Located in the center of the country, the Show Me State was a gateway to the uncharted West for early explorers. Today, Missouri continues to share natural wonders, from the Ozark Mountains to Mark Twain National Forest. St. Louis and Kansas City buffer the state on either side with big-city vibes. Springfield is home to the Springfield Cardinals Minor League Baseball team, and Boonville houses the official breeding facility of the famous Budweiser Clydesdales. From 7,500 caves and 92 state parks and historic sites to the live entertainment hub of Branson, Missouri has plenty to show.
Branson
ExploreBranson.com/meetings; @ExploreBranson
Conventions and family vacations aren’t so different when they happen in Branson, says Mariya Baker, director of meetings and convention sales for Explore Branson. “Branson is known for being a family-friendly destination featuring attractions for every age, from interactive dinner shows with live animals to one of the top theme parks in America, Silver Dollar City,” she says. “When they are here, meeting attendees are able to relax and engage during their sessions knowing their family is making memories full of laughter and one-of-a-kind experiences.”
In addition, she notes, the genuine hospitality and unexpectedly high levels of service and event facilities keep planners returning year after year. “We take our relationships seriously and strive every day to not meet but exceed any expectations, including the experience meeting attendees have at their event and the service the planner has from beginning to end.” Baker says.
Known as a live entertainment destination, Branson offers something for every taste, from Broadway and pop to country music, bluegrass, magic, and illusions. The community also is very conservation minded with a beautiful natural environment to match, Baker says.
“Many of the experiences offered to our guests highlight our beautiful Ozark Mountains and clean lakes,” she says. “Planners looking to incorporate local experiences might consider a private fishing tournament for their group, a fun day on the lake participating in a boating scavenger hunt, or lessons in sport shooting at the world-class Bass Pro Shops Shooting Academy.”
Other teambuilding or excursion options include high-speed go-karts at Xtreme Racing; kayaking; mountain biking; or a curated outdoor experience at 37 North that blends social interactions, physical activity, and outdoor education.
A new venue and attraction at Big Cedar Lodge in nearby Ridgedale is Thunder Ridge Nature Arena, which features a 20,000-seat nature amphitheater that is home to the Missouri Thunder professional bull riding team. The amphitheater is scheduled to host more than 50 events a year with daily activities available for guests at the onsite Bass Pro Shops Shooting Academy.
“Surrounded by thousands of acres of Ozark Mountains, Thunder Ridge Nature Arena immerses guests in the great outdoors while entertaining them with some of the biggest names and events in the country,” Baker says. Set on more than 4,600 acres along Table Rock Lake, Big Cedar Lodge has 336 guest rooms plus cabins and glamping units and more than 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space to accommodate up to 1,000 guests. The resort features two full-service marinas, an award-winning spa, and five golf courses.
Surrounded by retail, attractions, and dining downtown and at Branson Landing, the Branson Convention Center has 220,000 square feet of event space with state-of-the-art technology. The attached Hilton Branson Convention Center hotel has 294 guest rooms and suites.
Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa, and Convention Center is a AAA Four Diamond resort with 301 guest rooms and more than 43,500 square feet of flexible event space. Amenities include a full-service marina and a full-service spa. Thousand Hills Resort Hotel (formerly the Radisson Hotel Branson, now under new ownership) has 472 guest rooms and 16,000 square feet of function space with 13 meeting rooms. The hotel is located in the heart of Branson’s entertainment district, near many theaters, attractions, shops, and restaurants. Branson has a total of about 11,000 guest rooms at hotels and resorts.
In addition to the many live entertainment theaters, other attractions in Branson include Aquarium at the Boardwalk; WonderWorks, which is marketed as “an amusement park for the mind”; Dolly Parton’s Stampede; the Titanic Museum; and the historic Shepherd of the Hills, home to an outdoor drama that’s been entertaining visitors for decades and an aerial adventure park, voted one of the best in the country by USA Today readers.
About 10 minutes from Branson, The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks offers more than 15,000 square feet of space and overnight accommodations.
Cape Girardeau
VisitCape.com; @VisitCape
The small city of Cape Girardeau, located on the Mississippi River right above the bootheel of southeast Missouri, provides one-stop shopping for planners, according to Visit Cape, along with opportunities for leisure activities before and after meetings.
