Conversation with Tyler Orwig, Chief Sales Officer, Visit San Antonio
Visit San Antonio is ready to roll out the red carpet for MPI’s WEC. USAE connected with Orwig a few days before the arrival of a few thousand attendees to discuss his city, hosting a meetings industry event, and more.
USAE: What are you most excited for when MPI comes to town?
Orwig: San Antonio is proud to host MPI’s World Education Congress, a premier gathering that empowers event professionals through cutting-edge education, meaningful networking, and fresh inspiration. Our city’s rich history, vibrant culture, and unmatched hospitality provide the perfect backdrop for attendees to expand their expertise and enjoy an unforgettable experience.
USAE: Is hosting a meetings industry event different from hosting a conference from an outside sector, and if so, how?
Orwig: Yes! Rather than showcasing to one association or meeting professional, we are showcasing the Alamo City’s best to hundreds of meeting professionals at once. It also allows an opportunity to closely align with MPI WEC as true event partners, allowing us to produce, for example, the opening and closing events and to inform the Learning Journeys part of the program as well as to inform other critical elements of the program. Hosting a meetings industry event is exponentially powerful way to shine the brightest light on San Antonio—to experience the destination firsthand.
USAE: Tell us about new developments in San Antonio’s hospitality portfolio.
Orwig: There’s so much, but here’s a quick update:
Hotels: The much-anticipated 200-room Monarch San Antonio, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton portfolio, opened in March, bringing 15,000 square feet of meeting space. This luxury hotel is located on the edge of Hemisfair’s Civic Park near the Henry B. González Convention Center and walking distance to the River Walk and the Alamo.
In 2025, The Gunter Hotel, which opened in 1837, completed a $57 million renovation with refreshed guest rooms (311 total), redesigned meeting spaces (20,000 sq ft), rooftop pool, new dining/bar venues, and a music-themed vinyl library concept.
In 2024, San Antonio welcomed several new downtown hotels— the 347 room Kimpton Santo, featuring 13,000 square feet of event space with a historic atmosphere; the InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk, An IHG Hotel, with 390 rooms and 18,000 square feet of meeting space; and the Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa featuring 253 rooms and more than 21,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space.
Venues: Phase two of Civic Park opened in early 2025. It is a part of the Hemisfair District redevelopment—home of the 1968 World’s Fair and adjacent to the Henry B. González Convention Center. It includes five acres of public parkland, a five-pooled water feature, and a great lawn area that can accommodate large events up to 15,000.
Also, opened in 2025, The Ralston at the San Antonio Zoo is a one-of-a-kind event venue that blends sophisticated design with an unforgettable natural setting.
Perched atop historic quarry walls, the space offers sweeping views of the zoo, the San Antonio skyline, and the immersive Congo Falls gorilla habitat. With capacity for up to 500 guests and flexible indoor-outdoor configurations, The Ralston is ideal for receptions, galas, and corporate gatherings seeking a truly distinctive experience.
In 2024, San Antonio welcomed Pullman Market at Pearl featuring 40,000 square feet of full-service restaurants, artisan butcher and fishmonger concepts, unique team building classes, and much more. The Creamery District also opened in 2024. Once a historic dairy plant, the Creamery has been thoughtfully reimagined into a stylish multi-venue complex. With original steampunk piping, soaring vaulted ceilings, and vintage machinery preserved throughout, it blends industrial charm with modern elegance.
Airport: One of the most exciting things happening in San Antonio is the expansion of the San Antonio International Airport (SAT). The $2.5 billion plan for expansion includes building a new terminal with expected completion in 2028. This will greatly increase our number of gates and flights. In addition, short-term improvements to SAT include three additional gates being added to the existing terminal facility, an expansion of the existing baggage claim system, and new and enhanced airport concessions.
USAE: What surprises visitors most about your city?
Orwig: How verdant and walkable San Antonio is. When folks first see the area from a plane to when they immerse themselves along the River Walk, we are told how surprised they are with the lush, green San Antonio. And, even as America’s seventh largest city, we are compact. It’s an easy stroll from the convention center to event venues, restaurants, shops and 5,000 hotels rooms within one block of the center (15,000 downtown and almost 50,000 citywide).
USAE: How would you like WEC attendees to feel when they depart San Antonio?
Orwig: Like they have been truly immersed in the authenticity and culture of one of America’s most historic—and most forward looking—cities. It is our hope that they experience the unique blending of cultures here—from African American, Spanish, Indigenous, Mexican, German and more—and that our Texas-sized hospitality has warmly welcomed them and made them feel like family. And of course, like they are excited to bring their meeting here!