Industry Insider

June 2026

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Visit Albuquerque is wrapping up its fiscal year, and we’re proud to reflect on the progress that has been made in the past 12 months. With the Route 66 Centennial in full swing, our team has been working hard to elevate and promote Albuquerque. Thank you to our Partners for your continued support.

As we look ahead to the new fiscal year, we are now accepting nominations for Visit Albuquerque’s Board of Directors. If you or someone you know is interested in helping shape the future of tourism in Albuquerque, we encourage you to learn more and submit a nomination.

As summer begins, don’t forget to find events throughout the city on the ABQ365 events calendar, and be sure to submit your own events to be included. This month, we also celebrate Pride Month in Albuquerque. Our city’s vibrant and diverse population makes it one of the most welcoming destinations in the Southwest.

This issue of Industry Insider includes a call for coupons for Balloon Fiesta visitors and other exciting updates from Visit Albuquerque.

Thank you for being a valued Visit Albuquerque Partner!

News

Submit Nominations for Visit Albuquerque’s Board of Directors

As a Partner of Visit Albuquerque, you are encouraged to actively determine the Board leadership of this organization by participating in the annual selection of nominees for our Board of Directors. At our Annual Membership Meeting on Sept. 22, 2026, we will elect a slate of nominees for the fiscal year 2027.

We encourage you to participate in the process by identifying individuals, including yourself, whom you recommend be considered as Board nominees. Only individuals employed by Visit Albuquerque Partners in good standing are eligible to serve on the Board.

There are four open seats for the FY27 Board from the following industry categories:

Hospitality/Lodging with 15,000 feet of meeting space – one seat open
Hospitality/Lodging – one seat open
Hospitality/Non-Lodging – one seat open
General Business – one seat open

Qualifications and Expectations for Board Directors:

All nominees must be employed by a business or organization that is a Visit Albuquerque Partner in good standing. In addition, nominees must be:

Passionate about Albuquerque as a destination;
The primary decision maker of their company;
Willing to serve on a high-functioning, working Board;
Available for committee assignments, as needed;
Able to attend Visit Albuquerque events;
Available on the fourth Tuesday of every other month for a Board meeting (11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.) and one annual all-day Board retreat;
Willing to work hard to provide the best possible leadership in the hospitality industry.

Get more details on the nominations process, and submit your nominations.

ABQ Sunset/Skyline

Visit Albuquerque Opens Route 66 Information Station

Visit Albuquerque recently opened the Route 66 Information Station at the historic intersection of 4th Street and Central Avenue. Visitors can snap a photo behind a cutout of a classic car, grab a Visitors Guide and talk to the on-site staff about all the exciting things to do on Albuquerque’s Route 66. The Information Station is located inside the Rosenwald Building on the southeast corner of the intersection. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

REACH TRAVELERS BY ADVERTISING IN VISIT ALBUQUERQUE’S PUBLICATIONS

Advertising sales are underway for Visit Albuquerque’s two flagship print publications, the City Guide for Balloon Fiesta Visitors and the 2027 Official Albuquerque Visitors Guide. Put your business in front of tens of thousands of potential customers by advertising in these trusted resources that are designed to help travelers discover where to stay, shop, dine and experience the best of Albuquerque.

The City Guide for Balloon Fiesta Visitors includes maps, schedules and other helpful information about attending the Balloon Fiesta as well as a neighborhood guide and a citywide calendar of events. It will be distributed at local hotels, Visit Albuquerque’s Visitor Information Centers and at the Balloon Fiesta. The deadline to reserve display advertising is July 24.

Advertising sales are also open for the 2027 Official Albuquerque Visitor Guide, an essential planning resource that travelers use before and during their visit to Albuquerque. The ad reservation deadline is Nov. 6. As an added benefit, businesses that advertise in both publications receive a 10% discount on ad rates.

This year’s advertising sales are being managed by Lisa Saturday of Miles Partnership, Visit Albuquerque’s marketing partner. If Lisa contacts your business about advertising opportunities, be assured that she is working on behalf of Visit Albuquerque to help our Partners connect with visitors. For advertising rates and details, contact Lisa at 303-867-8301 or send an email to Lisa.Saturday@MilesPartnership.com.

