Groups who have not visited Wichita, KS, in a while should consider adding it to the top of their list. Whether seeking a high-energy cultural hub, expanding room inventory, or an affordable destination, this city has meeting groups covered. With more than 8,000 hotel rooms and over 1,000 restaurants (not to mention 33 museums, 22 live theaters, and plenty of new attractions), it's a city ready for its close-up.
"All over Wichita, there is an energetic vibe you can see and feel," says Moji Rosson, vice president of sales at Visit Wichita. "You see it in the locals proudly displaying the Wichita flag on everything from the clothes they're wearing and the cars they're driving to the storefronts of local businesses."
The city recently saw the opening of the 126-room Aloft Wichita Northeast, which offers three large meeting rooms (totaling 3,600 square feet), and outdoor function space, and showcases local art and live-music shows at its w xyz bar. Nearby, the 118-room La Quinta Inn & Suites Northeast also opened, not far from the new Wichita Sports Forum (which holds six basketball courts, 10 volleyball courts, and many other sports facilities ideal for teambuilding activities -- as well as private entrances and hospitality area).
Looking ahead, a 123-room Element by Westin is slated to open not far from the Wichita State University Innovation Campus, while a 120-room Hilton Garden Inn will be opening in downtown Wichita.
When it comes to larger events, the Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center offers more than 200,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space, connected directly to the 303-room Hyatt Regency Wichita. The INTRUST Bank Arena provides a 15,000-seat downtown venue (and will play host to the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament first- and second-round games). Plenty of smaller, more unusual venues are also available: the Western-infused Old Cowtown Museum, architecture showcase of Exploration Place, or the Sedgwick County Zoo, to name a few.
"You feel it in the warm greetings you receive and the bustling city districts, filled with people enjoying vibrant, creative spaces, local flavors, and public art," adds Rosson.
Getting to the city is also easier than ever: Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, just a 10-minute drive from the city's downtown, now boasts a state-of-the-art airport terminal. In April of this year, Alaska Airlines began bringing in daily flights from Seattle, greatly expanding the city's access.
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This article appears in the August 2017 issue of Successful Meetings.