After over 21 years of facilitating team building events across North America, I’ve had the privilege of working in some incredible conference venues.
When Cvent released their 2025 rankings of top meeting destinations and hotels, I couldn’t help but smile—I’ve personally facilitated events at seven of the top 10 hotels on their list.
In this article, I’ll share my insider perspective on these exceptional conference venues and what makes them special for hosting memorable corporate events. I’ll also highlight the best cities for conferences and corporate meetings to give you even more options.
The Power of Conference Venues & Locations
Choosing the perfect conference venue and location isn’t just about finding a space that fits your group—it’s about discovering a space and city that will breathe life into your event experience.
The Best Conference Locations
The destination for your conference can make all the difference in the world. Trust me, a walkable, well-designed city with booming business, diverse people, and beautiful scenery makes a world of difference for meetings and team building events.
These are the traits that the best event planners are looking for when they help a Fortune 500 plan a retreat, conference, or event that people are going to be talking about for years to come.
They’re also looking for cities that check these boxes:
- World-renowned theme parks
- Unique corporate meeting venues
- Lots of hotels to choose from
- Options ranging from luxury to budget
- Spacious convention centers
- Good weather
- An abundance of activities
- Exceptional facilities
Orlando claimed the top meeting destination for the 10th year in a row.
The Best Meeting Venues
After facilitating over 1,000 game shows and countless team building sessions, I’ve realized that the best conference venues are those where the staff is eager to collaborate with you. The venues that make Cvent’s list understand this truth.
They know that successful meetings aren’t just about beautiful ballrooms and cutting-edge tech—though those do matter. They’re about creating environments where teams can connect, collaborate, and leave feeling inspired.
If you don’t have your pick of venues, my advice would be this: always pick a venue that wants to work with you, as opposed to a venue that just treats you like you’re a problem or not their most important client. You want a place that treats you like a celebrity.
I’d also suggest following the lead of today’s top event planners and looking for a venue that checks these boxes:
- Stylish and inviting atmosphere
- Spacious and flexible event rooms
- A variety of options (e.g., ballrooms, meeting rooms, outdoor venues, etc.)
- Great catering team
- Exceptional service
- Advanced technology and good equipment
- Walkable downtown or central location
Cvent’s Top 10 Meeting Destinations for 2025
Based on over $18 billion in global sourcing and RFP activity through Cvent’s platforms, the top meeting destinations for 2025 reflect where planners are actually booking their most important events.
If you’re not sure it’s worth it, look at it this way: these are the locations your competitors are eyeing to ensure their next event is a smash hit.
The Complete Top 10 List
Here’s the complete list of standout conference destinations according to Cvent’s rankings and curation:
- Orlando, FL: Orlando has claimed Cvent’s top spot for the 10th consecutive year. It’s a memorable location your team will love.
- Las Vegas, NV: The entertainment capital continues to captivate corporate groups. It offers a unique blend of entertainment, luxury, and business.
- Chicago, IL: Chicago rose three spots from last year, showing strong momentum. It’s a great blend of business and pleasure.
- Nashville, TN: Music City’s charm wins over meeting planners nationwide—it’s also home to numerous incredible conference venues.
- Atlanta, GA: Moved up two spots with its blend of Southern hospitality and modern amenities. It’s a vibrant setting for world-class events.
- Dallas, TX: A consistent (and personal) favorite for its central location and excellent facilities. This emerging global city never fails to impress.
- San Diego, CA: Perfect weather and stunning venues keep it in the top 10. With legendary beaches, beautiful weather, and a laid-back vibe, San Diego always inspires big thinking.
- Washington, D.C.: The biggest mover, jumping up 10 places to claim the #8 spot this year. The US capital is shining this year, and it’s ideal for hosting events of historic proportions.
- Phoenix, AZ: Desert beauty meets world-class conference facilities, including a newly renovated ultra-modern convention center.
- Denver, CO: Mountain views and mile-high hospitality round out the top 10. Denver has 300 days of sunshine, a walkable layout, and amazing destinations.
From world-class experiences in Orlando to stunning views in Denver, these top locations prove that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to great conference destinations.
These cities are major business hubs with established and growing reputations in the meetings industry. They offer perfect blends of accessibility, culture, and hospitality that’ll make every event feel special.
Cvent’s Top 10 Meeting Venues: Where Excellence Meets Experience
Nashville secured the top four venues on the list.
