KANSAS CITY: THE PREMIER CONFERENCE SPOT
Why book an in-person conference?
In 2021, we’re experiencing a resurgence of in-person meetings, which means the return of company culture, meaningful business relationships and improved communication. Connecting in person allows for in-depth conversations and informal small-talk that often gets lost in texts, emails and phone conversations. It also fuels the emotional investment people place within a company. In fact, customers who feel an emotional relationship to a brand or company have a 306% higher lifetime value and will recommend the company at a rate of 71% – a steep increase from the average rate of 45%.
So, why Kansas City?
From sports to the arts to delicious cuisine, Kansas City is overflowing with culture. Chiefs fans are proud to call Arrowhead Stadium home, as it ranks as one of the loudest football stadiums in the United States. Kansas Citians are biased, but with a great stadium, great fans, and an even better team – going to a game is an incredible pastime (and team bonding activity).
As the city of fountains, guests are greeted by 200+ fountains scattered throughout the city. Not to mention – people travel from all over the world to get a taste of KC BBQ. In terms of places to visit, the Country Club Plaza features tons of local retailers and restaurants, and the area was inspired by the architecture in Seville, Spain. Visitors can also find vibrant nightlife in the Power & Light District; an eight-block entertainment area with restaurants, bars, and live events. For history gurus, Kansas City has beautiful museums, including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the National WWI Museum and Memorial.
But what truly makes Kansas City the ideal meeting spot, is its prime geographical location. Kansas City is at the heart of the Midwest – it’s the central meeting point for people traveling across the country and the international airport facilitates over 400 daily flights with direct flights to 50+ cities across the United States.
And, why KCI Expo Center?
The KCI Expo Center is well-known for holding conventions, business meetings, large-scale social events and weddings in the Kansas City Northland area. The convention center features various on-site amenities:
- A 5-minute drive from the airport & a 15-minute drive to downtown
- 70,000 sq. ft. exhibition hall (or two 35,000 sq. ft. halls)
- 10 meeting rooms, ranging in size from 260 sq ft to 6745 sq ft.
- Meeting rooms accommodate 10-650 people with theatre-style seating or 20-350 people with banquet-style seating
- Free shuttle service and an adjacent hotel
- Free ground-level parking
- Full-service catering and on-site restaurant
- Wireless and hard-wired High-Speed Internet, plus LCD projectors, microphones and an in-house sound system
- Exhibit hall equipped with electric, phone and water hookups
Interested in hosting your event at the KCI Expo Center?
To check if your dates are available for booking, or for more information about organizing events at KCI Expo Center, please email us at info@kciexpo.com.
Wedding Planning in 2021
Wedding Planning in 2021
With all that has happened over the last year, there’s never been a more stressful yet exciting time to plan a wedding. Likely, questions swirl in your mind about the size of your wedding and, of course, the type of venue. The great news is that as the world begins to open up, so do a world of possibilities for your big day.
Of course, no matter the year, wedding planning can be a very involved process. At KCI Expo Center, we pride ourselves on helping to remove the stress and anxiety from your list, so that you can simply focus on the happiness of your wedding day – and future together.
Whether you’re wanting an intimate gathering or a giant blowout, KCI Expo Center has a variety of spaces to accommodate your needs. Our salons provide the perfect space for smaller groups of 130 or less. While our Ambassador and Grand Ballrooms can seat up to 300 and 400 guests, respectively. Looking to have your ceremony and reception at the same location? Our beautiful courtyard will provide the perfect ambiance for your vows, allowing space for up to 100 guests.
The size and atmosphere of the venue are likely at the top of your consideration list. But just as important are all the little details that will go into making your reception run smoothly and your day stress-free. That’s why we offer standards like a 4-hour event time, tables, dance floor, catering services, table linens, china, silver and stemware. Our wedding packages also include details like centerpieces, pre-event access, complimentary room and bottle of champagne for the bride and groom, plus complete setup, tear-down and cleanup. The details are where we shine because we know that the last thing you want to be worrying about on your wedding day are things like “Who’s going to take down the centerpieces?”
And, have we mentioned the importance of location? It’s important to choose a venue that’s easy to access, especially to those who may not know their way around the city. Because we’re just 5 minutes from the airport, a wedding at KCI expo center means your out-of-town guests will be able to avoid complications and get right to the celebration.
2021 promises to be a big year for weddings Between the number of couples who got engaged in 2020 and the number of couples who postponed their big day, experts say there could be close to double the number of weddings we’d normally see in a given year. So if you haven’t booked your venue yet, don’t delay.
Now is the time to look forward to your big day, and to your life together. At KCI Expo Center, we’re excited to start looking forward with you.
If you’re interested in learning more about having your wedding at KCI Expo Center, please call us at info@kciexpo.com.
End of the Year Events Clearance
Take advantage of these end-of-the-year savings!
If you are needing to book an event for the coming year, look no further than KCI Expo! While reviewing budgets and plans for 2021, we understand that you need the perfect event space that fits the size of your group, accommodates for social distancing, and is easy on your budget. Prepare for your upcoming events the right way, and trust our services to help provide a wide variety of different event factors. Right now, the KCI Expo Center is clearing out our remaining weekend dates for January to July for our trade hall. Book one of these dates and receive 40% off of your trade hall rental!
