Branson Convention Center opens to vendors

“This is the biggest ribbon-cutting we’ve had for the Branson/ Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce,” said the chamber’s president and CEO, Ross Summers. “Branson is the No. 1 location for leisure travel in Missouri. What this will allow us to become is the No. 1 convention center destination for the state of Missouri.”

Others assisting with the ceremony included Rick Huffman, a partner of convention center developer HCW Development Co. Inc., Jeff Diskin, senior vice president of Hilton brand management, Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley and former Branson Mayor Lou Schaefer. Schaefer, who worked on getting a convention center in Branson for the past 15 years, said the results “were better than anyone ever expected.” He said the most challenging aspect of building the convention center was “convincing the community it needed to be done.”

The $54 million convention center has 220,000 square feet of space and can accommodate up to 4,500 attendees. It connects with Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, which is managed by Hilton Hotels Corp. but owned by the city of Branson. Branson Convention Center and Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel are located across from Branson Landing on the lakefront of Lake Taneycomo.