The thing that stands out to me the most about this year’s hotel rankings is how Nashville completely dominates the top four spots. Yes, really—all four of Cvent’s top hotels are located in Nashville, TN!
This brought a big smile to my face since Nashville is one of my favorite cities. Anytime I get the chance to go to Nashville, I’m game!
It has great accessibility and accommodations, and after facilitating multiple events in Music City, I can tell you this recognition is well-deserved.
The Complete Top 10 List
Here are the 10 best conference venues around the country according to Cvent’s prestigious list:
- Renaissance Nashville Hotel, Nashville, TN
- JW Marriott Nashville, Nashville, TN
- Grand Hyatt Nashville, Nashville, TN
- Omni Nashville Hotel, Nashville, TN
- JW Marriott Austin, Austin, TX
- Fairmont Austin, Austin, TX
- The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
- Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Scottsdale, AZ
- The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, AZ
- JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, Orlando, FL
Each of these conference venues on Cvent’s top 10 list share one crucial characteristic: they treat facilitators and event planners as partners, not vendors. They understand that when we succeed, they succeed, so they go beyond basic accommodation.
These hotels all have a proven track record of swift RFP responses, too, prioritizing collaboration and offering curated group experiences. In my experience, this extends far beyond initial booking, maintaining a high level of service throughout the event process.
My Personal Experiences at These Elite Venues
I’ve been to countless business conference venues, many of which make up Cvent’s top 10 for 2025, so I can’t wrap up this guide without sharing some of my experiences! Here are some of the highlights:
Nashville: Where Music Meets Exceptional Meetings
Nashville has become one of my all-time favorite cities, and after seeing Nashville hotels claim the top four spots, I know I’m not alone in that sentiment.
I’ve had the pleasure of facilitating events at both the Omni Nashville and the Renaissance Nashville, and the experience at each was phenomenal.
Omni Nashville Hotel
I facilitated a custom team building event here where participants created musical instruments and wrote company-themed songs. We finished by packing up the instruments and donating them to children’s charities around Nashville.
The staff was great and super attentive to our needs, and they made sure everyone could just relax and have fun with what we were doing. They’re one of the reasons that this is among my favorite event memories.
Renaissance Nashville
This place has consistently impressed me with their partnership approach. The staff isn’t on autopilot—they’re not just providing a space—they’re actively collaborating to make each event successful.
Whether it’s helping flip rooms between sessions or providing flexibility for custom team building events, they understand that great events require a hands-on, attentive approach.
Austin: Where Innovation Meets Southern Hospitality
Texas, and Austin in particular, are up there on my list of favorite destinations. I’ve been to both Austin conference venues in Cvent’s top 10, and they’re truly exceptional.
Austin’s energy is infectious, and these hotels really help capture that spirit.
JW Marriott Austin
I’ve facilitated multiple events here, and many of them incorporated local Austin themes. One of my favorites was a Price Is Right-style event called “C’mon Down” (everyone knows I love a good game show team building event).
We had questions about local food—like guessing the price for authentic Austin barbecue to feed a group of 20—and a bunch of other regional-themed categories.
JW Marriott’s flexibility helped us make this a true experience and connect the participants to the location in a unique and engaging way. They always seem to go above and beyond.
Fairmont Austin
The Fairmont Austin has been a consistent partner for our “Tools for Schools” charity programs and high-energy “In It to Win It” events.
Their staff understands the logistics of large-scale, involved events like these and always helps with everything from providing space to pre-sort donated items to coordinating with local organizations for each pickup.
During one Tools for Schools event, we set up stores with school supplies for over 100 backpacks, and the venue team helped us execute a seamless room flip in just 20 minutes. Now that’s what I’m talking about!
Ready To Tap Into TeamBonding’s Nationwide Network?
While these Cvent-recognized venues represent some of the absolute best conference locations in the U.S., they’re just a sampling of the incredible venues we work with nationwide.
At TeamBonding, we’ve built relationships with preferred venues across the country—places where we know the staff, have an extensive network of partners, and can deliver exceptional experiences for your team.
That said, we’re not limited to our preferred venue network. We’re happy to bring our programs anywhere in the country where your team needs to gather.
The venues on Cvent’s 2025 list have earned their recognition through consistent excellence, but remember—the best conference venues for your team are the ones that align with your goals, budget, and vision.
Are you ready to plan an event your team will be talking about for years to come? Contact us to find out how we can help.
