Best Convention Centers in North America
The Overland Park Convention Center has been named 2023 Best Small Convention Center in North America by EXHIBITOR Magazine, a leading industry publication honoring the best in event venues.
This is the fourth year Overland Park Convention Center has won in EXHIBITOR’s special awards category since the awards inception four years ago.
Convention centers throughout North America were considered and evaluated using an objective algorithm and rigorous grading scale.
In addition to this special recognition, Overland Park is consistently ranked on North America’s Top 30 Convention Centers list released by EXHIBITOR Magazine annually. The venue was also awarded Best Customer Service & On-Site Support in North America in 2021 and Best Small Convention Center in North America in 2020 and 2022.
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This facility has proven their ability to host trade shows and events of all shapes and sizes while providing world-class service and state-of-the-art accommodations.
Travis Stanton, editor of EXHIBITOR Magazine
Award Criteria
- Facility & Functionality
- Location & Accommodations
- Service & Execution
- Upgrades & Expansions
- Awards & Industry Participation
OUR TEAM
The most experienced & accomplished employees make up our staff.
- 6 Certified Meeting Professionals
- 2 Sustainable Event Professionals
- 6 Specialty Rigging Accredited team members
- 4 Certified Custodial Supervisors
- 1 Certified Technology Specialist
- 1 Certified Venue Executive
- 1 Connect Association 40 Under 40 recipient
An award-winning chef with over 30 years of culinary experience & accomplishments from around the world.
- Worked alongside Chef, Wolfgang Puck
- Defeated Celebrity Chef, Bobby Flay on Food Network Series, Beat Bobby Flay
- Cooked at the White House for former President, Bill Clinton
- Chef at Ohio Governor’s Mansion
Sensory Inclusive
Certified Sensory Inclusive event venue & staff.
The Overland Park Convention Center partnered with non-profit KultureCity to become a Sensory Inclusive Certified venue.
Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with autism, dementia, PTSD and other similar conditions. The certification process equips venue staff by training with leading medical professionals on how to recognize those attendees with sensory needs and how to handle a sensory overload situation.
One of the major barriers for these individuals is sensitivity to over stimulation and noise, which is an enormous part of the environment in event venues. KultureCity’s Sensory Inclusion Program is designed to ensure the best guest experience for those with sensory needs so that all can attend and feel comfortable.
First convention center in the world with a KultureCity-approved sensory room.
Overland Park is the first convention center in the world to open a KultureCity-approved sensory room for neurodiverse, autistic and disabled attendees. The dedicated space was designed by medical professionals for those who may need a quieter and more secure environment.
Security
The Overland Park Convention Center was selected as one of two pilot venues to review and assess the best practices and safety guidelines developed by the Industry Security Council in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security, created to protect the millions of people who work, exhibit at, and attend meetings, conventions, and trade shows each day.
Wi-Fi Performance
An industry leader in Wi-Fi performance & connectivity.
The Overland Park Convention Center has also become an industry leader in Wi-Fi performance and connectivity, all at no cost to exhibitors and guests. With one of the fastest Wi-Fi systems in the industry, backed by a 10GB infrastructure and redundant fiber internet services, exhibitors and attendees are only limited by the capacity of your devices.
GBAC STAR FACILITY
Industry leading commitment to health & safety.
Overland Park is the second convention center in the world to achieve the Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ Facility accreditation, the industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation for facilities.
Under the guidance of GBAC’s scientific advisory board, the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention are implemented within the facility. Following a risk assessment, the program establishes mitigation strategies through the use of scientifically approved protocols, equipment, chemicals and training, which are continually measured, audited and improved, to ensure a facility’s readiness for biorisk situations. The program verifies that Overland Park Convention Center implements best practices to prepare for, respond to, and recover from outbreaks and pandemics.
Plan responsibly with our safe planning website tool.
We created our Safe Planning Resource by event type to help our clients safely plan and visualize their events, showcasing socially distanced setups, creative food and beverage options, and much more.
As a GBAC STAR accredited facility, we know how to plan an event under the strictest standards.
PLUS
Other recent awards include:
2023 – 2020 Top 30 Centers of Excellence in North America, EXHIBITOR Magazine
2022 Best Small Convention Center in North America, EXHIBITOR Magazine
2022 – 2002 Best Meeting & Conference Facility, Ingram’s Magazine
2022 – 2018 Prime Site Award, Facilities & Destinations Magazine
2021 Best Customer Service & On-Site Support in North America, EXHIBITOR Magazine
2020 Best Small Convention Center in North America, EXHIBITOR Magazine
2019 Best Convention Centers in North America, Business View Magazine
2018 Event & Venue of the Year, MPI Kansas City
Overland Park Convention Center boasts a combined total of 60,000 square feet of exhibit hall space. It recently underwent a renovation, which updated the curtaining, lighting, and paint, enabling the space to be transformed into an exquisite setting for trade shows, celebratory gatherings, or black-tie affairs. Connected to the Exhibition Hall via an air wall, the ballrooms offer 25,000 square feet (and 30- foot ceilings) for occasions of all types and sizes.
Meanwhile, the convention center’s nearly 25,000-square-foot Outdoor Courtyard, which is surrounded by greenery and modern architecture, is the perfect place for any evening or daytime gathering.
The Overland Park Convention Center has over 1,000 guest rooms available at surrounding hotels within walking distance from our location, including an attached Sheraton Hotel for convenience. Parking is always free at the convention center, with approximately 1,000 spaces around the complex.
Located in the heart of the country, Overland Park is within a day’s drive of more than 60 million people. Getting around the Kansas City Metro is easily done by car. The Overland Park Convention Center is located right off of I-435 and is located just 30 minutes south of the KCI Airport.
Located less than a mile from the convention center, Park Place offers restaurants, retail stores, and Barkley Square, a community green space featuring year-round activities. In the summer, guests can enjoy lively concerts and street fairs, whereas winter finds the space transformed into an outdoor ice skating rink. Topgolf, an entertainment and golf destination, and iFly, an indoor skydiving facility, are also less than a mile from the venue.
Convention Center
The Overland Park Convention Center is
an all-encompassing event resource
for our clients, partners & community.
Our team creates experiences through personalized customer service and innovative ideas in all areas of our facility.
Everything you need to design a memorable event can be found under one roof.