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Spectra’s Saint Charles Convention Center Celebrates Ten Years

Saint Charles Convention Center ballroom filled with set dining tables.

Spectra’s Saint Charles Convention Center Celebrates Ten Years

PGAV Destinations Reflects on a Decade of Success for “The Best Place to Hold a Meeting”

(St. Louis, MO – July 28, 2015) – This year marks the ten-year anniversary of the design and construction of Spectra Venue Management’s popular Saint Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, as well as numerous achievements along the way.

St. Louis-based design firm PGAV Destinations was retained in 2005 to master plan and design St. Charles’s grand Convention Center, just a few short minutes from the Missouri River and the famed beginnings of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The facility measures 154,000 sq. ft. 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 of 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.”

Tables for ReleaseOver the last decade, the Convention Center has hosted 113 conventions and 3,506 events, totaling more than 2.2 million guests. Some of the largest events hosted included guests Grape and Wine, Midwest Education Technology Community Conference, Talent on Parade, The National Genealogical Society, and The Pioneer Network. The array of services for these kinds of large events has helped the Convention Center 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 ten years with us this year, while the overall average is six years. That says something important when you’ve only been around for ten 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. The Convention Center has also upgraded all of its lighting 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%,” said Kristin Bowen, Convention Center marketing manager. “A realistic, maximum target occupancy for a convention center is 70%, 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 has recently been the recipient of three distinguished regional awards:

  1. One of St. Louis’s Top Workplaces in 2015, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  2. 2014 Employer of the Year, the City of St. Charles
  3. Facility and Destination Prime Site Award winner, eight years running

For more on the Convention Center and its achievements, visit their website.

About PGAV Destinations  
PGAV Destinations is a global leader in the planning and design of unique destinations. Now in its fifth decade, the practice has evolved to become the ideal destination-consulting partner, skilled at developing growth-oriented master plans and translating those plans into successful projects. No other firm offers such an integrated approach to destination planning.

PGAV’s key clients include industry leaders such as Delaware North Companies, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, the Biltmore Companies, Bass Pro Shops, Ameristar Casinos, Universal Studios, The Gettysburg Foundation, the Saint Louis Zoo, and many others. Recent assignments include planning and design at many of the world’s “must see” destinations, including the Grand Canyon, Biltmore Estate, Space Shuttle Atlantis, Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, the Georgia Aquarium, the Hoover Dam, and SeaWorld Adventure Parks.  www.PGAVDestinations.com

About The Saint Charles Convention Center
The Saint Charles Convention Center opened in April of 2005 and has hosted over 3,600 events since opening. Named “Best Place to Hold a Meeting” by local businesses, the facility boasts an elegant 16,200 sq. ft. grand ballroom, and 27,600 sq. ft. of exhibit hall space expandable to 35,700 sq. ft. through the adjacent junior ballroom. The facility features additional meeting rooms, the executive board room, and cyber café. One-stop shopping is always available as the center features shipping through the business and guest services center as well as in-house catering, decorating, audio/visual, state-of-the-art communications, marketing, and event staffing for meetings and exhibitions.  The Saint Charles Convention Center is conveniently located on I-70 only 15 minutes from Lambert St. Louis International Airport and is attached to a 296-room embassy suites hotel. http://www.stcharlesconventioncenter.com/

About Spectra Venue Management
The St. Charles Convention Center is one of over 30 convention centers managed by Spectra Venue Management, which works with event planners to turn events into experiences with proven methods, innovative concepts, responsive customer service, and passionate industry professionals.

Spectra by Comcast Spectacor is the expert in hosting and entertainment, partnering with over 300 clients at 400 global properties to create memorable experiences for millions of visitors every year. Spectra’s expertise is embodied within three main divisions: Venue Management (formerly Global Spectrum), Food Services & Hospitality (formerly Ovations Food Services), and Ticketing & Fan Engagement (formerly Paciolan). Learn more at SpectraExperiences.com.

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