FAQ

Meeting Information

• How big is the convention center?
• What other meeting space is there?
• How many hotel rooms in the area?
• What is there to do downtown?
• Is DeVos Place a union facility?
• What does a CVB do? How can you help me?

General Information

• Why is Grand Rapids called "The Furniture City?"
• What makes Grand Rapids one of America's Greenest Cities?
• What time is it?
• What's the weather like?
• What is the sales tax?
• How many people live here?
• The area's largest employers include:

Legal Information

• What is the seatbelt law?
• What are the alcoholic beverage laws?
• Where can I get a fishing license?

Meeting Information

How big is the convention center?  (Back to Top)

DeVos Place convention center in downtown Grand Rapids offers one million square feet of space, including 162,000-sq-ft of exhibit space and 250,000-sq-ft of sub-dividable meeting space.

Many other facilities are available to meet unique needs - search for facilities according to your specific criteria.

What other meeting space is there?  (Back to Top)

Whatever your needs, Grand Rapids has the facility perfect for you. Search our knowledge base for the right one for you. 

How many hotel rooms in the area?  (Back to Top)

There are over 6,600 hotel rooms in the Kent County area, and 1,400 hotel rooms located within one mile of DeVos Place convention center. Three hotels are connected to the convention center via enclosed, climate-controlled walkway.

What is there to do downtown?  (Back to Top)

DeVos Place is located in the heart of the downtown entertainment district. More than 75 restaurants, nightclubs, museums, theatres and shops are within a five-minute walk. Go to Meet Grand Rapids section for more information.

Is DeVos Place a union facility?  (Back to Top)

No, but audio-visual services are union-controlled.

What does a CVB do? How can you help me?  (Back to Top)

Experience Grand Rapids is proud to work with our Kent County hotels and the DeVos Place convention center to bring meetings and conventions to Grand Rapids. Experience Grand Rapids offers free assistance in planning and creating the best package for meeting planners. Learn more about CVBs.

General Information

Why is Grand Rapids called "The Furniture City?"  (Back to Top)

Grand Rapids became both a major lumbering center and the premier furniture manufacturing city of the United States during the latter half of the 19th century. In 1876, an international exhibition in Philadelphia led Grand Rapids to worldwide recognition as a leader in fine furniture production. National home furnishing markets were held in Grand Rapids for about 75 years, concluding in the 1960s. Today, Grand Rapids is considered a world leader in the production of office furniture.

What makes Grand Rapids one of America's Greenest Cities?  (Back to Top)

The Grand Rapids metro area has more LEED-certified buildings per capita than any other city in the U.S. (LEED is a system that evaluates the "green" performance of new and refurbished construction.) Our most recent achievement is the world's first newly-built LEED-certified art museum.

What time is it?  (Back to Top)

Grand Rapids is located in the Eastern Time zone and follows Daylight Saving Time. Check the current time.

What's the weather like?  (Back to Top)

Grand Rapids enjoys all four seasons to the fullest. Check the latest conditions and forecast.

What is the sales tax?  (Back to Top)

Michigan sales tax is 6% on all tangible products.

How many people live here?

As of 2006, the total population of Grand Rapids was 194,341. Kent County population was 599,667. Total population in the seven-county service area (CSA) was 1,323,287.

The area's largest employers include:  (Back to Top)

Alticor, Haworth, Herman Miller, Johnson Controls, Meijer, Spectrum Health, Wolverine Worldwide and Zondervan.

Legal Information

What is the seatbelt law?  (Back to Top)

Michigan's safety belt law allows police officers to stop a motorist solely for not wearing a safety belt in the front seat of a vehicle or if a child is not properly restrained, no matter where they are riding in a vehicle. The child passenger safety law covers children up through age fifteen (15). Children from birth through age three (3) must be in a child safety seat in the front and rear seats. As of July 1, 2008, children must be in a booster seat until they are eight (8) years old or 4'9" tall no matter where they are riding in a vehicle. Children who are eight (8) years old but less than sixteen (16) years old riding in either the front or rear seat must use a safety belt.

What are the alcoholic beverage laws?  (Back to Top)

Michigan state law prohibits anyone younger than 21 years of age from purchasing or consuming alcoholic beverages. Some cities and townships in the Grand Rapids area prohibit the sale of alcohol on Sunday before 12:00 noon. Bars close at 2 am.

Where can I get a fishing license?  (Back to Top)

For fishing and boating licenses (and a list of public access sites), contact the Michigan Department of Natural Resources at (269) 685-6851 or www.michigan.gov/dnr.