The town has a vibrant downtown; many ways to engage with the outdoors; and historic attractions, including the 1883 Glenn House that offers tours, immersive experiences, and space for special events. The Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center has hands-on, interactive exhibits for all ages; a scientific research laboratory; freshwater aquariums; an indoor wildlife viewing area; and nature trails.
Hotels with event space include the 168-room Drury Plaza Hotel and Conference Center with 15,400 square feet of event space, and Courtyard by Marriott, with 78 guest rooms and an 860-square-foot meeting room.
Meeting and event spaces are available on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University, including the Show Me Center, with meeting space to accommodate up to 200 attendees plus a 7,600-seat arena. City-owned properties include Osage Center, which has a 16,677-square-foot main floor and several meeting rooms, and the multipurpose A.C. Brase Arena, with a 10,000-square-foot main floor. Other event spaces include Century Casino Event Center, which has 7,450 square feet of function space, and the Canvas Event Center, with space to seat 100 for dinners or 50 for meetings.
Columbia
VisitColumbiaMO.com; @VisitColumbiaMO
Columbia’s convenient location in the middle of the state, its variety of meeting space options, and the amenities a planner would expect from a larger destination make it a great place for meetings and events, says Terra Crane, convention sales manager for the Columbia CVB. “Why choose between a small town and a big city when you can have both? Make the most of your time in a city that has it all: Columbia offers visitors an array of museums, art galleries, architecture, shopping, trails, parks, and locally sourced cuisine that captures the diversity of a city while maintaining small-town charm,” she says.
Crane notes some unique options for teambuilding or group excursions. “CoMo Rocks is a state-of-the-art indoor rock climbing and training facility built from the ground up for people of all ages and abilities to challenge themselves and have fun; Level Up Entertainment features an arcade, laser tag, miniature golf, roller skating rink, high ropes course, and bowling alley; and at Lakeside Ashland, groups can enjoy films or sports on a 70-foot LED video wall, live music at the amphitheater stage, or fly across the lake on a two-seater zipline set to open this spring,” Crane says.
Other new developments in the city include the recent opening of a 52,000-square-foot terminal at Columbia Regional Airport; renovations and upgrades to meeting and public spaces and all guest rooms at Courtyard by Marriott, to be complete at the end of 2023; and updates and renovations at Stoney Creek Hotel, to be complete this summer.
Major meeting and event facilities in the city include 40,000 square feet of space at the 298-room Holiday Inn Executive Center & Columbia Expo Center that can accommodate approximately 2,500 attendees. The 133-room Courtyard by Marriott, 151-room Hilton Garden Inn, and 180-room Stoney Creek Hotel each have approximately 10,000 square feet of function space. Stoney Creek is just south of the University of Missouri campus, which also offers a variety of classroom and auditorium spaces. There are 3,517 guest rooms in the city, according to the Columbia CVB.
Other unique offsite venues include the historic Blue Note theater, with a 500-person capacity; the 1,200-seat Missouri Theatre; the tap room at Bur Oak Brewing Company that can seat up to 480 people; the Elk Park Event Center that can accommodate 350 people; Orr Street Studios, which offers meeting space for 200 guests plus a 950-square-foot outdoor patio venue; and The Atrium on Tenth with full event planning services and space for up to 600 guests. Privately owned Stephens College has several event spaces including Historic Senior Hall, the 290-person capacity Firestone Baars Chapel, and Kimball Ballroom, which can seat 350 guests.
The college town can be busy at certain times of the year. “There are six or seven home football games each fall, making them high-occupancy weekends,” Crane says. “Additionally, large festivals like the True/False Film Fest and the Treeline Music Festival bring thousands of visitors to Columbia. Our sales team is happy to advise you on the best time for your event.”
Jefferson City
VisitJeffersonCity.com; @VisitJeffersonCity
Missouri’s capital, Jefferson City is unique for many reasons, including the Missouri State Capitol, says Haylee Backues, convention/group sales manager for the Jefferson City CVB.
