Industry Insider

April 2025

News
Sales Updates
Hospitality Spotlight
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Resources

Spring is in full bloom here in Albuquerque, and with the sunshine comes a season of excitement and opportunity. As we gear up for an event-filled season, we are eager to welcome more visitors to our city.

From the pulse-pounding rhythms of the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow to the cheers at Albuquerque Isotopes and New Mexico United games, this is the perfect time to soak in the local flavor. And what better way to enjoy the sunshine than with a cold brew on a brewery patio? The new Albuquerque Craft Beer Trail pass is your guide to exploring some of the city’s best spots. See more information about the pass below.

In this issue of Industry Insider, you’ll find details on a new partnership with KOB and updates from the meetings and sales team.

Thank you for being a valued Visit Albuquerque Partner!

News

Visit Albuquerque Launches Craft Beer Trail Pass

Visit Albuquerque launched the Albuquerque Craft Beer Trail pass this month, featuring more than a dozen local craft breweries in the city. As passholders check in at breweries, they become eligible to win exciting prizes. Certain breweries are also offering discounts to passholders. The pass will encourage visitors and residents to experience the craft beer scene in Albuquerque. To download the Albuquerque Craft Beer Trail pass, visit VisitABQ.org/beer-pass.

Visit Albuquerque Partners with KOB for Broadcast Campaign

Visit Albuquerque has partnered with local broadcast station KOB on a new series called Love 4 ABQ. This weekly series will air on Thursdays during the 6:30 p.m. newscasts and highlight fun, exciting things to do in Albuquerque to boost local pride and encourage residents to explore their own city.

Nominate an Exceptional Hospitality Worker to be Recognized

Visit Albuquerque is spotlighting local hospitality workers who have provided exceptional customer service. We are looking for hospitality workers who have gone above and beyond in the industry and who go to great lengths to be the best ambassadors for Albuquerque. Fill out this form to nominate someone for recognition. You’ll be asked to briefly describe why the individual is exceptional. Help celebrate hospitality excellence!

Attend an ACE Class to Improve Your Team’s Customer Service Skills and Knowledge of Albuquerque

Visit Albuquerque’s Albuquerque Community Experience (ACE) training program is designed to brush up your employees’ customer service skills and strengthen their knowledge about the city. Graduates of the program can answer guests’ questions about things to do and places to visit. The program also provides training on topics such as first impressions, effective communication and handling conflict. Graduates will receive a commemorative lapel pin and a certificate recognizing their completion of the program.

The cost is $25 per person for Partner businesses and $40 per person for non-Partners. Snacks will be provided along with water and coffee. To register, call Trish Hathoot at 505-908-8178 or send an email to TKHTrainingABQ@gmail.com.

Don’t miss your chance to attend an upcoming class:

May 14, 2025
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Bike In Coffee
949 Montoya St., 87104

June 12, 2025
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Turquoise Room at Hotel Albuquerque
800 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, 87104

Graduates will be recognized as Albuquerque Community Experience professionals and will receive a complimentary Community Experience pass that allows each of them and one guest to visit attractions throughout the Albuquerque area. The value of each ACE experience pass is more than $500!

Seating is limited, so register your employees now!

Apply for a Route 66 Mural

In celebration of the upcoming Route 66 Centennial, the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency is partnering with Creative Campus Collective to create six murals along Central Avenue that honor Route 66. Six properties will be selected, and the owner can select from pre-approved mural designs. If you’re interested in receiving a mural, applications are due April 30.

Nominate a New Mexico True Hero

Nominate a New Mexican who has gone above and beyond for their community for the New Mexico Magazine True Heroes Awards. Ten winners will be honored for their service that occurred between July 2024 and June 2025. Learn more about the True Heroes Awards and nominate someone by June 30.

Sales Updates

Sports Commission Attends Sports ETA Symposium

Visit Albuquerque Senior Sports Development Manager Angela Gandy and Sports Retention and Operations Manager Ryan Abeyta attended the 2025 Sports Events and Tourism Association (Sports ETA) Symposium on April 14-17 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Sports ETA is the premier trade association for the sports events and tourism industry. Its annual symposium features one-on-one meetings with sporting event organizers, educational programs and ample networking opportunities.

During their time in Tulsa, Angela and Ryan participated in sessions focused on the latest trends and topics in sports tourism. They also held 30 one-on-one meetings with key decision-makers responsible for selecting sites for national sporting events. As part of Visit Albuquerque's sponsorship of the 2025 Sports ETA Hall of Fame, our team had the opportunity to attend the chairman's dinner, which featured past and present Hall of Fame inductees, Sports ETA board members and additional leaders in the sports tourism industry. Visit Albuquerque also debuted a 30-second commercial promoting the city as a sports destination.

