By: Brad Plumb, CMP, Senior Sales Manager, Visit Overland Park

For over 50 years St. Louis’ the Gateway Arch has been known throughout the world as a symbol, not only of westward expansion, but as a gateway of hospitality beginning at the Mississippi river. The structure is as spectacular today as it was on opening day in 1965.

With no shortage of excitement more than 60 members of the Heartland Chapter got an insider’s tour of what’s next for this iconic structure. Surprising was the size of the new museum and tour lobby. The buzz was that this will be a great unique venue for large scale events and the new space (indoors and outdoors) will be very attractive for “off- site” group activities. The grounds are even more connected with the City as the hi-way separating the Arch and the Old Courthouse have been covered increasing the size of this beautiful National Memorial.

After the tour, the Drury Plaza Hotel at the Arch hosted lunch and a panel discussion focusing on the latest in meeting design, food and beverage, and audio visual advancements. Each table shared ideas on how to improve meetings in the future, what needs to be added…and what needs to go away. Perhaps from being enlightened by the Arch tour there was an underlying theme of allowing participants more time to “take a breath” and to become more engaged during meetings. This unique event was a great way to learn and share.