Black Meetings and Tourism

May / June 2023

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SHOW ME STATE SHOWS PLANNERS WHY MEETINGS CAN BE SUPER HERE B Y M A R G A R E T J O H N S O N Missouri, a state in the Midwest region of the U.S. is conveniently assessable to two thirds of the country via plane or car in a reasonably short amount of time. This makes it a prime region Meeting Planners look to when researching for their clients' next big event. Cities like Kansas City and St Louis provide the most meeting space, the largest amount of hotel rooms and a plethora of leisure activities for confer- ence delegates to engage after work is complete. Smaller cities like Columbia and Springfield offer natural meeting spaces due to the beautiful landscape of the environment. The options are endless in 'The Show-Me-State'. • • • ST. LOUIS • • • If you are a Meeting Planner coordinat- ing a big conference for your client or you are an Event Planner preparing for a wed- ding or family reunion you might ask "Why St. Louis?" Well, there is an unlim- ited list of reasons but for starters the central location to the country and extremely easy access with public trans- portation is a plus. St. Louis provides an assortment of meeting venues, each with its own style creating options for events based on client needs. Located in the heart of downtown, America's Center Convention Complex is a multi-venue property equipped with 502,000 square feet of prime exhibit space, 80 versatile meeting rooms, a 28,000 square foot ballroom, a 67,000-seat Dome at America's Center, a 1,400-seat Ferrara Theater and The St. Louis Executive Conference Center. ZACK's Urban Ballroom is a fourth floor event space that hosts everything from wedding ceremonies and receptions to business meetings, awards receptions, and fundraisers. The Urban Ballroom fea- tures panoramic views of downtown St. Louis, a customizable layout, full-service catering options, and in-house spa, per- fect for any event up to 300 people. Meeting attendees will find the world- class hotel brands they expect including Marriott, Four Seasons, Hilton, Embassy Suites, Drury, Holiday Inn and Hyatt. With more than 7,000 rooms downtown and 38,000 hotel rooms region-wide, there's plenty of great places to rest and recharge for the next day's meeting or event. 'The Lou' is full of so many exciting activities, cultural sites and landmarks as well as one of the most prestigious nightlife scenes that group travelers wont have ENOUGH free time to see it all. The National Blues Museum is located less than a block from the America's Center Convention Complex and features inno- vative, interactive and technological exhibits. The museum explores and pre- serves the historic significance of the Blues as the foundation of modern American Music, celebrates the genre's various styles, and recognizes musicians who created, sustain and advance the art form. Planners can take advantage of this museum as a unique meeting venue since the 23,000-square foot facility includes multi-functional space for performances and events to accommodate anywhere from 15 to 450 guests. St Louis' African-American history runs deep as the presence of Black exis- tence is etched along the walls of the many historical sites and landmarks throughout the city. 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. The first St. Louis land grant to a woman of color, named only as Ester in the Spanish documents, was located in this historic district just north of the Gateway Arch. The site of the 1793 grant is now 721 – 723 North Second Street in Laclede's Landing. At Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, the fourth-largest cemetery in the country, visitors can pay their respects at the burial site of 1,068 mem- bers of the 56th U.S. Colored Infantry, which was organized in St. Louis in 1863 B M & T ••• May/June 2023 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 70 AREA GUIDES M I S S O U R I St. Louis Gateway Arch • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch 910 OYO Hotel St. Louis Downtown City Center 288 Sheraton Westport Chalet Hotel 299 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Conference Center 223 Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis 200 Marriott St. Lois Grand 917 EXHIBITION FACILITIES America's Center Convention Complex Total Space 502,000 sq. ft. Largest Hall 24,000 sq. ft. Largest Ballroom 28,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 80 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Explore St. Louis – (800) 916-8938 www.explorestlouis.com/ meetings-conventions photo credit: America Center C.C

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