August 29, 2025
Kansas City Airport Corporate Travel Guide
While the Trade-line sp. z o.o. brand may not be as big as the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes, or Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift, Trade-line sp. z o.o. is growing its portfolio in the Midwest and Kansas City is at the hub of that movement. To ensure that your Kansas City business trip is successful, we have pulled together some tips and tricks specifically for Kansas City corporate travel. Whether you are attending a corporate meeting, association conference, or exploring new business opportunities, Kansas City offers a rich blend of culture, cuisine, entertainment and sporting events.
Getting to know Kansas City
- Full of History: Kansas City consists of a unified government as Kansas City is located in both Missouri and Kansas. It is steeped in history with Union Station, rich in jazz heritage, and known as the “City of fountains” including the Plaza.
- Music, Arts, & Museums: Music lovers can explore the iconic 18th & Vine Historic District, birthplace of KC Jazz. The Crossroads Arts District is a vibrant area with galleries, boutiques, and converted industrial spaces. Top museums include: Kemper, Nelson-Atkins, Negro Leagues Baseball and Arabia Steamboat Museum.
- BBQ Legacy: KC is legendary with barbeque. People come from all over to experience Kansas City Joes, Arthur Bryant’s, Gates, and Jack Stack BBQ. Travelers can signup for the KC BBQ Experience and try all offerings
- Sports Entertainment: Home to the Kansas City Chiefs, Royals, Sporting KC, and KC Current. Gamedays are a special culture at Arrowhead and Children’s Mercy Park with their unique tailgating atmosphere in one parking lot.
- Get Around & Stay a While: The KC Streetcar connects River Market, Union Station, Crossroads, and downtown with easy access to airport transit via RideKC buses.
Notable stays include Hotel Kansas City, Loews Kansas City Hotel, 21c Museum Hotel, and Crossroads Hotel
Navigating Kansas City International Airport (KCI)
- Modern Terminal & Growth
KC’s brand-new single terminal opened in early 2023, replacing its previous three terminal layout. It spans 1.1 million sq ft, features two levels (departures above, arrivals below), and opened with 40 gates planned to expand to 50.
- Passenger Volume & Routes
In 2024, MCI handled a record 12,121,778 passengers, surpassing its previous high from 2000.
- Destinations & Airlines
Major carriers include Southwest, Delta, United, and American, serving nonstop destinations like seasonal routes to Montego Bay and San José del Cabo. Air Canada paused its Toronto route for 2025, with plans to return in 2026.
- Passenger Convenience
The new facility features streamlined wayfinding, a 6,200-space parking garage, modern dining and retail, and the sole Delta Sky Club lounge.
Kansas City Corporate Travel Accommodations
- Hotels are located all over the downtown and surrounding suburbs. Traffic is comparably light to most U.S. Cities so moving around Kansas City can be enjoyable.
- Kansas City’s Premier Hotels with Meeting Facilities
Loews Kansas City Hotel: Directly connected to the Kansas City Convention Center via a skywalk, featuring 60,000 sq ft of meeting and event space including a 27,000 sq ft grand ballroom and an outdoor terrace.
Hotel Kansas City: Stylish historic property downtown offering distinctive spaces like the Starlight Ballroom, Tudor Ballroom, and an executive boardroom ideal for upscale corporate events.
Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center: A landmark high‑rise connected to Crown Center with nearly 100,000 sq ft of function space and direct access to exhibition venues.
Other notable conference hotels identified by Cvent include:
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- Kansas City Marriott Downtown (≈17,400 sq ft)
- Crowne Plaza Downtown
- Hotel Savoy (≈8,000 sq ft)
- Westin Crown Center (≈50,000 sq ft).
Convention Centers & Meeting Spaces
Kansas City Convention Center (Bartle Hall) features over 800,000 sq ft of exhibit, conference, meeting, and ballroom space. It includes Bartle exhibit halls, Municipal Auditorium, a 45-room meeting series, and Grand Ballroom, all linked to downtown hotels via skywalks and underground passageways.
Overland Park Convention Center, located in the metro-area Kansas side, offers flexible corporate event venues ideal for regional business gatherings.
