As the gateway city for explorers and pioneers heading West, St. Louis’ prime location at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers has long made it a logical meeting point. Today, with its convenient air access and a vibrant hotel, restaurant, sports and entertainment scene in full swing, there are more reasons than ever to gather in St. Louis.
Downtown Digs
Many of the most exciting developments in St. Louis are happening downtown within the vicinity of the America’s Center Convention Complex, a multifaceted meeting facility offering 502,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 28,000-square-foot ballroom, the 67,000-seat Edward Jones Dome, the 1,400-seat Ferrara Theatre and the St. Louis Executive Conference Center.
“What has happened in the past year or so is a transformation of our entire hotel package in the downtown area,” says John Bettag, vice president of sales for the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission. “Virtually all of the hotels that are adjacent or just blocks from the Convention Complex are either new or newly renovated.”
Historic downtown buildings are being converted into hotels and residences, an occurrence that is spawning new restaurants, stores and nightspots popular with visitors and locals alike, he adds. Among the examples is the Embassy Suites St. Louis Downtown, a 212-room property that is a new incarnation of the grand 1906 Laurel Building across the street from the convention center.
Adjacent to the Embassy Suites, the site of the old Mercantile Exchange has been reborn as a complex that includes residential lofts, movie theaters and restaurants. Now known as the MX entertainment district, the centerpiece of the area will be the new National Blues Museum opening early next year.
“There’s a resurgence of urban living here that is great for locals and visitors alike, bringing new services and nightlife in the downtown area,” Bettag says.
Last summer brought the $30 million renovation and rebranding of the former Renaissance St. Louis Grand, now the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel, which is the city’s largest hotel and adjacent to America’s Center. The project included the renovation of all 917 guest rooms and the addition of a Marriott Great Room lobby, a restaurant and 6,400 square feet of new meeting space, bringing its total to over 55,000 square feet.
Also adjacent to the convention center is the new Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Convention Center, located in the historic Lennox Hotel building. Shuttered since 2011 when it last operated as the Renaissance St. Louis Suites, the hotel has emerged as a stylish 165-room boutique property with new rooftop meeting space.
Also newly transformed is the Holiday Inn St. Louis Downtown-Convention Center, formerly the Ramada Plaza. The hotel recently completed a renovation of all of its 293 guest rooms and public spaces as well as a redesign of its 11,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom and Conference Center. New at the hotel is the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame Restaurant & Bar, featuring memorabilia from local sports stars.
Last year, the historic Mayfair Hotel, which opened in 1925 and hosted Hollywood celebrities during its heyday, was reborn as the Magnolia Hotel St. Louis after an extensive makeover. The boutique property offers 185 guest rooms as well as a 4,500-square-foot conference center and 2,500-square-foot ballroom.
Branching Out
The meeting and convention industry in St. Louis is growing and diversifying, according to Bettag.
“We get a big variety of meetings here,” he says. “Historically, we’ve always done well with the religious market—we’re in the center of the country and affordable to get to. However, corporate business has also been growing over the past four or five years, as many companies are looking for affordable destinations as well.”
Association meetings in the city tend to reflect its strength in the health sciences, he adds. Another strong driver of meetings business is the financial sector, owing to the number of brokerage houses headquartered in St. Louis.
Along with newly renovated hotels, the city offers the amenities and air access of a top-tier convention city, but without the congestion and high costs, according to Bettag.
“What we emphasize to planners is that we have the right downtown package,” he says. “And when they get here, we have outstanding ground transportation, including light rail from the airport to downtown. We’re also a great foodie town—our one-of-a-kind restaurants are thriving. What you won’t find are a lot of chains.”
With 13 airlines, including Southwest, using Lambert-St. Louis International Airport as a hub, convenient and affordable air access is another plus, Bettag adds.
Venue Variety
Not far from the convention center, St. Louis’ most famous attraction, the Gateway Arch, is the focus of a major redevelopment plan expected to be completed in 2017. While tram rides to the top of the 613-foot tall Gateway Arch remain in operation, the adjacent Museum of Westward Expansion is closed for a major renovation designed to create a more interactive experience.
Serving as a temporary visitors center for the Arch, the nearby Old Courthouse, which played an important role in the abolitionist and women’s suffrage movements, offers historic exhibits and availability for receptions.
Another nearby option for meetings are venues onboard the excursion paddlewheelers operated by Gateway Arch Riverboats, the Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher. The vessels accommodate groups for day and evening events, including team races and music-themed excursions.
For baseball fans, Busch Stadium not only offers the chance to see a Cardinals game, but also has numerous areas for private events, including the Homer’s Landing picnic area, Hall of Fame Club, Stadium Club and a wide choice of private boxes and suites. Private boxes and suites are also available at Scottstrade Center, home of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues, and the Edward Jones Dome, home of the NFL’s St. Louis Rams.
St. Louis also boasts outstanding green spaces, including the 1,300-acre Forest Park, home to many of the city’s top attractions and off-site venues, such as the St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Zoo and the St. Louis Science Center.
Both indoor and outdoor venues abound at the Missouri Botanical Garden, which offers an auditorium as well as a re-created rainforest, the nation’s largest Japanese garden and a Victorian fantasyland complete with a maze and observatory.
St. Charles
Located about 20 miles from St. Louis, St. Charles is a charming historical enclave on the banks of the Missouri River that has been welcoming travelers since 1769, including the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery and Daniel Boone. Today, it’s the frequent site of small and mid-size meetings drawn to its relaxed pace and state-of-the-art amenities, says Joe Ward, director of the Greater Saint Charles CVB.
“We get a lot of business from corporations who have ties to the area and from regional associations,” he says. “We offer a cozier experience than St. Louis and yet we’re actually closer to the airport—about seven miles—than downtown St. Louis.”
The city’s largest meeting venue is the St. Charles Convention Center, which offers two ballrooms and 66,000 square feet of exhibit space. The facility is attached to the 296-room Embassy Suites St. Louis-St. Charles Hotel.
St. Charles also boasts one of the region’s largest gaming resorts, the 397-room Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles, which includes multiple dining options, an expansive pool area conducive for events, and meeting space that includes a ballroom holding up to 1,800 people for a reception.
With its brick-paved Main Street lined with early 19th century stone structures that include the First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site, it’s not surprising that many group events take on a historic bent. Progressive dinners can include transportation by horse-drawn carriages to such local eateries as Prasino, Lewis & Clark’s and Bella Vino Wine Bar & Tapas, along with a stop at Berthold Square Park for a fife-and-drum serenade. At the Boone’s Colonial Inn, private lunches and dinners for up to 35 people are hosted in a charming early 19th century dining room with live music and servers in period dress.
