Why St. Louis 

• The city is accessible by more than 500 flights daily, including nearly 70 non-stop destinations, and four major interstates meet in St. Louis. 

• St. Louis has a thriving dining scene, boasting more than 1,000 independent restaurants. 

• More than 140 city parks to get outside and explore, including Forest Park, which is 500 acres larger than New York City’s Central Park. 

• The kind, welcoming and helpful hospitality for which the Midwest is known. 

What’s New in St. Louis 

• A $259 million expansion and renovation, dubbed AC Next Gen, is underway at the America’s Center Convention Complex in downtown St. Louis. 

• More than $8.5 billion has recently been invested throughout the city in a continued effort to make St. Louis an easy destination in which to do business. 

There are plenty of options when it comes to things to see and do in this city on the Mississippi River, as well as places to grab a bite to eat, or host a power lunch or dinner. Here, we look at a few spots to pique your interest and help ensure your clients will accept your invitation to meet you in St. Louis. 

SEE

Gateway Arch 

Rising 630 feet, or 63 stories, into the air, the Gateway Arch has been the focal point of St. Louis’ iconic skyline since it was completed in 1965. From the top, on a clear day you will enjoy unobstructed views of up to 30 miles, either across the Mississippi and into Illinois, or beyond the city further into Missouri to the west. The Arch, which is part of the National Park Service, is available for special events. 

The Fox Theatre 

Walk through the doors of The Fabulous Fox Theatre and you are sure to be awed by its sheer beauty, just as the more than 15 million people were before you. The theatre opened 95 years ago, its opulence stunning audiences from the beginning, what with its velvet chairs, hand-stenciled wall coverings, marble bathroom fixtures, leather-lined elevators and more. That opulence still shines bright, and your guests will delight in attending a private event at “The Fabulous Fox.” 

National Blues Museum 

The blues run deep in St. Louis, which is home to the National Blues Museum, created to preserve the legacy and honor the history of the music genre that is considered the root of all American music. With exhibits highlighting the early evolutions of the blues in the early-1900s to how the music still makes an impact today, to its live music programs, everyone is sure to find themselves enjoying the blues. Make your event sing with a private outing to the museum.  

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO. 

DO 

Take a Food Tour 

Your guests will get their fill of Italian delicacies when you all embark upon The Hill St. Louis Food Tour with Eat St. Louis Food Tours. Winding through St. Louis’ largest Italian neighborhood, you pop into mom-and-pop spots and ethnic eateries on The Hill to taste and sip popular flavors, including toasted ravioli, St. Louis-style pizza and gelato. Private groups ranging in size from 10 to 120 can be accommodated. 

Laumeier Sculpture Park 

One of the first and largest dedicated sculpture parks in the U.S., Laumeier Sculpture Park features more than 70 large-scale outdoor sculptures across more than 100 acres in the heart of St. Louis County. Find inspiration on a self-guided tour of the park’s hiking and walking trails, all clocking in at less than a mile. 

Go To a Game 

If there’s a city that loves its sports, it’s St. Louis. So much so that it was once named the “Ultimate Sports City” by ESPN The Magazine. From hockey with the St. Louis Blues to baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals to soccer with the new St. Louis CITY SC, not to mention plenty of college and smaller sports teams that bring the action, there are plenty of ways to get your guests’ hearts pumping.  

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO. 

EAT 

Eleven Eleven Mississippi 

Since its opening in 2003, Eleven Eleven Mississippi has garnered numerous awards, from Best New Restaurant to the Best Overall Restaurant in St. Louis. Inspired by their trips to the wine regions of Tuscany and Northern California, owners Paul and Wendy Hamilton and their culinary team highlight fresh seasonal ingredients, much of which is grown in the restaurant’s own hydroponic greenhouse (read: terrific options for vegans and vegetarians). Eleven Eleven is open for lunch and dinner, and available for private events. 

Rigazzi's

An institution on The Hill, St. Louis’ oldest and largest Italian neighborhood, you cannot go wrong with lunch or dinner at Rigazzi’s, which has been serving classic Italian dishes in the same space for nearly 70 years. Start with arancini and a plate of the city’s unique toasted ravioli before moving onto Rigazzi’s uber-popular The Famous Parmiciano, a breaded, deep-fried beef patty baked with St. Louis-style cheese and meat sauce, topped with Parmesan cheese. Other fan favorites include Beef Modiga, Chicken Marsala, Classic Risotto any myriad pasta dishes that will make deciding on a main nearly impossible.

Robust 

Unwind after a business meeting or day of work over a tapas-style meal at Robust. The impressive lunch and dinner menus feature cheese and charcuterie plates, salads, and shareable dishes like spiced meatballs, crab cakes and a baked brie with sun dried tomato pesto and almond gremolata. Larger appetites will be satiated with hand-helds like a Pimento BLT or Croque Madame for lunch, and Pan Roasted Salmon, Coq Au Vin, and Mushroom and Asparagus Gnudi for dinner.  

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO. 

STAY/MEET 

Ready to invite your clients to meet you in St. Louis? ALHI Member The Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta St. Louis is ready to roll out the welcome mat. 

The Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta St. Louis 

For more than 100 years, The Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta St. Louis (formerly The Chase Park Plaza Hotel) has welcomed elite guests like Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones and Dean Martin, not to mention nearly every U.S. president since 1922, and now, you and your guests. In the heart of the Central West End, the hotel boasts not only a fantastic location, but more than 65,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and nearly 400 guest rooms and suites that range in size from queens to two-bedroom suites and an executive apartment. 

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO.