Memorable Meetings Made in Mesquite

When it comes to choosing a large venue for a trade show, convention, or company-wide meeting, Mesquite, Texas, has what you need. Located just 15 minutes east of downtown Dallas, it’s home to the Mesquite Convention Center and Exhibit Hall, a 5,500-person capacity area that can be transformed to accommodate a variety of events. The Mesquite Convention Center & Exhibit Hall, offers a number of flexible meeting spaces, from the 35,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall to intimate rooms for small gatherings. It’s ideally situated near four major highways, and two airports—and it has plenty of options for public transportation. Visitors can get to the DFW airport without needing a car. No matter what type of gathering you’re looking to organize, Mesquite can help you plan a memorable event with lots to do around town to keep your guests or vendors happy.

Where To Stay

One of the greatest conveniences of the Mesquite Convention Center and Exhibit Hall is that visitors don’t have to stray far to get a good night’s sleep. Mesquite hotels are easy to come by, but for total convenience, there are hotels adjacent to the venue. No more looking for a cab and battling traffic to get back to the hotel after a long day. And like the rest of Mesquite, it’s all about choice.

The Hampton Inn & Suites Dallas-Mesquite is actually connected to the Mesquite Convention Center and Exhibit Hall, making it the easiest option for the long convention days. You can get free hot breakfast there daily or opt for on-the-run breakfast bags Monday through Friday. Relax at the outdoor pool, and the 24-hour snack shop, featuring beer and wine, is nice for when the planning meetings go late into the night.

Just across the street are two other convenient options: The modern TownePlace Suites by Marriott Dallas Mesquite features fully equipped kitchens, a nice perk for those who are going to be in town for multiple days. It also has an outdoor pool, a free breakfast buffet, and free Wi-Fi—plus an outdoor patio with a bar and grilling area. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Mesquite has a 600-square-foot meeting room—great for break-out sessions—a heated indoor pool, a relaxing outdoor patio, a free breakfast bar, and free Wi-Fi.

Where to Eat

The Lonestar State has plenty of accolades in the culinary world. Texas takes food seriously. So it’s no surprise that the options near the arena center are diverse and delicious.

In the morning, if looking to just grab a quick coffee, Bear Cave Coffee is five minutes away and has some of the best coffee available in the area. And if the best way to motivate the troops is with a box of warm doughnuts, Shipley Do-Nuts it is. They’ve been doing it since 1936. If looking for something more substantial, look to Taqueria Taxco—its breakfast burritos are fantastic.

Post-show, it’s time for dinner. Mesquite showcases all the best that Texas has to offer: Tex-Mex, barbeque, and world-class burgers. Up first, the Martinez Restaurant. They’ve been doing this for 30 years—they know a thing or two about authentic Tex-Mex. For BBQ, it’s gotta be Soulman’s. They’ve been in business for 40 years and still use the family’s recipe and low-and-slow method over hickory. Do not leave without sampling the Out of Sight Special.

Porky’s has such a huge choice of burgers, it can please anyone, and their fresh-cut fries are to die for. If comfort food is the craving, visitors can’t go wrong at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen. As the name implies, everything is made in-house, from scratch. Try the hand-battered country-fried chicken. For seafood, Red Lobster is a comforting choice, and it has a dining room that holds up to 100 people.

Post-Show Activities

The show has wrapped, it’s time to relax, unwind or celebrate! Reward the team and get pampered with a suite at the Mesquite Championship Rodeo. Have a few cocktails at the VIP 8-Second Club, or sample some melt-in-your-mouth brisket at the BBQ pavilion. If you’re visiting outside of rodeo season, the area often hosts concerts as well.

Fill that need for speed at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway. Grab an air-conditioned suite for the team and watch some of the best racing in the state. The unique D-shaped track’s backside is elevated, giving all spectators an unobstructed view of all the action so no one misses a thing.

Golf and conventions go hand-in-hand, and sometimes the best deals are inked on the golf course. Mesquite’s Golf Club is an 18-hole, 6,980-yard course that’s been recently renovated. It’s convenient, affordable, and playable for all skill levels. Four-hour rounds are easy here, but if that’s too long, hit up the driving range and work on your swing with a bucket of balls.

When it comes to team-building, there’s nothing like a challenge to bring everyone together. Check out Xcape Adventures for a fun group event while in town. Participants are “locked” into a room decorated and designed to tell a story and create an immersive experience. Solve the riddles, crack the codes, find the keys, uncover the secret passages, and hopefully find the way out. It’s super fun.

A movie is always a good choice. But how to make everyone agree on which film? Good news: it’s not necessary. With 30 screens to choose from, the AMC 30 Mesquite has something for everyone. And how about dinner and a show? There is a dine-in theatre on site as well as MacGuffin’s Bar for pre-movie drinks.

All this talk about the team, what about the family? No problem, Mesquite has family fun time covered. Kids Empire is the kind of place that makes every adult jealous. In this massive indoor playground, kids of all ages can bounce, climb, slide, drive, play, and tire themselves out much to adults’ delight. Urban Air is another place seemingly there to make adults envious. There are trampolines on the floors; there are trampolines on the walls; there’s an obstacle course, climbing walls, dodgeball, bumper cars, battle beams over a foam pit, a ropes course, a warrior course, and other attractions. Seriously, where was this stuff when we were kids?

Get the entire family involved at Celebration Station. This adventure center features batting cages, bumper boats, go-karts, laser tag, mini-golf, rides, arcades, and an epic paintball tag course. It’s a fantastic, fun-filled way to spend a day.

When it comes to capacity, convenience, and amenities for an event, it’s hard to go wrong in Mesquite. The city’s food, service, entertainment, and lodging options easily round out the logistics to make the Mesquite Convention Center a no-brainer. And we haven’t even mentioned the beautiful weather and the warm, friendly people—that needs to be experienced in person.