Grand Rapids was one of the first cities in the country to build a convention center. The 1933 Art Deco-style Civic Auditorium, renamed Welsh Auditorium, was demolished in 2003 to make way for expansion around De Vos Hall, a performing arts venue, which reopened as part of De Vos Place in 2003. De Vos Place features one million square feet of new and renovated space, including a 160,000-square-foot exhibit hall and 21 meeting rooms. Additional convention facilities include the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown, and Van Andel Arena. The convention centers are all located within a five block area and are connected by a skyway.
Kent County offers 6,600 hotel rooms, with 1,071 of those in Grand Rapids; many hotels also provide meeting and convention accommodations.
Convention Information: De Vos Place, 303 Monroe St., Grand Rapids, MI 49503 telephone: (616)742-6500; fax: (616)742-6590