“Our beautiful State Capitol is not only the seat of government, but it is a 500,000-square-foot museum of public art. Our Governor’s Mansion, which dates from the 1870s, is one of the few executive residences in the country open to the public,” she explains. “And our biggest attraction is the Missouri State Penitentiary, which was the oldest continuously operating prison west of the Mississippi River from 1836 through 2004 when it closed. It has so much interesting history, and it is one of the few historical prisons in the Midwest that is open for tours, making it very unique. Jefferson City’s rich history sets us apart from other small destinations and keeps meeting and event planners coming back.”
A unique neighborhood in the city is Old Munichburg, originally a 19th-century German settlement. “At one time, it had its own fire department, inns, schools, churches, and stores for dry goods, furniture, clothing, hardware, and groceries, and even its own brewery,” Backues says. “Today it is being revitalized, building on its strengths of sturdy brick buildings; enduring business centers; attractive, hilly, tree-lined streets; and a strong neighborhood identity, where you can walk from downtown to anywhere you need to go.”
In addition to the area’s historic attractions, the city gives nature enthusiasts much to enjoy with picturesque natural landscapes such as the scenic Missouri River bluffs with biking along the Katy Trail, the nation’s largest rail trail. New to the city is the Bicentennial Bridge to Adrian’s Island, which connects the Capitol Complex with a 32-acre riverfront park to take in views of the Missouri River.
Venturing outside the immediate area, visitors will enjoy the Winston Churchill Museum in Fulton; wine tastings, sausage making, and popular annual festivals in Hermann; or a visit to Warm Springs Ranch in Boonville, home of the Budweiser Clydesdale breeding facility.
According to the CVB, major hotels and venues with event space include Capitol Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, with 255 guest rooms and a 12,000-square-foot grand ballroom plus eight additional breakout and board rooms; DoubleTree by Hilton, with 151 guest rooms and six event rooms with a theater-seating capacity of 500 guests; Courtyard by Marriott with 121 guest rooms and a 2,829-square-foot meeting room plus pool patio space; and Holiday Inn & Suites, with 131 guest rooms and meeting room seating for 196 guests.
Several new restaurants have opened recently in the capital city, according to the CVB. Duke’s on the Boulevard features smash burgers, dinner entrées, and locally brewed beers; Plate & Pour is a downtown coffee, tea, and pastry shop with breakfast bread, scones, macarons, cakes, and cookies; and BarWhiskey offers hundreds of different whiskeys along with beer and cocktails.
Joplin
VisitJoplinMo.com; @VisitJoplinMo
Set at a crossroads of history and culture in the Ozarks of southwest Missouri, about an hour west of Springfield, Joplin combines easy highway access with modern amenities and historic venues, says Kerstin Landwer, director of sales for Visit Joplin. “Located where Interstate 44, the recently completed I-49, and historic Route 66 meet, Joplin offers opportunities for unique meetings and events that are second to none,” she says. “We’re one of the most affordable locations in the Midwest, and our hospitality and creative, out-of-the-box offerings make planners look like rock stars.”
With just under 2,000 hotel rooms, Joplin has recently welcomed a new Home2Suites and a 115-room Holiday Inn that can accommodate up to 200 meeting guests.
Also new is the Cornell Complex, a state-of-the-art arts and entertainment center in downtown Joplin that is home to Connect2Culture, Pro Musica, Heartland Opera Theatre, and Spiva Center for the Arts. The complex features a 435-seat theater with multiple seating configurations, classrooms, reception areas, galleries, outdoor decks, and breakout areas to seat up to 200 guests.
A unique event space is the Scottish Rite Cathedral, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which has a 385-seat auditorium, a formal tearoom that seats up to 100, reception spaces, and a dining room that can seat up to 400. An additional hotel with event space is the 160-room LaQuinta, with 1,600 square feet of indoor meeting space for up to 80 guests and a large, multilevel outdoor reception space.
Landwer says planners can make local history part of their agenda with a visit to Wilder’s Steakhouse or Fred & Red’s, a landmark diner since 1923. She adds that visitors also can enjoy local flavor at Christine’s Vineyard, Keltoi Winery, and two microbreweries: Chaos Brewing and Beard Engine Brewing Co. Planners might also want to cruise Route 66 while in the area, Landwer says, where visitors can see the historic 66 Drive-In Theatre in Carthage and enjoy treats at Carterville’s Supertam on 66, a gourmet ice cream parlor and Superman museum that has more than 3,000 pieces of memorabilia.
