Two resorts, one agenda: rejuvenate and enthrall those who meet in San Antonio, Texas.
We passed beneath stone archways and towering bald cypresses, alongside cozy al fresco cafes with colorful umbrellas, historic statues, rock-cut stages for waterside performances, and even a 100+ retailer mall during a narrated float trip down the San Antonio River with Go Rio Cruises. The River Walk, as we learned, may be a story below street level but is no less exciting. Our river boat, a 40-seater etched with cobalt blue suns and flowers, along with the eclectic personality of the River Walk, brought even more vibrancy to this spirited, 15-mile section of the city. Groups can charter a boat down this urban waterway for a customized experience, and Go Rio also has a number of themed cruises in the works—horticultural to haunted river tours.
An added bonus to the River Walk is its close proximity to some of the city’s most sought-after attractions that double as event spaces like the Alamo, The Brisco Western Art Museum, La Villita artists village and the 22-acre Pearl district, home to The Culinary Institute of America, San Antonio, an array of local shops, wine bars and pubs, and the year-round Pearl Farmers Market. As one of two US cities designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, you better believe the Pearl is the place to be for a taste of San Antonio. We dined at Casa Rio on the River Walk, housed in a centuries-old building on land first granted title in 1777 by the King of Spain. Authentic Mexican fare has been served here since 1946. Now, it comes with several private dining spaces for events and mariachi.
Meet & Explore
With the River Walk as its backyard, the 1,003-room Grand Hyatt San Antonio is in an optimal position for events that seek to integrate hyperlocal experiences. The hotel offers 115,000 sf of indoor-outdoor meeting space with sweeping views of the city. After loading up with fresh baked goods in grab-and-go Perks Coffee, a short escalator ride empties attendees out into the River Walk’s network of meandering walkways. Turn here, and groups are on their way to the UNESCO San Antonio Missions; turn there, and it’s King William and South Town Arts districts, the former known for its grand 19th-century mansions.
Slow It Down
Just a 20-minute drive from downtown San Antonio, the 500-room Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort is reviving exhausted execs across the serenity of 300 acres in Hill Country. A former ranch, the resort takes corporate life down a few notches with world-class spa treatments at the Windflower Spa (housed in a barn), a five-acre water park and FlowRider Wave Machine, golfing across 200 acres of natural landscapes and elegant rooms with views of majestic oaks, rolling hills, twinkling lights, and the enticing glow of a nightly S’mores bonfire. The dining aesthetic at this property speaks to its ranching background. This property has 100,000 sf of indoor-outdoor meeting space and it’s not uncommon for groups to make the journey into downtown San Antonio during downtime.
