CVB Travel: Additional meeting space a boon for conventions

Susan Wade is the public relations manager with the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau.

In just a few months, Springfield will be a hotbed for conventions and meetings.

That's because new meeting space is under construction and existing space is under renovation, making more options available for groups.

Those projects include the expo center at Jordan Valley Park and improvements to the existing trade center, expansion of the E-Plex at Ozark Empire Fairgrounds and renovations at Oasis Inn, formerly Atrium Inn.

"The new space is creating opportunities for Springfield," said Dana Maugans, sales director at the Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Because of the expo center, Springfield can host bigger groups than before. And the E-Plex and Oasis Inn projects will give groups more options when Springfield is selected for conventions, meetings and unique events."

Convention & Visitors Bureau sales manager June Lammers said new meeting space also means the city can host multiple groups at the same time, and more of the city's 5,638 hotel rooms can be utilized.

The city currently has 58 hotels and motels, but only 30 have meeting space offering about 210,000 total square feet. Only six of those properties have more than 5,000 square feet of meeting space.

University Plaza is the largest with about 110,500 square feet of meeting space.

The addition of 30,000 square feet of meeting space at the Oasis Inn means Springfield has another option to offer meeting planners.

Expansion of the E-Plex trade show facility at the Ozark Empire Fair also adds options and versatility to Springfield's available meeting space.

The E-Plex currently has 70,000 square feet of clear-span space and holds more than 40 events each year.

The 15,000-square-foot addition will be clear span with operable folding partitions for changing the space into smaller breakout rooms.

Additional storage and restrooms also will be included in this project. The project is scheduled to begin construction this fall with completion in early June 2003.

The Ozark Empire Fair recently completed a 15-year master plan for the facilities at the fairgrounds. In addition to the E-Plex expansion, future plans call for new entries to the grounds, significant changes to parking and streetscape, and the ultimate goal of an Agri-Plex a 3,000-seat, climatized arena with all-weather barn and adjacent stable space.

"The addition of this space for the E-Plex will not only allow us to grow existing events, it will also provide opportunities to host new events such as the National Junior Limousin Cattle show slated for June 2003," said Marla Calico, manager of Ozark Empire Fairgrounds. "This event needed breakout meeting space on property in addition to the barn space already available at the fairgrounds. This national event is expected to generate more than 2,400 room nights in Springfield hotels."

The city-owned expo center also will result in more room nights, Maugans said.

Plans call for 40,000 square feet of exhibition space and 13,000 square feet of pre-function space. The expo facility connected to the renovated Trade Center results in about 110,000 square feet of contiguous convention and exhibition space. A parking garage also is planned.

The project should be completed in September 2003.

"We're excited," Maugans said. "The new space gives Springfield a competitive edge when it comes to bringing conventions and events to the city. The CVB sales staff is already promoting the facilities to meeting planners."