Kansas City
VisitKC.com/meetings; @VisitKC
With major infrastructure updates, such as the brand new 40-gate terminal at Kansas City International Airport and an expanding streetcar line, along with a burgeoning creative culture and new hotels and attractions, meetings and events in Kansas City are more convenient and captivating than ever, says Nathan Hermiston, senior vice president of sales and services for Visit KC.
“This past February, Kansas City unveiled the single-largest infrastructure project in its history: a 1-million-square-foot single terminal at Kansas City International Airport,” Hermiston says. “The new facility elevates the traveler experience by providing convenience and ease, giving travelers a glimpse of what the ‘Heart of the Midwest’ has to offer through a bevy of local dining establishments, shopping experiences, and art installations.”
Those traveling to Kansas City for meetings or events will want to bring the family along, Hermiston says. “From a wealth of free and inexpensive attractions to a casual, laid-back vibe, KC is very popular for those looking to combine business and leisure into one trip,” he notes. “Visitors can expect jaw-dropping thrills at Worlds of Fun, a popular local theme park celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023, and to get face-to-face with more than 1,700 exotic animals at the Kansas City Zoo, which will unveil a 650,000-gallon aquarium this year. Other places perfect for families include Sea Life Aquarium and LEGOLAND Discovery Center, located side by side at the international headquarters of Hallmark Cards.”
One of the city’s newest hotels is set to open this summer, steps away from the historic Country Club Plaza shopping district. The Cascades Hotel will have 177 guest rooms and more than 9,000 square feet of meeting space plus a rooftop bar. When the $351 million KC Streetcar expansion is complete in 2025, hotel guests will have walkable access to the free public transit system that will connect Country Club Plaza with downtown and other entertainment districts.
Covering eight square blocks, the Kansas City Convention Center features a 338,000-square-foot, column-free exhibit space, 48 meeting rooms, a 2,400-seat theater, a 10,700-seat arena, and a festival plaza. It connects directly to Loews Kansas City, with 800 guest rooms and an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space.
Other hotels include the 946-room Kansas City Marriott Downtown, with 95,105 square feet of meeting space; Hilton President, with 213 guest rooms and 9,022 square feet of function space in nine meeting rooms; Crowne Plaza Downtown, with 385 guest rooms and 15,000 square feet of meeting space; and the historic Hotel Phillips, Curio Collection by Hilton, with 10 meeting rooms to host up to 150 meeting attendees.
Crown Center, home to the world headquarters of Hallmark, is a shopping, dining, and entertainment destination, with 150,000 square feet of meeting and event space at two hotels: Westin Kansas City at Crown Center and Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center, which offer more than 1,500 guest rooms combined. Attendees also can tour the Hallmark Visitor Center.
Kansas City has 36,000 guest rooms, with more than 5,000 within a few blocks of the convention center, according to Visit KC.
Planners looking for a unique experience in the city will appreciate the 18th and Vine Historic Jazz District. “It is internationally recognized as one of the hot spots for jazz music, barbecue, and baseball,” Hermiston says. “As luck would have it, two of the city’s most acclaimed museums are there under one roof. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum chronicles the stars and stories of America’s favorite pastime from the leagues’ origin after the Civil War to their demise in the 1960s. Next door is what The New York Times called ‘an interactive paradise,’ the American Jazz Museum, with listening stations, touchscreen adventures, and custom-mixing soundboards. Night owls are in for a real treat across the street at the Mutual Musicians Foundation, where the late-night sounds bebop until 5 a.m.”
Options for events or excursions in the city include the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, with two performance halls, an atrium lobby with panoramic city views, and other spaces that can accommodate 1,800 event attendees; The National WWI Museum and Memorial that has a variety of indoor and outdoor event venues; and the recently renovated Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.
Lake of the Ozarks
FunLake.com; @FunLakeMO
Lake of the Ozarks is a centrally located getaway where business and leisure time are easily combined. The area offers affordability, scenic locations, and unique attractions, along with a variety of hotels, resorts, and offsite venues that can accommodate groups of up to 3,000 people.
