An event center like Overland Park Convention Center isn’t just a place to host your next party. It’s a gathering place for people of all ages, beliefs, and backgrounds. At OPCC, we are committed to creating an event space that is welcoming to all, ensuring that guests of all backgrounds feel comfortable and accommodated.
Everyone deserves to attend the perfect event, no matter what that event may be. But how do we ensure that OPCC caters to all our guests’ needs?
Over the years, we’ve worked to enhance the Overland Park Convention Center experience, taking special care to accommodate as many unique guests as possible. So if you’ve been wondering about our Kansas City company’s DEI initiatives, read our new blog below to learn more.
Why is DEI Important?
So, why does a company like ours prioritize DEI initiatives? Well, the first reason should be obvious: for the guests.
At OPCC, we strive to make every event an enjoyable and seamless experience for all guests. By understanding different backgrounds and needs, we can create a space where everyone feels comfortable and welcome.
Understanding our guests’ different backgrounds allows us to better anticipate their needs. Attendees want to feel comfortable during their event, so we work to familiarize ourselves with all manner of different cultures and traditions. We have a diverse staff ourselves, so fostering an environment of acceptance and understanding is one of our highest priorities.
We live in a diverse community, and we think our events should reflect this. We’re proud of our community, and our DEI initiatives show it.
Creating a welcoming and inclusive event space allows us to better serve our guests, anticipate their needs, and create a seamless experience for all , and our Kansas CIty company’s DEI initiatives facilitate that innovation.
Staff
As another important part of OPCC’s DEI initiatives, we value having a team with diverse perspectives and experiences to better anticipate and meet the needs of our guests. As we select new members of our team, we always ask ourselves how they can improve the event-planning experience for our guests.
As new clients meet with our event planning experts, they want to be sure they’re working with someone who understands their perspectives and points of view.
For example, if a Spanish-speaking couple wants to get married in one of our venues, we’ll connect them with one of our many Spanish-speaking team members. A diverse staff makes the event planning experience smoother for everyone.
The Importance of Supplier Diversity
We don’t just want to build a diverse staff; we also want to work with a team of diverse suppliers. OPCC builds partnerships with minority-owned businesses in the Overland Park area to support all kinds of different perspectives and build economic equity.
We value working with a diverse range of businesses, such as NBP Security, a Black-owned company that provides additional security resources when needed. These partnerships allow us to support our local business community while providing the best service for our clients.
Listening to Our Guests
For another aspect of our Kansas City company’s DEI initiatives, we listen to our guests’ feedback. Over the years, our team at Overland Park Convention Center has hosted countless events, and some important people have taken notice.
For instance, the industry-leading publication, EXHIBITOR Magazine, has awarded us “Best Small Convention Center” for many years. But we still want to enhance the client experience whenever we can.
We are proud to meet and exceed ADA accessibility requirements and continuously seek ways to enhance the guest experience.
Our Many, Many Menu Options
Our passion for diversity even extends to our menu. We pride ourselves on offering a wide number of food options, no matter your event.
We didn’t want to offer run-of-the-mill food options to our guests. Instead, we work with award-winning head chef, David Ruiz, to provide our guests with delicious, made-from-scratch meals.
And our menu options aren’t just American food like burgers (though we do have delicious slider options). We have menu options inspired by dishes from Thailand, Italy, South America, and more! Let us know what you’re hungry for. Even if you’re visiting from far away, we can give you a taste of home.
And though we don’t traditionally allow outside food and beverage options, we will allow Indian weddings to work with a licensed caterer of their choice. We know food is an important part of the experience!
Working With the Inclusivity Experts
At Overland Park Convention Center, we wanted to make sure our event space catered to the needs of more sensitive guests too. We recognize that large events can be overwhelming for some guests, so we partnered with KultureCity to find ways to make our space more comfortable and accessible.
KultureCity is a non-profit dedicated to making event spaces like Overland Park Convention Center more accessible for guests with sensory issues. This may include attendees with autism, PTSD, dementia, and more.
Overland Park is the first convention center in the world to open a KultureCity-approved sensory room for neurodiverse, autistic, and disabled attendees.
Bright lights and loud noises can make these guests feel distressed or overwhelmed, and we wanted to prevent that. So KultureCity offered some personalized advice to help us upgrade our convention center’s facilities.
Sensory Accommodations
Based on KultureCity’s recommendations, we created a sensory room for our guests. The sensory room is a soothing, sound-proofed room for any guests who may be feeling overwhelmed or uncomfortable during an event. This room has a myriad of resources for those with sensory needs, like relaxing bean bags and interactive calming tools.
The sensory room is available by request, and not open to the general public at all times. This way, attendees don’t have to worry about anyone barging in while they’re calming down.
We also offer sensory bags, which include sound reducing headphones, fidget toys, and other tools for anyone who might be feeling overstimulated during their event. These resources can make a huge difference for attendees with sensory needs, so we’re happy to provide them.
Accessibility
Another part of our Kansas City company’s DEI initiatives is accessibility. At OPCC, accessibility is a top priority.
Our facility meets and exceeds ADA requirements, ensuring that guests of all mobility levels can navigate the space comfortably. From wheelchair-accessible restrooms to spacious event layouts and ADA-compliant entrances, we are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all attendees.
Our team is always available to assist guests who may need additional support or accommodations during their visit.
The OVG DEI Program
At Overland Park Convention Center, we’re proud to be a part of the Oak View Group (OVG). This organization works with and supports a number of renowned event centers.
OVG shares our views about DEI—they know that accessibility, inclusion, diversity, and equity are all pillars upon which a successful event center stands. They believe in building more diverse workforces and workplaces as well as prioritizing community impact.
The Oak View Group’s DEI program helps centers like ours develop more inclusive environments, so we can better meet the needs of our guests. OVG is committed to fostering welcoming and inclusive spaces at the venues they manage, helping event centers like OPCC better serve a broad range of guests.
Overland Park Convention Center
Now that you’ve learned more about how OPCC strives to create an inclusive and welcoming environment, allow us to tell you a bit more about our company itself. We’re Overland Park Convention Center, and we want to help you host your perfect event.
No matter the occasion, we can help make your vision a reality. Our team members work with you every step of the way to ensure that you feel heard and understood throughout the entire planning process.
We’ve hosted everything from intimate galas and wedding ceremonies to trade shows with thousands of attendees. Just communicate your plans to our team, and we’ll get started making your dream event a reality.
The OPPC Blog
If you’re interested in learning more about our process at the Overland Park Convention Center, then look no further than our educational blog. This resource has detailed write-ups about many of our services, including more information about our Kansas City company’s DEI initiatives.
We have dozens of posts highlighting what makes OPCC special and how you can plan the best events, so if you’re on the fence about hosting your next gathering with our team, then this is the perfect resource for you.
And if you make your way through the post backlog, don’t worry. We update the blog with new posts each and every month.
Get Started With a Team That Cares
We hope you’re excited about our Kansas City company’s DEI initiatives. You deserve an event venue that ensures all guests feel comfortable and accommodated. To get started, try our online event planning tool.
You just need to complete the questionnaire, and we’ll reach out with a free, personalized estimate based on your answers. It’s never been easier to begin the planning process with our team.
