Where big change, big possibilities abound

Everything in Texas is big - including Dallas, the eighth-ranked North American convention and trade-show destination and the site of PCMA's Annual Meeting in 2010. In addition, Dallas and North Texas will host Super Bowl XLV in 2011, and Dallas will welcome the ASAE Annual Meeting in 2012.

Dramatic urban renewal is under way in and around the downtown area of "Big D," as more than $12 billion in developments are offering a seemingly endless array of cultural and entertainment venues for groups that want to live large and think big. Visitors to the largest urban arts district in the nation will enjoy a one-of-a-kind arts experience at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas Museum of Art, The Crow Collection of Asian Art, and the Nasher Sculpture Center.

New ballet, opera, and performance venues will soon complement these top-tier attractions when the Dallas Center for Performing Arts debuts in 2009, making Dallas the only city in the world with four buildings in one contiguous location designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects.

But there's more to Dallas' big story. Victory Park - the new $3 billion-plus, 75-acre mixed-use development - continues to add high-end residences, retail, office space, and indoor and outdoor recreation facilities. The world's largest high-resolution LED "Victory Park Screens" overlook AT&T Plaza, while the upscale W Dallas-Victory hotel boasts a full-service Bliss spa, acclaimed Craft restaurant, and trendsetter Ghostbar Lounge. Victory Park also includes the celebrated N9NE Steakhouse, Luna de Noche Gourmet Grill, Nove Italiano, Kenichi, Victory Tavern, Medina Restaurant, and House of Blues.

Nearby, the Main Street District is adding nearly 300,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, complementing the Main Street Contemporary Gallery, Jos. A. Bank, Dallas Fish Market, Scene, Ivy Lounge, and Charlie Palmer. In addition, the Adam Tihany-designed luxury boutique hotel - The Joule - recently opened with its infinity pool overlooking the heart of downtown.

Topping it all off, Dallas is centrally located, with two airports, DFW International and Love Field, offering less than four hours' flying time from most U.S. destinations. 

facts to file
Convention Facilities: The Dallas Convention Center offers more than one million square feet of space, including 726,726 square feet of prime, contiguous exhibit space; a 203,000-square-foot, column-free exhibit hall (the largest nationwide); a 9,816-seat arena; a 1,750-person capacity theater, and 96 meeting rooms.
Rooms Citywide: 29,108 within city limits of Dallas; 72,739 within greater Dallas; 6,400 within walking distance of convention center
Attractions: Main Street District - indoor/outdoor event venues, Pegasus Plaza, Stone Street Garden, Joule Hotel, Charlie Palmer restaurant, flagship Neiman Marcus
Fair Park - indoor/outdoor event venues, seven museums, historic Art Deco facilities on 277 acres Victory Park - indoor/outdoor event venues, 75 acres including AT&T Plaza, restaurants, retail, American Airlines sports/concert facility, House of Blues
Arts District - indoor/outdoor event venues, three museums, symphony center, multiblock central boulevard (2009), two additional facilities, outdoor plaza
Southside District - Gilley's: mechanical bull, dance instructors, live entertainment, five private rooms and more for 50-5,000; Eddie Deen's Ranch: Texana experience for 25-2,500
Dallas Arboretum - indoor/outdoor venues; 66 acres, White Rock Lake
Dallas World Aquarium/West End - five meeting rooms, receptions up to 2,050, marine wildlife, rainforest
For More Information: Casandra Matej, senior vice president, sales & marketing, Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau; Phone: (214) 571-1049; E-mail: cmatej@dallascvb.com;
Web site: www.DallasMeetings.com