The Lodge of Four Seasons Golf Resort, Marina & Spa has 358 guest rooms and suites plus additional condominium lodging, with 65,000 square feet of indoor meeting and event space plus additional outdoor venues. The resort features a full-service marina, pools, a 15,000-square-foot spa, 54 holes of championship golf, a sand beach, tennis courts, multiple restaurant outlets, and a fishing guide service.
Margaritaville Lake Resort has 494 guest rooms and suites and more than 76,000 square feet of indoor function space with 27 meeting rooms to host up to 3,500 guests. Amenities at the resort include 18 holes of golf and a 132-passenger yacht for cruises and private events.
The Inn at Grand Glaize is one of the best-known resorts on the Lake of the Ozarks, located in Osage Beach. The property was built in 1985 by Stan “the Man” Musial and has been owned by Sun Cho for the last 27 years. This full-service resort, with 153 guest rooms and 15,000 square feet of meeting spaces, offers a seasonal lakefront pool with a tiki bar, an indoor bar, and a restaurant plus a 15-person hot tub room and gym. The Inn at Grand Glaize is fully equipped to host weddings, conferences, tournaments, family reunions, and other events.
Additional facilities with event space include The Regalia Hotel and Conference Center, with 82 guest rooms and 47,894 square feet of event space in 12 event rooms to host up to 700 event attendees; and The Resort at Lake of the Ozarks, with 155 guest rooms and more than 6,000 square feet of function space in seven recently renovated meeting rooms to accommodate up to 500 meeting guests or seat up to 375 for banquets.
The Lake of the Ozarks area has more than 100 restaurants, many overlooking the water, and 1,150 miles of lake shoreline, with multiple full-service marinas for boat and other watersport rentals. In addition, the area has 250 holes of championship golf, outlet and boutique shopping options, and many annual festivals and events that planners can incorporate into their activities.
St. Charles
DiscoverStCharles.com; @DiscoverSTC
For planners, St. Charles combines historic 19th-century ambiance with modern amenities and attractions plus more than 275,000 total square feet of event space. The largest space is the St. Charles Convention Center, which has 80,000 square feet of flexible space including two ballrooms, multiple breakout rooms, and an exhibit hall that can accommodate up to 3,500 event attendees. A 296-room Embassy Suites by Hilton is adjacent to the center.
Founded by a French fur trader in the mid-1700s, St. Charles today is just minutes from St. Louis Lambert International Airport and offers nearly 4,000 guest rooms in hotels, resorts, and B&Bs; a historic and walkable Main Street with locally owned shops and restaurants; wineries; a casino; and numerous annual events.
Hotels with event space include Ameristar Casino Resort & Spa, which has 397 guest rooms and space to host up to 800 people for dinners or up to 1,150 in theater-style seating; Courtyard by Marriott St. Peters, with 123 guest rooms and 2,300 square feet of event space; and Holiday Inn Express & Suites, with 73 guest rooms and 1,080 square feet of meeting space. Located at the Streets of St. Charles, an entertainment, shopping, and dining development, Drury Plaza offers 179 guest rooms and 2,881 square feet of event space to host up to 300 people for receptions. The 100-room Research Park Inn, 120-room Hampton Inn & Suites, and 133-room Best Western Plus all have smaller meeting rooms.
Unique venues in the city include The Foundry Art Centre, which has 7,400 total square feet of event space with a banquet capacity of up to 400 guests and classroom capacity of up to 800; 18 North Center, with 4,900 square feet of function space and a reception capacity of 150; Fast Lane Classic Cars, which features more than 60 classic cars and has space to host up to 80 people for dinners or events; and O’Day Lodge in nearby O’Fallon, a contemporary 4,000-square-foot banquet facility with seating for up to 400 guests.
Two-lane road excursions in St. Charles County might include a trip through the historic Missouri wine country, recognized in 1980 as an American Viticultural Area, a designated grape-growing region with specific geographic or climatic features that distinguish it from the surrounding regions and affect how the grapes are grown. In addition to numerous wineries, the county is home to quaint small towns with local arts, boutiques, and antique shops. At The Historic Daniel Boone Home at Lindenwood Park, visitors can tour the 200-year-old Boone Home and more than a dozen other 19th-century structures. Nature trails and paved paths for walkers and bikers traverse the county, including a portion of the 237-mile Katy Trail State Park hiking and biking trail.
