Meet in Waco

Located off I-35 between Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin, Waco marks the center of the state of Texas. Not many other locations can boast to being within a 3-hour drive of 80 percent of the state, making it the most convenient spot for any Texas convention.

The Waco Convention Center Sales staff has many years of experience in convention sales. We can help with any event using hotel rooms, from beginning to end.

The Waco Regional Airport is a mere 15-minute drive from almost anywhere in town, and the completely renovated and expanded Waco Regional Airport offers free short-term and long-term parking and hassle-free loading and unloading zones. The Waco Regional Airport (ACT) is serviced by American Eagle, connecting to the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport (DFW) and Continental Connections for Sky West, connecting to Houston's George R. Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).

The Waco Convention Center offers 119,000 square feet of meeting space. The Center's nine main rooms also include room dividers to create a total of 18 meeting rooms.

Waco has many other meeting venues including the Heart O' Texas Fair Complex, Knox Center at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum, hotel meeting space, and many more. The Waco Convention Center's sales staff can work with any venue to suit any need. Click on Find a Venue for more information about other venues in Waco.

A convention center has little appeal without nearby lodging. Waco has 1,000 first-class hotel rooms within 1 mile of the Waco Convention Center, including two hotels within walking distance. The Hilton Waco is connected by a covered walkway and the Courtyard by Marriott sits across the street from the Center. For overflow needs, Waco has 2,308 total hotel rooms in the city limits. Waco and its suburbs have a total of 3,525 hotel rooms.

Waco offers a host of attractions to explore between convention meetings. In fact, Waco has 13 major attractions, 9 arts organizations, 5 historic homes, and 7 recreational venues.

For those who simply want a good dinner after a day of meetings, Waco has a variety of restaurants to choose from in the renovated warehouse district across the street from the Waco Convention Center. Convention goers will find 9 well-rated restaurants and bars to choose from. The warehouse district offers such diverse fares as Mexican, Nuevo-Texas cuisine, Cajun, and Italian, supplemented by a draft house and deli.

To book a convention, please call:

Carla Pendergraft, CMP, Director of Sales & Internet Development: (254) 750-5806 or carlap@ci.waco.tx.us
Carla is the Director of Sales and manages the Sales & Service department.

Sandi Lane, Sales Manager - Conventions & New Markets: (254) 750-5815 or sandral@ci.waco.tx.us
Sandi works to bring conventions and events to Waco from Association and SMERF. She represents the Waco CVB in Meeting Professionals International.

Denise Cogliati, Sales & Service Manager - Conventions & Sports Markets: (254) 750-5726 or denisec@ci.waco.tx.us.
Denise works in two areas: servicing certain groups in the Waco Convention Center, and selling and servicing new sporting events for Waco.

Rhonda Bailey, Convention Services Manager: (254) 750-5726 or rhondab@ci.waco.tx.us.
Rhonda services groups over 150 room nights, after they have booked their convention in Waco. She will assist in answering any questions as the event is being planned.

Christina Swanson, Sales & Service Manager - Conventions & Local Markets: (254) 750-5828 or cswanson@ci.waco.tx.us.
Christina specializes in selling and servicing groups using 150 hotel room nights or fewer, and also works the Government market. She represents the Waco CVB in the Society of Government Meeting Planners.