Facilities Search
Grand Rapids boasts a wide variety of meeting and conference spaces for groups of every size, budget and interest.…
Learn More ›
Downtown Convention Campus
Crank up the cool quotient of your next meeting by holding it in downtown Grand Rapids.
Learn More ›Why Grand Rapids
Downtown Convention Campus
Crank up the cool quotient of your next meeting by holding it in downtown...
Facilities Search
Grand Rapids boasts a wide variety of meeting and conference spaces for...
Convention Services
Tips, tools and Support - your one stop planning source!
Why Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan is setting a new standard in Midwest meetings with a...
Things To Do
Grand Rapids has great food, breweries, live music, museums and attractions...
Downtown Convention Campus Map
The convention campus is close and convenient to restaurants, bars, museums...
A Grand Investment
New development happening in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Innovation and Collaboration: Hallmarks of West MI Manufacturing
Experience Grand Rapids
September 18, 2017
Known as Furniture City since the early 20 th century, Grand Rapids is no stranger to manufacturing. But with 2,452...
Experience Grand RapidsSeptember 18, 2017
Grand Rapids is a Great Place (but don’t take our word for it)
Experience Grand Rapids
July 12, 2017
Whether you’re looking for the best beer and burgers, a top U.S. cycling town or one of the best places to live in the...
Experience Grand RapidsJuly 12, 2017
Tech GR: A Distinct Code, Part 2
Experience Grand Rapids
June 19, 2017
West Michigan is enjoying one of the fastest rates of tech industry growth in the U.S. But what sets the industry apart...
Experience Grand RapidsJune 19, 2017
Tech GR: A Distinct Code, Part 1
Experience Grand Rapids
June 5, 2017
West Michigan is enjoying one of the fastest rates of tech industry growth in the U.S. But what sets the industry apart...
Experience Grand RapidsJune 5, 2017
Assets and Access: The winning compound that fuels Life Sciences in West Michigan
Experience Grand Rapids
May 2, 2017
Greater Grand Rapids is home to one of the largest manufacturing centers in the country, including leaders in...
Experience Grand RapidsMay 2, 2017
Tips for Meeting Planners
Guests at BMM 2017, an Indian business & culture conference, feel at home in Grand Rapids
When Experience Grand Rapids began working with an organization that would bring 3,000 mostly Hindu attendees to the city, they reached out to Fred Stella, Prachark (which is Sanskrit for Outreach
10 more AV terms meeting planners need to know
Earlier this year we shared a list of 10 audio-visual terms that meeting planners should know to ensure effective, efficient communication with vendors and clients. Ten terms doesn’t even scratch the
Rapids restoration project brings River Rally to Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan, already capitalizes on the namesake river running through its heart. The city’s convention center and three of its downtown hotels sit on the river along with its performance
Looking for walkability? Try Grand Rapids
Downtown Grand Rapids is walkable. Attendees at meetings and events held at any of the city's downtown venues have everything they could need within a few short blocks. Take a look: Hotels There are
10 AV terms meeting planners need to know
Meeting planners don’t have to be expert caterers, hoteliers or transportation service providers. They do, however, need to understand the language of those industries in order to effectively plan a
Grand Rapids lunch options within walking distance of convention campus
If you’re in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for a meeting or a conference and the organizers set you free for lunch, you have been given a gift. Dozens and dozens of restaurants – most of them locally owned
Michigan student leaders find enriching experience in Grand Rapids
The Michigan association representing student councils, honor societies, and their advisors recently held the largest annual student leadership gathering in its history, something that would not have
8 Grand Rapids breweries within walking distance of the convention center
Grand Rapids was first dubbed Beer City USA in 2012. Since then, its reputation, and the reason for it, has only grown. Just last month experts and readers of USA Today voted Grand Rapids number one
Five reasons the Gerald R. Ford International Airport makes traveling easy
When it comes to easy and efficient air travel, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is in a bit of a sweet spot. It’s big enough to be serviced by five airlines and
Bridge gatherings offer new options for event planners in Grand Rapids
Many destinations have “signature events.” If you go to Hawaii, chances are you’ll attend a luau. Headed to Orlando? An event at Disney is likely in your future. But what about Grand Rapids, Michigan?
