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64 B M & T ••• September/October 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com AREA GUIDES square feet of meeting space with natural light, open plazas, and mountain back- drops. Though known for Native American and Hispanic heritage, Santa Fe is also home to an emerging Black creative com- munity. The Black History Month Film Festival and the city's Office of Equity and Inclusion provide a planning bridge for inclusive programming and DEI-focused content. Executive retreats thrive here. Resorts like La Fonda on the Plaza or Bishop's Lodge (an Auberge property) offer meet- ing space in settings that feel ceremonial, yet sophisticated. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Tourism Santa Fe – (800) 777-2489 www.santafe.org • • LAS CRUCES • • Las Cruces offers academic access and desert calm. New Mexico State University expands meeting opportuni- ties with auditoriums, conference halls, and research partnerships. The Las Cruces Convention Center includes 55,000 square feet of meeting space surrounded by scenic landscapes and nearby boutique hotels. Event organizers will find opportunities to collaborate with university depart- ments on STEM symposia, agricultural summits, or bilingual programming that draws from the city's proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border. Las Cruces also sup- ports community-centered engagements, with venues that feature rotating art from local creatives and caterers offering green chile cuisine native to the region. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Las Cruces – (575) 541-2444 www.visitlascruces.com Santa Fe, New Mexico, downtown skyline Las Cruces Convention Center photo credit: Oregon C.C. photo credit: Sean Pavone.