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B M & T ••• March/April 2021 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 18 ST. LOUIS, MO St. Louis features a tight package for citywide meetings and events in the heart of the re-developed downtown cen- tral business district. The Ameriva America's Center Convention Complex offers 502,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space in six contiguous meeting halls, 80 meeting rooms, the 67,000- seat Dome at America's Center, and much more in the mid- dle of downtown. There is a wide array of hotel rooms within a mile of America's Center and more than 40,000 through- out the metro area. The downtown hotel development brings 700 new rooms increasing the downtown inventory to nearly 7,500 rooms – including premier brands like Royal Sonesta, Hyatt, Marriott, Four Seasons, Embassy Suites and Loews. If your meeting space needs are a little smaller, more than 20 hotels throughout the St. Louis area offer at least 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting space that can fit any need. Looking for something a little different? St. Louis Venues can accommo- date groups of 10 to 10,000 or more in flexible, convenient venues. From the sleek and stylish to fresh air and fun, they've got you covered. The St. Louis Executive Conference Center (ECC) is another option, ideal for your next small meeting. With the state-of-the-art amenities you'd expect to find in a world- class meeting facility the fully appointed conference suites are designed with your productive meeting in mind. Located on the third floor of the America's Center com- plex, the ECC is tailored for meetings of up to 100 people. With acoustically sound meeting room suites and superior catering service, the ECC offers a professional, private and intimate environment. And best of all, it's cost-effective. St. Louis offers a convenient, central location for meetings of all sizes. St. Louis Lambert International Airport provides non-stop service to more than 70 destinations with more TO WATCH T here are many reasons why a planner will take a closer look at a destination they may have once passed over for a meeting or conference. This is even more crucial as our industry gears up for an era of post pandemic travel and meetings. The rea- son for renewed interest in the cities being profiled here are as varied as the destinations themselves. One prerequisite is that the destinations in question have elevated visitor safety to the very highest priority. Another constant is that they all meet the definition of emerging markets for meeting planners who are searching for destinations that are the right fit for their next meeting or conference. BY RUFUS MCKINNEY