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Eight Groups Pick KC for Conventions

Bartle Hall

Visit KC, the region’s leading hospitality and tourism organization, has announced nine major convention bookings by eight groups for future years. The groups represent the sports, religious, education, multi-cultural and multi-level marketing segments. Together, the meetings will inject a estimated total of more than $32 million into the local economy. Economic impact is based on a combination of attendance and room nights.

The largest of the groups—and the third-largest booking secured this year—is Scentsy Inc. The direct-selling company of home and personal fragrances, with consultants in more than 11 countries, will bring 7,000 consultants to KC in July 2017, generating nearly 7,500 room nights and an economic impact of more than $6.6 million. 

“Our initial attraction to Kansas City is its central location to a large population of our perspective attendees, abundant meeting space and hotel options and competitive rates,” said Eldon Gale, director of events at Scentsy. “Perhaps more importantly, what sealed the deal was the abundance of dining, nightlife, entertainment, shopping and Kansas City’s overall atmosphere. Kansas City is on the move, and we are thrilled at the opportunity to showcase its riches to our attendees.”

Other conventions announcing their selection of KC for future years include:

  • USA Weightlifting – The organization will hold its 2017 National Junior Championships in Kansas City, Feb. 23-26, 2017, bringing 1,000 coaches and competitors to the city, which will generate more than $587,000 in economic impact.
  • Privilege Institute – This non-profit multi-cultural organization advocates for peace, equity and justice. It will bring its 2017 Annual Conference to KC, April 27-30, 2017. The group will attract an estimated 1,800 attendees and an economic impact of nearly $1.4 million.
  • LIFE Leadership – A multi-level marketing company, LIFE returns to KC in April 2017 with 10,000 attendees and an economic impact of nearly $1.5 million.
  • Enactus – The international non-profit dedicated to inspiring students to improve the world through entrepreneurial action has selected KC for its 2017 USA International Expo. A total of three consecutive years have been secured, keeping Enactus in KC through 2019.  In total, the conference will bring 13,500 attendees to the city and pour more than $9.3 million into the local economy.
  • United Methodist Church – The religious group selected Kansas City to host its 2019 Youth Discipleship Ministries conference on July 10-14, 2019. The event will bring 5,000 attendees to downtown KC, generating an economic impact of more than $5 million.
  • Watt Global Media has extended its contract by two years, keeping its Petfood Forum convention in Kansas City through 2020. The 2019 and 2020 conferences combined will bring more than 5,000 attendees to KC and more than $4.7 million into KC.
  • Finally, ACPA College Students Educators International will bring 3,000 members to KC in for the first time in March 2022 for its 2022 Annual Convention. The 85-year-old organization supports and fosters college student learning through policies, practices and programs for student affairs professionals and the higher education community.  ACPA will infuse more than $2.8 million into the local economy.

“Our new streetcar, affordability, arts and culture, culinary scene and sports teams are creating nationwide buzz,” said VisitKC President & CEO Ronnie Burt. “The investments of our partners in and around the city are getting attention. Our sales team is laser focused on performance and driving results. We are thrilled that visitors, meeting planners and convention attendees are taking notice.”

About Visit KC
Visit KC is a non-profit organization whose mission is to ignite global passion for visiting Kansas City. Through marketing, sales and service of the convention and tourism industries, Visit KC supports a vital and growing component of the local economy—generating more than 46,000 jobs and $5.1 billion in economic impact annually. For more information about Kansas City, go to VisitKC.com.