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St. Louis, Missouri City Guide

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St. Louis Meeting Planning

America's Center Convention Complex

No stranger to hosting meetings and events, St. Louis is more than prepared to accommodate the needs of any planner. The 500,000-square-foot America's Center convention complex houses five exhibit halls, over 80 flexible meeting rooms, a ballroom, a lecture hall and the 67,000-seat Edward Jones Dome. Located in the heart of downtown, the center is minutes away from 35,000 hotel rooms and various dining establishments and attractions. Travel to farther destinations will not pose a problem, though, as guests can choose from various taxi cab companies and public transportation services of the 46-mile-long MetroLink light-rail or the 50-route MetroBus.

St. Louis certainly does not lack unique venues either. The culture-rich city is bursting with museums, parks, gardens and entertainment venues that serve as a perfect setting for a distinctly St. Louis experience.
The Missouri Botanical GardenMissouri Botanical Garden
Missouri Botanical Garden is 79 acres of gorgeous indoor and outdoor garden displays. Over 11,000 guests can take a seat at The Muny, the nation's largest outdoor theatre, while the St. Louis Zoo has venues that can accommodate up to 1,000 people. And though its location in the Midwest does not afford mountainous terrain for skiing or coastal beaches for water activities, its continental position keeps it at an enjoyable and temperate climate that averages 56°F annually.

Washington Avenue

St. Louis continues to expand and upgrade what it has to offer. In fact, St. Louis recently underwent massive renovations in its downtown corridor, and these efforts continue to expand west into the city. The facelift also included the construction or renovation of various hotels, including Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark and Drury Inn & Suites St. Louis Forest Park. The results of its revitalization effort won the city the World Leadership Award for Urban Renewal in 2006. Additionally, in 2008, the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport begins a $105 million renovation project, projected to include improvements to the main terminal's baggage claims, ticketing hall and restrooms. Guests are sure to enjoy both the travel to and the stay in St. Louis.

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About St. Louis / Additional Info

St. Louis Skyline

This beautiful Missouri city was founded as a trading post in 1763 by French fur trader Pierre Laclede. Bounded by three rivers - the Missouri to the north, Meramec to the south, and Mississippi to the east - it's not surprising that St. Louis has strong ties to the water. When the Steamboat Era came to St. Louis in 1817 and river trade became more efficient and dependable, the city flourished as inland port for commerce and trade. Immigrants began to stream in from Germany, Bohemia, Ireland and Italy, causing the population to soar from 20,000 to 77,860 during the 1840s. St. Louis quickly grew into a well-reputed location, both for residents and travelers. As its reputation expanded, its size did as well, furthering growth and development, including the construction of Union StationUnion Station
Union Station, the largest and busiest railroad stop in the country. The city was also selected to play host to the 1904 World's Fair and the Olympics, the first games to be held in an English-speaking country.

St. Louis' role as a hub for culture and commerce is still seen in many of its present-day attractions. Laclede's Landing showcases dining and entertainment in preserved historic buildings from the city's original riverfront establishment. Replica steamboats ferry visitors up and down the Mississippi River as they did in the early 1800s. Renowned Italian community "The Hill," established by the influx of Italian immigrants in the 1800s, serves world-famous authentic Italian cuisine, including St. Louis' original toasted ravioli. Forest Park, site of the World's Fair and now one of the nation's largest urban parks, still preserves some of the fair's original construction, along with a host of modern attractions such as the St. Louis Zoo and St. Louis Art Museum.

Today, the landscape of St. Louis has transformed greatly from its humble beginnings as a small riverfront town. As the 18th largest city in the U.S., over 350,000 people call St. Louis home. Tall buildings, high-rises and the its trademark Gateway Arch populate the skyline, as large corporations such as Anheuser-Busch, Energizer and Charter Communications are headquartered in the city.