- January 2 and 3
- March 6 and 7
- April 3 and 4
- April 24 and 25
- May 29 and 30
- June 12 and 13
- June 26 and 27
- July 3 and 4
Contact us now via our RFP page or call now at (816) 841-1931 for details on how to book your space and take advantage of these tremendous end-of-the-year savings.
Our Facility
The versatility of our Grand Hall has brought audiences center stage for everything from championship boxing and dance competitions to concerts and graduation ceremonies. We are experts in planning events ranging from consumer tradeshows to corporate conventions. We have the ability to arrange 5,200 seats in a theatre-style or we offer portable bleacher seating to customize your event requirements. KCI Expo is also committed to ensuring your event runs smoothly, your guests are satisfied, and your planning process is not overwhelming. Our care for our customers and their events helps us provide engaging and enjoyable experiences for all parties involved.
How to Safely Attend Events Post COVID-19
The day is finally here, shops and businesses are allowed to reopen. People are allowed to converse in an area together, there are guidelines, but we are slowly but surely getting back to the normal. While this might be a new normal for us all, we can find solace in the fact that the time to move forward with what we have learned over the past few months has come. Take this opportunity to reflect and examine what we know about COVID-19 and what we can do to prevent the spread now that we are trickling out of our homes. It all starts with our patrons and ends when you come to KCI Expo Center for an event or meeting, but the important thing to remember is to stay home if you feel sick! Be aware of how you feel prior to leaving your home, this keeps you and others attending events safe. KCI Expo Center will take it from there.
Staying Socially Distant
While remaining 6 feet apart might seem difficult, and no, you don’t have to bring a tape measure every time you go out, it’s important to remember that keeping yourself healthy is a priority. Distance between people can prevent the spread of germs in the air, and even when sometimes it’s just not possible, making sure that you are aware of those in your immediate vicinity keeps you AND those around you safe. When applying those recommendations to meetings and in-person events, it’s feasible to just be mindful of those also attending. For a good rule of thumb, remember that you want to avoid getting close enough to exchange the same air and droplets with others. According to the CDC, keeping groups of people minimized will also help keep the spread. KCI Expo Center is dedicated to keeping our protocols in place so you can safely attend our events!
Masks, Gloves, and Hand Sanitizer
Making sure you stay healthy goes farther than just keeping your distance! When you know you are going to attend a meeting or host an event with multiple people, remember to keep the tools you need to sanitize on your person. Masks help to prevent the transmission between one or more people, and gloves help to keep your hands clean (remember to not touch your face!). Bringing these items with you when attending events help keep you and those around you healthy. Having these safety protocols in place allow people the freedom to walk around and interact with others without the risk of potentially catching something. Hand sanitizer helps when you feel as though you touched a possibly contaminated surface, and keeps you clean when you are with others. Not only that but when you come to KCI Expo Center, we are ensuring our cleaning and sanitizing duties are done frequently and thoroughly.
What to Expect from KCI Expo Center
KCI Expo Center is dedicated to keeping our attendees healthy. We will be following Kansas City and Platte County guidelines. At this current moment, the county is set to reopen for events and meetings May 31, 2020. Opening up our spaces so you feel safe is the utmost priority for our staff and organization. We hope to see you soon, we will have our upcoming schedule and rerelease of events posted as soon as possible! Thank you for staying safe and indoors during this time.
For more information regarding the Missouri and Kansas City reopening guidelines, visit the City of Kansas City Government website and the Show Me Strong Recovery Plan for Missouri.
Health and Safety of Our Attendees
In the wake of the most recent news activity involving Coronavirus COVID-19, KCI Expo Center wants to let our attendees know that we are taking precautions to ensure the quality of overall health and wellness at our events. Our number one goal in mind when organizing events and meetings is the safety of our patrons. Taking your health into consideration is an important factor in making sure you stay safe while attending.
Coinciding with statements from the KCMO Health Department and the City of Kansas City, KCI Expo Center acknowledges that there are confirmed cases in the Kansas City metro area, and we are aware of the potential health risk this poses to our attendees. We encourage all of our patrons to practice careful hygiene when considering attending events.
Currently, there are no federal announcements to restrict meetings and travel within the United States. However, there is now a restriction on holding events that expect numbers of patrons exceeding 1,000 in Kansas City. This was issued by Mayor Quinton Lucas and is considered to be a State of Emergency that will be in effect for the next 21 days. Learn more about this proclamation here. Kansas City is a destination to many visitors and the KCI Expo Center will be hosting several events in the coming months, including the RK Gun Show, the Gem and Mineral Show, and several dance competitions. We are still hosting the majority of these events and encourage our patrons to follow standard hygiene practices while attending. The KCMO Health Department recommends visitors to Kansas City and locals to exercise regular hand washing and other sanitization processes. Updates will follow in regards to the cancellation of select events.
For a good reference article for updates and tips on how to deal with coronavirus, check out the statement posted by the City of Kansas City.
For regular updates and additional resources, VisitKC has compiled a list for people visiting or living in Kansas City.
