Loading...
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Austin has never been a city that stands still, and the next few years are ushering in one of the most exciting periods of growth for the Live Music Capital of the World. As INNOVATX Events heads to IMEX America, the Austin-based Destination and Event Management company is giving meeting and incentive planners a look at what’s ahead.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is in the midst of its ambitious Journey With AUS expansion program, with terminal improvements, expanded security and baggage infrastructure, three additional gates as part of the West Gate Expansion, and longer-term plans for a new midfield concourse with 20+ gates. The investment is designed to make getting to—and through—Austin easier as the city continues to grow as a global meetings and events destination.
Austin’s hotel landscape is growing right alongside it. The city already offers approximately 15,000 downtown hotel rooms, with even more inventory coming online. Among the most anticipated additions are the sustainability-focused 1 Hotel Austin, anchoring the 74-story Waterline tower along Lady Bird Lake, and the 258-room Hotel Trinity, Autograph Collection, both slated for 2026. Looking ahead to 2027, The Standard, Austin will bring the globally recognized lifestyle brand to iconic South Congress. These new properties add even more choices for groups—from luxury incentive programs and executive retreats to citywide meetings—all surrounded by the restaurants, live music, nightlife, outdoor experiences and unmistakable culture that make Austin anything but a cookie-cutter meeting destination.
And Austin is thinking even bigger. The $1.6 billion redevelopment of the Austin Convention Center, known as UnconventionalATX, is transforming the heart of downtown into a next-generation convention district. Expected to welcome groups back for the 2029 spring festival season, the new facility will increase rentable space from 365,000 to approximately 620,000 square feet, including expansive outdoor areas, flexible meeting and exhibit space, public plazas and stronger connections to the surrounding downtown neighborhoods. Designed to become the world’s first Zero Carbon Certified convention center, the project reflects what Austin does best: combining innovation, creativity, sustainability and an experience that feels distinctly different from anywhere else.
For planners, all of this growth means more possibilities—and having the right local partner matters more than ever. INNOVATX Events, A Global DMC Partner, brings Austin to life through customized destination experiences, creative event design and production, transportation, entertainment, tours and activities, dining experiences, meeting support and full-service program management. Our team knows what’s new, what’s next and, most importantly, what will make an experience feel authentically Austin. From taking over a legendary music venue and creating a private Texas Hill Country experience to curating the ultimate barbecue crawl or designing an unforgettable evening beneath the Austin skyline, INNOVATX turns a trip to Austin into a story your attendees will keep talking about long after they return home.
Meet INNOVATX Events at IMEX America and discover why there has never been a more exciting time to bring your next meeting, incentive or event to Austin.
