The heart of America

Kansas City, Missouri, shone bright for my first extended stay in this heartland metropolis. With more than half a million residents, 2.25 million in the metropolitan area (including the Kansas side of the Missouri River), Kansas City brings big city amenities with Midwest charm.

We were in town for EOS Worldwide Conference and learned that the visionaries, integrators and implementers are coming back next year. The city will also soon play host to FIFA matches and watch parties, Taylor Swift’s fiancé at GEHA Field at Arrowhead and the thriving cultural scene at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Room to Meet

The city is home to more than 36,000 guest rooms. Kansas City Convention Center and adjoining Loews Kansas City in the Power & Light District offered a seamless meeting experience (an elevator joins the two) with elevated catering and even some barbecue at the opening reception (more on the dynamic mix of culinary offerings later). The pair offers a combined more than 300,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including the sprawling City Beautiful ballroom at 27,000 sq. ft.

Kansas City Marriott Downtown and Hotel Kansas City, part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt a few blocks away brought elegance and history, respectively. Kansas City Marriott Downtown boasts nearly 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 946 newly renovated guest rooms with upgraded WiFi service—big city bandwidth.

A Global Buffet

While Kansas City is considered the barbecue capital with more than 100 restaurants dedicated to the art of the rub and a Museum of BBQ, creative chefs offer so much more, from sushi to James Beard Award-winning cuisine.

You may start at Rosedale Bar-B-Que, which originated as a hot dog stand in 1934, with a stop at Arthur Bryant’s for burnt ends, but keep going. Anton’s Taphouse in the Crossroads Arts District is known for serving locally sourced Kansas City strip steak, tender and juicy. Main Street Gallery, the second-floor private dining room, pairs city views with the savory menu.

Ibis Bakery draws a crowd for coveted cheese slipper bread, a ciabatta base with a mix of cheeses and in-season toppings. Adding this KC specialty to your reception will offer guests a taste of the town.

Those sweets lovers in the group will be happy to learn that Russell Stover, the third largest chocolate manufacturer in the U.S., still hand dips more than 25 million candies a year in Kansas City.

A Walk in the Park

New green spaces are sprouting downtown. From our hotel, we could see the cranes at Barney Allis Plaza, a reimagining of a 4-acre public space built on top of a parking garage and named after a legendary hotelier. When the ribbon is cut at the end of 2026, it will be an art-focused gateway to downtown with gathering spaces near the convention center.

Also coming out of the ground is Roy Blunt Luminary Park (South Loop), a 5.5-acre, $200 million project creating a “lid” over I-670 between Grand Blvd and Wyandotte St. It will feature inclusive play areas, a dog park and event spaces.