Topeka
- The new Kansas Children's Discovery Center (785.221.7002) is on pace for a June 2011 opening in Topeka's popular 160-acre Gage Park.
- Topeka's arts scene is expanding with the addition of the North Topeka Arts District, or NOTO, a revitalization effort focused on historic North Topeka.
- Two meetings-capable, limited-service properties opened last year, the 81-room Holiday Inn Express North (785.861.7200) and the 64-room Comfort Suites (785.246.6777).
Wichita
- In spring 2011, two major hotel projects will be completed close to the 200,000-square-foot Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center: the $20 million relaunch of the circa-1922 Broadview Hotel as the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview (316.262.5000) and the debut of a $12 million, 131-room Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites, part of the new mixed-use WaterWalk (316.219.6060) development.
Salina
- The multipurpose Salina Bicentennial Center (785.826.7200) completely refurbished its flexible Heritage Hall and eight meeting rooms, while the Ramada Conference Center Salina (785.823.1739) is currently in a phased renovation of all 192 guest rooms.
Kansas City
- Slated to open this summer, the new Sporting KC Soccer Stadium (913.387.3400) will accommodate 18,500 for soccer and 25,000 for concerts, with the new 83-room, meetings-capable Best Western KC Speedway Inn and Suites (785.478.6851) opening next door this spring.
Overland Park
- Continuing improvements at the Overland Park Convention Center (913.339.3000) include new teleconferencing technology and several green, eco-conscious initiatives. The Overland Park CVB has also enhanced its sports programming and events marketing via the Overland Park Sports Alliance (913.491.0123 ).
Lawrence
- Located in the city's historic Mount Oread neighborhood, the full-service Oread Hotel (785.843.1200) opened in January 2010. Sister to The Eldridge, the elegant 99-room property's meeting facilities include two large banquet rooms, multiple restaurants and scenic upper-level outdoor terrace bars.
Manhattan
- In July 2010, ground was broken for the new Flint Hills Discovery Center (785.587.2726). Anchoring a downtown development project, the event-capable center, devoted to inspiring hands-on exploration of the surrounding prairie grasslands, is slated to open in April 2012.
- A late 2011 groundbreaking has been announced for a 135-room Hilton Garden Inn & Conference Center, which will boost Manhattan's hotel inventory to more than 1,000 rooms.
Dodge City
- Opened in December 2009, Boot Hill Casino and Resort (620.682.7777) is scheduled to open a 100-plus room hotel in late 2011 or early 2012. The United Wireless Arena (620.371.7390; www.unitedwirelessarena.com) event center, located next to the casino, will open early this year and incorporate the Magouirk Conference Center and outdoor event garden.