During a recent visit to Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, it was easy to see why the property, not to mention the destination of Aurora, has become a magnet for business and leisure travelers.

The InterContinental Houston - Medical Center opened next to the Texas Medical Center, the world's largest medical complex. The 354-room, 21-story hotel features Club InterContinental Lounge, a Mediterranean restaurant Safina Restaurant & Bar, an outdoor pool, fitness center and meeting and event space.

Madison, Wisconsin, is an emerging destination for Midwest meetings. Here’s a run-down of what is new in the area for planners considering the city for their next event.

Metro Seattle, a region always at the forefront of technology and travel trends, is transforming its iconic landmarks while making room for exciting new meeting venues and visitor attractions. This reinvention is bringing alternative ways for groups to experience old favorites as well as putting new choices into the mix.

Stretching from the Pacific coast’s Vancouver Island through the jaw-dropping scenery of majestic mountain ranges and the fertile plains of Canada’s breadbasket, Western Canada boasts every meeting setting imaginable aside from palm trees and sun-soaked beaches. The region has also upped the ante by adding or improving on an impressive number of meetings and events facilities.

MGM Resorts International unveiled the $130 million, 250,000-square-foot expansion of its MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas, introducing copious new spaces and creative new options to accommodate the evolving need for collaborative, productive and healthy work spaces.

Rosewood Miramar Beach opened its doors in Santa Barbara's Montecito community. The oceanfront resort offers guest accommodations that open out right onto the beach. Formerly Miramar by the Sea, the property serves as a gathering place for locals and visitors alike.

Marriott International opened its first newly built property that combines three brands under one roof. The 21-story, $140 million Nashville property includes an AC Hotel, Residence Inn and SpringHill Suites. The property was developed by North Point Hospitality and is located across from the Music City Convention Center.

The 301-room Hyatt Regency Deerfield, which has 20,000 square feet of meeting/event space, and the Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago North Shore Deerfield, which has more than 7,000 square feet of function space, are both undergoing renovations that at press time were scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2019

Virgin Hotels unveiled its second property, Virgin Hotels San Francisco. The hotel, located in South of Market (SoMa) near Yerba Buena Gardens and the Moscone Center, features 194 guest accommodations, multiple dining and drinking outlets and 7,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel is also near the new Central Subway Station, which, upon opening later this year will connect South of Market with Union Square and Chinatown.