Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1544721
Count Basie occupy the spotlight at the American Jazz Museum, located in the city's famed 18th & Vine Historic Jazz District. Around the corner from the museum, the Mutual Musicians Foundation, created in 1917 as a union for Black musicians, hosts late-night per- formances on Fridays and Saturdays and daytime tours of historical exhibits Tuesday through Thursday. There's more history to explore at the National WWI Museum and Memorial, whose Egyptian Revival architectural style has made it one of the city's most iconic landmarks. The College Basketball Experience in downtown Kansas City promises a fun time for families and sports-loving meet- ing attendees, with interactive exhibits designed to recreate the intensity of the game. After an adrenaline-pumping tour of the exhibits in the CBE, you end your visit at the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. The CBE has rentable event space that can accommodate as many as 1,500 guests. Several of the city's other popular cul- tural and entertainment attractions— including Union Station, the Midland Theatre, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and Crown Center—also offer unique venues for group events. MISSOURI AREA GUIDES Nightlife attractions include several local entertainment districts and casinos, and the city boasts a diverse culinary scene that includes places to taste iconic dishes like St. Louis-style pizza, toasted ravioli, gooey butter cake and much more. For liquid refreshment, the city that is the headquarters of Anheuser-Busch is also home to nearly 65 craft breweries. KANSAS CITY Called the most centrally located major metropolitan area in America, Kansas City is another great location for a meeting where easy accessibility matters. The Kansas City International Airport has non- stop service to 55 destinations, and 55 million people live within a day's drive of the city. Getting around Kansas City is also easy via its RideKC bus system and the free downtown KC Streetcar. The streetcar lets you off just steps from the 800,000-square-foot Kansas City Convention & Entertainment Facilities. The convention center contains one of America's largest green ballrooms, a 46,484-square-foot space that is certified LEED silver. Along with its meeting and exhibition spaces, the complex also hous- es a 2,400-seat fine arts theater, an arena that seats more than 10,700 people and an outdoor festival plaza. The convention center connects to sev- eral major downtown hotels by skywalks and underground walkways. Lodging accommodations in KC are in an expan- sion mode, with nine new area hotels hav- ing already opened since 2023 and 10 more set to open throughout 2026. There are currently about 36,000 hotel rooms citywide. The eight-block Kansas City Power & Light District, just two blocks from the convention center, is one of the city's favorite spots for dining and entertain- ment. Crown Center, the international headquarters for Hallmark Cards, is also close by, housing the LEGOLAND Discovery Center and SEA LIFE Aquarium along with dozens of shops and restau- rants. Speaking of restaurants, any visitor with a taste for barbecue will be in the right place in Kansas City, which lays claim to being the Barbecue Capital of the World. And now a visit to Crown Center can include a tour of the new Museum of BBQ. Besides claiming the world's top barbe- cue bragging rights, Kansas City also boasts more than 200 fountains—more than any other city in the world except Rome. The most photographed bubbler is the ornate Mill Creek Fountain near Country Club Plaza. KC is also home to some notable his- torical attractions, including those high- lighting the city's and the nation's African- American heritage. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum explores the challenges and triumphs of Black professional players in the sport, including the hometown Kansas City Monarchs. Music legends like Charlie "Bird" Parker, Ella Fitzgerald and B M & T ••• May/June 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 63 • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Kansas City Downtown Marriott 983 Loews Kansas City 800 Sheraton Kansas City at Crown Center 720 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Kansas City Convention Center Total Meeting Space 249,000 sq. ft. Largest Hall 388,800 sq. ft. Largest Ballroom 46,484 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 48 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? VisitKC — (800) 767-7700 https://www.visitkc.com/ Kansas City Convention Center photo credit: Kansas City C.C.C