Significant convention bookings to bring millions to the local economy for years to come
(KANSAS CITY, Mo. July 17, 2023) – Fueled by recent infrastructure
improvements and recent sales efforts by Visit KC, Kansas City is
experiencing dramatic momentum in its meetings and conventions sector.
This resurgence of meeting planner interest comes as an industry leader
Cvent [1] recognizes Kansas City as a top convention destination in
America.
In the first two quarters of 2023, among the 185 total events hosted,
Kansas City welcomed major gatherings for key organizations such as the
National Society of Black Engineers, the American Occupational Therapy
Association and the Building Owners and Managers Association. These
three events alone attracted nearly 22,000 attendees and generated more
than $27 million in estimated economic impact.
Major bookings continue to be announced, including three major
conventions which will bring more than 15,000 attendees to Kansas City
with an estimated economic impact of nearly $24 million over the next
several years. The economic impact is based upon several factors, including
a combination of attendance and room nights.
Additional upcoming major conventions in Kansas City include:
*
The National Baptist Convention, USA – The religious denomination will
host its 2023 Annual Fall National Convention in KC, bringing more than
5,000 attendees and nearly $4 million in economic impact.
*
United States Conference of Mayors – This conference, pursued in
partnership by Mayor Quinton Lucas and former Mayor Sly James, will
welcome almost 1,500 high-profile attendees to Kansas City next summer.
*
National Education Association – The nation’s largest professional
employee organization will host its 2029 Annual Meeting in the Heart of
America, bringing nearly 9,000 attendees and creating an estimated
economic impact of more than $18 million.
“We are proud to start this year strong in convention sales, with more
than 290,000 future room nights confirmed through the first half of the
year,” said Nathan Hermiston, Senior Vice President of Convention
Sales and Services at Visit KC. “This is a testament to the incredible
amenities offered here, both at the Convention Center and in the city,
and we are thrilled that groups are seeing that.”
Hermiston said these major bookings are a credit to last year’s
voter-supported GO Bond, which is currently investing $45 million in
maintenance and capital improvements to the Kansas City Convention
Center. Work completed and in the process includes new carpet throughout the
facility, replacement of escalators, upgrading and modernizing the bathroom
facilities and a complete upgrade of wireless and technology
infrastructure that will make the building competitive into the next
decade and beyond.
In addition to the major upgrades at the KC Convention Center, Kansas City
has completed significant improvements to the city’s infrastructure in recent
years, including the opening of the new single terminal at Kansas City
International Airport in February and adding 1,100 new and renovated hotel
rooms to the Central Business District. Major projects in progress include
expanding the free KC Streetcar route (expected completion in 2025) and
opening the Kansas City Current Stadium (expected in 2024), which will be
the first women’s professional sports stadium in the world.
To learn more about meetings and conventions in Kansas City, go to
VisitKC.com/meetings [2].
About Visit KC
Headquartered in Downtown Kansas City, Visit KC is the chief hospitality
sales and marketing organization for the region. With a mission of
igniting a global passion for Kansas City, Visit KC collaborates with
nearly 1,000 community partners to drive marketing, sales and
service of the destination’s convention and tourism industry—a
sector that supports more than 40,000 jobs and $1.8 billion in wages.
For more information about Kansas City, go to VisitKC.com [3].
