Over its 27-year history, South by Southwest (SXSW) has evolved into the premiere gathering for creative professionals in music, film and interactive technology, in turn transforming Austin into a burgeoning hub for businesses in those fields. The festival has also set Austin apart on the national event stage, showcasing famous and up-and-coming talent, and attracting growing legions of fans. The fun is irresistible. As SXSW’s website says, “If you want to attend panels in your pajamas, we won’t judge.”
“SXSW dominates the city for nearly 14 days every March using 13 conference and exhibit venues totaling about 1 million square feet of space, 76 hotels, 104 music festival stages and 12 film festival theaters,” says Mike Shea, executive director of the festival. “Calculated at $168 million in 2011, SXSW’s economic impact for Austin is expected to top $200 million in 2012.”