So many options, so many destinations, how does one choose the perfect fit for their convention? As a Convention Sales Manager for Visit Wichita, I have the opportunity to show you how your convention will work in Wichita, Kansas – an affordable city bursting with Midwest hospitality and a plethora of things to do. Once Wichita has made the short list and a site visit has been scheduled, it’s my chance to show you all we have to offer!
When you come to Wichita, of course I’ll customize a tour of venues and services that will accommodate your meeting specs and set-up needs, but I’d also like to show you Wichita from a new vantage point. Did you know that Wichita is the Air Capital of the World? That’s right, 36 percent of all the general aviation aircraft in the world are manufactured right here in Wichita. So I will show you the city from the air while on a flight in a beautifully restored 1942 Stearman biplane that was built right here in Wichita. This is also an activity you can incorporate with your attendees, along with dinner or a reception at Stearman Field Bar & Grill, where you can watch planes take off and land literally feet from your table. It’s one of my favorite spots in Wichita!
A national association based in DC recently chose Wichita for their 2019 convention. During their site visit, I gave the executive director and meeting planner a flavor of what Wichita will offer their organization and attendees. That includes great offsite venues to host a dinner or reception, such as Old Cowtown Museum, Exploration Place or one of our other Museums on the River, and bustling neighborhoods like the Old Town District, where attendees can enjoy bars, restaurants, shopping and entertainment options in their downtime.
On another recent site visit, I took a group of HelmsBriscoe regional planners to tour some of our great hotels and unique venues, and to see our convention center that boasts 200,000 square feet of exhibit space. One of their favorite stops was the Keeper of the Plains Plaza, a fantastic area featuring our iconic 44-foot Indian Chief sculpture. It’s beautiful during the day and illuminated in the evening, with nightly lighting of large fire pots that dramatically light the night. Attendees can walk to the plaza from the convention center along the Arkansas River, and there are two nearby venues where you can host a reception or dinner.
Let Visit Wichita take your site visit to new heights! Contact us today to schedule a customized visit – including an aerial view of Wichita – and we’ll show you how Visit Wichita and our partners can make your next event a success. Our goal is to hear you say, “I’m hosting my meeting in Wichita!”