Angela Gandy Receives STS Designation

Senior Sports Development Manager Angela Gandy received her Sports Tourism Strategist (STS) designation at the Sports ETA Symposium on April 15. The STS program is Sports ETA’s leading industry designation, signifying commitment to continued learning in the sports events and tourism industry. It reflects leadership in the industry, and the investment made to increase sports tourism knowledge and propel our organization forward. In order to receive her accreditation, Angela completed 32 hours of coursework offered by Sports ETA.

Upcoming Meetings and Sports Events

In May 2025, almost 54,800 people will participate in or attend meetings and sports events booked and supported by Visit Albuquerque. These events will generate an estimated $8.3 million in direct spend. Some of the noteworthy events include:

Dates	Group Name	Est. Attendance	Meeting Location
May 2-4	Knights of Columbus Annual State Convention	250	Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North
May 2-4	Sun Country Region Volleyball Association Regional Championships	9,108	Albuquerque Convention Center
May 3-4	New Mexico Youth Soccer Association ECNL-3	1,426	Mesa Del Sol Soccer Fields
May 4	New Mexico Youth Soccer Association State Cup - Round 1	1,881	NM Soccer Tournament Complex
May 5	Sun Country Golf House Isleta Spring Invitational	180	Multiple Venues
May 6	Sun Country Golf House U.S. Open Qualifier	175	UNM Championship Golf Course
May 7-10	New Mexico Activities Association State Tennis Championships	1,980	Jerry Cline Tennis Center
May 10-11	United States Specialty Sports Association Cinco de Mayo Tournament	4,554	Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Sports Complex
May 10-11	New Mexico Youth Soccer Association GA Leagues-2	1,426	Mesa Del Sol Soccer Fields
May 10-11	New Mexico Youth Soccer Association State Cup - Round 2	1,630	NM Soccer Tournament Complex
May 12-16	Association of Children's Museums InterActivity Conference	1,000	Albuquerque Convention Center
May 12-13	New Mexico Activities Association State Golf Championships	990	Multiple Venues
May 14-17	New Mexico Activities Association State Softball Championships	2,310	UNM Campus
May 15-17	National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying Central/Western Zone Interim Meeting and Board of Directors Meeting	150	Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque
May 15-17	New Mexico Activities Association State Baseball Championships	2,475	Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Sports Complex
May 16-17	New Mexico Activities Association 4A-5A State Track Championships	4,752	UNM Campus
May 17-18	New Mexico Youth Soccer Association NM Cup	3,465	NM Soccer Tournament Complex
May 17-18	New Mexico Youth Soccer Association State Cup - Round 3	1,379	NM Soccer Tournament Complex
May 17-18	Sun Country Golf House JAC/Uswing Mojing Jr World Qualifiers	264	Multiple Venues
May 21-24	Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly	475	Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque
May 23-26	New Mexico Games Basketball Championships	3,480	Johnson Center - UNM
May 23-25	Sun Country Golf House SCAGA Four-Ball Championship	400	Multiple Venues
May 24-25	New Mexico Youth Soccer Association Sandia Cup	3,515	NM Soccer Tournament Complex
May 24-26	Albuquerque Baseball Academy Five Tool Memorial Day Bash	1,901	Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Sports Complex
May 30-June 1	New Mexico Special Olympics State Games	2,262	UNM Campus

Bolded events are citywide events, defined as events that require a minimum of 400 room nights on peak, and will take place across the city. Although each of these events takes place in one part of town, the people who attend them will visit businesses throughout the city for shopping, dining and entertainment.

Let's come together to make their stay memorable, showcasing the best of Albuquerque’s hospitality. Your welcoming spirit can contribute to a positive experience for these visitors and foster a lasting impression of our community.

Hospitality Spotlight

Sara Davison, Fairfield Inn and Suites Albuquerque North

Great hospitality goes beyond service — it’s about creating a welcoming experience for every guest. This month, we recognize Sara Davison, the Director of Sales for Fairfield Inn and Suites Albuquerque North, for her exceptional leadership and dedication.

According to those that work with her, Sara is always extremely helpful and responsive to her clients. She is always willing to help out with unusual, last-minute requests, and goes out of her way to correct problems. Sara is easy to work with and always takes care of her customers.

Recently, a local company needed accommodations for employees facing unstable housing situations. Sara worked with the company to facilitate a process that ensures employees are taken care of with as little stress as possible, and that they have a safe, welcoming place to stay in a time of need.

We celebrate Sara Davison for her outstanding contributions to Albuquerque’s hospitality industry! Know someone who deserves a spotlight? Fill out this form to let us know. We’d love to feature them in an upcoming Hospitality Spotlight!

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ABQ in the News

National

What's New in Albuquerque, New Mexico - PASSPORT Magazine
Dear Atlas: What Parts of Route 66 Are Worth the Drive - Atlas Obscura
22 Best Spring Break Destinations In The United States - Mommy Travels Blog

Resources

March Destination Dashboard

March Leisure eNewsletter

March ABQ365 eNewsletter

April-June Conventions with 500+ Attendees