From boating on Branson’s lakes to the Route 66 history of Joplin and the Springfield icons of Bass Pro Shop and Wonders of Wildlife, southwest Missouri has always been big on outdoor diversions. Now, as the area sees more development, this corner of the state mixes down-home attractions with upscale amenities for a well-balanced meeting any attendee will love.

Branson/Lakes Area
A slow national economy hasn’t dented the progress in Branson. Within the last few years, the town has expanded with two new Hilton properties, a convention center and the Branson Landing upscale shopping, dining and entertainment development on the banks of Lake Taneycomo. Two of the area’s largest resorts opened their own conference centers as well. This spring also heralded the grand opening of the Branson Airport, which could open doors to new business for this entertainment icon, according to Lynn Berry, director of public relations for the Branson/Lakes Area CVB.

“Now we have a real opportunity to become a fly-in destination,” she says. “We’re a perfect fit, and we can handle midsize meetings with up to 4,000 people.”

With all the new development, however, Branson still relies on the family-friendly shows and attractions that thrust the town onto the national scene, while drawing in new entertainment and tweaking that country-style reputation into something a bit more contemporary. To that end, the town has its first Broadway-run show, Peter Pan, starring Tony Award-nominated actress Cathy Rigby, playing through December, and Berry has an eye on similar shows coming to Branson as well.

“I think this opens the door for these particular types of musicals,” she says.

Thanks to Branson Landing and other new dining options, Berry believes the area will also gain a reputation for upscale entertainment.

“We’ve hosted a culinary fam tour with people from New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, highlighting our dining and winery options,” she notes. “It went very well, and even surprised these folks who had never been to Branson before.”

The Branson area is also becoming known as a regional golf destination, according to Berry. With the new Payne Stewart Golf Club opening its challenging 18-hole course this year, plus the Jack Nicklaus-designed course at Big Cedar Lodge’s Top of the Rock and Thousand Hills Golf Resort, winner of a 2001 Golf Digest “Places to Play” award, devotees can while away the hours on the green.

Off-site venues take attendees to the great outdoors, whether it’s the full luxury of the Showboat Branson Belle, which can accommodate up to 700 people, or the laid-back style of the 49-passenger Spirit of America catamaran. Both cruise Table Rock Lake, while Branson Landing Cruises pampers attendees with a full afternoon tea while yachting across Lake Taneycomo. For something completely different on land, planners can arrange a graceful reception at the foot of the Grand Staircase in the Titanic-World’s Largest Museum Attraction, which is built in half-scale to the doomed liner.

Top meetings options in Branson include the 220,000-square-foot Branson Convention Center, with the adjacent 293-room Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel; the 243-room Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing, which features three meeting rooms; Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa and Convention Center; and Radisson Hotel Branson.

Joplin
Perched on the western edge of the state along Interstate 44, Joplin is a stone’s throw away from Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma, giving it a built-in regional associations market.

“We’re on the way to everywhere,” says Cameo Gerdes, director of sales for the Joplin CVB. “We’re finding, in this economy, that people are doing smaller drive-in events, and we’re a great location for that.”

Joplin has a rich mix of attractions, from the new Downstream Casino Resort just a few minutes from town to the recently opened Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center, which also serves as one of Joplin’s most popular off-site venues. Another is the Joplin Museum Complex, a treasure trove of local history, from displays on Route 66, which winds through the area, to information on some of the town’s most famous residents and native sons, from Bonnie and Clyde to poet Langston Hughes. It is also available for private events. Another of the area’s top attractions fits in perfectly with Joplin’s large religious market: Precious Moments Park and Chapel in nearby Carthage, built on the inspirational success of the Precious Moments art and figurines.

Other off-site venues include Spiva Center for the Arts, which can set up receptions in the galleries for up to 150 people; the Bridge, an extreme sports park that hosts team-building events for groups; and the Foundry, an adjacent music venue offering 7,000 square feet of event space.

Meeting facilities in Joplin include the John Q. Hammons Convention Center, with 40,000 square feet of meeting space, and Memorial Hall, with 7,000 square feet of function space. Additional properties include the Holiday Inn Joplin, adjacent to the convention center, and the La Quinta Inn Joplin.

Springfield
Just a few miles north of Branson is Springfield, known best for giving the world Brad Pitt, John Q. Hammons Hotels and Bass Pro Shops. Also located on I-44, Springfield is an easy drive from Joplin, St. Louis and Kansas City. The city is also home to seven universities, including Missouri State University (MSU), Drury University and Evangel University, which makes Springfield strong in the education and amateur sports markets.

New development continues in Springfield, with the opening of the 11,000-seat John Q. Hammons Arena on the MSU campus last November, and the planned opening of the O’Reilly Family Theater by next fall. The Springfield-Branson National Airport opened the Midfield Terminal this May, and more improvements are on the horizon, according to Dana Maugans, director of sales for the Springfield CVB.

“The whole southwest Missouri area is really growing, and the infrastructure is improving,” she says. “That builds on our rich reputation as an outdoor destination.”

Two of Springfield’s top attractions, the main Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World location and the adjacent Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium, are currently undergoing major renovations. While Bass Pro Shop remains open, the museum is closed due to construction; the project is slated for completion by the end of next year. Another new project, a 200-room, four-star John Q. Hammons hotel, has been temporarily postponed. Construction is now slated to begin next year, with an opening date scheduled in fall 2011.

In addition to Bass Pro Shops as an off-site venue, planners can also use the historic Gillioz Theatre, a 1,117-seat facility restored to its original 1926 glamorous interior, or plan an event at Hammons Field, home to the Springfield Cardinals. All five Dugout Decks together can accommodate up to 120 people, and special packages are available.

For downtime, hobbyists will enjoy Grizzly International, a huge showroom featuring the latest in woodworking and metalworking tools, along with live demonstrations. Nature buffs can ride through Fantastic Caverns and view huge cave formations along an ancient riverbed. History fans can visit Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield in nearby Republic, the site of a major Civil War battle.

Meeting facilities include the 112,000-square-foot Springfield Expo Center and the Missouri Entertainment and Event Center (formerly Ozark Empire Fairgrounds), with nearly 90,000 square feet of exhibition space and three exhibition halls.

Additional properties include the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center; the Clarion Hotel of Springfield; the recently remodeled Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Springfield; the Doubletree Hotel Springfield; and the Oasis Hotel and Convention Center, recently re-flagged as the Ramada Oasis Convention Center.