From March 9 to 18, the 2018 South by Southwest (SXSW) conference will be held in Austin, Texas, for ten days. SXSW is a major gathering place for today’s diverse creative professionals. During the event, the next wave of trends in the creative industries is explored through conferences, showcases, exhibitions, and more. It is also a major convergence of the technology, film, and music industries.
This year’s SXSW highlights include keynote speeches from a lineup of heavyweights (such as Darren Aronofsky, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Lyor Cohen, Melinda Gates, Barry Jenkins, Sadiq Khan, Esther Perel, and whurley), discussion panels on the rise of blockchain technology, performances by rising star Khalid who recently relocated to El Paso, Texas, and the North American premiere of Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs, which won the Best Director award at the Berlin Film Festival.
For over thirty years, SXSW in Austin has welcomed batches of the world’s most interesting thought leaders to this unparalleled top-tier industry conference and exhibition. The SXSW event has turned Austin into a global hub for creative professionals and has solidified Austin’s reputation as an innovative metropolis. In 2017, the 31st SXSW saw a 7% increase in impact, reaching $348.6 million (compared to $325.3 million in 2016), making it the most profitable event for Austin’s hotel industry.
In 2017, over the 14 days from the pre-opening to the official conclusion of SXSW, the total number of participants was approximately 440,000; more than 50,000 room nights were directly booked, along with over 11,000 individual hotel reservations, bringing nearly $1.8 million in hotel tax revenue to Austin. Driven by the economic impact of SXSW, Austin’s hotel and entertainment industries have seen triple-digit growth over the past five years, contributing 12% of the city’s jobs.
The City of Austin
Known as the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin boasts over ??? live music venues. The music events at SXSW are among the city’s premier music happenings, alongside others such as the Austin City Limits Music Festival. The city has thousands of acres of parks, many of which offer hiking and biking trails, as well as mountain biking paths. Boating and fishing are also available. The area can be explored by bike, train, Segway, horse-drawn carriage, or on foot.
Areas Around Austin
Located in the Texas Hill Country, Austin offers an alternative laid-back lifestyle amid historic small towns and vineyards across the surrounding 14,000 square miles, in contrast to its trendy urban life.
Fredericksburg
Located about a 1.5-hour drive west of Austin, Fredericksburg was settled by Germans in 1846. It is home to over 20 wineries, offering wine tastings, tours, breathtaking scenery, and delicious German cuisine to pair with it.
(Image copyright belongs to S. Rawls)
Here, you can also enjoy 360-degree panoramic views atop Enchanted Rock, the second-largest granite dome in the U.S. and an International Dark Sky Park. Or delve into history at the National Museum of the Pacific War with its cutting-edge interactive exhibits. For shopping enthusiasts, don’t miss the historic Main Street.
Georgetown
Georgetown is instantly lovable for having one of the most beautiful town squares in Texas. In this unique setting, culture, natural beauty, and history come together. The Victorian-era downtown square and grand courthouse tell the rich historical story of this charming town.