City Snapshots
Chicago. The 285-room
Public Chicago, the first of Ian Schrager's new hotel brand, opens this fall with 10 meeting rooms.
Detroit. The Cobo Conference and Exhibition Center is undergoing a $221 million revamp that will transform Cobo Arena into a 40,000-square-foot ballroom, among other changes.
Sandusky, Ohio. The Kalahari Resort broke ground in March on a $22 million expansion that will more than double the size of its convention center, to 215,000 square feet, by December.
St. Louis
The former Kiel Opera House is undergoing a $78 million renovation, after which it will be renamed the Peabody Opera House. The venue, which opened in 1934, includes a 3,200-seat theater and four smaller theaters that can be rented out for special events. The property will reopen this fall featuring improved sound and lighting systems, in addition to a full interior revamp.
The Cheshire hotel is undergoing a $4 million renovation and is expected to reopen this summer. The 107-room property is home to the Fox & Hounds Tavern, which channels a cozy English pub, and offers several event spaces, including a private boardroom with stained-glass windows and an outdoor beer garden adjacent to the pool.
The St. Louis Science Center broke ground on a $9.5 million expansion last July. The project, expected to open in October, will provide the venue with a new 13,000-square-foot exhibition space. The expansion is expected to be LEED certified and also will include a rooftop terrace available for special events.
The Hampton Inn & Suites St. Louis/South I-55 opened last November with 92 guest rooms and approximately 726 square feet of meeting space.
Meeting Hotels
Major properties include the 918-room Renaissance St. Louis Grand; 910-room Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch; 780-room Millennium Hotel St. Louis; 675-room Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark; 539-room St. Louis Union Station Marriott; 502-room Harrah's St. Louis Casino & Hotel; 394-room Renaissance St. Louis Hotel Airport; 393-room Hilton St. Louis Airport; 345-room Henry VIII Hotel; 331-room Chase Park Plaza Hotel; 327-room DoubleTree Westport; 300-room The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis; and 300-room Sheraton West Port Hotel Lakeside Chalet.
Convention Centers
America's Center; exhibit space, 502,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 80. (314) 992-0627
Scottrade Center; exhibit space, approximately 36,000 square feet. (314) 622-5400
Airport Transit
Lambert-St. Louis Airport, about a 20- minute drive from St. Louis' downtown district. Transfer cost by taxi, $25-$35
Taxes
Room tax, 7.25%; sales tax, 8.491%; total tax on hotel rooms, 15.741%
Group Venues
The Missouri Civil War Museum will open this fall to tell the story about the state's role in the historic conflict (Missouri, on the border between the North and the South, was divided among two separate governments during the war). Thousands of artifacts and documents will be displayed throughout the 16,000-square-foot venue's galleries, including weapons, flags and musical instruments. A garden accommodating up to 100 people will be available for events. (314) 845-1861
The Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum, is a 50,000-square-foot interactive facility that allows visitors to reconnect with their childhood curiosity. The venue can accommodate up to 1,000 and features exhibits such as an electrostatic generator and a giant bubble station. (314) 822-8900
Dining Out
Voted best restaurant in St. Louis by Zagat in 2010, Niche serves a varied menu that includes pappardelle tossed with smoked pork shank, mascarpone and apples, as well as squab served with foie gras bacon, turnips, sorrel, pearl onions and fingerling potatoes. A private room can accommodate up to 50. (314) 773-7755
Contact
St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, (314) 992-0627
Video Tour
Oklahoma City is a vibrant state capital and the largest city in Oklahoma. For a video introduction to the destination, produced by the city's convention and visitors bureau, visit
bit.ly/lJ55z2. Oklahoma City
In the planning stages is the city's $777 million Metropolitan Area Projects, which will include a new 70-acre downtown park, a new downtown convention center spanning about 200,000 square feet, and 57 miles of public bicycling and walking trails. The complex is expected to be completed in 2019.
Meeting Hotels
Properties include the 508-room Biltmore Hotel Oklahoma, 396-room Sheraton Oklahoma City Hotel, 354-room Marriott Oklahoma City, 312-room Clarion Hotel Airport and 311-room Renaissance Oklahoma Convention Center Hotel.
For a more extensive list of hotels, visit mcvenues.com.
Convention Centers
Cox Business Services Convention Center; exhibit space, approximately 100,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 21. (405) 602-8500
Civic Center Music Hall; exhibit space, 5,300 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 3. (405) 297-2584
Airport Transfer
Will Rogers World Airport, about 20 minutes from Oklahoma City's downtown neighborhood. Transfer cost by taxi, $25
Taxes
Room tax, 5.5%; state tax, 4.5%; city tax, 3.875%; total tax on hotel rooms, 13.875%
Group Venue
Opened in 1950, Castle Falls was built to replicate a vintage European castle and offers several meeting spaces within its stone façade. The Grande Hall can accommodate up to 250 guests and is equipped with a 10-foot retractable projector screen. Outdoors, the Royal Garden features a waterfall, manicured landscaping and space for up to 250. (405) 942-6133
Contact
Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau, (405) 297-8952