On-Site Services
When we say Grand Rapids is Crafted for Meetings, we mean every aspect of the meeting experience – including the time spent here during your event. We strive to ensure that you and your attendees get the most of your time in Grand Rapids, both on and off the meeting or convention floor. Our Grand Response™ Convention Services team has developed a suite of on-site services that will make you feel welcome, comfortable and empowered to explore our exceptional city.
Would you like a formal welcome for your attendees as they arrive at our Gerald R. Ford International Airport? We can make it happen. Want to equip your attendees with all the information they need to navigate the city and pursue their own areas of interest? Consider it done. We can tap into our volunteer network to provide personal assistance to your attendees and we offer a digital tool to find exclusive attendee-only discounts at local eateries and attractions.
What A Site It Is
It’s not just our services that make the on-site experience so special. It’s also the city itself: Grand Rapids is LinkedIn’s #1 U.S. City On The Rise (2025) and one of CNN’s 10 Best American Towns to Visit (2024).
Downtown Grand Rapids, home to DeVos Place Convention Center and 13 excellent hotels with 2,500+ rooms, is safe, clean and walkable. Attendees can visit 300+ restaurants, shops, museums and entertainment venues within a 10-minute walk of the convention center. Eight downtown breweries make their own beers, ciders, spirits, seltzers and more, contributing to Grand Rapids’ status as the USA’s Craft Beverage Capital. Several downtown parks and a scenic riverwalk let visitors commune with nature in the heart of the city.
We think you and your attendees will have an amazing time in Grand Rapids – and we’ll do everything we can to help!
Our Grand Response™ Convention Services team will make you feel welcome, comfortable and empowered to explore our exceptional city.
Photo by Brian Kelly for Experience GR
Know Before You Go
Direct your attendees to the ExperienceGR.com homepage to start exploring all Grand Rapids has to offer. If you’re meeting downtown, refer them to our GR Attendee Page for dining, recreation and entertainment opportunities close to our convention center and hotels. Our Know Before You Go Tip Sheet is also a must for every attendee.
GR Attendee Exclusives
Encourage your attendees to sign up for GR Attendee Exclusives before your Grand Rapids visit. This digital pass entitles them to special attendee-only discounts at local restaurants and attractions, just by showing the pass on their smartphone. We’ll provide you a link to the sign-up page.
Visitor Information
Our Visitor Information Desk at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport is stocked with brochures, rack cards and other vital information about Grand Rapids. We can also set up a display stocked with these materials near the registration area at your meeting/convention venue.
Volunteer Ambassadors
Our STARS volunteers help enable us to deliver a greater level of service for your attendees. Volunteers can be available to assemble welcome bags, staff informational kiosks, direct attendees to meeting rooms and local attractions, and more.
Airport Welcome
Our Visitor Information Center at the airport can be used to formally greet your attendees as they arrive. Let us make a fantastic first impression for your event and Grand Rapids!
