Partner Connection

February 2026

Events
Partner Kudos
Social Media Spotlight
Partner Opportunities
Partner Benefit Highlight
New & Renewing Partners

Events

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 of 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.

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

Feb. 12, 2026
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The Flue Shop @ The Railyards
777 1st St. SW, 87102

March 12, 2026
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn Downtown
222 Central Ave. SE, 87102

The cost is $25 per person for Partner businesses and $40 per person for non-Partners. In honor of the Route 66 Centennial, anyone who registers three employees from the same organization will be charged $66 for all three registrations. 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.

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! All ACE attendees from now through the end of 2026 will receive special tips and training in preparation for the Route 66 centennial plus a free branded T-shirt! Make sure your team is ready for visitors coming to Albuquerque to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road.

Seating is limited, so register your employees now!

Congrats to the ACE graduates from the Jan. 14 class at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque.

Graduates: Marcos Montoya from Visit Albuquerque; Kathy Jones and Mark Jones from DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Albuquerque; Dora Vela from Gertrude Zachary; Tahmina Rahman from Sheehan Winery; Audrey Elkins from Origami in the Garden; Julie Nowakowski, Zoe Lozano and Jordan Louis from Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque; Deborah Austin, Jan Chytilo, Lorraine Garvey, Jessica Kidd, Wesley Reinig, Dianne Thackery, Rachel Taylor and Terry Joe from Petroglyph National Monument; and Laura Houghton, Meg Grugurich, and Kata Baron from Lapis Room.

Start Your Day at Your Morning, Your Impact

Connect with colleagues and Visit Albuquerque staff to collaborate on the Albuquerque Destination Master Plan and find out how you can play a role in making Albuquerque shine for visitors, residents and local businesses. Recognizing the power of tourism to drive economic growth and enhance our quality of life, Visit Albuquerque has created a 10-year Destination Master Plan (DMP) that outlines strategies for creating compelling visitor experiences and elevating Albuquerque as a must-visit destination. This plan, fueled by insights from over 2,300 stakeholders and rigorous research by industry specialist JLL, will guide our efforts to make Albuquerque a premier destination in the Southwest.

Feb. 13, 2026
7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Lost Cultures Tea Bar
1761 Bellamah Ave. NW, 87104

Refresh Your Knowledge of Partner Benefits at Partner Orientation

Refresh your knowledge about all the opportunities you have as a Visit Albuquerque Partner at Partner Orientation. Long-standing and new Partners are welcome to learn how to make the most of your benefits. The next Partner Orientation is:

March 18
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Visit Albuquerque offices
20 First Plaza, Suite 601, 87102

Find more Partner Orientation dates. RSVP in advance to attend.

Partner Kudos

Daydream Rum Bar Named James Beard Semifinalist

Daydream Rum Bar was named a semifinalist for Best New Bar in the James Beard Awards. Congratulations on the honor!

Social Media Spotlight

Canteen Brewhouse

Canteen Brewhouse stays busy with frequent events, special edition beer releases and a lively atmosphere that you can feel the moment you walk in the door. Their social media reflects this with timely event roundups and celebrations of their accomplishments large and small.

Check out their pages for inspiration.

A screenshot of a post from Canteen Brewhouse.

Partner Opportunities

Apply for a New Mexico Tourism Department Grant

Applications for the New Mexico Tourism Department’s FY27 grants are opening soon! See the below deadlines for each grant program.

Cooperative Marketing Grant Program

The Cooperative Marketing Grant Program (CoOp) is a co-funded, co-branded marketing program aimed at growing New Mexico’s tourism economy together by utilizing the strength of the New Mexico True brand. Eligible entities for the Cooperative Marketing program include local and tribal governments as well as tourism-related non-profit organizations and attractions.

Now Open - CoOp Pre-Application survey (MANDATORY for all applicants)
February 27 - Deadline to complete survey
March 10 - Application opens
April 7 - Application closes

Tourism Event Growth & Sustainability Program

The Tourism Event Growth & Sustainability (TEGS) program provides technical assistance, marketing, and sponsorship to qualified tourism events within New Mexico to support their growth and sustainability.

March 5 - Grant Webinar, 10 a.m.
March 9 - Applications open at 8 a.m.
April 7 - Applications close at midnight

Destination Forward Program

The Destination Forward program supports the development and implementation of tourism infrastructure projects throughout New Mexico. It is a competitive grant that supports the long-term destination development and rejuvenation of community-based, sustainable tourism infrastructure projects across New Mexico.

