By: Cheri D. Jones, CMP, The Roark Group
If you have events happening in your city, please email them to Cheri Jones, CMP at [email protected]. We would love to highlight exciting things happening in your town. The information below is gathered from Heartland Chaptermembers, CVB websites, Meetings Today and Meeting Focus.
Kansas – Sunflower State
Wichita – In recent years, a mood of excitement and pride has emerged in Wichita. The city has evolved into a vibrant, active, multicultural city, with many new restaurants, shops, breweries and outdoor spaces like the ICT Pop-Up Park, an urban park in downtown Wichita and regular gathering spot for food trucks and lunch-goers, and the brand-new Gallery Alley, an under-utilized alley that is now a vibrant public space, complete with a local art, a portable concert stage, a screen for outdoor movies and outdoor seating.
Additionally, the opening up of bicycle routes to neighborhoods like Old Town, downtown and Douglas Design District, plus a new bike share program, have helped to ignite a vibrancy in the heart of the city.
Wichita also has a new event space to offer planners, lengthening the already long list of unique meeting venues in Wichita. Brick + Mortar opened earlier this year in a century-old, 24,000-square-foot building within blocks of INTRUST Bank Arena in downtown Wichita. The venue retains the structure’s original character of exposed brick and wood beams while offering modern conveniences and flexibility to meet many needs.
Iowa – The Hawkeye State
Des Moines – Catch Des Moines recently unveiled a new look after nearly a year of extensive research and planner and visitor surveys. The new look includes a refreshed logo, new advertising creative and collateral, and a new commercial that highlights the unique and surprising features of Greater Des Moines. The refresh is in response to the rapid growth of the city. Greater Des Moines now has more than 12,500 hotel rooms, nearly two dozen direct flight offerings, expanded rideshare and public transportation options, and dozens of new locally-owned restaurants and breweries. You can read more about the brand refresh here.
Waterloo – Coming soon to Waterloo…Extensive renovations will take place at Waterloo’s largest conference center and hotel over the next couple of years. The Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center will undergo an initial $6 million renovation and reopen as the Waterloo Convention Center at Five Sullivan Brothers Plaza, with a target completion date of Fall 2018. The adjoining Ramada Hotel will undergo a $14 million renovation as well and reopen as the Hotel RL by Red Lion Waterloo by Summer 2018.
Missouri – The Show Me State
Springfield – There are five hotels are under construction: Springhill Suites by Marriott, Holiday Inn Express, Home2 Suites, and The VIB by Best Western and Fairfield Inn & Suites. The Fairfield project includes a 10,000-square-foot convention center connecting with the existing DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and a parking garage for use by the hotels and convention center. Also, ride sharing opportunities, such as Uber, are now available in Springfield.
A major renovation of the Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium is underway and when completed will be a world-class attraction as well as unique venue for meetings and events. It’s adjacent to the White River Conference Center and connected to Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. It’s scheduled to open September 21. Here is the link to Wonders of Wildlife’s website.
St. Louis – The Gate Way Arch has recently gone through a five year, $380 million-dollar renovation. Biking and running trails have been added as well as outdoor and indoor space for concerts and event. Click here to visit the Explore St Louis website for more information.
Nebraska – The Cornhusker State
Omaha – The newest addition to Omaha’s downtown convention district opens in August. The new 333-room Capitol District Marriott includes 17,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space and is located directly across from the convention center providing additional convenience for meeting groups. The Marriott is the first phase of a new $205 million entertainment district that is quickly taking shape downtown. When complete the Capitol District will include apartments, retailers, restaurants, and an outdoor entertainment venue. In addition to the new Marriott, there are another 10 hotel properties with more than 1,000 rooms set to open in the next two years, including Cambria Hotel and Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, aLoft by Marriott, Home2Suites, Curio Collection by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Inn and Suites.
Oklahoma – The Sooner State
Oklahoma City – Recently the Oklahoma City Council approved to redevelop the Omni Hotel for a headquarter hotel to support the MAPS 3 Convention Center. Click here to learn more about this exciting news.