Conference Venue

Conference Venue

SaltMech XI will take place in the Drury Plaza Hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, near the historic Santa Fe Plaza, July 8-10, 2025, with registration and an ice-breaker on the 7th of July and a field trip on the 11th! Santa Fe is regularly rated as one of the world’s best tourist destinations due to the beautiful Sangre de Cristo mountains that surround the city, its world-renowned art scene, its Old World Spanish-designed plaza, its amazing New Mexican cuisine featuring red and green chiles, and its mix of Native American, Spanish/Mexican, and Old West and modern American cultures.  The conference hotel is located a short walk from the main plaza, with many options for dining, art galleries and museums, and historical sites.  Santa Fe is located at an altitude of nearly 7,000 feet (2130 meters).

The conference will be hosted in the main ballroom of the hotel, where the oral presentations will be held.  Nearby rooms include ample space for poster sessions, a sponsors market, discussion and breaks.

 

Email: info@saltmech.com

Hotel Accommodation

The conference will be held at the Drury Plaza Hotel, conveniently located a short walk from the Santa Fe Plaza.  Eighty rooms will be reserved for SaltMech XI attendees at a special conference rate, regardless of single or double occupancy, for the duration of the conference (excluding state and local taxes). To make reservations, please click on this link: SaltMech Conference 2025 to get the conference rate. (The special rate does not include July 6, despite what the webpage says – reservations for July 6 will need to be made separately.) Please make your reservations by Wednesday, June 4, 2025 to receive the group rate.  Reservations made after this date will be subject to prevailing rates and availability.   Reservations may also be made by calling 1-800-325-0720 and referring to our group number 10113518.

The following amenities are included in this special rate:

  • Complimentary Hot Breakfast – Enjoy scrambled eggs, oatmeal, fresh fruit, potatoes, pastries, the all-important coffee and more.  Hot, fresh, and, best of all, free. Free hot breakfast is served daily from 6-9:30 a.m. on weekdays and 7-10 a.m. on weekends.
  • Complimentary Evening Drinks and Snacks* – Join us from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. every evening to enjoy complimentary hot food and cold beverages at our 5:30 Kickback®.  The Hotel features a rotating menu of hot food, beer, wine, mixed drinks and soft drinks.
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi Throughout the Hotel – Get the score, check social networks or email family members in the hotel!
  • On-Site Facilities – Take advantage of the business center, fitness center or pool while away from home.  Print boarding passes, finish a presentation or check e-mail in the Hotel’s business centers.

Room cancellations can be made free of charge up to 72 hrs before arrival, in case travel is limited/prohibited by the time of the conference.

Alternatively, accommodation can be found at one of the other hotels or B&B’s located in Santa Fe; a list of nearby hotels will be added here soon..

Travel Information

To and from Santa Fe

Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) is the closest and most convenient major airport to Santa Fe. It is served by most major US airlines, and can be reached from international locations through major hubs such as Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, and more.  There is also a small airport in Santa Fe (SAF), with very limited service.

The distance between the Albuquerque airport and the Santa Fe Plaza is approximately 66 miles (106 kilometers).  Rental cars are available from several companies (Hertz, Avis, National, Alamo, and more); the drive using Interstate 25 will take approximately one hour.  Parking will be available at the hotel ($TBD/day, 24 hours/day) and at nearby public parking garages ($12/day, open 7:00 am-11:00 pm).  For those with Uber and Lyft accounts, these services are also available; check with your account to determine the cost of a ride from Albuquerque to Santa Fe.

There are other ways to get from the Albuquerque airport to Santa Fe.  Groome Transportation (https://groometransportation.com/santa-fe/) has a shuttle service that will pick you up at the airport and drive you to Santa Fe.  The cost is $46 each way.

It is also possible to take the RailRunner train from Albuquerque to Santa Fe.   To get from the airport to the Downtown Albuquerque Station, you may use a taxi, Uber, Lyft, or the bus (ABQ RIDE Route 50, Monday-Friday only).  Purchase a ticket for the Santa Fe Depot Station; you may use the website https://rio-metro-regional-transit-district.square.site/s/shop, or purchase the ticket at the station.  A one-way ticket from Downtown Albuquerque to the Santa Fe Depot (“5 Zones”) costs $9.  The train ride takes about 2 hours.  From the Santa Fe Depot station, one may walk approximate 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) to the Plaza.

 

Getting around Santa Fe

Around Santa Fe Plaza

We expect to have a sufficient number of hotel rooms at the conference hotel, but there are several other high-quality hotels and B&Bs in the area around the Santa Fe Plaza.  Downtown Santa Fe is a very walkable city, with many attractions, museums, art galleries, and restaurants within a very small area.  The plaza features the historic Palace of the Governors, the Cathedral de San Francisco de Assisi, and several art museums and galleries featuring New Mexican, Native American, and American West arts.  The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is three short blocks north of the plaza.

Outside of the Plaza

If you wish to explore Santa Fe away from the Plaza area, the city operates a bus service (https://santafenm.gov/public-works/transit/route-maps-and-schedules).  Nearby attractions within the city include the State Capitol building (known as the Roundhouse), art gallery areas on Artists Drive and Canyon Road, and Museum Hill which features several museums including the International Museum of Folk Art.  The world-renowned Santa Fe Opera is located a few miles north of the city.  There are also many outdoor hiking, mountain biking, and sightseeing areas in the mountains surrounding Santa Fe.

  • Flight information for Albuquerque International Sunport

https://www.abqsunport.com/

  • RailRunner trains from Albuquerque to Santa Fe

https://rio-metro-regional-transit-district.square.site/s/shop/

  • Santa Fe tourism information

http://www.santafe.org