March 12 - Grant Webinar, 10 a.m.
March 16 - Applications open at 8 a.m.
April 14 - Applications close at midnight

Apply for a Grant Through the City of Albuquerque

The Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency launched a new grant for businesses along Route 66 to get a fresh coat of paint. Apply for the Fresh Coat Property Improvement Grant to receive financial assistance for exterior painting projects to enhance properties within designated metropolitan redevelopment areas along Central Avenue.

Grant Details:

Small properties (400 to 3,000 sq. ft.) can receive up to $3,000.
Medium properties (3,000 to 6,400 sq. ft.) are eligible for $5,000.
Large properties (over 6,400 sq. ft.) can receive up to $10,000.
Additionally, exterior murals over 400 sq. ft. can qualify for funding up to $10,000, based on estimates

A webinar will be held Feb. 13 for more information. Applications close April 3.

Additionally, businesses can apply to the City's Window Grant Program to help offset the cost of repairing or replacing windows damaged by vandalism. The grant reimburses up to 80% of the total cost of window replacement or repair, with a maximum reimbursement of $3,000 per business. An additional $1,000 is available for projects that include environmentally sustainable or security-grade glass, for a potential total of $4,000 per business. Grants are open until funds are depleted.

It’s Not Too Late to Join Albuquerque Restaurant Week

Albuquerque Restaurant Week is coming up in April 2026, and restaurants and hotels can participate! Restaurants will feature special prix fixe menus (fixed-price, multi-course meals) that allow diners to experience signature dishes while discovering new favorites. Albuquerque Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to attract new diners, showcase culinary creativity and gain exposure through the New Mexico Restaurant Association’s collaborative marketing efforts, including social media promotion, press outreach and local media partnership.

Restaurants can register a single location for $695 ($495 for NMRA members). Each additional location costs $495 ($295 for NMRA members). Hotels can offer special room rates for Albuquerque Restaurant Week visitors for $100.

Additional Opportunities to Advertise on Visit Albuquerque’s Website

The DTN Paid Content program offers a variety of placements on Visit Albuquerque's website, and programs can be tailored to meet your specific marketing and budget needs. The DTN team offers free creative services to help get your program running quickly, easy access to performance reporting and a friendly support team.

You can contact DTN at Advertising@DTNads.com or call 855-801-5905 if you’re interested.

Tell Us About Your Route 66 Centennial Specials

Is your business planning something special for the Route 66 Centennial? We want to know about it! You could be creating a new Route 66 activity like TourABQ’s Route 66 Speakeasy Tour, offering a special food item like Duran Central Pharmacy’s milkshakes in commemorative pint glasses, or selling special items like Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway’s centennial stickers. Send your Centennial celebrations and promotions to Marketing@VisitABQ.org.

An image of the Route 66 Centennial shakes offered at Duran Central Pharmacy. The Route 66 Centennial sticker from the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway.

Add Your Events to the ABQ365 Calendar

Visit Albuquerque’s ABQ365 Events Calendar offers a great opportunity to promote your events! The one-stop, all-ABQ encompassing calendar features primarily arts, entertainment and culture-focused events, appealing to both locals and visitors.

Event listings offer a great opportunity for additional exposure and promotion, and can help keep your business top-of-mind – for free!

Submit your events.

Submit Your Coupons and Highlight Your Business

Bring in new customers with a great deal at your business! If you have a current coupon or special, submit it to us and we’ll feature it on our popular Specials & Coupons page and our digital savings pass. These promotions are also spotlighted during major events, meetings and conventions happening in Albuquerque, giving your business even more exposure.

When you submit a coupon, you input your own valid dates and can tailor offers for specific events or seasons, giving you full control of your offers on our site.

Submit your coupons and specials.

Partner Benefit Highlight

Submit Your Coupons For the New Year!

Keep your list of amenities up-to-date in the extranet! Log in, and make any adjustments that you need to. While you’re updating your amenities, update the amount of meeting space you have available. Accurate information helps meeting planners and visitors plan while looking at your business!

New & Renewing Partners

Thanks To Our New & Renewing Partners

Visit Albuquerque’s Partners help support our mission to market the city as a top-choice destination for leisure travel, meetings and sporting events. Our thanks to the following Partners that recently joined or renewed their partnership with Visit Albuquerque. We appreciate your commitment to making Albuquerque a great place to visit and to live!

New Partners

Renewing Partners