Dallas

www.visitdallas.com

Dallas’ slogan “Live Large. Think Big.” describes the essence and vitality of a city built on big dreams, freshly blazed trails and an attitude that all things are possible. The city is experiencing a renaissance, and more than $14 billion in new and ongoing development just in the urban core assists in creating a richly diverse city with countless luxury accommodations, leading arts district, endless shopping opportunities, a thriving culinary scene and trendy entertainment districts.

Dallas continues to position itself as a top destination for business and leisure travelers with the addition of The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, W Dallas- Victory, and the renovation of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, The Fairmont and the Hilton Anatole. Visitors have more than 70,000 rooms to choose from, with accommodations ranging from luxury and boutique to family friendly and economical.

Culture is also drawing visitors to Dallas, as the city boasts the largest urban arts district in the U.S. Five cultural venues were designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects, and the 19-block area is a definite eyecatcher. Among the highlights include the Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, Crow Collection of Asian Art, Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center and the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, debuting in October 2009. Additionally, the Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University displays the largest collection of Spanish art outside of Spain, drawing crowds to its cultural center.

With the first planned shopping center in the U.S., Highland Park Village, Dallas is often called the “birthplace of shopping.” The city provides the best experience in the Southwest with unsurpassed locations such as NorthPark Center—the largest in North Texas with 235 distinctive stores—Victory Park, West Village, Mockingbird Station and Galleria Dallas.

The city features a cutting-edge culinary scene led by nationally acclaimed celebrity chefs such as Stephan Pyles, Kent Rathbun and Dean Fearing. And with more than 7,000 restaurants in the Dallas area, there is an endless variety of dining to please any palate.

Dallas is also easily accessible. DFW International Airport, the world’s third-busiest airport and home to American Airlines, provides visitors with non-stop flights to more U.S. cities than any other airport in the nation. Dallas Love Field Airport, located minutes from downtown Dallas, offers service to select cities across the U.S. and serves as Southwest Airlines’ corporate headquarters.

Download the letter from Mayor Tom Leppert.