Downtown Tucson Is Building Success for Meetings and Conventions

 

For a city of 546,574 people, Tucson has become a busy, busy place. Nowhere is that more evident than at the 233,000-square-foot Tucson Convention Center (TCC).

The TCC completed an expansion and renovation in August 2023 that added 32,000 square feet of meeting space, two garages with more than 1,000 spaces, renovated the former TCC (now Linda Ronstadt) Musical Hall and restored the utility of the TCC’s two outdoor fountains. 

According to Fletcher McCusker, chairperson of the Rio Nuevo District, where the convention center is located, 1.4 million people visited the TCC last year. 

[Related: Rio Nuevo District Set to Launch Downtown Tucson in the Meetings World]

“New rooms, new technology and historical assets all make the entire campus very much in demand,” he said. “With the tech upgrades, we are seeing interest from gaming events, a first for Tucson.”

A Downtown Turnaround

The Rio Nuevo Downtown Redevelopment, which has spent decades building its public/partnership model, is seeing the work pay off. 

“For every dollar we have invested,” McCusker said, “the private sector has invested 10.” Because of early challenges, “We have focused on multiple small deals. We have launched a new microloan program to help small businesses launch.”
Some of these deals include working with area business owners to help their thriving businesses expand, assisting the police with security equipment and creating a “foodie” hub. 

“Tucson has become a foodie travel destination,” McCusker noted, “thanks to the [UNESCO] City of Gastronomy, 23 miles of Mexican food establishments, new high-end restaurants like Bata, Miss Saigon and others.”

[Related: Exploring the Food Heritage and Culinary Highlights of Tucson, Arizona]

"Meeting planners can provide their groups an immersive experience with food that tells a story dating back over 5,000 years,” said Mo Olivas, Visit Tucson’s communications manager. And 2025 “marks Tucson’s 10th anniversary of receiving the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy Designation in the U.S.”

Reversing the fortunes of a blighted downtown isn’t just a Tucson problem; it’s a ubiquitous challenge for most modern cities. While making its plans, Rio Nuevo had an opportunity to view several examples of revitalization. 

“Denver was a model for us; Austin was, too. Dallas, Nashville—the renovated buildings, alongside new skyscrapers, focused on food and entertainment,” McCusker said.

“We are pleased to say downtown Tucson has been recognized as a great example of renovating urban blight and abandoned downtowns,” he added. 

A recent example is the 145-room Leo Kent Hotel, part of Marriott’s Tribute portfolio, which opened in May 2023 on the bottom nine floors of the 23-story former United Bank Tower. 

On the horizon is Sol Block, a renovated retail plaza that had seen better days. Sol Block is expected to open by the end of 2024 with local anchors like Rocco’s Little Chicago Pizza, which is opening a new location, and Decibel Coffee. 

“Guests rave about Tucson’s hardcore community-mindedness and locals’ passion for lifting their neighbors up,” Olivas said. “With deep Indigenous and Mexican roots, valuing family and community, Tucson embodies what it means to be a community and take care of each other, and visitors see that everywhere they go when exploring Tucson.”

[Related: The Hidden Gems and Local Favorites for Nightlife Fun in Major Arizona Cities]

Downtown Is for Everybody

Unlike many larger meeting destinations, groups in Tucson are more likely to brush shoulders with actual Tucson residents in the downtown area, thanks to its amenities. In addition to hosting groups, the TCC is the venue for community and public events. 

“The AGTA Gem Fair and the Mariachi Festival have become signature events, along with multiple home games for hockey and football,” said Graeme Hughes, Visit Tucson’s CEO. “Most folks don’t know that the NHL AAA Roadrunners are just one of the full-time tenants at the TCC; Tucson Sugar Skulls Area Football is another. Also, the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall is home to the Tucson Symphony Orchestra.”

Nature Nurtures All

In 2025, Tucson will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its European settlement. Its habitation by the indigenous Tohono O’odham is far older, of course. Groups interested in Tucson’s history can visit Tucson’s Barrio Viejo neighborhood, which in 2024 will receive National Historic Landmark Designation as the largest barrio in the U.S. 

“Meeting attendees can also learn about Tucson’s historic past on a Borderlandia Walking Tour through downtown and Barrio Viejo, or by visiting Mission Garden, a living agricultural museum accounting for Tucson’s Native American past in the form of edible crops,” Olivas said.

In addition, she noted how available nature is in Tucson. 

“Visitors are always shocked to see how lush our deserts are, and they can’t get enough of our iconic Saguaros,” Olivas said. “Groups love getting out in nature to disconnect for a bit and experience our lush deserts, warm weather and clear skies.” 
Saguaro National Park has also been named an Urban Night Sky Place, a designation that Olivas says “solidifies Tucson’s place in the astronomy community.”

“The main core of downtown remains very busy, with multiple new restaurants and more coming, along with new hotels, apartments, concert venues and festivals,” McCusker said. 

With all these businesses repopulated downtown, he is happy to report, “We will soon run out of space!”  m

Hardly the Last Resort

Before the downtown revitalization, groups mainly gathered at the area’s surrounding resorts. In addition to their fabulous luxury, many properties have curated activities that reinforce Tucson’s sense of place.

For example, Tucson resorts rotate hosting competitive culinary events organized by the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance. This year, the 511-room Tucson El Conquistador, A Hilton Resort, recently held the Annual Salsa, Tequila, & Taco Challenge for the second year in a row. In addition to live music, lucha libre wrestling, live artist painting and more, the event sets the bar for culinary artistry for local restaurateurs. Meanwhile, the Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa (home of Meetings Today LIVE! West in 2025), which recently added meeting space, held the World Margarita Championship. The two events are in their 11th and 17th year, respectively.

Loews Ventana Canyon offers onsite stargazing for guests. The 398-room property is expected to complete room renovations in all but two presidential suites in November 2024. Some guest room bathrooms will feature new expansive walk-in showers while others will have oversized soaking tub-shower combinations. There’s also been a refresh of its main restaurants and outdoor spaces.

Resorts like the 575-room JW Marriott Starr Pass offer easy ways to connect Tucson’s culture with hiking and story-telling rituals.

One of the oldest cattle and guest ranches, the 60,000-acre, 70-room Tanque Verde Ranch provides a dude ranch experience for those city slickers who crave it. In addition, “The Barn” is its latest offsite venue. Space for up to 350 guests includes a “rustic” bar and a massive dining room with panoramic sliding doors. An exterior lawn can also host up to 350 people.

What's New at Tucson Resorts

Following are some key updates at major Tucson hotels and resorts:

• The 106-room Eddy Hotel Tucson, Tapestry Collection by Hilton opened in March 2023.
• The 120-room Embassy Suites La Paloma Village completed an entire guestroom renovation and meeting space refresh.
• The 487-room Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa is expected to open its lobby, lobby bar and main restaurant to expansive mountain views by the third quarter of 2024.
• The 130-room Omni Tucson National recently finished a complete resort renovation, including the main lobby, spa, restaurants, luxury suites and meeting space.

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