Ste. Genevieve
VisitSteGen.com; @VisitSteGen
Located about an hour south of St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve was founded in 1750. Dena Kreitler, executive director of the Ste. Genevieve Chamber of Commerce says: “Our community is charming, quaint, clean, and friendly. In addition, we have a wide variety of wineries in our county that are always a fun addition to any group event.” Today, the well-preserved downtown is a designated National Historical Park.
Meeting and event places include the Ste. Genevieve Sports Complex and Community Center, with two meeting rooms and a gymnasium; the historic DuBourg Centre, which can host up to 250 people for dinners or events; and Audubon’s, a hotel, restaurant, and bar that dates back to 1904 and offers a seven-room boutique hotel and two event rooms that can seat up to 60 people. In addition, the town has a 42-room Microtel Inn & Suites with a small event room, as well as numerous inns and B&Bs.
Unique venues in the area include the Dew Drop Inn, a historic barbecue joint in nearby Bloomsdale with three covered outdoor reception areas for up to 40 guests and the indoor Mill Room that seats up to 96 or 150 total with the outside pavilion; Charleville Brewery & Winery, with event space in the tasting room plus patio space; Crown Valley Winery and Brewery, with a pavilion for 125 guests; and Chaumette Vineyards and Winery, with indoor and outdoor event spaces for up to 200 guests plus 50 rooms for overnight stays.
St. Louis
ExploreStLouis.com; @ExploreStLouis
St. Louis is a place where history and imagination collide, and the result is a destination like no other, says Catherine Neville, vice president of communications for Explore St. Louis. “In addition to a revitalized downtown, a vibrant new hospitality district continues to grow outside of America’s Center Convention Complex,” Neville says. “More than $5 billion of development has been invested in the region, and even more exciting projects are currently underway.”
America’s Center Convention Complex is undergoing a $210 million expansion and enhancement called AC Next Gen that will add 72,000 square feet of exhibit space with natural lighting to the existing 502,000 square feet of exhibit space. The center currently features four distinct meeting facilities under one roof: Cervantes Convention Center, The Dome at America’s Center, the St. Louis Executive Conference Center, and the Ferrara Theatre. There are 80 meeting rooms, a 28,000-square-foot ballroom, a 67,000-seat arena, and a 1,400-seat theater. The Executive Conference Center is designed for smaller meetings and events of up to 100 people. Next to the complex, the Holiday Inn St. Louis-Downtown Convention Center features 293 guest rooms and suites.
According to Neville, a multimillion dollar building boom has resulted in many new and renewed hotels across the area. “Newer additions include a Kimpton Hotel and Staybridge Suites, part of a $120 million Downtown West redevelopment located just blocks from [the] new MLS CityPark stadium; a 152-room, $16.5 million Moxy hotel, the budget-friendly Marriott International hotel brand skewed toward millennials that will include communal space, workspaces, and a bar; and a conversion of the historic
YMCA building into a 21c Museum Hotel that reflects the combined vibes of a boutique hotel, contemporary art museum, and chef-driven restaurant.”
Speaking of restaurants, the city is a food lover’s dream destination with nearly 1,000 restaurants, many run by James Beard Award-winning chefs, plus 60 craft breweries, many food trucks, and pop-up dining spots. “If you are looking for the unique foods St. Louis made famous, there’s toasted ravioli, gooey butter cake, slingers, frozen custard, pizza with our special Provel cheese, St. Louis-style ribs, and barbecued pork steaks,” Neville says.
St. Louis has multiple opportunities for team members to connect. “From escape rooms and food tours to game bars and amusement parks, the city offers a variety of teambuilding activities for large and small groups,” Neville says. “Customizable events can be held at Top Notch Axe Throwing, Victory Raceway, Amp Up Action Park, Third Degree Glass Factory, and St. Louis BarCycle. The Build-A-Bear team can even deliver one-of-a-kind corporate experiences as well as a Build-A-Party Service Project Party.”
