Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1537157
50 B M & T ••• July/August 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com SAN ANTONIO WHERE HISTORY HOSTS THE FUTURE B Y Z Y A N A V R A H A M San Antonio positions itself as a desti- nation with precision, heritage, and hospi- tality expertise. The Henry B. González Convention Center offers 1.6 million square feet of event space, including 514,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit floor. This venue ranks among the nation's most competitive. The city is now review- ing a planned 900 million expansion to support next-generation conferences and global scale events. This standout destina- tion is one of a kind. San Antonio's meeting district is streamlined. The convention center is adjacent to Grand Hyatt River Walk, Marriott Rivercenter, Hilton Palacio del Rio and boutique properties including Kimpton Santo River Walk, Thompson River Walk and the historic Gunter Hotel. These properties provide over 13,000 guest rooms, extensive breakout facilities, and turnkey production capabilities. The Kimpton blends live oak shaded court- yards and rooftop pool terrace into 13,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space. Conference organizers benefit from options that are both upscale and adaptive. The district's cohesion minimizes downtime between sessions and evening transitions. Support for events is comprehensive. Local destination management firms col- laborate with city services to support everything from tech summits to national association meetings. San Antonio International Airport offers nonstop flights to more than 40 US cities. Recent upgrades at the terminal have improved passenger flow and amenities. Once in the city, visitors access venues and cultural icons with ease via rideshare, pedicabs, or pedestrian paths. Civic Park at Hemisfair opens outdoor programming opportunities. Shaded lawn space, water features and audio ready pavilions provide options for receptions, breaks, and evening functions that link indoor agendas to fresh air sessions. African-American history is both visible and vital. Fort Sam Houston preserves the legacy of Buffalo Soldiers through perma- nent exhibits and commemorative events. The San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum at the historic Kress Grant Building provides planners the opportunity for private tours, heritage conversations and film screen- ings. The Carver Community Cultural Center, originally founded as a cultural institution and later repurposed during segregation as a library, now serves as a hub for Black performance arts, Art show- casings, and civic dialogue. Ellis Alley on the East Side connects Black-owned studios, galleries and eater- ies, creating a vibrant space for informal receptions, culinary experiences or evening activations. Tony G's Soul Food, The South Chicken and Waffles, and Tryst, a Black-owned speakeasy and restaurant, serve menu items rooted in African and Mexican culinary traditions. Guided neighborhood tours provide planners cul- tural framing for group cohesion activities. Evenings along the River Walk offer live jazz at Jazz TX, folklorico performances at Arneson River Theatre and gallery exhibi- tions celebrating Black visual arts. These experiences prioritize cultural immersion over traditional tourism.. Outdoor meeting opportunities include programming at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Trails, century-old Spanish chapels and shaded gathering points are built into wellness or intentional breakout agendas. Port San Antonio brings innovation into the conversation. A former air force base, it now hosts aerospace, cybersecuri- ty and advanced manufacturing sessions, placing the city at the crossroads of future industry conversations. San Antonio aligns logistics with lega- cy. It supplies planners with scalable meet- ing infrastructure, streamlined travel access and culturally significant program- ming. For planners who want more than a venue, but require relevance and for- ward motion, San Antonio stands ready and worthy. AREA GUIDES S A N A N T O N I O • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS The Westin Riverwalk San Antonio 473 Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk 1,003 Embassy Suites San Antonio River Walk 285 San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter 1,001 Hilton Palacio del Rio 485 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Henry B. González Convention Centers Total Meeting 1,600,000 sq. ft. Largest Hall 86,500 sq. ft. Largest Ballroom 54,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 70 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Anguilla Tourist Board (264) 497-2759 ivisitanguilla.com Henry B. González Convention Center photo credit: Hery B. Gonallez C.C. ••••••••••••••