Why here?
Several major hotel projects in the Show Me State wrapped up recently, with more on the horizon. Among properties touting fresh upgrades are the Sheraton and Westin Crown Center complex (above) in Kansas City, and the Magnolia Hotel in St. Louis, originally built in 1924.
Spotlight: St. Louis
The former Mayfair Hotel was revamped and reopened in August as the 182-room Magnolia Hotel. With more than 8,000 square feet of event space, the property dates from 1924 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Hilton St. Louis Downtown at the Arch finished an upgrade in June that refreshed its 195 guest rooms, public spaces and 5,000 square feet of function space.
Growth Spurt
The River City Casino & Hotel in South St. Louis County finished an $82 million expansion in September 2013 that added a 200-room hotel and a 14,000-square-foot events center.
New Face in Town
Ronnie Burt, named Visit KC's new president and CEO in May, previously served as vice president of sales and services for Destination DC. He has more than 23 years of industry experience.
KANSAS CITY
Local Update
• The Sheraton and Westin Kansas City Hotels at Crown Center completed a $22 million renovation last September. The two-hotel complex, which has a total of 1,454 guest rooms and 150,000 square feet of event space, upgraded its meeting rooms and lobbies. In addition, the Sheraton enhanced its 730 guest rooms, and the Westin added a 260-square-foot room for groups of four to six called Tangent, with state-of-the-art technology and floor-to-ceiling white boards.
• Marriott's AC Hotels will open its second U.S. location in Kansas City this November. The 123-room AC Hotel Kansas City Westport, which will cater to the Millennial-minded traveler, will offer mobile check-in,
USB charging stations and a fitness center. Meeting space at the hotel will total 941 square feet across three rooms.
• A $46 million dual-branded property will open in the city's Crossroads Arts District next fall. The 10-story project will include a 153-room Courtyard by Marriott and a 104-room Residence Inn. Features will include a pool, a fitness center and meeting space.
• The 107-room 816 Hotel in Westport opened this past May, following a renovation and rebranding of the former Holiday Inn Express. Complimentary amenities for guests include shuttle service within a four-mile radius, breakfast, nightly cocktails, Wi-Fi and access to a nearby Gold's Gym.
• The Hotel Sorella Country Club Plaza opened last November in the Country Club Plaza District. The property has 132 guest rooms, a lounge and more than 5,700 square feet of meeting space spread among six rooms. The hotel's rooftop restaurant also can be rented out for events.
• All aboard: The KC Downtown Streetcar is scheduled to commence service in summer 2015 and transport passengers along a two-mile line connecting the River Market to Crown Center and Union Station. The ride will be free to the public.
• 21c Museum Hotels has announced plans to redevelop the Savoy Hotel and Grill, a 125-year-old landmark in the city's downtown. At press time, the project was pending federal and state tax credits and private financing.
Lakeside Luxe
The
Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa and Convention Center in Branson offers scenic views of Table Rock Lake from its perch atop the Ozarks. The 301-room resort also has a spa, several dining options, an outdoor pool, a lakeside marina and more than 43,500 square feet of meeting space.
Meeting Hotels: Properties include the 983-room Kansas City Marriott Downtown, 730-room Sheraton Kansas City at Crown Center, 724-room Westin Kansas City at Crown Center, 384-room Kansas City Airport Marriott, 369-room Holiday Inn Kansas City SE, 366-room InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza, 347-room Hilton Kansas City Airport, 295-room Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza, 237-room Embassy Suites Atlanta-Airport and 123-room Courtyard Kansas City at Briarcliff.
To fine and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit mcvenues.com.
Convention Center: Kansas City Convention Center; exhibit space, approximately 388,800 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 48; (816) 513-5000
Airport Transit: Kansas City International Airport, about 15 miles from downtown. Cost by taxi to downtown, about $50
Taxes: Sales tax, 9.35%; room tax, 7.5%; total tax on hotel rooms, 16.85%
Group Venues: Spectators Gastro Pub in the Sheraton at Crown Center reopened in May, following upgrades to its flooring, seating, and buffet and bar areas. The venue has a private dining room that can accommodate up to 12 people for dining and breakout meetings. (816) 841-1000
The Boulevard Brewing Co., which claims to be the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest, opened in 1989 in a turn-of-the-20th-century brick building. The city's hometown brewery has several function spaces, include its tasting room, which can accommodate up to 35 guests, and a 3,600-square-foot space that can host up to 225. (816) 701-7261
Contact: Visit KC, (800) 767-7700