is Sawmill Market, a 25,000-square-foot
food court with local purveyors similar in
concept to San Francisco’s Ferry Building
Marketplace.
A wide variety of both indoor and outdoor event spaces are located in the ABQ
BioPark, a complex of attractions that include the Botanic Garden, Zoo, Aquarium
and Tingley Beach, a recreation area with
fishing ponds.
Outdoor venues for up to 2,000 people
are found at the Botanic Garden where
paths meander through a series of formal
and whimsical gardens, a Desert Conservatory and the PNM Butterfly Pavilion, which
is slated to reopen this summer following
renovations.
The Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum, which has exhibits
exploring the history of ballooning and its
impact on aviation, is another group venue.
It provides soaring event spaces with
views of the Sandia Mountains Rio Grande
Valley and Fiesta Field, where thousands of
balloons are launched during the annual
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
in October.
Set on 25 acres of lavender fields and
cottonwood groves outside of Albuquerque, Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic
Farm, which recently completed an expansion that increased its room count from 22
to 50 suites and moved its award-winning
restaurant to a newly renovated barn space,
is a bucolic venue for events and executive
retreats.
“Los Poblanos, which dates from the
1920s, has beautiful event space and really
infuses meetings with the natural beauty of
the property,” said Brenna Moore, communications manager for Visit Albuquerque.
Santa Fe and Taos
Already one of the country’s premier
arts destinations, Santa Fe is continually
unveiling repurposed venues and cultural
offerings. New developments include the
Innovation District, an area buzzing with
new craft breweries and attractions such
as Meow Wolf, an immersive multimedia
art experience housed in a former bowling
alley that has event space for up to 500
guests.
Another emerging hub of activity is
the Railyard Arts District (RAD), the site
of a twice-weekly farmers market and a
growing array of restaurants, sports bars
and galleries. An immersive way to explore
RAD is on a new walking tour offered by
Santa Fe Art Tours called Farm to Canvas
that includes the farmers market, several
art galleries and a printmaking workshop
where participants create food-inspired
artwork.
Set in the heart of the District, SITE
Santa Fe, a contemporary art center with
rotating installations located in a former
beer warehouse, recently completed a ma-
jor expansion and renovation that added
several new event spaces accommodating
up to 250 people. These include a 200-seat
auditorium with an adjoining patio, an
Education Lab for small conferences and
workshops, and Sky Terrace, an outdoor
space with views of the city.
Venues that showcase both the city’s
artistic and natural environment abound in
Santa Fe, according to David Carr, director
of sales for Tourism Santa Fe.
“This is reflected in the Santa Fe Con-
vention Center, which partners with the
city arts commission to exhibit rotating art
displays within the center that are open
to the public,” he said. “You’ll find art in
the breakout rooms and all through the
corridors.”
Santa Fe’s surrounding environment is
also evident at the convention center, he
added.
“We have a large courtyard filled with
aspen and cottonwood trees that works
really well for meals and breaks during
the summer,” Carr said. “Another popular
event space is a 3,000-square-foot outdoor
terrace with views of the Sangre de Cristo
Mountains. People really gravitate toward
OLD TOWN ALBUQUERQUE
Latest + Greatest
ALBUQUERQUE
➜ The 89-room Fairfield Inn & Suites
by Marriott Albuquerque North (www.
marriott.com) opened in December near
the Journal Center business park.
➜ The former Hotel Cascada was rebranded the Wyndham Albuquerque Hotel &
Conference Center (https://wyndham
abq.com) following an upgrade to the
guest rooms and meeting space and the
addition of a fitness center that is the
largest in Albuquerque.
➜ Albuquerque International Sunport
( https://abqsunport.com/) is in the middle of a $30 million renovation set for
completion later this year that includes
upgrades to arrivals and departure areas
and an expanded baggage claim.
➜ Hotel Chaco ( www.hotelchaco.com)
opened last year in Old Town. The 118-
room boutique property features artwork
by Native American artists, a rooftop
restaurant available for events and
access to the adjacent Hotel Albuquerque’s ballrooms and pool.
➜ Isleta Resort & Casino ( www.isleta.com)
embarked on a $40 million renovation
and expansion scheduled for completion
next year. The project includes a new
concert venue, expanded casino and
new food and beverage outlets.
LAS VEGAS
➜ Restoration efforts are underway at
the historic Castaneda Hotel (www.
facebook.com/CastanedaHotel), which
opened as a Harvey House in the 19th
century and hosted such events as a
reunion for Theodore Roosevelt and the
Rough Riders in 1899. The 20-room
property, a prime example of Mission
Revival architecture, is expected to
reopen in 2019.
SANTA FE
➜ Bishop’s Lodge ( www.bishopslodge.
com), a 1920s-era resort located on
317 acres in the foothills of the Sangre
de Cristo mountain range, is currently
undergoing a major renovation and
expansion. Scheduled to reopen in July,
the property, now managed by Auberge
Resorts, will feature 120 guest rooms
and suites, several luxury “glamping”
tents and a new 3,500-square-foot
events pavilion with an adjoining lawn,
among other amenities.
➜ Eldorado Hotel & Spa (www.eldoradoho-
tel.com) opened Casa Espana, an event
venue located in an 18th century house
with custom furnishings and artwork
that accommodates gatherings for 50 to
300 guests.
