With sun-kissed skies, swaying palm trees and mountains you can almost reach out and touch, Greater Palm Springs provides an inspiring backdrop for brainstorming and connecting with colleagues. The destination’s nine distinct cities—Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio and Coachella—offer a unique blend of venues and attractions, from historic midcentury modern estates and sprawling polo fields to hockey games and hot mineral springs.
Plus, Greater Palm Springs enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine each year, meaning outdoor events and activities are on the agenda year-round. Mild winters and warm, sunny summers call for poolside networking and evening receptions beneath clear, starry skies. And what better way to build a stronger team or inspire bright ideas than by sharing a memorable experience in an extraordinary setting?
Here are four reasons why Greater Palm Springs is the perfect destination for your next conference or meeting.
1. Easy Air Access
Though Greater Palm Springs is located just hours from gateway cities like Los Angeles and San Diego, flying here directly has never been easier. Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) offers a convenient alternative to some of the larger airports in the region, with 30-plus nonstop flights across 12 airlines and connections to more than 500 destinations worldwide. A new nonstop route from Palm Springs to New York-JFK on Alaska Airlines (starting Dec. 14) is the latest addition to PSP’s ever-growing air service.
The airport’s open-air walkways, lushly landscaped courtyards and fewer crowds allow attendees to arrive relaxed and inspired; it's no surprise PSP was named one of the Top 10 Most Stress-Free Airports in America by SmarterTravel.com. Plus, a $36 million renovation is enhancing almost every aspect of the traveler experience, including new locally inspired food and retail vendors coming this year.
2. New Developments and Attractions
Greater Palm Springs is always welcoming new developments to an already impressive lineup of venues, accommodations and attractions. Recent highlights and refreshes include:
- Acrisure Arena: The 11,000-seat sports and entertainment venue not only hosts concerts and private events but is also home to the Seattle Kraken’s American Hockey League (AHL) franchise, the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
- Spa at Séc-he: The latest addition to the destination’s renowned health and wellness scene invites visitors to experience ancient hot mineral spring waters estimated to be upwards of 12,000 years old. The spa also includes state-of-the-art treatments and therapies—perfect for unwinding after a busy day—and was recently named one of the top spas in the U.S.
- Agua Caliente Cultural Museum: Located next to the Spa at Séc-he, the recently opened museum features five permanent exhibitions celebrating the history, culture and modern achievements of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, plus a 2,200-square-foot changing gallery showcasing traditional and contemporary Native American art and meeting/event space.
- Thompson Palm Springs: This new downtown Palm Springs property, opening this fall, features 168 luxury guest rooms and pays homage to the destination’s Rat Pack roots with a midcentury modern design. The hotel’s unrivaled amenities include a signature restaurant, an onsite Napa Valley tasting room and immersive views of the San Jacinto Mountains (especially from the two outdoor pools).
- Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa: The clothing and lifestyle brand has launched their first resort concept in the city of Indian Wells, transforming the existing Miramonte Resort & Spa with 215 redesigned guest rooms and villas, plus three saltwater pools, a new signature restaurant created specifically for the resort and a renovated 12,000-square-foot spa, all woven into 11 beautiful acres of citrus groves and olive trees.
3. Outdoor Venues & Activities
Many Greater Palm Springs hotels and resorts feature expansive patios, courtyards and grassy lawns that allow attendees to soak in the year-round sunshine and beautiful views. A wide range of outdoor meeting space includes everything from boutique hotels to major properties like the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, boasting a spectacular lake and palm tree-lined grove, and La Quinta Resort & Club, known for their lushly landscaped grounds dotted with citrus trees and nestled at the base of mountains.
Greater Palm Springs also offers ways for groups to meet outside-the-box (with special emphasis on the outside element). Unique venues in the open air include:
- BMW Performance Center: Give your meeting a shot of adrenaline with high-speed laps around the track before or after meeting in one (or all) of their three luxurious meeting spaces.
- Empire Polo Club: Though best known as the home of Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals, this sprawling venue can host a variety of special events (big and small) and scores major points for fun team-building activities like golf cart polo.
- The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens: Group animal encounters are a must at this wonderfully “wild” attraction, where a grand event space overlooking a new lion habitat is in the works.
4. An Inspiring Convention Center
The Palm Springs Convention Center, located within walking distance of incredible dining, shopping and cultural attractions in downtown Palm Springs, exceeds all expectations, starting with its lobby, where panoramic mountain views make meetings more inspiring. The facility includes:
- 120,000 square feet of carpeted exhibit space
- 21 breakout rooms,
- Two spacious ballrooms
- 20,000-square-foot event lawn
The Palm Springs Convention Center also focuses on how their events are impacting the community and the Earth, whether it’s partnering with the city’s recycling program or enacting their own sustainable practices, including a food composting program that captures 98% of food waste, the installation of more than 2,700 solar panels on the roof, onsite catering that prioritizes sourcing local ingredients, and the use of recycled paper products throughout the venue.
For more reasons to plan a meeting or event in Greater Palm Springs, visit www.meetingsinpalmsprings.com.
Sponsored by Visit Greater Palm Springs
