Notes from the Road: St. Louis

A city of hospitality

As The Arch Gateway towered over me, I was overcome by its elegance and simplicity along with an unwavering sense of openness. The sci-fi geek in me imagined a grey shimmering electrical portal opening a doorway to another world. But that’s exactly what my time in St. Louis felt like: a portal to a fascinating universe with a cross-section of sports, culinary delicacies, human kindness, and city pride that made it even harder to leave.

A Place to Meet

For planners looking for an extremely versatile convention space, America’s Center Convention Complex is the perfect choice. Not only is it located in the middle of Downtown St. Louis, but it offers 574,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, a 28,000-square-foot ballroom, a 1,400-seat theatre and The Dome at America’s Center, which offers 67,000 seats. America’s Center is currently nearing the end of a $259 million expansion that will result in a new 72,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall that will expand the Center to 574,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space.

A Place to Stay and Meet

Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis houses its own spa, but the hotel itself feels like one. From the scent Fresh Bleau that is pumped into the air of public spaces, to the flowing stream of water directly outside the hotel as you make your way to the elevator, Four Seasons St. Louis creates a sense of tranquility from the moment your feet walk through the door to the minute you lay your head on the pillow in your guest room.

Read More: Missouri: Next Gen Meetings

Four Seasons St. Louis also offers 20,000 sq. ft. of event space, 14 meeting rooms and 200 guest rooms.

Meet & Play

St. Louis is a sports city. For planners looking to lean into the theme, Ballpark Village has a lot to offer. Located directly across the street from Busch Stadium, Ballpark Village offers guests a spectacular view of the game from the Bud Deck Rooftop and a 1,500-square-foot media wall with a 65-foot LED television to display a sports game or a corporate presentation.

Planners looking for a more cowboy-chic experience should check out PBR St. Louis, which offers a stage, sound system, dance floor and a mechanical bull, for those feeling particularly brave.

Places to Eat

If you’re looking for an intimate dining experience, I can not recommend Olive + Oak more. The first sip I took of cocktail #4 with gin, sloe gin, pistachio, cardamom, lemon, honey and rose took my tastebuds on a journey I will not soon forget. This only continued into the appetizers, main course and then dessert. The staff is very engaging and will offer suggestions based on what the guest likes. There is a genuine, authentic personality in the restaurant that felt from the start to the end of the meal.

I was greatly impressed overall by all the restaurants I visited, including City Foundry, Casa Don Alfonso and Rooster. The severs always inquired for any food allergies and were able to adjust any meals to suit the needs of the guest. It was a small kindness to offer, but for travelers with sensitive stomachs, like myself, it showed a level of care that I greatly appreciated.