Recent national and international recognition in the 2025 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards makes one thing certain: The travel world has its eyes on Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The city earned the No. 1 spot on the “15 Best Cities in the U.S.” list and No. 19 on “25 Favorite Cities in the World,” and its popularity as a destination for both business and play is only growing.
“Santa Fe is one of those bucket-list cities and is a destination that attendees are excited to visit, where we see increased spousal attendance and extended stays to experience everything beyond the boardroom: art, cuisine, culture, shopping and more,” said David Carr, director of sales, Tourism Santa Fe. “Santa Fe offers one-of-a-kind experiences—Native American cultural experiences, art workshops, flamenco, cooking classes and outdoor [activities]—that are immersive and memorable.”
It’s a group-friendly city, too, with the LEED Gold-certified Santa Fe Community Convention Center in the heart of downtown offering 40,000 square feet of meeting space. The center will be increasing its second-floor covered patio by 5,900 square feet to accommodate groups in the outdoor space year-round.
“The Center has Northern New Mexico-inspired architecture and one-of-a-kind artwork throughout the venue, authentically reflecting Santa Fe’s culture, history and strong sense of place,” Carr said.
[Related: Taking Off: The Revival of Philadelphia’s Fishtown Neighborhood]
As a meetings destination, Santa Fe is suited for everything from intimate luxury retreats to full-scale conventions, and especially shines for associations, executive meetings and incentive programs. The destination can accommodate groups from 10 to 750 attendees, with the largest city-wide meeting capable of hosting 3,000.
“Groups of 50 to 150 can fit under one roof, and with the proximity of our hotels in the historic Plaza area, larger groups can easily utilize multiple hotels within a couple minutes’ walk,” Carr said.
That walkability is one of the city’s greatest advantages. Visitors can explore more than 400 years of history in an accessible and compact setting, stopping in local businesses along the way.
“Santa Fe is a walkable town with over 280 attractions, art galleries, restaurants, museums and shopping in the downtown area,” Carr said. “In that area, there are roughly 2,000 sleeping rooms, and unlike large convention cities, Santa Fe offers more independent and boutique venues with more personalized service.
“Our hotels allow planners to match the venue to the goals of the event, whether a historic landmark, luxury resort, boutique inn or wellness retreat,” he said. “Santa Fe has it all.”
Opening this summer, The Washington Inn is a luxurious all-suite hotel downtown, offering 27 units and 44 bedrooms in total near the convention center. A second new boutique property, Hotel Flora, is set to open later this year in the Railyard arts district, with 27 rooms and a secretive underground cocktail lounge.
[Related: Taking Off: Western Montana’s Glacier Country Offers Inclusivity, Luxury and Adventure]
Make the Most of Santa Fe
“The combination of Santa Fe’s art, culinary, history and culture are unlike any other destination in the world,” said Tourism Santa Fe’s David Carr.
Group offerings range from outdoor teambuilding activities in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, taking advantage of the high-desert landscape’s perfect year-round climate, to rejuvenating wellness experiences, authentic cultural opportunities and more.
“Most popular are our museums and galleries,” Carr said, “including the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Meow Wolf and Native American experiences.”
Santa Fe’s world-renowned culinary scene features everything from traditional New Mexican restaurants to James Beard Award-winning chef-led fine-dining establishments.
“We can meet the needs of the most budget-conscious groups or offer high-end, once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” Carr said. “The largest group any one restaurant can host is 150, but for groups looking for something unique, they can enjoy a curated culinary experience at one of our many galleries, museums or Old West movie ranches.”
Taking Off is a column from the desk of destinations content manager, Taylor Smith, which uncovers the destinations you haven't thought of for meetings or events, from under-the-radar locales to new neighborhoods you should know about. Read more Taking Off columns here.
