most recently by activations surrounding the Coachella Music Festival.
“It has been very well received, not only by our locals, but a lot of groups have taken advantage of this very unique experience in the destination,” Viazcan said.
Another new venue planners should keep in mind when organizing offsite activities is the Plaza Theatre, which originally opened in 1936. The venue is slated to reopen in December after a renovation period set to revitalize the theater as an independent venue. It can also be utilized by planners looking for one-of-a-kind space to create a unique experience for their next event.
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This article was created in collaboration with Visit Greater Palm Springs
