March Brings Big Business to Albuquerque with Meetings, Conventions and Sporting Events

March is a stellar month for meetings, conventions and sporting events! Visit Albuquerque assisted with placing more than 30,000 definite rooms in the city for the month of March. The American String Teachers Association, along with the National Orchestra Festival, brought over 2,300 people to the convention center from March 6-9. Several other smaller, notable meetings including the World Clown Association, Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers, and Destination Marketing Association of the West will have all contributed to the city’s occupancy by the end of the month.

In addition, the Albuquerque Sports Commission assisted with the NMAA, 2019 Boys & Girls Basketball Championships, March 12-16 at the Pit, with an estimated 4,950 attendees; Sun Country Volleyball, 2019 Bid Qualifier, March 15-17 at the Albuquerque Convention Center (ACC), with an estimated 5,280 attendees; and the USA BMX, 2019 Spring Nationals, March 15-17 at Duke City BMX, with an estimated 2,732 attendees. 

Visit ABQ and Hotel Partners Attend Meetings Industry Council of Colorado

On March 12 and 13, Visit Albuquerque, along with hotel partners from the Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown, Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel, Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North and the Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque Hotel, attended the Meetings Industry Council of Colorado educational conference and tradeshow at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. This highly attended conference is produced by the 13 member associations of the MIC of Colorado and is considered one of the premier events by meetings and events professionals in the Rocky Mountain Region and the West.

National Senior Games Looking for Volunteers

Albuquerque is the host city for the 2019 National Senior Games presented by Humana. Over 10,000 athletes, ages 50 years and older, from around the globe will be joined by over 20,000 visitors. These athletes will participate in 20 sports as they compete for the Gold!

Join the team of 3,500 volunteers for the world’s largest sporting event for athletes ages 50 and over! Learn more here, and sign up to volunteer at NSGA.com/volunteer.

Registration for the 2019 Governor’s Conference is Now Open

Considered New Mexico’s marquee tourism industry event, featuring quality educational programs and industry networking, registration for the 2019 Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism is now open.

The conference is presented by the New Mexico Hospitality Association and is the annual statewide "how-to" for the New Mexico hospitality and tourism industry. It features incredible keynote speakers and breakout sessions designed to help you run your travel and tourism businesses more efficiently and effectively.  

Over the course of the two-day conference, you have the opportunity to attend presentations, panel discussions and demonstrations from three educational tracks: hotel & tourism sales, tourism development, and hotel & tourism marketing. Each track will feature four breakout sessions to provide you with a wealth of knowledge from industry experts to help you better excel in your career and help drive visitors to your property or destination.

Register here.

NMTD Requesting Proposals for Several Tourism Projects

The New Mexico Tourism Department (NMTD) is requesting proposals for various projects to continue growing tourism in the state. Projects include:

• Brand Impact Effectiveness Study
• Tourism & Destination Development Roadmap
• Return on Investment (ROI) Study

Find details on each project and more information on submitting a proposal on NMTD’s industry-facing website. Click here for more information.

NM United Kicks Off Inaugural Season in Albuquerque

The New Mexico United soccer team officially kicked off its inaugural season this month and succeeded in selling out Isotopes Park, officially taking the lead and setting the gold standard with its record-breaking first game sellout attendance of more than 12,000 tickets. 

Officially unveiled as an expansion club in the summer of 2018, New Mexico United will play in the United Soccer League Championship league (USL), which occupies the second tier of the U.S. soccer pyramid under Major League Soccer (MLS). As part of a rapidly expanding soccer landscape in the U.S., United will join 35 other teams in the league.

New Mexico Lands New Hockey Team to Play out of Albuquerque

New Mexico has officially landed a new hockey team, the New Mexico Ice Wolves. The new team, owned by broadcast mogul Stan Hubbard, will compete in the South Division beginning in 2019-2020 and play at the Outpost Ice Arenas.

Hubbard acquired the Outpost Ice Arenas in August and invested $2 million in renovations in preparation for the team's inaugural season, according to a release.

Mayor Keller Launches Surveys to Aid Artists

The City of Albuquerque has launched a new initiative to help individual artists, working in all mediums, to overcome roadblocks they may be facing in their professional success. Mayor Tim Keller’s goal is to institutionalize a support system through the “Tipping Points for Creatives” program, a joint effort between the City’s Albuquerque’s Economic Development and Cultural Services departments.

Through the new program, artists will help determine the course through their feedback. The current survey is available online at cultureabq.com and responses are due by Sunday, March 31. The answers to the survey will lead to a series of group discussions and meetings this spring.

Celebrating Women’s History Month in Albuquerque

March is Women's History Month, the nationally designated month commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history. Visit Albuquerque encourages you to celebrate this month by supporting the many female-owned businesses throughout the city. We’ve put together a blog post celebrating just a few of the accomplished, inspiring female business owners throughout the community. Read the full article here and share some of your favorite local woman-owned businesses with us on our social media channels.

Marble Brewery Hosts Service Industry Nights

Marble Brewery hosts Service Industry Nights at all locations for all employees in the local service industry, every Monday night. The brewery is offering an opportunity for all of the hard-working service industry employees to be served, after long hours serving others. See the Marble Brewery events page for more information, and encourage all of your service employees to enjoy the specials and discounts.

Join the 12th Annual EXHIB-IT! Expo and Educational Roundtables on April 23

Join us Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at Isleta Resort for Educational Roundtables 2-3:45 pm and Expo 4-8 PM. EXHIB-IT!’s B2B Expo is New Mexico’s premier Expo and networking event. The event’s mission is to foster economic development by creating a prosperous learning environment through a network of leaders. Want to Exhibit?  Sign up for a Booth Space as space is limited.  Tickets are on Sale Now! To find out more about the B2B Expo visit http://b2bexponm.com/.

Learn More

Yucca Art Gallery Hosts Nature’s Garden Art Party

Spring into Yucca Art Gallery as we host “Nature’s Garden Art Party.” Featured artists Karen Jacobs, Alcohol Painting, Julie Medow, painted cutting boards and Emily Holcomb, custom jewelry will exhibit Spring-inspired creations. Enlightening conversation, unique art, refreshments and gift drawing.

April 5, 5pm – 7pm

www.YuccaArtGallery.com