Trade Show News

The Austin Convention Center officially closed on April 1, 2025, for a $1.6 billion ground-up rebuild, with a target reopening in spring 2029. This closure means event planners are utilizing major Austin hotels like the JW Marriott, Fairmont Austin, Hilton Austin, and Austin Marriott Downtown, which offer significant meeting spaces as alternatives for conferences and conventions.

Austin has successfully hosted over 1,100 meetings by leveraging diverse venues and creative event formats during the closure of its convention center. The city's meetings ecosystem is thriving on experience-driven, decentralized gatherings that highlight local culture. Major investments, including the new convention center and expanded airport facilities, are positioning Austin for continued growth as a leading meetings destination.

Austin has successfully hosted over 1,100 meetings in the past year despite the closure of its convention center, demonstrating creativity in utilizing alternative venues. This period has shown a shift in how planners approach the space between venues as an opportunity for experience-driven events.

Austin climbed two spots to No. 9 in Cvent's 2026 rankings for top meeting destinations, with the JW Marriott Austin securing the #1 spot on Cvent's 2026 meeting hotel list, signaling Austin's growing energy in the meetings space.

The Renaissance Austin Hotel is designated as the host hotel for the High Impact Technology Exchange Conference (HI-TEC) 2026. The hotel offers amenities such as indoor and outdoor pools, on-site dining, and complimentary self-parking for attendees.

A job opening for a Manager – Convention & Visitor's Bureau (CVB) was posted on May 29, 2026, by the City of Round Rock, Texas, located 15 miles north of Austin. This role is responsible for soliciting and securing sports-related events that generate hotel room nights and economic impact, and for managing the CVB and Visitors Center.

Shaun Yates has been named the new senior vice president of tourism development for Visit Oklahoma City. Yates previously spent seven years in Austin, TX, working at a downtown convention hotel and later as director of sales for Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, bringing relevant experience to his new role.

Shaun Yates was named the new Senior Vice President of Tourism Development for the Greater OKC Chamber's Visit Oklahoma City. Yates previously spent seven years in Austin, TX, working at a downtown convention hotel and later as director of sales for Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, bringing 25 years of hospitality and convention industry experience to his new role.

Austin's meetings and events industry has demonstrated significant creativity in adapting to the closure of the convention center from 2025 to 2029. Event planners are increasingly focusing on experience-driven approaches and utilizing alternative venues across the city.

Austin, Texas-based Cendyn, a hospitality partner for marketing and commercial growth, announced its evolved market approach and industry commitment under CEO Michael Bennett, who took over in late 2025. The restructured team, comprising former hospitality operators, aims to help hotels compete in an AI-driven booking landscape.

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) has opened registration for its 2026 ARA Conference & Expo, scheduled for December 1–3 at the JW Marriott Austin. The event, themed "Amplifying Ag Retail: Tech, Trade, & Transformation," will gather over 600 professionals for keynote presentations, educational sessions, and an expo hall.

PCX Austin, a new pop culture expo celebrating comics, gaming, film, television, cosplay, and collectibles, will debut August 15–16, 2026, at the Fairmont Austin. The event aims to capture Austin's creative spirit with celebrity guests, panel discussions, artists, and a vibrant exhibitor floor.

The Global Equity Organization (GEO) is inviting proposals for speakers at its 27th Annual Conference in Austin, scheduled for April 21-23, 2026. This premier gathering will focus on advancing equity compensation, exploring the latest trends, innovative strategies, and future directions in the field.

The 2026 ASHRAE Annual Conference is set to take place from June 27 to July 1, 2026, in Austin, TX. The event will include the installation of the 2026–2027 officers and Board of Directors, and the Presidential Address unveiling the Society's theme for the year.

The Austin Record Convention is celebrating its 45th anniversary, with organizers touting it as the largest music sale in the country.

The Austin City Council approved up to $1.35 billion in special tax revenue bonds on May 21 for the $1.6 billion project to replace the city's demolished convention center. The new facility will increase rentable event space from 365,000 square feet to 620,000 square feet. These bonds are backed by city hotel occupancy taxes and incremental state tax revenue from a project finance zone established in 2024.

The Austin Venue Guide provides insights into planning trade show displays at Hotel Van Zandt, noting its 13,000 square feet of event space in the Rainey Street district. It emphasizes accounting for downtown nightlife traffic and hotel guest circulation in event plans.

The City of Austin is investing $1.26 billion as part of an estimated $1.6 billion project to redevelop and expand the Austin Convention Center. The existing center was demolished to make way for a new 1.35 million square foot building, increasing rentable event space to 620,000 square feet. The project is on schedule for completion in late 2028 and is slated to begin hosting events by spring 2029, addressing long-standing capacity issues and aiming to compete with larger convention markets.

The Austin Convention Center has been demolished for a complete rebuild, with the new Unconventional ATX venue slated to open in September 2029. The project aims to create a larger, technologically advanced convention center with enhanced amenities.

The City of Austin plans to invest $1.26 Billion for the redevelopment and expansion of the Austin Convention Center, adding 1,358,099 square feet of new space. The project consists of Architecture and Engineering services and is scheduled for occupation around May 1, 2029.