Partner Connection

March 2026

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

Remembering Betty Jo Stafford

Visit Albuquerque is saddened by the recent passing of Betty Jo Stafford, the matriarch of Sadie’s of New Mexico. Sadie’s was founded by Betty Jo’s sister, Sadie Koury, in 1954. Betty Jo began working at the restaurant in the late 1950s, and the two sisters ran it together until Sadie’s retirement in 1975. For the next five decades, Betty Jo managed the restaurant with her husband Robert, who died in 2007, and with her sons. Together, the family turned Sadie’s into a staple of New Mexican cuisine. KRQE and the Albuquerque Journal honored Betty Jo's legacy.

We are grateful for Betty Jo’s contributions to and passion for the Albuquerque hospitality industry. She will be missed. Our thoughts are with the Sadie's team and with Betty Jo's family, including her son William R. Stafford, who serves on the Visit Albuquerque Board of Directors.

Photo Credit: French Funerals & Cremations

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:

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

April 17, 2026
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Explora
1701 Mountain Rd. NW, 87104

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 Feb. 12 class at the Rail Yards.

Graduates: Mechell Rose, Gynelle Miranda, Rudy Araoz, Donnie Pearson and Chris Cooper from the Albuquerque Convention Center; Mara Salcido from the City of Albuquerque; Aaron Sanchez, Victor Haskins and Yadira Delgado from Sheraton Uptown; Miguel Saldana from Marriott Uptown; and Ernie Watson, David Kesner, Lynn Mallory, Bob Desgeorges and Mary Cook from Visit Albuquerque.

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

#ABQTours Celebrates 25 Years in Business

#ABQTours is celebrating 25 years of ghost and history tours in Old Town this year. They’ll be offering free tours to celebrate on April 1. Congratulations on the milestone!

Social Media Spotlight

Albuquerque Funny Fiesta

The Albuquerque Funny Fiesta is the largest comedy festival in New Mexico. This year, they doubled down on their marketing efforts and social media presence. They took advantage of the audience of many of the performing comedians by collaborating on videos and event announcements. They also posted frequently and effectively, working to ensure people could tune into their page for reliable and timely updates.

A screenshot of a reel posted on Albuquerque Funny Fiesta's Instagram.

Partner Opportunities

Host a Visit Albuquerque Partner Event

If you and your business are interested in hosting a Visit Albuquerque Partner event, fill out this form to indicate your interest. Events include Business Exchanges, Partner Pop-Ins, ACE classes and more. No matter the size, you can host an event! We look forward to working with you to shape an exciting event for Visit Albuquerque Partners.

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.

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.

April 7 - Applications close

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.

April 14 - Applications close

Upcoming: Visit Albuquerque Tourism Grant Program

The overarching goal of the Visit Albuquerque Tourism Grant program is to spark innovative ideas that contribute to Albuquerque’s vibrancy and build new, creative visitor and resident experiences that grow a more diverse and thriving tourism economy. To receive information when the 2026-2027 grant information has been posted, email Latka@VisitABQ.org. Applications will be accepted starting in April.

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.

Get Your Ad 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.

Highlight Your Event on 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 Bring in Customers

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

Update Your Contacts in the Extranet

Log in to the Visit Albuquerque Extranet and update your listing subcategories and referral contacts. Keeping your business listing subcategories and referral contacts up to date ensures you do not miss opportunities. Visit Albuquerque sorts referrals by subcategory, and if your listing does not include a current Partner referral contact, meeting planners and tour operators may move on to another 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