Industry Insider

As we prepare to say goodbye to summer, Visit Albuquerque is looking forward to a busy fall season. The ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® will be here before we know it. If you’re looking for ideas on how to capitalize on the opportunities Balloon Fiesta presents, attend our upcoming education session on how to maximize your marketing during Fiesta. Details are below.

Please save the date for our Annual Meeting on Oct. 28 at 3:30 p.m. at the Albuquerque Convention Center. We hope to see many of you as we network and discuss the tourism industry in Albuquerque.

This issue of Industry Insider includes advertising opportunities in the 2026 Visitors Guide and details on a new advertising campaign.

Thank you for being a valued Visit Albuquerque Partner!

News

Online Banner Ads Target Four New Audience Segments

An Audience Segmentation & Customer Journey Mapping Study conducted this year by Visit Albuquerque's Research & Market Intelligence Department identified four leisure traveler audiences that align with Albuquerque's offerings: Memory Makers, Flavor Chasers, Soulful Voyagers and Bucket Listers. To attract each segment, Visit Albuquerque has developed a new set of online banner ads that launched this month.

• Memory Makers prioritize connecting with loved ones during travel. They travel to strengthen bonds and create lasting memories through shared experiences. They are drawn to beautiful places that feel intimate and a little bit magical. They are likely to be married and to have children under 18 living at home.
        
   
• Flavor Chasers travel to explore unique cuisines and distinctive culinary traditions. They want to engage in authentic experiences and vibrant local cultures, and they are motivated by a desire to try new flavors and learn about local foods. They are a highly diverse segment ethnically and racially, and in addition to cuisine they are also interested in cultural events, art galleries and sporting events.
       
   
• The Soulful Voyager seeks out deep, meaningful experiences in life and travels for self-discovery and to connect to a place and its people. They feel rejuvenated when they are immersed in local traditions, history and culture. Soulful Voyagers are interested in art, spiritual retreats, wellness, history, heritage and tradition. They are more likely to be a Millennial or Gen X, and they are more likely to identify as Hispanic or Latino.
       
   
• The Bucket Lister is driven by a desire to be the first among their group of friends to discover something. Curious and adventurous, they are always looking for Instagram-worthy experiences, especially ones that give them bragging rights. Bucket Listers are most likely to be Millennials or Gen X, and they are interested in sporting events, hot air ballooning, and breweries and wineries.
       
   

In addition to targeting these four traveler segments, we continue to place ads that promote and support specific events, drive people to our website, and convert interest into bookings and hotel stays. The ads will be delivered to travelers in 13 target cities in Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Utah and California. The campaign is made possible through funding provided by the Albuquerque Tourism Marketing District.

Advertise in the 2026 Visitors Guide

Production of the 2026 Official Albuquerque Visitors Guide is already underway! The guide is a vital resource for travelers looking for ideas for where to stay, eat, shop and play in our city. We will distribute 150,000 copies of the publication beginning in January 2026. To advertise your business in the guide, contact Alisha Zierden at 505-222-4310 or Zierden@VisitABQ.org.

Sales Team Attends ASAE Annual Meeting

Visit Albuquerque’s Senior National Sales Manager Misty Jester and National Sales Manager Nikki Baca participated in the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) 2025 Annual Meeting Aug. 10-14 in Los Angeles. The ASAE meeting is one of the largest trade shows for association C-suite leaders and meeting planners across the country. Misty and Nikki met and spoke with over 130 qualified association meeting planners to talk about Albuquerque as a premier meeting and convention destination. Tinsmith Jason Younis y Delgado also demonstrated the Spanish Colonial art of punched tin for show attendees, giving the Visit Albuquerque team an opportunity to discuss our city’s cultural heritage, artistic traditions and distinctive setting for meetings.

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!

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!

Upcoming Meetings and Sports Events

In September 2025, more than 7,500 people will participate in or attend meetings and sports events booked and supported by Visit Albuquerque. These events will generate an estimated $2.78 million in direct spend. Some of the noteworthy events include:

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. See vertical and horizontal welcome signs that businesses can use to welcome attendees for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.’s Quantum Week Conference that begins Aug. 31. There is also a list of meals noting when the attendees will be looking for restaurants to dine at.

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.

Promote & Share

ABQ in the News

Local

• Visit Albuquerque announces recipients of 2025 tourism grant program - KRQE
• Visit Albuquerque Awards 2025 Tourism Grants - Los Alamos Daily Post
• Love 4 ABQ: Activities under $10 - KOB
• Love 4 ABQ: Spiritfly Expeditions - KOB
• Love 4 ABQ: 10 date night ideas in Albuquerque - KOB

National

• 11 Best Places to Travel in October - AFAR
• The 32 Best Fall Vacations in the U.S. to Avoid Big Crowds and See Beautiful Foliage - PureWow
• Eat & Drink Like a Local: 10 Must-Try Restaurants in Albuquerque, NM - Livability
• Albuquerque spas: Here are 5 spectacular places to relax and recharge - The Best of the Southwest
• Here’s Why Motels Are Now the Coolest Places to Stay - Sunset
• 10 Bucket-List Chef’s Tables for Wine Lovers - Wine Enthusiast
• Why Regenerative Farming Is the Latest Wellness Travel Trend - Vogue

Resources

July Destination Dashboard

July Leisure eNewsletter

July ABQ365 eNewsletter

Aug.-Oct. Conventions with 500+ Attendees