Top 15 Best Conference Cities in the US | 2022-2023

One of the most important choices you’ll need to make when hosting a conference is where to hold it. Setting the tone for the entire event, the ideal venue makes sure that guests are at ease, inspired, and eager to come. But choosing the best city might be difficult because the US is home to so many amazing places. We’ve compiled a list of the top 15 best conference cities in the US to assist you to make an easier decision. From Las Vegas to Miami, these destinations provide a great balance of lodging and food options that are affordable, safe, and convenient for travel. Let’s explore and find the best venue for your upcoming conference:

Here is the List of the Top 15 Conference Cities in the US and Their Ranking Details:

1. Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas, popularly known as the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” is a top choice for conferences. The city provides a wide selection of hotels and meeting spaces that can handle events of various sizes. With a 55.88 Hotels & Restaurants Score, it is evident that there are plenty of lodging and dining alternatives in the city. The city also has a high Affordability Score of 92.86, making it a cost-effective choice for conference attendees. The city’s attraction is increased by its high Travel Accessibility & Safety Score of 93.51, which makes it simple to reach and navigate.

2. San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio is a fantastic location for conferences because it offers a distinctive fusion of contemporary conveniences and old-world charm. The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, which is more than 1.6 million square feet in size, is one of the city’s several conference centers. San Antonio has a Hotels & Restaurants Score of 76.47 with a wide variety of lodging and dining alternatives. The city also receives a perfect score of 100 for the price, making it a very alluring choice for conference-goers on a tight budget. Its Transport Accessibility & Safety Score of 58.44 is still good despite being lower than several other cities on this list.

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3. San Diego, California

San Diego is a well-liked tourist destination because of its pleasant climate and stunning surroundings, but it’s also an excellent choice for conventions. At the core of the city’s downtown, the convention center has exhibit space of more than 2.6 million square feet. San Diego provides many options for lodging and food, earning a score of 72.06 on the hotels and dining scale. Although it has a lower affordability score of 38.10 than some of the other cities on this list, its flawless 100 rating for travel accessibility and safety more than makes up for it.

4. Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is a well-liked conference location due to its vibrant culture and rich history. The Georgia World Congress Center, is one of the biggest in the US and home to the city’s conference center, with approximately 1.4 million square feet of exhibit space. Atlanta has several options for housing and food, as seen by its 55.88 Hotels & Restaurants Score. With an Affordability Score of 80.95, it is a moderately cost-effective choice for conference goers. The city’s Travel Accessibility & Safety Score of 61.04 is still good despite being lower than several other cities on this list.

5. Tucson, Arizona

With its stunning desert scenery and variety of conference facilities, Tucson is a hidden gem in the conference industry. The city’s Tucson Convention Center offers over 205,000 square feet of meeting space.   The lowest score on this list belongs to Tucson, Arizona, with a Hotels & Restaurants Score of 16.18, suggesting that there may be fewer possibilities for lodging and dining there than in other places. But those on a budget will find the city to be a desirable alternative because it received a perfect 100 on affordability. It also has a 70.13 out of 100 for travel accessibility and safety.

6. New York, New York

According to a survey, New York City is the sixth-best American city for conferences. It is the largest city in the nation, with a cosmopolitan population and a thriving cultural scene. With a Hotels & Restaurants Score of 100, New York City offers conference participants a wide selection of top-notch lodging and dining alternatives. The city’s Affordability Score, however, is only 30.95, which might be a deterrent for some conference attendees.

New York City, on the other hand, received a high Travel Accessibility & Safety Score of 50.65, demonstrating that getting around the city is simple and visitors may feel secure doing so.The city also has a thriving food scene with several restaurants serving up traditional southern cuisine, making it an excellent destination for conference attendees to explore local cuisine.

7. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

On our list, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is in seventh place. The city received a rating index of 56.90 thanks to its 30.88 hotel and eating score, 90.48 affordability score, and 49.35 travel accessibility and safety score. The Cox Convention Center and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum are two of Oklahoma City’s leading venues for conferences. These locations accommodate parties of all sizes and have cutting-edge amenities. The city also has a booming dining scene with a number of establishments serving up classic southern cuisine.

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8. San Francisco, California

With a ranking index of 53.51 and scores of 88.24 for hotels and restaurants, 33.33 for price, and 38.96 for travel accessibility and safety, San Francisco, California took the eighth spot on our list. Large-scale conferences are drawn to the city since it is home to the Moscone Center, one of the biggest convention halls in the United States. San Francisco is renowned for having a diversified food scene, with a large number of eateries serving food from all over the world. Participants can also visit the city’s numerous tourist hotspots, including Fisherman’s Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge.

