2023 Best Small Convention Center in North America

Overland Park Convention Center named Best Small Convention Center in North America

Overland Park Convention Center receives special honors for fourth consecutive year

Overland Park, Kan.—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. After a survey of past clients as well as exhibit and event managers who have exhibited at or hosted events at each of the top three finalist venues, Overland Park Convention Center was selected.

The Best Small Convention Center in North America 2023 recognition also considers criteria categorized into five primary areas:

• Facility & Functionality
• Location & Accommodations
• Service & Execution
• Expansions & Upgrades
• Awards & Industry Participation

“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,” said Travis Stanton, editor of EXHIBITOR, noting that everything from the number of nearby hotel rooms to the cost and quality of Wi-Fi access can have a significant impact on exhibiting companies’ experience at events.

In addition to this special recognition, Overland Park is consistently ranked on North America’s Top 30 Convention Centers list released by EXHIBITOR 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.

“Our team, this industry and events— are recovering at an unbelievable pace and it feels amazing,” said Brett C. Mitchell, general manager of Overland Park Convention Center. “We have so many things to be proud of this year, like the creation of our sensory room space for neurodivergent attendees and the expansion of our sustainability program with a complete venue roof replacement. It’s recognitions like this award that drive us to never stop innovating, creating and being the absolute best we can be.”

For more information on the Overland Park Convention Center’s award recognition, please visit opconventioncenter.com/best or call (913) 339-3000. To learn more about EXHIBITOR and our award as Best Small Convention Center in North America 2023, visit exhibitoronline.com/awards/coe.

About Overland Park Convention Center

The award-winning Overland Park Convention Center opened in November of 2002 on a 26-acre site in the heart of Overland Park, the largest suburban city in the Kansas City metropolitan and the second largest city in Kansas.  Adorned with over sixty original works of are and equipped with state-of-the-art communications systems, the 245,000 square floor complex features a 60,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall that connects to the 25,000 sq. ft. Edwin C. Eilert Ballroom and 15,000 sq. ft. of meeting room space. Natural light radiates throughout the unusually spacious (44,000 sq. ft.) pre-function and registration areas. Among the convention centers many awards, the most recent include: 2022 Best Small Convention Center in North America, 2022 – 2020 North America’s Top Convention Centers, EXHIBITOR Magazine; 2021 Best Customer Service and 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; 2021 – 2002 Best Meeting & Conference Facility, Ingram’s Magazine; 2021 – 2018 Prime Site Award, Facilities & Destinations Magazine

About Exhibitor Media Group

The leader in trade show and corporate event marketing education, Exhibitor Media Group publishes the award-winning EXHIBITOR magazine, a monthly publication featuring best practices in trade show marketing. EXHIBITOR’s learning events include: EXHIBITORLIVE, Best Practices in Trade Shows and Events; EXHIBITORFastTrak accelerated learning conferences; and EXHIBITOR eTrak, professional online learning. Exhibitor Media Group is also the founder and sponsor of CTSM (Certified Trade Show Marketer), the industry’s only university-affiliated professional certification program. Learn more at www.ExhibitorOnline.com. EXHIBITOR is a registered trademark, and EXHIBITORLIVE, EXHIBITORFastTrak, and EXHIBITOR eTrak, are trademarks of Exhibitor Publications, Inc. in the USA and other countries. All company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated.