DiscoverStCharles.com; @DiscoverStCharlesMO
Located just minutes from St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), St. Charles is known for its walkable historic Main Street, lined with more than 100 locally owned shops, restaurants, and attractions, and set against a scenic riverfront backdrop that provides built-in entertainment for attendees, according to Joanie Ohlms, director of sales for Discover St. Charles. “What makes St. Charles truly memorable is its ability to deliver a destination-style atmosphere without the big-city stress,” Ohlms says. “Planners appreciate the city’s strong inventory of hotels and flexible meeting spaces, while attendees love the vibrant mix of dining, nightlife, gaming, and arts and culture, including venues like Foundry Art Centre and the nearby Katy Trail. Our niche is creating meetings that feel like a getaway, where history, hospitality, and a lively sense of place come together. We offer year-round festivals, strong visitor services, and a reputation for being both easy to navigate and full of character.”
There are 2,587 guest rooms in the city, according to Discover St. Charles.
Ameristar Casino Resort Spa has completed a significant expansion and renovation, Ohlms notes. “The project tripled the size of its meeting and convention center, adding 43,000 square feet of state-of-the-art event space and an enhanced pre-function area. The resort now features 65,000 square feet of event and meeting space, making it one of the largest convention centers in the St. Louis metro area.” The resort has a 130,000-square-foot casino and 400 guest rooms.
St. Charles Convention Center features a 35,700-square-foot exhibit hall, multiple breakout and meeting rooms, and a grand ballroom that can accommodate 1,577 guests theater style. It is connected to the 296-room Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Louis St. Charles, which features an additional 12,386 square feet of function space. The 180-room Drury Plaza St. Louis St. Charles, part of the entertainment, shopping, and dining destination Streets of St. Charles, has four event rooms, including a ballroom seating 144 theater style.
St. Charles offers a variety of excursions and teambuilding opportunities. In the communities of Augusta and Defiance, in Historic Missouri Wine Country, attractions and activities include eight vineyards, the historic Daniel Boone Home and Village, Miss Augusta Cruises (public and private charters), hiking and biking along the KATY Trail, local parks with lots of recreation opportunities, and personalized teambuilding programs. “In Historic Main Street, Missouri’s oldest and largest historic district, ‘Hit the Bricks’ tours are a terrific opportunity to discover the people and places that shaped the city,” Ohlms says, noting such attractions as the Lewis & Clark Boathouse and Museum, celebrating the Corps of Discovery and their journey west, along with Foundry Art Centre, Lindenwood University, and lots of nightlife and unique local dining options.