Submit Your City Guide Coupon for Balloon Fiesta

Balloon Fiesta will be here before you know it, and we want to include your business in our promotional efforts. Visit Albuquerque is publishing our annual City Guide that includes coupons, a full calendar of events and helpful information about things to do and see in Albuquerque. The special booklet is distributed to more than 30,000 visitors during Balloon Fiesta. Including a coupon in our City Guide is a great way to introduce your business to new visitors and drive increased business during the Balloon Fiesta season.

All coupons follow a standard format and are text-only, so there is no need to submit artwork or a logo. Submit your coupon here! In order to be included in the booklet, please fill out the form no later than July 24, 2026. There is no charge to include your coupon, but you must be a Visit Albuquerque Partner. If you have any questions, please contact marketing@visitabq.org or 505-222-4314.

Visit Albuquerque Attends MPI WEC

Senior National Sales Manager Misty Jester traveled to San Antonio, Texas, to represent Albuquerque at the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) World Education Congress (WEC) from June 1-4. During the conference, she promoted Albuquerque as a premier destination for meetings, conventions and events while cultivating relationships with meeting planners and industry partners.

As part of the event, Misty participated in a two-day Hosted Buyer Program, where she conducted 18 one-on-one appointments with meeting and event professionals from a variety of organizations to discuss future meeting opportunities and showcase Albuquerque's offerings.

Albuquerque Welcomes Important Meetings in June

Visit Albuquerque helped bring some noteworthy meetings to the city this month.

AFTACON - June 2-5

The Americans for the Arts Conference took place at Hotel Albuquerque and Hotel Chaco June 2-5. This meeting included multiple days of arts programming at locations around the city. The conference brought arts leaders from across the country to Albuquerque, generating impactful business for our hotels, restaurants and cultural institutions while also showcasing the city’s incredibly vibrant creative community. Thank you to the City of Albuquerque Arts & Culture Department and the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs for their leadership to make AFTACON a success.

PRSA Travel & Tourism Chapter - June 7-10

Albuquerque hosted the Public Relations Society of America’s Travel & Tourism Conference from June 7-10 at Hotel Albuquerque and Hotel Chaco. Attendees experienced authentic Albuquerque culture, with mariachi performances, Old Town activations and a trip to the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum. Dozens of media members had the opportunity to explore Albuquerque with personalized itineraries. By immersing attendees in firsthand experiences throughout the city, we’re confident we created valuable opportunities for future media coverage and positive destination storytelling that will influence travel decisions nationwide. A huge thank you to the many partners that helped ensure this conference was a success! We look forward to reaping the benefits of hosting this prestigious group for years to come.

ASRT Educational Symposium - June 25-28

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists Educational Symposium and Governance and House of Delegates Meeting will be held this week at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Founded in 1920 and headquartered right here in Albuquerque, ASRT represents more than 156,000 members across the United States, making this a true homecoming event for one of the city's most prominent national associations.

The Educational Symposium offers a full day of continuing education covering patient care, medical imaging regulations, radiation therapy advocacy, and emerging trends in the profession, while the House of Delegates convenes to vote on proposed changes to ASRT Bylaws and adopt clinical practice and educational standards that shape the future of healthcare nationwide. Attendees include radiologic technologists, radiation therapists, medical dosimetrists, educators, managers and students from across the country.

Celebrate the Route 66 Spirit at The Great Race

The Great Race is rolling through Albuquerque tomorrow, June 24, at 4 p.m. at Balloon Fiesta Park. The Great Race is a nine-day, 2,300-mile classic car rally across the country featuring historic vehicles navigating precise time and speed challenges. Visit Albuquerque and the City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department are working together to activate Balloon Fiesta Park with a community celebration to welcome racers as they arrive in Albuquerque for an overnight pit stop along their route. See dozens of rare antique vehicles and enjoy a FREE festival-style event with music, local vendors and food trucks. The first 500 attendees will receive a free gift courtesy of Visit Albuquerque.

