This bustling 37-story glass tower, opened in 2018, is the definition of a convention hotel: It’s attached to the Austin Convention Center through a sky bridge, has enough meeting space to fill a football stadium, and can hold 1,800 conventioneers on its outdoor deck. It can hold even more in its rooms, too—this is the largest hotel in Austin, with 1,048 units, including those in Gold, a separate luxury hotel-within-a-hotel on the top floors. Bright and attractive standard accommodations have all the perks business travelers would want, including nice-size desks and lots of outlets with USB ports; views of Lady Bird Lake and/or the city skyline are a bonus. The five on-site restaurants include the upscale Garrison steakhouse and the internationally flavored Review, as well as a coffee shop, lobby bar, and cocktail lounge. A full-service spa and exercise facility rank among the top in downtown. The location, near the Red River entertainment district and Lady Bird Lake, can’t be beat. In short, the hotel has everything you might need or want—except local character. Tip: Right across the street, the shack-like Iron Works BBQ is both a great place to eat and a reminder of the old Austin that’s literally losing ground.