Trade Show News

With the Austin Convention Center closed until April 2029 for a $1.6 billion redevelopment, Austin's hotels and other venues are under increased pressure to accommodate meetings business. The AT&T Hotel and Conference Center, for example, has completed a $35 million renovation, adding a new Junior Ballroom and upgrading meeting spaces with advanced audiovisual equipment to attract corporate groups.

SOULESTA, an Austin-based Destination Management Company (DMC), is promoting its services for corporate groups, conferences, retreats, and inbound delegations. The company offers full program management, including venue sourcing, logistics, and curated group experiences. They emphasize their local expertise in Austin's various communities, from tech to music.

The Q2 2026 Southwest Hospitality Market Report indicates that Texas markets, including Austin, are absorbing the impact of major convention center disruptions. Austin experienced a 6.3% decline in RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room) year-over-year in Q3 2025 trailing data, largely attributed to the Austin Convention Center's closure for redevelopment.

The Southwest Hospitality Market Report for Q2 2026 highlights that Texas markets, including Austin, are experiencing the impact of major convention center disruptions. The Austin Convention Center's closure in April 2025 for redevelopment contributed to a 6.3% year-over-year decline in Austin's RevPAR for Q3 2025.

The Q2 2026 Southwest Hospitality Market Report highlights that Texas markets, including Austin, are absorbing the impact of major convention center disruptions, with Austin's convention center closed for a $1.6 billion redevelopment. Despite a decline in Austin's RevPAR, institutional capital views Texas as a preferred long-term hospitality destination, supported by population growth and corporate expansion.

The Austin Hotel & Lodging Association has announced its signature events for 2026, including an Expo & Job Fair and its 32nd Annual Gala. These events aim to foster community connection and professional development within Austin's hospitality industry. Further details and registration information are available on their website.

Visit Austin has launched a redesigned website and meetings microsite to cater to leisure travelers and meeting planners during the Austin Convention Center's four-year redevelopment. This strategic move aims to maintain planner confidence despite the temporary removal of an estimated 400,000 room nights from the market each year.

Fieldguide is seeking a strategic Event Manager in Austin to lead the planning and execution of its conference and trade show portfolio. The role involves managing all event logistics, developing objectives, and partnering with various teams to align events with business priorities. The ideal candidate will have 3+ years of experience in managing B2B field marketing programs.

The Texas Film Commission will host a Film Friendly Texas Workshop in Austin on November 12, 2026, inviting community leaders, including those from convention and visitors bureaus and chambers of commerce, to learn about attracting media productions. The workshop aims to foster local job creation and economic expansion.

The SISO CEO Summit is scheduled to take place from April 2-5, 2029, at the Omni Barton Creek Resort in Austin, Texas. This event is a premier gathering for event industry leaders, offering strategic insights and networking opportunities.

The TSSA (Texas Self Storage Association) is hosting its 2026 Big Ideas in Storage Annual Conference and Trade Show at the JW Marriott, Austin, from November 4-6, 2026. The event will bring together over 1,000 self-storage professionals for education, networking, and a trade show, celebrating TSSA's 40th anniversary.

The biannual wholesale TRAFFIC Show will take place at the Palmer Events Center in Austin, TX, on October 28-29, 2026. The event brings together a diverse range of brands and retailers in outdoor, active, fashion, and action sports lifestyles. Sponsorship opportunities for October 2026 are sold out.

CHAMPS Trade Shows is returning to the Palmer Events Center in Austin, TX, from October 13-15, 2026. This premier counterculture marketplace offers an opportunity to connect with hundreds of vendors and thousands of brands. NEPA Wholesale is confirmed as an exhibitor at booth #2028.

CHAMPS Trade Shows will be held at the Palmer Events Center in Austin from October 13-15, 2026, offering a premier business-to-business counterculture marketplace. The event provides opportunities for buyers and exhibitors to connect with hundreds of vendors and thousands of brands. Hotel deals are available for attendees at Embassy Suites by Hilton for the duration of the show.

The 2026 Central Texas-Korea Summit, co-hosted by the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce, Hutto Area Chamber Of Commerce, and Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce, will showcase and support the emerging Korean business ecosystem in Central Texas. The event will feature expert speakers on cross-border business, regional economic development, and key sectors like infrastructure and smart cities.

Architects have revealed the design for Austin's new $1.6 billion convention center, known as Unconventional ATX. Additionally, the Holiday Inn is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation and will be rebadged as a Delta by Marriott Hotel, demonstrating private investment in the convention center project.

The design for Austin's new $1.6 billion convention center, known as Unconventional ATX, was revealed, aiming to integrate the venue into the city's urban fabric. The project emphasizes transforming convention centers into integrated urban hubs, connecting neighborhoods and revitalizing downtown districts.

A Travis County judge has ruled in favor of the City of Austin in a lawsuit challenging the construction of the new Austin Convention Center. This decision supports the ongoing $1.6 billion redevelopment project.

An article details the ongoing Austin Convention Center rebuild, noting that structural demolition is complete and vertical steel installation began in September 2026. The project, which closed the convention center in April 2025, is impacting downtown weeknight business but is expected to reopen in early 2029. The piece also highlights the city's efforts to upgrade downtown hospitality during the construction period.

The ongoing redesign of the Austin Convention Center, slated for a 2029 reopening, aims to nearly double its rentable event space while integrating public spaces and pedestrian connections. The project seeks to make the downtown blocks feel more like a part of the city, even when no events are taking place.