mParks conference attendees find winter fun at Grand Rapids parks
In Michigan, people know parks are not just for summer. And nobody knows that more than the Michigan Recreation and Park Association, now known as mParks . When the organization recently met in Grand
Grand Rapids: A mosaic of local and international work
As home to dozens of neighborhood galleries, two downtown art museums, one of the largest volunteer-driven arts festivals in the nation, a top-100 most visited art museum worldwide and an
Grand Rapids is growing and people are noticing
Businesses, medical and educational institutions, visitors and residents continue to drive demand for new hotels, residential properties, life science investment, entertainment venues, restaurants,
Grand Rapids area farms offer unique attractions for meeting planners
Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan, are known for their strong agriculture business, including farm markets and farm experiences. In fact, even those in the agriculture industry gather here to
Meeting planners find success in smaller cities
“Grand Rapids? Why Grand Rapids?” That's what Laura Smith, chief advancement officer for the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies , heard when NASAA announced last year that the 2016 assembly would
Extend the reach of your event with supplemental web content before and after
Meeting planners know that the closing speaker is not the end of the experience. With great content delivered strategically, you can extend the reach of your event for weeks, months or even to the
Grand Rapids continues its "Beer City" tradition
Grand Rapids first earned its Beer City USA moniker in 2012 . Since then, its reputation for quality craft brews has continued to grow, with the addition of several more breweries and repeated media
The pros and cons of using event apps
Research shows that meeting planners think a majority of their attendees consider the use of event apps to be a necessary part of their event experience, especially for the millennial generation.
Grand Rapids offers attendees options for activities outside of conventions
Four-part harmony is the activity of choice when members of the Pioneer District Barbershop Harmony Society meet for their conventions. However, when organizers choose a location, they do want to have
Charging stations help attendees stay connected, enabling better engagement
It wasn’t that long ago (before smartphones became the norm) that meeting planners offered computer stations at their events to allow attendees to easily check email and stay connected. “Now those are
Michigan Association of BPA find Grand Rapids an ideal meeting location
Since 2004, students from more than 100 high schools across Michigan have been meeting in Grand Rapids to hone their leadership, citizenship and technology skills through the Michigan Association of
Meeting planners can use crowdsourcing to engage attendees
There are almost no limits to the uses of crowdsourcing. Large companies like Starbucks use it to keep an open line of communication with their customers, seeking new product ideas. Individuals use it
Hybrid events benefit meeting planners and attendees, enriching conference experience
For a long time, the conventional wisdom regarding the millennial generation was that they were so accustomed to using technology, they had no interest in attending live conferences and meetings,
Grand Rapids is a 'destination spot' for attendees of Michigan Reading Association…
The Michigan Reading Association is a regular visitor to Grand Rapids for its annual conference where between 1,500 and 2,000 attendees from across the state gather to learn and share ideas on the
Open Space meetings attract millennials
As a meeting planner, your job involves creating experiences that are effective and enjoyable for a large variety of people. It can often feel like a no-win situation, especially as the attendee
Michigan Music Conference students look forward to performing at prestigious venue
Each year, thousands of students and instructors gather in the DeVos Place convention center and DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids for the annual Michigan Music Conference . For many students, it
Services offered by CVBs allow planners more time for creativity
For meeting planners, the generational shift in attendees is not a new challenge. They made the transition from baby boomers to generation X, and now they’re facing generation Y and millennials.
Meeting mentors can help newcomers break the networking ice
Mentors, by design, are extremely helpful. In your career or personal life, they provide trusted guidance and advice for major decisions. Some meeting and event planners are scaling down that proven
Grand Rapids hosts farmers, growers and producers from across U.S. and Canada
It would be very difficult to find fruits or vegetables growing outside during the winter months in Grand Rapids, Michigan. But every December, that is the main topic of conversation inside the DeVos
Part Two: Expert advice for attendees on networking in a world of smartphones
In our last post we shared expert advice for meeting planners trying to create effective networking events for the Gen-Y crowd when facing continual competition from smartphones and other technology.
