DOING BUSINESS IN
DALLAS
What you need to know about The Big D
by Joseph Pedro
With a low cost of living, large work force, plenty
of space, and a convenient central location, entrepreneurs
are lining up to make it big in the Big D.
While start-up companies are common,
Dallas is already home to an impressive lineup of nationally
and internationally known businesses, which include
46 Fortune 1,000 companies, 19 businesses listed as
America’s Largest Private Companies by Forbes,
and 113 total headquarter operations.
Despite the nation’s financial
crisis, Dallas still shows signs of growth and a certain
type of defiance against the recession. The signs of
development in this southern metropolis are clearly
visible as cranes continue to erect massive skyscrapers,
and workers build new roads, rails, and bridges. Much-needed
improvements to the city’s transportation infrastructure
will come with the upgrades to the Dallas Area Rapid
Transit (DART) light rail system. With the approval
of a $700 million grant in 2006, two new lines are well
underway to completion that will connect people to up-and-coming
areas as well as major event spaces like the Texas Fair.
To further relieve traffic congestion
and create new outdoor spaces, the Trinity River
Corridor Project has been in the works since the
late 90s. A major component is the completion of three-signature
bridges, designed by famed architect Santiago Calatrava,
which will span the Trinity River. The Margaret Hunt
Hill Bridge is set to open in 2011, the Margaret McDermott
Bridge in 2014, and an unknown date for the third. Other
components include the creation of two lakes and an
Audubon center, as well as a plan to attract businesses
through the creation of an impact zone for economic
development reserved for restaurants, residential projects,
and offices.
Even if your company is not located
in Dallas, you will probably find yourself touching
ground at Dallas Fort Worth Airport as Dallas is one
of the leading convention cities in the country. It
has also become a popular pick for LGBT-owned businesses
and gay and lesbian organizations. In the past six years,
more than 32 LGBT-related conventions and events have
taken place in Dallas—bringing in around $37 million
in economic value. In 2009 alone, Dallas booked the
largest number of gay and lesbian meetings on record,
according to the Conventions and Visitors Bureau. Some
major gatherings included the Dallas Fort Worth Pride
Movement, the Texas Bear Round-up, and Creating Change—the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force convention.
An assortment of state-of-the-art meeting
spaces is just one of the many reasons why businesses
choose Dallas. Located in the emerging Victory Park
area, the American Airlines Center offers a 20,000-seat
arena, as well as three meeting rooms, suites, and entertainment
space for 18 to more than 350 people. Most likely, you’ll
be heading to the colossal Dallas Convention Center,
which has more than one million square feet of open
space, making it the largest column-free exhibit hall
in the world. It even has the world’s largest helipad,
in case you want to make an extravagant entrance.
 Some
lesser-known venues can also provide excellent space
for an event. The Dallas Market Center is the
world’s largest wholesale market place, but it
can also accommodate businesses with exhibit, meeting,
and special event space. For a more natural setting,
try a meeting at Fair Park. This cultural center is
a National Historic Landmark that has 277 acres of park
areas, museums, exhibit facilities, and indoor space
that can accommodate 8,000 guests.
After a long day working, you’ll
want to find a comfortable and business-savvy hotel
to spend the night. Unfortunately, the convention center
does not currently have a hotel. Ground has recently
been broken, however, for the Omni Dallas Convention
Center Hotel with a grand opening scheduled for 2012.
The 1,000-room hotel will provide much needed accommodations
in the Historic District and relieve some convention
center congestion. The plans include 80,000 square feet
of meeting space, restaurants, a spa, and pool facilities.
If you have business to take care of
at the American Airlines Center, or just want to stay
at one of the newest and trendiest hotels in Dallas,
then book a room at W Dallas—Victory. This
towering hotel has become the center of the burgeoning
Victory Park area. Wireless Internet and a generous
workstation are available in all the rooms. For more
business amenities, the WIRED Business Center is open
24 hours and has PC workstations, fax machines, scanners,
and printers. If you’re worried about getting to
other parts of the city, book the Acura Experience,
a signature Whatever/Whenever car service. For an evening
cocktail or a meeting over drinks, the Ghostbar
is not to be missed. Located on the 33rd floor of the
hotel, the ultra-chic lounge offers unparalleled views
of Dallas. Don’t forget to look down: the glass-floored
ghostdeck is a dizzying experience.
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