Trade Show News

Explore St. Louis honored the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) on September 22, 2026, with two awards, including the Kim Tucci Heart of St. Louis Award. The SLSO was recognized for elevating the region's profile nationally and internationally with the opening of the Jack C. Taylor Music Center, driving tourism and generating millions in economic activity, which indirectly benefits the convention sector.

British Airways announced on September 23, 2026, an expansion of its St. Louis-London service to daily flights for parts of the 2027 summer season. This move is expected to bolster St. Louis's global economic connections, creating new opportunities for business, tourism, conventions, and investment by enhancing accessibility to the region.

Explore St. Louis welcomed British Airways' announcement to expand its nonstop service between St. Louis Lambert International Airport and London Heathrow to daily flights for four months of the 2027 summer season. This 80 percent increase in seats aims to boost the St. Louis economy by attracting more international visitors, conventions, and investment, supporting hotels, restaurants, and attractions.

The World Trade Center St. Louis's annual Growing Global luncheon on September 22, 2026, highlighted new international direct flights to St. Louis, with British Airways announcing a major expansion of its St. Louis-London Heathrow service for Summer 2027, increasing seats by 80 percent.

The Cordish Companies have been selected to redevelop the vacant Millennium Hotel site next to the Gateway Arch into a nearly $670 million vibrant new downtown destination. This project will feature Class A office space, upscale residential units, a new food hall, an amphitheater, and public parks, enhancing the overall downtown experience for visitors and residents.

St. Louis County filed a lawsuit on September 24, 2026, against the regional tourism board, seeking to compel them to seat two appointees of County Executive Sam Page. The dispute centers on the St. Louis Regional Convention and Visitors Commission's refusal to accept the appointments of former Explore St. Louis President Kitty Ratcliffe and former County Councilwoman Rochelle Walton Gray.

Heidi Hallows has been appointed as the new director of sales for Visit Loudoun, joining from Choose Chicago and having previously held senior sales roles with the Marriott St. Louis Grand.

PCMA's 'People On the Move' report for September 24, 2026, includes Heidi Hallows' appointment as the new director of sales for Visit Loudoun. Hallows previously held senior sales roles with the Marriott St. Louis Grand, bringing over 20 years of hospitality experience to her new position.

St. Louis County has filed a lawsuit against the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission (Explore St. Louis) after the commission refused to seat two of County Executive Sam Page's appointees to the regional tourism board, escalating a governance dispute.

St. Louis County has sued the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission (CVC) following a dispute over board appointments, impacting the region's tourism governance. Concurrently, Explore St. Louis is exploring the privatization of downtown convention center operations, which could involve hiring a private company to manage the Dome and America's Center.

TransWorld Trade Shows is launching an Escape Room Summit on February 22, 2027, in St. Louis, a day of advanced education and networking for escape room owners. This summit precedes TransWorld's three trade shows—the Halloween & Attractions Show, the Christmas Show, and the Interactive Entertainment Show—running February 25-28, 2027, at America's Center.

The Dome at America's Center hosted an exhibit hall with 100 Catholic exhibitors from across the United States as part of events leading up to a beatification Mass.

MyoCon 2026 is kicking off in St. Louis, MO, from September 24-27, 2026, with excursions and community events for attendees. The conference promises a weekend full of learning, community, and meaningful moments.

Ahead of a beatification Mass, an exhibit hall at The Dome at America's Center hosted approximately 100 Catholic exhibitors from across the United States on September 24, 2026. The expo hall provided a space for prayer, adoration, and confessions, drawing faithful attendees.

The 83rd edition of the Mid-Continent Dental Congress is scheduled for September 24-25, 2026, at St. Louis Union Station Hotel. This premier event offers an unparalleled experience for dental professionals.

Over 45,000 people gathered at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis on September 24, 2026, for the beatification Mass of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, showcasing the venue's capacity for large-scale events.

ArchKey Sachs Electric lists the Cervantes Convention Center Expansion in St. Louis as one of its recent regional projects, noting a transformative $210 million expansion and modernization.

ArchKey Sachs, an electrical and technology services provider, highlights its involvement in the transformative $210 million expansion and modernization of the Cervantes Convention Center in St. Louis. The project included extensive renovations, contributing to the convention center's enhanced capabilities.

ArchKey Sachs, an electrical and technology services provider, highlighted the Cervantes Convention Center Expansion as one of its recent regional projects, indicating ongoing development at the St. Louis venue.

ArchKey Sachs announced that the Cervantes Convention Center in St. Louis has undergone a transformative $210 million expansion and modernization. This project is listed among their recent regional electrical construction services, indicating significant upgrades to the convention facility.