Submit an NM True Heroes Nomination

Do you know a volunteer or philanthropist who helps those in need? Nominate them for the 2026 True Heroes Awards. The awards recognize New Mexicans who work tirelessly and make sacrifices in support of the greater good in the areas of healthcare, education, volunteerism, philanthropy, hospitality and culture. The 10 recipients selected by a panel of judges will receive the True Heroes award and be featured in a video recognition ceremony on Nov. 19 and in the December issue of “New Mexico Magazine.” To be eligible, the nominee’s service must have taken place between July 2025 and May 2026. Find more information and submit your nominations.

Learn About the Route 66 Centennial with Revamped ACE Training

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. With the Route 66 Centennial underway this year, ACE training classes now have more content to help your employees be prepared to celebrate and answer questions about the centennial.

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 a free Route 66 Centennial branded T-shirt! Make sure your team is ready for visitors coming to Albuquerque to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road.

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

Thursday, July 9, 2026
12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Homestead Cafe (bottom of the Tram)
40 Tramway Rd. NE, 87122

The cost is $25 per person for Partner businesses and $40 per person for non-Partners. Take advantage of a special Route 66 Centennial discount and get three spots in an ACE training for $66. 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.

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:

Wednesday, July 15
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.

Network at a Partner Pop-In Event

Connect with fellow Visit Albuquerque Partners at a Partner Pop-In. These offer a more personalized networking opportunity paired with an activity. The next Partner Pop-In will take place:

Thursday, July 30
3 p.m.
ABQ Barkeeps
6011 San Francisco Rd. NE, Unit C, 87109

Tickets are $25 and include an exclusive cocktail-making class. Register now for an afternoon of creativity and connection.

KNOW SOMEONE WHO MADE A MOMENT MEMORABLE? NOMINATE AN EXCEPTIONAL HOSPITALITY WORKER

Visit Albuquerque is spotlighting local hospitality workers who have created memorable, meaningful experiences through exceptional service.

We’re looking for real stories of hospitality. Tell us about the moments when someone went the extra mile, turned a challenge into a positive experience or made a guest feel genuinely welcomed in Albuquerque. Whether it was a thoughtful gesture, a creative solution or a moment of kindness that stood out, we want to hear what they did and why it mattered.

When you nominate someone, you’ll be asked to share a brief story or example that shows how this individual made a difference. Specific details help us bring these moments to life and inspire others across our hospitality community.

Fill out this form to nominate someone for recognition. Help celebrate hospitality excellence!

Upcoming Meetings and Sports Events

In July 2026, more than 6,300 people will participate in or attend meetings and sports events booked and supported by Visit Albuquerque. These events will generate an estimated $2.4 million in direct spend. Some of the noteworthy events include:

Dates	Group Name	Est. Attendance	Meeting Location
July 1	Sun Country Golf House Los Altos Junior Event	198	Los Altos Golf Course
July 2	Sun Country Golf House Sandia Junior Event	264	Sandia Golf Club
July 6	Sun Country Golf House Isleta Junior Event	198	Isleta Golf Course
July 9-12	Albuquerque Baseball Academy Five Tool Southwest Challenge	2,798	Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Sports Complex
July 9	Camp Morasha Albuquerque	159	Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel
July 11-18	National Stereoscopic Association 3D Photography Convention & Fair Trade	150	The Clyde Hotel
July 11-12	New Mexico Games Powerlifting	200	Balloon Fiesta Park
July 12-14	Varsity Spirit Corporation Varsity Spirit Camp NMAL1	300	Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque
July 15-18	Romance Writers of America Annual Conference	300	Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque
July 18-19	New Mexico Games Tennis	264	Jerry Cline Tennis Center
July 20	Sun Country Golf House Isleta Pro-Scratch	150	Isleta Golf Course
July 24-30	American Association of State Compensation Insurance Funds Annual Conference	550	Albuquerque Convention Center
July 27	Sun Country Golf House Arroyo Del Oso Junior Event	264	Arroyo Del Oso Golf Course
July 28-31	Region VI Pretreatment Association Annual Region VI Pretreatment Association Workshop	240	Hotel Albuquerque
July 28-29	Sun Country Golf House Mini Masters	198	UNM Championship Golf Course

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.