Better Together

» WE’RE THRILLED TO PRESENT the first issue of Southwest Meetings + Events magazine, one of 10 magazines that are part of Greenspring Media’s Meetings + Events portfolio.

Bringing 18 years as editor of Colorado Meetings + Events to these pages, I continue to marvel at the industry’s creativity, dedication, willingness to partner, and constant growth. While it’s impossible to highlight all the new happenings in the Southwest region in one go, I did my best to provide an insightful overview in this issue’s feature story, which clearly demonstrates that hospitality is indeed on the move again and that the meetings and events industry is revving its engine and zooming forward.

In the Southwest, groups have limitless options to tap local experiences. It’s a place that holds many fond travel memories that can be translated into options for groups. I spent years going to my parents’ winter home in the greater Phoenix, Arizona, area playing rounds of golf, attending events like the Chandler Light Parade, and checking out local eateries. My kids always thrilled at watching the mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ rising 10 feet above the 700-seat dining room at Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa and eating cotton candy out of a tin can at Rustler’s Rooste steakhouse in Phoenix.

In New Mexico, I have thoroughly enjoyed skiing Taos Ski Valley multiple times and wandering the museums and galleries in Santa Fe. I was fortunate to spend a few days in Albuquerque this spring touring meeting and event venues, exploring attractions, going on a speakeasy tour, and enjoying a bird’s-eye view of the city in Visit Albuquerque’s hot-air balloon. And there is nothing quite like the year-round magic of Park City, Utah, or the visual impact of seeing the Las Vegas Strip at my first IMEX America in 2017.

None of these experiences happened in a silo, but rather with other people along for the journey. We’re better together and in person, a philosophy that has been clearly demonstrated over the past three-plus years. The same is true for the pages of Southwest Meetings + Events. We welcome your news, story ideas, and feedback. Please feel free to reach out to Todd R. Berger, Senior Editor, tberger@greenspring.com, or me at the email below.

BETH BUEHLER Editor

bbuehler@greenspring.com meetingsmags.com/southwest

PRESIDENT TAMMY GALVIN

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS – NATIONAL SALES BOB HADDAD 303-617-0548 | BHADDAD@GREENSPRING.COM

RYAN MILLER 214-789-7716 | RMILLER@GREENSPRING.COM

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR ALESHA TAYLOR

GROUP EDITOR KATELYN BLOOMQUIST

SENIOR EDITOR TODD R. BERGER

MANAGING EDITOR AMANDA CHRISTENSEN EDITOR BETH BUEHLER

ASSOCIATE EDITOR MADELINE FUERSTENBERG

CREATIVE DIRECTOR TONYA SUTFIN

ART DIRECTORS MICAH EDEL, TRACI ZELLMANN

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR DEIDRA ANDERSON

SENIOR ADVERTISING COORDINATOR MIKAYLA SNYDER

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR ELLIANNA RADOVICH

JUNIOR ADVERTISING COORDINATOR SYDNEY KELL

SALES + MARKETING SPECIALIST TAUSHA MARTINSON-BRIGHT

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER + DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, EVENTS + PARTNERSHIPS ARTHUR MORRISSEY

EVENT + OFFICE MANAGER RICK KRUEGER

MARKETING + EVENTS COORDINATOR JORDYN TAYLOE

COMMUNICATIONS + EVENTS COORDINATOR JOSEPH SCHMIDT

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS KATHIE GORECKI

ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE AUSTIN SCHMELZLE

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR GERI WILSON

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER CINDY FISH REPRINTS

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