Patty Waid: Meetings

Patty first came to Albuquerque as a 16-year-old, when her father was transferred here by the U.S. Army. She still remembers what it was like to arrive in Albuquerque for the first time – the feeling of the warm, dry air, the sight of the Sandias, the warm welcome of her neighbors. Today, Patty knows Albuquerque like a native, but retains an understanding of its appeal to visitors. She is an event planning veteran, with over two decades of experience creating memorable meetings, weddings, trips and tours. She knows just how to make the most of Albuquerque’s special character to create an event that will leave a lasting impression on its attendees. Whether you’re looking to plan a Albuquerque convention for thousands, a wedding for hundreds or a retreat for just a few special people, Patty has great event planning ideas to share.

Photo Gallery

Questions & Answers

Q: Planning a group fundraising activity for Sat early evening Sept.25. Last year we did a Trolley Tour of Savannah. Did 4 trolleys for 120 people & raised $ for our Foundation. Visit an Indian Pueblo? Other ideas?

A: Bienvenido Anna: I am so excited you have chosen Albuquerque as your destination for your event! The end of September is always a beautiful time in New Mexico. We will try our best to order up blue skies and fall décor for your visit! Here are a few suggestions you may want to try out for your group fundraising activity:

Balloon Rides: October is when our world famous Balloon Fiesta takes place. There are a number of Hot Air Balloon companies that can take interested people up to see our beautiful Bosque along the Rio Grande River and all the trees turning color, not to mention the beautiful Sandia Mountains (translated: “Watermelon” Mountains because of the watermelon color during sunset)

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center: You can contact them and see if you can schedule an event around their special Native American Dances. It is a treat to see the dancers and the interpreters explaining the purposes of their dances. The facility is a terrific place to learn about all the Pueblos in New Mexico and how they are each unique in their own ways.

Albuquerque Museum of Art & History: Through the Museum you can not only see the rich pictorial history of Albuquerque, but can set up walking tours of Old Town which borders the museum. This will truly give you insight as to how incredible our history is, because you can visit a number of historical buildings and see one of the oldest churches in North America housed right on the plaza!
Ghost Tours: This is another fun event for the adventurous people in your group. With the increased popularity of “Ghost Hunters” and other TV shows, this might be a unique, “hair raising” experience for everyone! The Ghost Tours are given within the Old Town area so you learn about our history but in a different “ghostly” way!
Albuquerque Zoo: Our zoo has held nightly tours and events which gives the visitors a whole other view of the animals after dark. For animal lovers this might be a great way to experience wildlife. Our zoo is one of the most beautiful ones with many areas whereby a dinner or break can be planned as part of the tour.

I hope these ideas will spark some excitement and give you a starting point to begin planning a terrific fundraiser activity for your group! The Albuquerque Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is happy to provide information and resources to you in helping to confirm details. We are excited about you visiting our great city and will be glad to help in any way to make your visit a memorable one! Adios, Patty

Q: Which restaurants do you recommend for business meetings for approximately 5 people?

A: I would recommend the following restaurants for small business meetings:

El Pinto- great small rooms to accommodate a limited group-lots of ambiance and some of the areas are quiet so you can hold a very productive meetings
Embassy Suites Hotel- has a great common area with good lunch buffets
Marriott Pyramid- same!
Marriott Courtyard- has a great lunch area and a sports bar that can accommodate a small group
Cooperage Restaurant & Lounge- has a couple of meeting rooms and great food!
Scalo’s- has a wonderful room upstairs that they might be able to use, but I have had meetings at the regular dining room and they have an area as you walk in, it is right in front of you and separate from the main restaurant, so that might work as well

Each of these have lots of parking area (the one exception is Scalo’s, which is mainly street parking), you don’t have to pay to rent the room, and the lunches are reasonably priced.

Q: I am coming the first week of November with my child and mother. What is a safe way for them to get around to do things from the Hyatt Regency Alb. Hotel? How is the best way for us to get from the airport to the hotel? What are our choices?: A: What a wonderful time to visit New Mexico! Fall is one of our best times of the year with our moderate weather, blue skies, and the leaves turning gold & red.

I always recommend that people rent a car when they come to Albuquerque because our city is so spread out. However Albuquerque does have a variety of public transportation options—you can catch a ride on the buses that service most parts of the city (see http://www.cabq.gov/transit for detailed schedule information), call a cab or ride the Rail Runner, a commuter rail that runs south to Belen and north to Santa Fe (www.nmrailrunner.com).

The Hyatt Regency is about a 10-minute drive from the airport and is located in downtown Albuquerque, which is very close to some of Albuquerque's best attractions. So once you get to the hotel, walking is always another option. The Hyatt is also a short distance to Albuquerque Old Town, the Bio-Park and a number of museums, so you need to make sure you set aside time to enjoy some of our city's best offerings. . . you will be very close to them! We do hope you enjoy your visit in the Land of Enchantment. ~ Patty

Q: I’ve planned one meeting in the southwest before, and it was so unbearably hot the entire time! What is the best time to bring a meeting to Albuquerque so my attendees don’t melt?: A: Albuquerque is situated in a high desert climate at an elevation of approximately 5,000 feet. So, we aren’t a hot, flat, dry city like you might think. Many visitors cannot believe how many completely beautiful days Albuquerque enjoys year round. We bask in 310 days of sunshine, blessed with a mild, dry climate and four distinctly beautiful seasons. Very low humidity means that even when temperatures rise, summer is always comfortable, and our sunny winters are comparatively mild. Our average annual rainfall is about 9 in. and the average relative humidity is only 44%. For more information on temperatures during specific months, go to: http://www.itsatrip.org/albuquerque/perfect-weather/climate.aspx

Q: We are trying to locate several HOTELS in close walking distance to the Albuquerque Convention Center. Could you please help us with some names of HOTELS? Thank you very much.: A: We have several hotels in the downtown area, however the three closest hotels within walking distance to the convention center are: Hotel ANDALUZ, The Doubletree Albuquerque and the Hyatt Regency. There is also a great hotel search function at www.itsatrip.org/lodging/default.aspx in case you'd like to browse around a bit more.