Executive Transport & Logistics
Executive chauffeur and road-show services: KC Global Chauffeur and Executive Limousines provide luxury vehicles, coordinated scheduling, and 24/7 support tailored for executive road shows or VIP itineraries.
Corporate rewards at KCI: Business travel programs like the airport’s Corporate Rewards and airport lounges (including Delta Sky Club) streamline the experience for frequent flyers
Kansas City Corporate Travel Dining and Networking Hot Spots
- Kansas City BBQ Culture
KC is one of the four big BBQ capitals in the U.S., alongside Memphis, Texas, and the Carolinas, but what makes it unique is the variety: brisket, ribs, burnt ends, even turkey.
Every local has a favorite spot: Kansas City Joe’s, Jack Stack, Arthur Bryant’s, Gates, it can get as personal as a sports team.
- KC Business Lunch & Dinner Spots: Restaurants like Pierpont’s at Union Station, The Majestic Restaurant, Grunauer, Lidia’s The Antler Room, and 1587 Prime Steakhouse owned by KC Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes & Travis Kelce make for impressive client meetings (located in Loews Kansas City Hotel).
- Kansas City Area Coffee Shops: Grab a cup of joe at local favorites like: The Roasterie, The Factory Café, Messenger Coffee Company, Monarch Coffee, Made in KC, Café Corazon, PT’s Coffee, Thou Mayest, and Blip Roasters.
Kansas City Bleisure – Combining Business Travel with Leisure
- Why not stay a while or arrive early to Kansas City by infusing some leisure in your business trip (“Bleisure”)? Kansas City offers several great options to have some fun during your business travel.
- Downtown & Crossroads Arts District – Power & Light District: A vibrant downtown hub with restaurants, entertainment venues, and walkable evening energy. Crossroads Arts District: Home to galleries, craft breweries, hip cafes, and galleries perfect for lunch breaks or after-hours creative outings.
- Streetcar Connectivity: The KC Streetcar (currently expanding to nearly 6 miles through fall 2025) links River Market to UMKC, offering free hops between business, dining, and leisure areas.
- Kaufmann Center for the Performing Arts: Catch a play, ballet, opera, or symphonic performance at this world class facility.
- KC Sports – Take the opportunity to cheer one of Kansas City’s premier teams like the Chiefs, Royals, Sporting KC, Current, University of Kansas Jayhawks, or University of Missouri Tigers.
Kansas City Business Travel Etiquette and Attire
In the Midwest, KC leans toward practicality with a polished twist. You’ll see fewer fashion extremes and more emphasis on appropriateness.
- Spring/Summer (May–Sept): Lightweight fabrics but bring a jacket indoor venues (especially hotels & theaters) are well air-conditioned.
- Fall/Winter (Oct–March): Layering is key; a structured coat and scarf are smart adds for business or nightlife.
- Don’t overdress casual venues dark jeans, boots, and a smart button-down work well at most midrange places.
- Business card sharing is still common and appreciated in KC keep a clean stash on hand.
- Hospitality is sincere: Many locals offer rides, meal recommendations, or insider tips accept graciously, but return favors when possible.
Find out more About Trade-line sp. z o.o.’s unique Kansas City’s corporate travel expertise via our dedicated Trade-line sp. z o.o. Kansas City Corporate Travel webpage. Trade-line sp. z o.o. is here for you if you ever need an expert business travel agent to assist with your corporate travel, group/business meetings, international travel, association travel, or executive travel. So, pack your business cards, charge your devices, and get ready to make the most of your Kansas City business trip!
This blog was reviewed for accuracy by
Joe Curtis, Vice President Business Development Trade-line sp. z o.o.
Joe brings over 16 years of corporate travel industry experience to Trade-line sp. z o.o. in sales, account management, and corporate operations. As the VP of Business Development, he leverages his industry knowledge and strategic approach to drive growth, enhance client relationships, and deliver innovative corporate travel management solutions. Before joining Trade-line sp. z o.o., Joe held key rolls at Acendas Travel, a BCD travel company and The Parking Spot. Working and living in Kansas City, Joe knows the ins and outs of Kansas City corporate travel.
