Things are getting busy in Greater Palm Springs right now.
While most of the country experiences crisp winter winds and gray skies that feel like they’ll never be blue again, Greater Palm Springs beckons with warm weather and sunshine that beams year-round.
Every group in need of a little vitamin D knows Greater Palm Springs is where they can find a meeting oasis from late fall until summer—but booking business in the high season can come with a high price and low flexibility. In Greater Palm Springs, the busiest time of the year sees a lot of incentive programs, product launches and kickoff meetings, while the offseason is more ideal for associations, corporate groups with multiple breakouts, affinity businesses and more.
Booking meetings and events during Greater Palm Springs’ offseason comes with its benefits. Plus, with 300-plus days of sunshine per year, even offseason bookings still get that sunny SoCal experience. In the eye of Visit Greater Palm Springs’ Vice President of Sales Carolina Viazcan, that’s a win-win for meeting planners.
“That's my favorite time of year because during these off-peak months—typically summer and early fall—our planners can find some exceptional value and availability,” she said. “There are a lot more attractive rates and concessions.”
When it comes to booking iconic properties in the destination, such as La Quinta Resort & Club, a Curio Collection by Hilton property celebrating 100 years of operation in 2026, and Riviera Resort & Spa Palm Springs, set to undergo renovations later this year, those offseason rates and lower F&B costs can make all the difference.
“It also allows them into some of the unique venue opportunities that maybe during high season are compressed,” Viazcan added.
For example, hot spots such as the new Palm Springs Surf Club that opened last year as well as the highly anticipated DSRT Surf slated for this year—both offering opportunities for surfing in the desert, a new trend taking off in Greater Palm Springs—are bound to be busy with business and leisure travelers alike during peak season. Groups will have a better chance at getting in on the next big thing in Greater Palm Springs when they choose to surf the offseason wave instead.
“[There’s] a lot more flexibility...with meeting space,” Viazcan said. “So, for those groups that need those extra breakouts, it's a great time of year.”
[Related: The Latest Meeting and Event News to Know in Greater Palm Springs]
Even when it’s a little hotter than usual outside, “It’s a perfect 72 degrees inside the ballroom,” Viazcan said. “Plus, in the evenings, it’s still a perfect time to have outdoor receptions, poolside dinners, stargazing events.”
The destination also offers offsite venues to keep groups nice and cool when the sun is shining as well, including the multipurpose Acrisure Arena with 27,000 square feet of space and a capacity of 11,000, and the Palm Springs Air Museum, offering guided group tours for up to 60.
It’s also a perfect time for meeting planners and groups to take advantage of seasonal incentives offered by Visit Greater Palm Springs and many of the DMO’s hospitality partners.
“Our ‘Meeting Oasis’ incentive is one of our most popular programs,” Viazcan said. “We offer financial support for groups that are looking to come during that off-peak seasonality with rebates up to $6 per room night. Plus, it really just makes them more cost effective for groups, and as I previously mentioned, pairing that up with offers from the hotels makes it even better.”
The credit is awarded based on 70% pickup of paid and consumed rooms at one of the destination’s hotels and resorts and can be utilized for facility rental, food & beverage expenditures, audiovisual expenses or other meetings-related fees.
To qualify for the “Meeting Oasis” incentive, a meeting or event must be contracted by March 31, 2026, and must actualize between May 25-September 11, 2026; May 31-September 10, 2027; or May 29-September 8, 2028. More information about the “Meeting Oasis” incentive program can be found on the Visit Greater Palm Springs website.
“Beyond the financial benefit of booking a program during the offseason and taking advantage of our ‘Meeting Oasis’ incentive, our destination experience team is here to support our planners from site selection to local known favorites, to be able to just make sure that they deliver a wonderful experience and seamless event,” Viazcan said.
It’s a win-win.
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This article was created in collaboration with Visit Greater Palm Springs.
