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B M & T ••• November/December 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 42 AREA GUIDES S T. L O U I S THE "LOU" PROVIDING TOP-LEVEL HOSPITALITY FOR TOP-LEVEL MEETINGS & EVENTS BY SOLOMON J. HERBERT II St. Louis continues to reinvent itself with more than $5 billion being spent on development projects in the last 10 years. Historic buildings in the Gateway City's central business dis- trict are undergoing transformations and being re-purposed for 21st cen- tury uses. From loft condos, hotels and apartments to restaurants, retail and entertainment venues new life has been breathed into downtown St. Louis. The recently renovated America's Center Convention Complex is home to four distinct meeting facilities under one roof: Cervantes Convention Center, the Edward Jones Dome, the St. Louis Executive Conference Center and the Ferrara Theatre. In addition, the convention center features five exhibit halls, a ballroom and more than 80 meeting rooms. After a long day exploring the seemingly endless array of places to go, things to do and stuff to eat, we've got just the place for your group to rest, re-charge and revitalize before heading out on another day of adventure in the Gateway City. There are more than 39,000 hotel rooms in St. Louis, along with a host of bed- and-breakfast inns, unique lodges and wooded campgrounds to choose from. Available amenities can be as lavish – or as basic – as your group needs, and many hotels offer one- stop-shopping in terms of restaurant and catering services. St. Louis is a place where history and imagination collide, and the result is a destination like no other. The Gateway to the West offers excep- tional music, arts and cultural options, as well as more free attrac- tions than any place outside of Washington D.C. "The Gateway City" is home to the second oldest symphony in the country, the oldest and largest out- door musical theater in the U.S., and one of America's premier opera com- panies. The Saint Louis Art Museum is among the top 10 U.S. museums in annual attendance, the Science Center is the fourth-most-visited in the nation, and the City Museum was named one of the "World's Best Public Spaces". The Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis is one of America's most important historic sites. It was here that slave Dred Scott and his wife, Harriett, sued for their freedom in 1847. Scott won his case in St. Louis, but remained a slave for 10 years as appeals eventually took the issue before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court ruled Scott was not a citizen and could not sue, and the outcome helped move the country toward the Civil War. Scott was freed by a new owner after the Court deci- sion, but died in 1858. The Old Courthouse features an exhibition on this pivotal event, called "Dred Scott: A Legacy of Courage." Re-creations of the trial are conducted throughout the year at the Old Courthouse, and Scott's grave can be visited at Calvary Cemetery. There are three general aviation airports serving the area: Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, Spirit of St. Louis Airport and St. Louis Downtown Airport. Their Central location means shorter flights, easy access, and a real choice of non-stop flights between major destinations. • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Crown Plaza Hotel St. Louis- Downtown 440 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Conference Center 223 Embassy Suites St. Louis – Down- town 212 Hilton St. Louis Downtown at the Arch 195 EXHIBITION FACILITIES America's Convention Complex Total Exhibit Space 502,000 sq. ft Meeting Rooms 80 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission – (800) 916-0092 Explorestlouis.com African American Chamber of Commerce of Missouri (314) 381-0141 St. Louis Gateway Arch Photo Credit: Bev Sykes