This year marks the 10-year anniversary of Spectra Venue Management’s Saint Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, Mo., as well as numerous achievements along the way.
St. Louis-based design firm PGAV Destinations was retained in 2005 to master plan and design the facility, located near the famed beginnings of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Convention Center measures 154,000 square feet and features two ballrooms, exhibit space, an executive board room, 296 suites, and provides in-house catering, decorating, A/V, marketing, and event staffing.
“The Saint Charles Convention Center is a point of hometown pride for me, and one of PGAV’s best examples of exquisite hospitality design,” said Mike Konzen, principal and chair, PGAV Destinations. “It’s been gratifying to watch it evolve and succeed here, and the local economic impact as a result of its many activities has been tremendous.”
Over the last decade, the Convention Center has hosted 113 conventions and 3,506 events, totaling more than 2.2 million guests. The array of services for large events has helped the venue win the Facilities and Destinations Prime Site Award for eight years running.
“One of the indicators of success is staff retention, demonstrating that you’ve created a place where people love to work and want to stay,” said Shura Garnett, regional vice president of Spectra Venue Management and general manager of the St. Charles Convention Center. “Of our 39 full-time employees, nearly a third will be celebrating 10 years with us this year, while the overall average is six years.”
Since 2005, the Convention Center has seen a number of renovations and improvements, including a new roof, carpeting, phone system and wireless network system. It also upgraded all to high-efficiency LED lighting, constructed a new parking lot, and implemented other improvements including a new marquee, digital signage, recycling program and the ability to transform the exhibit hall into a meeting room or ballroom.
“The St. Charles Convention Center’s current occupancy rate for 2015 is 61 percent,” said Kristin Bowen, marketing manager, St. Charles Convention Center. “A realistic, maximum target occupancy for a convention center is 70 percent, and we’re working diligently to achieve that goal.”
Since 2005, the Saint Charles Convention Center has created an impressive economic impact of $66,931,592 in direct spending for the City of St. Charles. The Convention Center is the recipient of three distinguished regional awards:
- One of St. Louis’s Top Workplaces in 2015, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- 2014 Employer of the Year, the City of St. Charles
- Facility and Destination Prime Site Award winner, eight years running
For more information, visit stcharlesconventioncenter.com
