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B M & T ••• May/June 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 67 SHOW ME STATE SHOWS HOW MEETINGS SHOULD BE HOSTED BY ZYAN AVRAHAM Missouri doesn't just sit in the middle of the map—it steers the conversation. This is where jazz took root and where policy has long been shaped in local halls and nation- al headlines. From river cities to rural byways, the state carries a deep Black legacy that's neither buried nor back- ground—it's foundational. Meeting plan- ners will find flexibility and pride in equal measure: world-class convention centers, access to major airports, and neighbor- hoods alive with history and hospitality. In Missouri, you don't have to dig to find pur- pose. It's on the surface—spoken, struc- tured, and ready for your agenda. • • ST. LOUIS • • St. Louis doesn't imitate—it is one of one. This is a city where movements were born, not borrowed, and where Black expression doesn't just occupy space—it defines it. The spirit of the city is rooted in places like the Ville, where legends like Chuck Berry and Tina Turner once walked, and where legacy continues to instruct the future. For planners looking beyond surface charm, St. Louis delivers atmosphere with architecture and sub- stance with scale. The America's Center Convention Complex, located in the heart of down- town, offers over 500,000 square feet of exhibit space, with the adjoining Dome at America's Center accommodating up to 67,000 attendees. Just blocks away, the Marriott St. Louis Grand and Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis provide more than 1,000 combined luxury rooms and modern meeting suites with riverfront views. The City Foundry STL, a reinvented industrial hub, offers flexible space for pop-up events, brand launches, and panel discussions inside a culinary mar- ketplace that cele- brates Black-owned chefs and creators. Nearby, the 21c Museum Hotel merges contemporary art with hospitality, allowing planners to host recep- tions inside rotating galleries that spark conversation and vision. St. Louis also boasts the iconic Gateway Arch—an architectural marvel rising 630 feet above the Mississippi River. Though best known as a symbol of west- ward expansion, its museum and grounds offer immersive venue options for wel- come receptions or historical program- ming. Forest Park, one of the nation's largest urban parks, houses the Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, and The Muny—providing pic- turesque settings for off-site gatherings. For unique, community-rooted spaces, the T-REX Innovation Center and the Urban League Empowerment Center offer modern facilities submerged in sig- nificance. The Saint Louis Science Center, with its interactive exhibits and theater spaces, provides an unconventional option for hosting STEM-focused pro- gramming or youth-centered leadership summits. Planners can also look to Delmar Divine, a newly restored hospital turned innovation hub, ideal for think tanks and nonprofit leadership events. The Cortex Innovation Community adds another layer—offering co-working event spaces framed by academic part- ners and venture capital networks. St. Louis' African American heritage isn't background—it's instructional. The Griot Museum of Black History, one of the few institutions of its kind in the Midwest, gives planners a venue that informs the moment rather than per- forming it. The Scott Joplin House State Historic Site offers intimate event space with historic relevance, while the revi- talized Grand Center Arts District hosts everything from gospel brunches to rooftop pitch sessions backed by soul and jazz. AREA GUIDES • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch 910 OYO Hotel St. Louis Downtown City Center 288 Sheraton Westport Chalet Hotel 299 EXHIBITION FACILITIES America's Center Convention Complex Total Meeting Space 574,000 sq. ft. Largest Hall 72,000 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 M I S S O U R I St. Louis Gateway photo credit: America's CC Complex