The rise of Grand Rapids as a midsized meeting destination

Meeting planners are well aware of the cost advantages of midsized cities vs. first-tier meeting destinations. It’s just that affordability often took a back seat to the allure and amenities of larger metropolitan areas.

That may be changing, however. More than 80% of meeting planners and industry partners responding to a 2026 Future Partners survey agreed that second- and third-tier destinations are growing in popularity for meetings and events.

Grand Rapids, Michigan is one of the destinations benefiting from this trend. Driven by continuous investments in meetings infrastructure and attendee experiences, the city was named one of America’s top 25 convention destinations in 2020 and 2022. Northstar Meetings Group crowned Experience Grand Rapids the Midwest’s Best CVB/DMO in the 2024 Stella Awards, and Smart Meetings recognized Grand Rapids as a Platinum Choice destination in both 2024 and 2025.

Grand Rapids was also named LinkedIn’s #1 City on the Rise in 2025, one of CNN’s Top 10 U.S. Towns to Visit in 2024 and one of America’s Most Beautiful & Affordable Cities by Travel + Leisure in 2023.

There are a number of factors behind Grand Rapids’ expanding national profile, many of which address current and emerging event industry pressures. As planners seek to forge a path forward, it makes sense to consider a destination that has and continues to reinvent itself as first-class second-tier city.

Multiple transportation options

Grand Rapids is served by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR), which offers 100+ non-stop flights to 35+ destinations on eight airlines: Allegiant, American, Avelo, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Sun Country and United.

GRR serves the city and its air passengers exceptionally well: For several years’ running, it’s been named North America’s Best Airport Serving 2-5 Million Passengers by Airports Council International. GRR has also taken home awards for Most Dedicated Staff, Easiest Airport Journey, Cleanest Airport and Most Enjoyable Airport.

GRR is just a 16-minute drive from our downtown convention neighborhood, another time- and money-saving benefit over most larger cities. The compact downtown features 300+ shopping, dining, culture and entertainment options within a 10-minute walk (or free bus ride) of our convention center and 13 downtown hotels.

For those who prefer not to fly, Grand Rapids is located within a day’s of drive of half the U.S. population, about halfway between Chicago and Detroit. It’s also serviced by Amtrak and Greyhound Bus.

Hotel availability & cost

America's largest destinations offer abundant hotel choices but even the budget options can be tough on attendees. Our convention neighborhood is served by 13 hotels offering 2,500+ rooms – including Hilton, Holiday Inn, Hyatt Place, Embassy Suites and JW Marriott brands – to offer a range of first-tier amenities and second-tier price points. Three hotels (1,200+ rooms) are connected to our convention center by climate-controlled skywalk, maximizing attendee convenience.

More than 80 additional hotels and B&Bs are located close by to meet the experience and economy expectations of any visitor.

Security & safety

Two-thirds of respondents to the 2026 Future Partners survey said destination safety was becoming more important. Grand Rapids – the second largest city in Michigan - is also the state’s safest city, according to 2026 WalletHub rankings.

The downtown convention campus is particularly secure, as it’s just steps from police headquarters and patrolled seven days a week by roaming Downtown Ambassadors. (Look for their bright orange and blue uniforms.) 

Sustainability

Nearly 60% of Future Partners 2026 respondents cited environmental/green practices as becoming more important for the meetings industry.

Named America’s Greenest City by Fast Company Magazine and The Nation’s Most Sustainable City by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Grand Rapids has long made earth-friendly policies a priority – and so have local hotels, transportation providers, cultural institutions and other businesses .

Our compact convention neighborhood – which earned Grand Rapids recognition as one of America’s Top 14 Walkable Cities – also helps minimize the carbon footprint of meetings and events.  

Unique and nearby offsite spaces

Midsized cities may not be able to compete with larger cities in the sheer number of offsite spaces available for breakout sessions and conferences, but they can make up for it through proximity, affordability and charm.

We’ve identified 40+ businesses that offer unique meeting accommodations within a half-mile walk of our convention center – restaurants, breweries and such singular spaces as a presidential museum, performance hall, historic auditorium and escape room.

Outdoor venues

The cleanliness, convenience and safety of outdoor spaces is another plus in the Grand Rapids column. Our convention center overlooks the Grand River and two pedestrian bridges that can be used to stage events. A riverwalk on both sides of the Grand can be a refreshing change of scenery for strolling breakout sessions. Lyon Square, a public plaza between the convention center and the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, has been reimagined with new lighting, greenspace, seating and event spaceto support a wide range of activities and gatherings.

The entire convention neighborhood and most of the surrounding downtown is a Refreshment Area strategically furnished with outdoor seating for patrons of restaurants, breweries, bars and distilleries, and visitors can wander around the Area with drinks from participating businesses in hand.

Attendance-building opportunities

Midsized cities have to work harder to help planners build attendance and excitement. Grand Rapids has done it by building and showcasing distinctive brand “pillars”– including art, craft beverages, food, and outdoor recreation, and family fun.

We’re the home of ArtPrize®, the world’s largest art competition, World of Winter, America’s largest winter festival, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, one of the world’s most visited art museums, Grand Rapids Art Museum, the world’s first LEED Gold Certified art museum, and a robust public art scene. We have firmly established Grand Rapids as Beer City USA, boasting 35+ craft breweries and multiple “best beer city” rankings as well as USA Today recognition as “America’s Craft Beverage Capital.”

Our dining scene is elevated by a world-class culinary school and a thriving family-farm community, which combined to make us a forerunner and premier practitioner of farm-to-table cuisine. Our outdoor recreation opportunities are plentiful and, unlike most larger cities, quickly and easily accessible from downtown and any other city location.

Grand Rapids is an ideal destination for attendees who like to bring their families along to meetings. It’s “full of exciting family-friendly attractions” says Trips to Discover.  

Planners can also rely on a fully staffed services team to help build attendance for Grand Rapids events, as well as to assist with planning and on-site services.

Investing in the visitor experience

Recent and ongoing investments are making Grand Rapids even more attractive and amenable to meeting planners, attendees and their families.

For example: The Gerald R. Ford International Airport   is currently in the midst of a $600 million dollar expansion program that has further improved its best-in-class service experience. One of the nation’s largest river revitalization efforts is taking place in downtown Grand Rapids, where $1.2 billion of developments are rising on the banks of the Grand River. Projects include Acrisure Amphitheater , a 12,000-seat outdoor concert venue opened in May 2026 and Amway Stadium, opening in spring 2027 as the home field for Michigan’s first MLS Next Pro soccer team. Also underway: the restoration of the city’s namesake rapids and an initiative to connect 85 miles of river and water trails right through downtown.

Toward the future

Even with all the downtown development of the last decade  – which has included a $2+ billion investment in our Medical Mile life-sciences corridor – this midsized city still has room to grow in ways that benefit both residents and visitors.

In addition to  the riverfront projects, planning has begun on a new convention hotel, a large-scale aquarium and a significant expansion of our John Ball Zoo to include the largest indoor animal habitat of any American zoo.

For additional insight into the possibilities and potential of hosting your meeting in Grand Rapids, visit the Meeting Minds blog page.