Technological advances are often crucial for event planners to have an edge. Here are new and recently renovated Austin venues that have stayed on top of upgrades and improved offerings for tech-savvy guests. These hotels, conference centers, restaurants, private rooms, and other spaces can accommodate groups large or small for private and corporate events, conferences, meetings, weddings, business dinners, teambuilding activities, cocktail parties, and more.
Opened in October, NLand Surf Park is the only surfing destination of its kind in North America. Featuring a 14-acre lagoon filled with rainwater that’s collected on the property, NLand, which is located 10 minutes east of the Austin airport, partnered with Spanish engineering firm Wavegarden to create long, consistent, barreling waves in the middle of Texas. The technology works the same way as an ocean wave does. A mass of water is moved over a surface, causing the wave to form and then fold on itself—just like a wave breaking over a reef or sandbar. The difference is that Wavegarden can regulate the size and speed of the wave, allowing all different skill levels to hang ten. The park also offers options for private events, corporate outings, and teambuilding activities; maximum capacity in the lagoon is approximately 120 surfers per session.
Located in central Austin, the recently opened Peached Social House is a multi-functional event space that offers a variety of amenities, including a commercial kitchen, a 130-inch drop-down projection screen, and BassBoss speakers. Plus, it features an innovative Ketra lighting system—mood-controlled lighting that replicates the sun’s natural rhythms. The venue also boasts a modern, urban design with clean lines and fabricated shipping containers. And as part of the Peached Tortilla family, the space offers an in-house catering program, with seated capacity for 104 people and standing capacity for 175 people.
In April, the Contemporary Austin launched a major renovation and expansion of its downtown museum location, the Contemporary Austin—Jones Center. The project, which was completed in August, increased gallery space from 5,100 to more than 7,000 square feet through a reconfiguration of the interior areas. The renovation also expanded the museum’s rooftop deck with the addition of a 21-foot-high permanent, open-air canopy, which provides shelter and shade in inclement weather and adds versatility to the space. In addition, larger exterior access panels were installed, allowing art crates to be easily moved in and out of the building. The museum also added a large hydraulic lift, similar to those in a parking garage, to enable movement of art from the lower to the upper floor of the building. The enhancements allow the Contemporary Austin to organize larger-scale original shows, host touring exhibitions of greater size, and display larger-scale works of art.
In addition to its smart-technology meeting space called Tangent, the Westin Austin Downtown, which opened in July, recently invested in Catchboxes, a wireless microphone to pass—or even throw—among speakers or audience members during meetings. The device consists of a microphone capsule secured with a magnet inside a soft, seven-inch cube. Tangent at Westin is a flexible workspace, which can be booked by the hour for up to four people for impromptu meetings, interviews, or brainstorming sessions.
A locally grown ice cream shop co-founded by sisters Ashley and Christina Cheng, Spun Ice Cream specializes in seasonal ice creams spun to order using liquid nitrogen with a custom flash-freezing technique. The ice cream bases are made in-house with fresh milk and cream and without emulsifiers, preservatives, or stabilizers. In addition, the owners plan to debut an ice-cream truck in November or December with the same liquid nitrogen equipment for special events and catering. Plus, interactive ice cream-making lessons, demos, and educational talks are offered onsite, and custom ice cream flavors, artisanal toppings, and special sundaes are available upon request for companies and brands. The shop offers an indoor capacity for 26 people for events and parties.
Located about 30 miles from Austin in Georgetown, Texas, the Sheraton Georgetown Texas Hotel’s conference center features over 30,000 square feet of state-of-the-art flexible space that can accommodate meetings with 10 attendees to conferences of 1,200. It also includes a 16,000-square-foot ballroom with 10 distinct sections and four breakout rooms including a boardroom. PSAV, the in-house audiovisual provider, offers technical equipment and services, including computer interfaces, LCD imaging devices, component video, image magnification, Internet and networking services, touch-panel technology, rigging, digital audio, special effects, concert sound and lighting, digital signage, video conferencing, and virtual meetings, along with traditional basic equipment. Opened in July, the hotel offers 222 guest rooms and suites, as well as ample pre-function areas with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Rivery Park.
Located in the Second Street district, Second Bar + Kitchen, which opened in August as part of the Archer Hotel, serves small plates for sharing, such as veal meatballs arrabbiata and avocado fundido, as well as entrees like soba noodles and sprouts and seared rainbow trout. For events, the venue installed a custom-made craft cocktail and draft wine system that’s integrated throughout the restaurant, terrace, and poolside, allowing for signature cocktails to be poured easily and quickly. The multi-level space, which fits 144 people, also features two distinct areas—an outdoor terrace and balcony—for private parties. Overlooking Second Street, the upstairs balcony or “the Green Room” includes a soft, plush carpet of artificial field grass, teak tables, contemporary metal chairs, a large flat-screen television, and its own sound system; it can hold up to 44 people.
In September, the JW Marriott Austin opened the Spa by JW, which features nine treatment rooms and offers a variety of services, including massages, nail treatments, and facials. Spa by JW express treatments provide on-demand services that are bookable without an appointment. Guests can experience the innovative express spa suites, which are designed around a state-of-the-art massage chair, and feature embedded scent infusers, noise-canceling technology, and cell phone-charging stations. Treatments include a variety of 12- to 25-minute services like the Relaxing Scalp Massage, Hydrating Hands, Energy Boost Massage, Nail Shine, and more.
In May, Lake Austin Spa Resort, located 35 minutes west of downtown Austin, introduced a new series of water- and land-based activities called the Ripple Effect. More than 30 activities are available to overnight guests, including Sunset Glow Paddle with either a paddleboard or kayak rigged with underwater lights, SUP Grande Group Outing with a large inflatable stand-up paddleboard that fits four to eight people and can be used for a group outing or a teambuilding activity, as well as hydro-bikes, Zumba classes, meditation, and more. The resort, a Kindred Resorts & Hotels property, offers all-inclusive vacation packages that include accommodations in one of 40 lakeside guest rooms, as well as three gourmet meals daily, indoor and outdoor fitness activities and classes, and a selection of spa and body treatments.
Set to open in December, the extended-stay, 122-room TownePlace Suites Austin North/Tech Ridge includes a 24-hour business center, HDTVs, a fitness center, full kitchens in the guest suites, and an outdoor pool area with a fire pit, which is a gathering space that can hold 20 for receptions. Like all Marriott-brand hotels, the hotel also offers a convenient mobile app, which allows guests to check in remotely, receive an alert when their room is ready, and check out from their mobile device and receive an email copy of final bill. It also includes a chat feature so guests can interact directly with staff and make requests during their stay, such as extra towels, additional bath amenities, and luggage assistance.