9. Houston, Texas

Houston, Texas ranked ninth on our list with a ranking index of 53.05. Its hotel and dining score was 48.53, its affordability score was 83.33, and its travel accessibility and safety score was 27.27. Several conference facilities are available in the city, including the George R. Brown Convention Center and the NRG Center, which can host events of all kinds. Houston also has a thriving restaurant scene with a number of well-known eateries serving a wide variety of cuisine.

10. Columbus, Ohio

With a rating index of 51.25 and scores of 35.29 for hotels and eating, 47.62 for the price, and 70.13 for travel accessibility and safety, Columbus, Ohio, took 10th place on our list. The Greater Columbus Convention Center, one of the city’s many conference halls, can host events of all sizes. The food scene in Columbus is also growing, with many well-known eateries serving regional fare.

11. Tulsa, Oklahoma

 The bustling city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has a lot to offer tourists. It is listed as the 11th-best American city in the table, with a ranking index score of 47.19. With an affordability score of 85.71, Tulsa is a top choice for travelers on a tight budget. The city also received a high score of 55.84 for travel accessibility and safety, showing that getting around is simple and tourists may feel secure while taking in the city’s attractions. Tulsa receives a score of 0 for restaurants and hotels, indicating that there may not be as many dining and lodging options available there as in some of the other cities on the list.

12. Chicago, Illinois

The next city on the list is Chicago, Illinois, which has a Hotels & Dining Score of 76.47, indicating that there are many places to eat and stay there. Tourists can sample the city’s renowned deep-dish pizza, stroll through the vibrant neighborhoods, or stand on the Willis Tower Skydeck to take in the spectacular cityscape. A number of well-known museums, like the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Science and Industry, are also located in the city. Nonetheless, the affordability score of 28.57 indicates that travelers should make enough plans in order to save money.

13. Austin, Texas

At number 13, Austin, Texas, offers a special fusion of modern flair and southern charm. The city, which is well-known for its live music scene, holds a lot of festivals and events all year long, including the well-known South by Southwest (SXSW) festival. A wide variety of food trucks, farm-to-table eateries, and barbecue establishments are available for visitors to enjoy. The city can be readily navigated via public transportation, according to the travel accessibility and safety score of 75.32, while the affordability score of 0 indicates that tourists may need to plan their spending wisely in order to take full advantage of what Austin has to offer.

 14. Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona, a large metropolis in the Sonoran Desert, is ranked number 14 on the list. At the Desert Botanical Garden, visitors can take in the surrounding scenery’s natural splendor or explore Camelback Mountain’s pathways. Visitors can explore the Heard Museum, which is devoted to presenting Native Americans’ art and culture, to get a sense of the native way of life. The Hotels & Restaurants Score of 17.65, however, indicates that travelers might need to leave the city to obtain a greater variety of dining options.

15. Miami, Florida

Ultimately, placing at position 15 is the well-known tourist destination of Miami is situated on Florida’s southeast coast. It is renowned for its magnificent beaches, exciting nightlife, and distinctive culture. The Miami Beach Convention Center, which just underwent a $620 million restoration, is one of the city’s several meeting venues. Miami also has a range of lodging choices, from opulent hotels to quaint resorts. Miami is a fantastic location for a conference due to its pleasant weather, breathtaking scenery, and abundance of entertainment alternatives.

The city has a ranking index of 44.89 thanks to its scores in the hotel and dining categories of 70.59, 11.90 for affordability, and 51.95 for travel accessibility and safety.

Key Takeaways

In summary, the US has a wide variety of great conference cities, each with its own distinctive features, amenities, and accessibility. These cities are well-known as conference and meeting locations because they offer fantastic chances for business networking and educational opportunities. The top three conference destinations were Las Vegas, San Antonio, and San Diego because of their excellent ratings in the categories of accommodations & dining, affordability, and travel accessibility & safety. But, attendees of conferences also have excellent options in places like Atlanta, Tucson, New York, and Houston. With so many great places to pick from, it’s crucial to take your participants’ individual needs and interests into account when choosing a conference site. Whether you’re looking for a city with vibrant nightlife, rich culture, or picturesque scenery, the top conference cities in the US are sure to provide an unforgettable experience for all attendees.