Here's a closer look at Austin/San Antonio's newest eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms and other spaces available for events this spring. The new and renovated Austin/San Antonio venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fundraisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, team-building activities, conferences, meetings and more.
A note regarding COVID-19: At BizBash, we're still committed to bringing you ideas and inspiration for when (yes, when!) events are back up and running. Some of the venues listed here may not yet be available for hosting events due to the pandemic, or they may be operating at a lower capacity.
Thompson San Antonio
The Thompson San Antonio opened on the River Walk this month. The new luxury hotel includes 162 guest rooms and suites, each equipped with upscale amenities, custom furnishings and advanced smart technology. Planners can host groups in any of the property’s nine indoor and outdoor event venues, which total 10,000 square feet, including the 2,574-square-foot Solana Ballroom, which seats 200 for banquets; a 1,366-square-foot rooftop venue that can host receptions for 100 and is complete with city and river views; and the 678-square-foot Mirador Boardroom with space for 60. Elsewhere throughout the hotel, guests can enjoy three dining outlets, an outdoor pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a full-service spa.
Photo: Courtesy of Thompson San Antonio
Colton House Hotel
Colton House Hotel opened in January, bringing a dose of laid-back luxury to the South Congress neighborhood. The hotel boasts 80 well-appointed suites, ranging from studios to three-bedrooms complete with kitchens, dining areas and large living spaces. Guests can enjoy in-room amenities like 55-inch TVs equipped for streaming, Beekman shower products and even vegan toiletries (upon request). The hotel also features custom commissioned art by local artists, bespoke furnishings, a pool with private cabanas, a fully equipped gym, a yoga studio and a restaurant and bar. Several areas, both indoors and outdoors, are available for private events, like the 1,950-square-foot penthouse with seating for 50 people inside and 49 on the roof deck; the 1,100-square-foot Simona’s restaurant and bar, which seats 75; the elegant 400-square-foot, 25-seat Library (pictured here) complete with floor-to-ceiling bookcases; and a 900-square-foot lawn that seats 75.
Photo: Ayuma Photography
Kalahari Resorts & Convention Center
Kalahari Resorts opened a sprawling location in Round Rock in November. In addition to 975 guestrooms and suites, a world-class spa and salon, and 20 on-site dining locations, the African-themed resort is home to the largest waterpark in America, complete with 30 waterslides, 20 pools and whirlpools, an arcade and three acres of outdoor pools. Meeting planners can take advantage of a whopping 200,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including two ballrooms (40,000 square feet and 22,000 square feet) and 16 meeting rooms. In addition, 50,000 square feet of outdoor event space includes an event barn, covered terraces and an outdoor lawn. With so many options, the resort is equipped to host groups in spaces of all sizes, ranging from the Kilimanjaro Ballroom, which seats as many as 2,800 for seated banquets and 5,000 for cocktail-style receptions, to several 1,500-square-foot breakout rooms that can each seat 44 guests in a U-shaped layout, or 112 in rounds or 160 for cocktail receptions.
Photo: Courtesy of Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
Canopy San Antonio Riverwalk
Next month will bring the opening of Canopy San Antonio Riverwalk, a brand new, 195-room hotel. Throughout the property, modern decor and contemporary art create a welcoming environment, all set against the backdrop of the historic San Antonio River Walk. Each guest room will incorporate innovative technology solutions, allowing guests to control everything from TV streaming services to the temperature and lighting, all via the Hilton Honors app. The hotel will feature 2,300 square feet of flexible event space, including the 1,100-square-foot Las Ramas room, with space for 60 seated guests for banquets or 24 for U-shaped setups. For on-site dining, guests can opt for Otro, a bar and outdoor patio overlooking the River Walk, or Domingo, which specializes in local flavors for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Audiovisual needs are handled by JSAV.
Rendering: Courtesy of Canopy San Antonio Riverwalk
Austin Marriott Downtown
Located across the street from the Austin Convention Center, Austin Marriott Downtown opened its doors this month. The 600-room hotel features 60,000 square feet of flexible meeting space that’s split between 18 event rooms, including the 18,000-square-foot Montower Hall exhibit space with a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, two 14,000-square-foot ballrooms that can each accommodate as many as 1,300 for cocktail receptions and 930 for banquets, and a 337-square-foot boardroom with seating for 10. For on-site dining, guests can enjoy four F&B concepts: Loaf + Vine coffee shop and grocer; the two-story bar and lounge, The Lobbyist; rooftop pool oasis Zanzibar; and regional food concept Corinne. Audiovisual needs are handled through Markey’s.
Photo: Courtesy of Austin Marriott Downtown