Expert advice: Face-to-face networking in a world of smartphones
Smartphones, with their easy access to texting, email, Google searches and social media, seem to have a magnetic pull whenever people have a free minute. That presents a challenge for meeting planners
Repeat customers: Mid-America Oireachtas returns to Grand Rapids
The Mid-America Oireachtas came to Grand Rapids for their competition in 2012 and had so much fun, they came back in 2013. More than 3,000 young Irish dancers from 14 states filled area hotels and the
CEOs for Cities learns from Grand Rapids
When the topic of the national conference for CEOs for Cities is “The Art of a Collaborative City,” Grand Rapids, Michigan, offers a prime example: ArtPrize . CEOs for Cities is a national network of
School Transportation professionals gather in Grand Rapids for NAPT Annual Summit
Did you know that the country’s school bus system is the largest form of mass transportation in America? Mike Martin, executive director of the National Association of Pupil Transportation said that,
Grand Rapids welcomes fiber artists at annual AQS quilt show
In 2012, the American Quilter’s Society brought one of its annual shows to Grand Rapids for the first time. They have been coming back ever since. Here are some scenes from their 2013 show, when more
Grand Rapids draws Frank Lloyd Wright enthusiasts
The fact that Grand Rapids is home to the Meyer May House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright drew the interest of the Chicago-based Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy for its annual conference in
What do people say about Grand Rapids, Michigan?
It's always nice to hear what your guests are saying about a visit to your home. Over several months, we collected feedback and comments from meeting organizers and attendees at various events held
Quilters feel welcomed when annual show comes to Grand Rapids
In 2012, the American Quilter’s Society brought one of its annual shows to Grand Rapids for the first time. They have been coming back ever since. Here are some scenes from their 2013 show, when more
Goodwill Industries delegates assemble in Grand Rapids
The annual delegate assembly of Goodwill Industries International brings together about 500 people, including the CEOs and board members from more than 140 Goodwill organizations across the United States and Canada. That’s a lot of good in one place!
American Jail Association meets in Grand Rapids
Video jail visitation demonstrations, examples specially manufactured toothbrushes, and workshops on jail management, use of force and complying with federal laws were on the agenda when the American Jail Association’s 32 nd Annual Training Conference and Jail Expo came to Grand Rapids The American Jail Association represents…
SkillsUSA Michigan competition provides hands-on experience
Each April, meeting rooms and exhibition halls in downtown Grand Rapids are transformed into building sites, hair salons, restaurants and other scenarios. Instead of bottled water and notepads, the rooms are supplied with power saws, electrical tools or blow dryers. That’s what happens at the annual state competition of SkillsUSA Michigan .
International trumpeters bring brass to Grand Rapids
Music is in the air when the International Trumpet Guild Conference comes to town, as they did recently to Grand Rapids. In addition to workshops, education sessions and vendors, the event includes several concerts that are open to the public plus some "late-night jam sessions" at local night spots.
Michigan Reading Association Conference is a 'hidden treasure.'
Each year, around 2000 educators, authors, illustrators, students and others who have a passion for literacy gather for the Michigan Reading Association annual conference. The event features
'Thank you,' Mid-America Oireachtas Championships
Over the years, we occasionally have taken the time to produce videos about the groups that choose Grand Rapids as their meeting destination. Sometimes it's a big "Thank you!" message, and sometimes
Lists don't lie: Grand Rapids is affordable
Whether you are looking for a new place to live, a great vacation spot or a location for your next meeting, Grand Rapids, Michigan, is an affordable destination. But don't just take our word for it.
You can get here from there
2.3 million. That's the number of passengers who passed through the gates of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport last year as they traveled to or from Grand Rapids, Michigan. While it's the
Tips for transforming a space
From a cavernous conference hall, to a plush ballroom, to a public museum, transforming a space to meet a target audience is a hurdle faced by all meeting and event planners. Today we chat with Jamie
More than Just Windows: Spring Clean Your Email, Social Media and Digital Life!
Tax day has passed, and you have done your patriotic duty. (Or, you filed an extension and at least have some breathing room.) It's the perfect time for a little spring cleaning in the office, and
How to avoid career burnout
Having been in the meetings and events industry for 25 years, Amy Young, president of Destination Consultants , knows a little something about avoiding career burnout. It starts with never expecting
How to boost meeting attendance
What's the worst thing that could happen to a meeting planner? Sure, the list is endless, and a flood of bad memories is probably washing over you right now. (Some may include actual floods .) But it's
