The Show-Me State’s biggest cities, St. Louis and Kansas City, are chock full of new hospitality developments yet maintain their unique local histories and personalities. And to the south, country-music mecca Branson is also focused on nature, and offers two solid business-events options of its own.
Here’s the latest on the meetings and hospitality scene in each of these destinations.
St. Louis
While the 630-foot-tall Gateway Arch was completed in 1965 to commemorate the city’s 19th-century role as a jumping-off point to the western half of the continent, St. Louis now welcomes people from all over North America and beyond for business events in an ever-widening range of industries.
“St. Louis has long been very strong in education, sports, and faith-based groups, but we’re also focused on event growth in sectors such as medical, scientific and other professional associations,” said Brian Atchison, director of sales for Explore St. Louis, the city’s DMO. “We’ve reorganized our sales team by industry verticals so we can better focus on each one’s specific needs for their events.”
For instance, the city is a leading healthcare-research hub that’s anchored by the School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis as well as the BJC Healthcare system of hospitals. In addition, St. Louis has more than 20 Fortune 1000 firms with a large presence, including Boeing, Nestle, Edward Jones, Purina, Anheuser-Busch and others.
Atchison noted that Explore St. Louis has made strong inroads with the local corporate base such that “their leaders are willing to help incoming business groups with their event agendas and conference content. They have executives willing to speak to groups, and some offer facility tours. They’re eager to show that what they are dealing with in their businesses is also what’s happening globally.”
One strong stamp of approval for St. Louis: In June 2025, MPI held its World Education Congress at America’s Center Convention Complex.
Comprising the Cervantes Convention Center (with a 28,000-square-foot ballroom and 90 breakout rooms), the St. Louis Conference Center (with a 1,400-seat theater), and The Dome (with 67,000 seats), America’s Convention Center Complex showed off more than $200 million in new upgrades when MPI came in.
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The upgrades include a new, 72,000-square-foot exhibit hall that boosted total exhibit space to more than 500,000 square feet; a new entrance and lobby that created a second main entry point, allowing for smooth flow of simultaneous events; a doubling of loading-dock capacity with new and renovated docks, all of which are now enclosed; a culinary garden with 40 raised beds offering a truly local food experience; and updated restrooms and interior finishes.
One other update coming to the center by late 2026 is a full refresh of the original Washington Avenue entrance, which features classic red-brick architecture, huge street-facing windows and a 45-foot-tall domed lobby perfect for impactful event welcomes and creative sponsor activations. The redesigned entrance will also provide a smooth integration into the neighborhood, where an eight-block walk brings event attendees to Ballpark Village.
A multi-block district next to Busch Stadium—home of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team—Ballpark Village features restaurants, bars and entertainment options that appeal to many citywide groups. And for smaller groups, there’s a hotel right at Ballpark Village: The 263-room Westin with 17,000 square feet of meeting space.
For other St. Louis neighborhoods that event groups would enjoy, Atchison stressed that a shuttle ride is no more than 10 to 12 minutes from downtown.
Planner Perspective
Emily Thibodeau
Vice President, Event Management
Maritz
Meetings Today: You’re a St. Louis native, and Maritz headquarters is located just outside the city, in Fenton. So, what makes St. Louis a compelling destination for business events?
Emily Thibodeau: That’s easy; it’s our neighborhoods. It starts downtown, where the city’s energy, history and convenience make it easy to create programming that delivers memorable moments for attendees. Iconic attractions like the Gateway Arch and the revitalized riverfront create a unique sense of place. Venues such as the City Museum—with its motto “Weirdly Wonderful”—transform a standard reception into an experience, while Busch Stadium, Ballpark Village and the surrounding entertainment district really showcase the flavor of the city.
The new Energizer Park stadium and practice facility for the city’s pro soccer team adds more appeal for business groups. And with so many hotels, venues and dining all within walking distance, the downtown district makes for simple planning as it delivers a big “wow” factor.
MT: What are the best aspects of neighborhoods just beyond downtown?
Emily Thibodeau: Soulard offers a lively, historic backdrop for casual gatherings—live music, patios and brick lined streets bring a deeply authentic feel.
The Central West End provides a more refined atmosphere, ideal for networking receptions or restaurant buyouts near Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country. Here you’ll find The Boathouse, which works beautifully for teambuilding events, outdoor receptions or closing night celebrations.
Nearby, the Dogtown neighborhood’s pubs and Irish heritage are welcoming for groups, while the Saint Louis Zoo is an exciting option for evening events.
No St. Louis itinerary is complete without including The Hill, where hosting a family style Italian dinner feels like being welcomed into someone’s home. This is an experience attendees never forget.
Kansas City
This city has serious momentum. Kansas City’s four-year wave of infrastructure improvements to prepare for this summer’s World Cup soccer matches is complete, and the smallest of the 16 cities hosting World Cup games is ready to host six matches that “will be like Super Bowls,” Alan Dietrich, executive director of KC2026, the nonprofit overseeing the hosting initiative, told The Wall Street Journal in April.
The list of new and improved venues in town is impressive. First, the 2023 debut of an entirely new airport facility—a $1.5-billion terminal that replaced all three original terminals—“has been such a game changer,” noted Courtney Meyer, director of sales for Visit KC, the city’s DMO. “Travelers say that it’s so bright and it’s beautiful with all the local artwork, and the emphasis on local cuisine in the restaurants there really stands out to visitors.”