Meeting and event attendees who want to bring the family along will find a city filled with attractions, many of them free. The 1,300-acre Forest Park is home to the Saint Louis Art Museum; Missouri History Museum; Saint Louis Zoo; Saint Louis Science Center; and The Muny, which bills itself as the oldest and largest outdoor musical theater in the country. Forest Park, the site of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904, attracts more than 12 million visitors a year. Other popular destinations include Citygarden, an urban park and sculpture garden; the 630-foot-tall Gateway Arch and the recently refurbished Museum at the Gateway Arch and the park surrounding them along the Mississippi River; Missouri Botanical Garden; and the Budweiser Brewery Experience at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, offering a tour and visit with its famous Clydesdale horses. The brewery also has event space, including the BEVO Fest Halle with a 110-person capacity; the outdoor tented and heated Biergarten, which holds up
to 300; and an indoor Biergarten that seats up to 150 guests.
The historic St. Louis Union Station is home to St. Louis Aquarium, a 200-foot-tall observation wheel, an indoor ropes course, and a fire and light show. Meeting options are available with more than 100,000 total square feet of event space and 48 meeting rooms. The AAA Four Diamond St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, has 567 guest rooms.
Ballpark Village, adjacent to Busch Stadium, is a sports lover’s playground with restaurants and bars. Event venues include a rooftop deck that can accommodate up to 300 guests and overlooks the stadium where the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team plays. Live! by Loews in Ballpark Village offers 216 guest rooms and 17,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.
There are more than 7,500 hotel rooms downtown with 40,000 in the metro area. Some of the downtown hotels with major meeting and event space include Horseshoe St. Louis (formerly Lumière Place Casino & Hotel), with an 8,000-square-foot ballroom plus theater and garden atrium; Four Seasons Hotel, with an outdoor terrace and rooftop pool and bar with views of the Arch and the Mississippi River, 200 guest rooms, and 20,000 square feet of event space; the 671-room Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, with a rooftop bar, 23 meeting rooms, and more than 36,000 square feet of event space; Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch, with 910 guest rooms and 83,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space; and the historic Marriott St. Louis Grand, offering 917 guest rooms and 74,014 square feet of function space to host groups of up to 2,100 people.
Springfield
SpringfieldMO.org; @LoveSpringfield; @SpringfieldCVB
With a coffee shop trail, historic district, quaint neighborhoods, parks, a lively downtown entertainment district, and an abundance of locally owned breweries, wineries, and distilleries, Springfield provides many opportunities for recreation, outings, and teambuilding, along with accessibility and affordability, says Dana Maugans, director of sales for the Springfield CVB. “We offer unique meeting and event venues and a CVB staff that goes the extra mile to ensure events are successful,” Maugans says. “Our CVB also offers a financial incentive program called Incentives+ for new bookings during select dates. Additionally, we are near the population center of the contiguous U.S., with easy access by road via Interstate 44, U.S. highways 65 and 60, and Missouri 13, and access by air at Springfield-Branson National Airport, which has direct flights to 13 airport hub cities.”
Springfield has plenty of family-friendly attractions and activities.
“We are just 40 minutes north of Branson and all it offers, and here in town we have our own world-class attractions, including BigShots Golf, with 54 driving range bays on two levels; Dickerson Park Zoo; and Lake Springfield Park, which has opportunities for hiking, fishing, and kayaking and has a meeting room for smaller events,” she explains. “Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium is great for all ages, and it is adjacent to the White River Conference Center, which has 13,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space to host groups of 650 with accommodations available at the Angler’s Lodge across the street.”
Newly opened in town, the Wilson Logistics Arena & Youth Ag Facility at Ozark Empire Fairgrounds and Event Center has arena seating for up to 6,600 people with 100,000 square feet of exhibit space.
Top hotels and event venues in the city include University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center and the adjacent Springfield Expo Center that together offer 268 guest rooms and 151,000 square feet of meeting and event space; Oasis Hotel & Convention Center, with 173 guest rooms and 30,000 square feet of meeting space; and DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, with 201 guest rooms and 17,500 square feet of meeting space. Additionally, the AAA Four Diamond Hotel Vandivort has 98 guest rooms and 4,150 square feet of
event space with plans to expand, according to the CVB.
I work for the Inn at Grand Glaize in Osage Beach, Missouri. We have 153 guest rooms and 15,000 sq ft of indoor meeting space. We would like to be included on your website for the Lake of the Ozarks region. What do we need to do?