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B M & T ••• September/October 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 24 Ballroom. The Sheraton Overland Park delivers 412 guest rooms and 25,000 square feet of internal meet- ing space via direct covered walkway to the adjacent Overland Park Convention Center. Vine Street Brewing Co. opens the evening as Missouri's first Black-owned brewery, planted in the historic 18th & Vine District. Tasty African Food KC in Overland Park serves authentic West African comfort dishes built for group dining. The 18th & Vine District car- ries the cultural weight of the city in one walkable block - the American Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum share the same stretch, both available for private group receptions and both holding stories that stay with attendees long after the conference ends. Kansas City carries the opera- tional depth to run a flawless program and the cul- tural richness to make every attendee feel like a returning neighbor. C St. Louis B St. Louis puts serious meeting muscle behind its cultural reputation – a city that earns its spot on any multicultural planner's shortlist. St. Louis Lambert International Airport sits 14 miles north- west of downtown, running 150+ daily departures to keep groups moving. America's Center Convention Complex holds 574,000 square feet of continuous exhibit floor, a 28,000-square-foot grand ballroom, and 95 soundproof breakout rooms. The Dome at America's Center adds 67,000 seats for general sessions or headline events at a capacity few cities can match. Downtown delivers 4,500 committable hotel rooms within a walkable 10-block radius. The Marriott St. Louis Grand holds 917 guest rooms, 45 suites, and 55,000 square feet of event space directly across from America's Center. The Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch runs 910 guest rooms, 33 suites, and 76,000 square feet of on-site meeting space four blocks out. Prime 55 handles upscale group dining with pri- vate presentation spaces. Gourmet Soul brings classic Southern comfort to group receptions downtown. The National Blues Museum on Broadway seats 230 and opens for private corpo- rate evening rentals. Four blocks from the conven- tion center, the Old Courthouse holds the court- rooms where Dred and Harriet Scott filed for their freedom - the kind of history that gives a pro- gram real weight. St. Louis gives planners the floor space to run the program and the history to make it matter. C Springfield B Springfield, Missouri gives planners compact access, strong venues, and real culture in one tight downtown. Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF) sits 9 miles northwest of the city center with non-stop flights to major domestic hubs. The down- town Springfield Expo Center offers 112,000 square feet of continuous exhibit floor space with 35-foot ceilings and an adjacent 977- space parking structure. University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center adds 150,000 square feet of total venue space beside the exposition hall. Oasis Hotel and Convention Center brings 173 rooms and space for 1,500 attendees. Hotel Vandivort offers a boutique spread and the Vantage rooftop. Groups eat at Black-owned Big Momma's Coffee and Crosstown Barbecue. The Springfield African-American Heritage Trail and Commercial Street deliver histo- ry and sound. Springfield makes every agenda feel personal. OHIO Ohio sits at the center of the eastern Midwest with three major airports – Cleveland Hopkins International, John Glenn Columbus International, and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International - connecting to 200-plus nonstop destinations. Columbus leads with 1.8 million square feet of event space, and Cleveland opens the door to Ohio's Black cultural heart. The state's highway sys- tem puts every city within a four-hour drive, with Kansas City, Convention Center