Then there’s the Kansas City Convention Center’s $45 million in enhancements over the past three years that brought new carpeting, escalators and bathrooms, as well as the soon-to-reopen Barney Allis Plaza, a reimagined 38,000-square-foot green space that lies between the center and the 983-room Kansas City Marriott Downtown. And nearby is the center’s other headquarters hotel: the 800-room Loews Kansas City that connects to the center via indoor walkway.
In total, there are about 6,000 hotel rooms within walking distance of the center, which offers 388,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space along with 48 meeting rooms, including a 46,000-square-foot ballroom and the 2,400-seat Municipal Music Hall. There’s also the 10,700-seat Municipal Arena—a preserved Art Deco gem—right next door.
Another part of town that’s been enhanced is the Power & Light District, the most popular spot for citywide conventions to hold off-site receptions. More than $10 million went into expanding the overhead awnings and climate-control systems for the indoor-outdoor district, which features nearly 20 bars and restaurants plus several terraces across two levels.
Power & Light is just three blocks from the convention center, the headquarters hotels, and other meetings-friendly properties such as Crowne Plaza Kansas City. In fact, the 213-room Hilton President Kansas City—a historic 1926 property that is the only AAA Four -Diamond hotel in the area—sits right at the entrance to the district and offers 12,000 square feet of meeting space.
[Related: 5 KC Jazz Clubs That Transport Groups to the Golden Era]
Another venue that can host social events for large groups is just two years old and has a unique pedigree. CPKC Stadium is the first sports arena ever built specifically for a women’s pro team: The Kansas City Current soccer club.
The 11,500-seat mini-stadium has the upscale Pitch Club for private dinners of up to 200. For larger groups, the long indoor concourses overlooking the field and the Missouri River have concession areas where bespoke food and beverage offerings can be set up. There’s also an outdoor concourse at the front gates that features a new upscale sports bar named Revel, plus open space for groups to bring in food trucks, games, large viewing screens, musical acts, and other activations. In addition, the stadium is the final stop on the KC Streetcar, a free transportation system that runs to and from downtown, right near the hotels, convention center and Power & Light District.
On the flip side, a popular group venue in town that’s now a century old is the National WWI Museum and Memorial. The Liberty Memorial Tower and Egyptian-Revival-style monument opened in 1926, while an 80,000-square-foot underground museum opened in 2006 featuring artifacts, immersive exhibits and engaging experiences that showcase personal stories of courage and sacrifice. The manicured, terraced outdoor space in front of the museum can hold several thousand people.
In the Vine district just east of downtown is another social-event venue with historical importance: The Negro League Baseball Museum (NLBM) tells the stories of men of color who played professional ball together between 1920 and 1948 when the Major Leagues were exclusionary. Its energetic visuals and sounds will become even more numerous when a $30-million expansion is completed in 2028.
And there’s more: When that expansion opens, the American Jazz Museum will move into the NLBM’s original building, making for adjacent venues that groups can buy out separately or together.
One other historic reception/dining spot is Union Station, which still operates as a rail station but privatizes its majestic Grand Hall for events of up to 1,000 people. Also in Union Station: The Arvin Gottleib Planetarium. And the College Basketball Experience is a 41,000-square-foot downtown venue for interactive receptions and dinners.
Branson
About 50 minutes south of Springfield-Branson National Airport is the town of Branson, a hub of outdoor activities and themed entertainment in the Ozark Mountains.
More than 20,000 guest rooms are available in Branson resorts, hotels, motels, B&B inns and condos, and the town has more than 125 restaurants.
The Branson Convention Center is set next to the sizable Branson Landing dining and entertainment district at Lake Taneycomo. It features a 22,000-square-foot ballroom plus 14 breakout rooms, a 47,000-square-foot exhibit hall, onsite catering and AV/production services. The center connects to the 294-room Hilton Branson.
The region’s group-focused resort is 362-unit Big Cedar Lodge, the brainchild of Bass Pro Shops founder John Morris. For business events, “our sweet spot is corporate meetings and incentives that want to use golf,” said Samantha Gutting, director of sales for the resort who spent several years with Ritz-Carlton. “We’re a self-contained luxury experience that some people might not realize is available in this region. Our offerings are designed for guests to pause and take it all in.”
At the resort’s main lodge, groups use the Grandview Conference Center and its 11,000-square-foot ballroom plus several breakout rooms and an event lawn, all of which have views of Table Rock Lake down the hillside.
There are also several luxurious, wood-framed dining and reception venues across the 4,000-acre property, such as the lakeside Integrity Hills Stables Barn, Osage Restaurant, Wine Cellar Event Room and the indoor/outdoor Buffalo Bar with panoramic lake views from the hills above. In fact, “every conference space and social venue has views of the lake,” Gutting noted.
Recreational options on property include six nationally renowned golf courses, including three par-3 courses that are as scenic as they are easy to get around in under two hours.
Other outdoor recreation on the 4,000-acre property includes Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail, which guests explore via electric cart; canoe, kayak and powerboat rentals; the 18,000-square-foot Cedar Creek Spa; numerous resort pools; clay shooting and archery at Bass Pro Shops Shooting Academy; and various family-oriented activities.
Groups can also sample myriad entertainment offerings back in Branson, less than 15 minutes from the resort. They include Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Theater; The Haygoods family musical troupe; the Titanic Museum Attraction; Branson Murder Mystery; comedy and illusion shows; tributes to classic rock, Motown and country music; Branson Scenic Railway; and more.
Connections
Explore Branson
ExploreBranson.com
Visit Kansas City
VisitKC.com
Explore St. Louis
ExploreStLouis.com
