On the Road To Santa Fe, Passing Through Albuquerque

By Emily Esterson, 12-12-05

It's really no surprise that Albuquerque doesn't get a terribly high ranking in the minds of conventioneers. After all, Albuquerque isn't Santa Fe (as it is constantly reminded).

In today's Albuquerque Journal (paid) a story recounts a study by a company called Egret Communications, that says the city has safety concerns, lack of upscale hotels and an empty downtown.

Indeed, we only have three only mediocre hotels within spitting distance of the Convention Center--I've never stayed at the Hyatt or La Posada (which has great potential as a boutique hotel, and is in renovations now), but I've spent time in their lobbies and restaurants and ballrooms. Both are adequate but not special (although the lobby bar at La Posada is a really beautiful place). And although Downtown has made great strides in the past five years, it still has a ways to go as place that would be interesting to tourists who are seeking a quick and interesting walk between convention meetings or at night. And yes, there are few good restaurants downtown (which is why the Artichoke is always choked with convention visitors looking to spend every cent of their per diems. It's hard to rack up a good expense report at Pearl's Dive, although the food is always good, or even Gold Street Caffe).

A publishing company, Morgan Quitno, does an annual ranking of safest/most dangerous cities. Albuquerque ranked 17 out of the top 25 most dangerous places. Las Vegas and Tuscon ranked as more dangerous than Albuquerque, both popular convention cities.

So what does Albuquerque have to do to get on the good side of meeting planners? Probably focus on the right kinds of conventions. We're never going to be Las Vegas or Santa Fe (which has plenty of upscale hotel rooms but not real convention center, go figure), with oodles of walkable streets and interesting sites and great downtown restaurants. What we do have, though, may be more valuable: affordability for meeting planners and conventioneers, lots of interesting science resources, and a great winter climate.

To the folks at Egret Communications, who, by the way, seem to focus on sustainable/ecotourism consulting and travel, I say, pa-shaw! There's plenty of reasons to visit Albuquerque, provided it's the right kind of convention planned in the right way. [End of article]