MPI St. Louis EduCon 2026

Get ready for a day of inspiration, education, and meaningful connections at MPI St. Louis' EduCon 2026! Join meeting and event professionals from across the region on Thursday, August 6th, at America's Center for our premier annual conference featuring dynamic keynote presentations, timely breakout session, and valuable networking opportunities designed to help you thrive in today's evolving meetings industry.

We'll kick off the day with an inspiring keynote from Christy Renee Stehle, "Confident Communication: Grow Your Leadership Presence". Through practical strategies and engaging storytelling, Christy will demonstrate how confident communication can strengthen your influence, build credibility, and help you lead with authenticity in today's ever-changing workplace.

Throughout the day, attendees can choose from educational breakout sessions packed with practical takeaways, including:

• Communicate Your Value: A Deep Dive for Rising Professionals
• Turn Resistance into Buy-In: 4 Communication Shifts to Engage Next-Gen Talent
• Becoming a Heart-Led Leader
• Active Breathwork: Building a Somatic Reset for the Post-Event Crash
• F&B Through the Decades: Trends, Costs & Event Experiences
• The Essentials of Event Safety
• Making the Invisible Visible - The Next Chapter in MEEC Professionalism
• AI Isn't Magic - It's a Process

We'll wrap up the conference with an uplifting closing keynote from Matt Kovatchis, "Stop Beating Yourself Up: Building Resilience and Leading with Compassion." Through an engaging and interactive presentation, Matt will share practical tools to reduce stress, build resilience, and sustain high performance without burnout - leaving you energized, inspired, and ready to lead with greater confidence and compassion.

And that's just the beginning! We're continuing to finalize additional breakout sessions, speakers and special surprises that will make EduCon 2026 an unforgettable experience.

Whether you're looking to sharpen your skills, gain fresh ideas, expand your professional network, or earn valuable continuing education, EduCon is the place to be.

Bob Green EduCon Scholarship

Invest in your professional growth with the Bob Green EduCon Scholarship!

Inspired by MPI's vision, "When We Meet, We Change the World," this scholarship honors Bob Green, founder of the MPI St. Louis Area Chapter, by helping active and student members attend EduCon.

Made possible through the generous sponsorship of Explore St. Louis, along with proceeds from our monthly 50/50 drawings and member donations, the scholarship allows members to take advantage of a full day of education, networking, and professional development.

EduCon 2026 has been submitted to the Events Industry Council (EIC) for 5.25 credit hours for CMP Preferred Provider review. MPI St. Louis Area Chapter has been approved by the Events Industry Council as a Preferred Provider of the above-listed continuing education course, which qualifies for CMP continuing education credit. Determination of continuing education credit eligibility or Preferred Provider status does not imply EIC's endorsement or assessment of education quality.

Located in the heart of downtown St. Louis, America's Center Convention Complex brings together flexible meeting space, modern amenities, and a dedicated team to support events of every size. Whether hosting an executive meeting, industry conference, trade show, or citywide convention, the campus is designed to deliver a seamless experience for planners and attendees alike.

The complex offers more than 574,000 square feet of exhibit space, over 95 meeting rooms, a spacious ballroom, and recent enhancements including a new 72,000-square-foot exhibit hall, expanded loading capabilities, updated amenities, and an innovative culinary garden supporting fresh, locally inspired catering.

Beyond the venue, attendees are just steps from downtown hotels, restaurants, cultural attractions, entertainment, and public transportation, making it easy to experience St. Louis before, during, and after the event. America's Center also holds GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation, reflecting its commitment to providing a clean, safe, and welcoming environment.

It's no surprise that nine out of ten convention attendees rate their St. Louis experience as very good or excellent. Together, America's Center and Explore St. Louis provide the venue, destination expertise, and local support to help planners deliver successful meetings while creating meaningful experiences for their attendees.

From planning through execution, Explore St. Louis and America's Center are committed to helping meeting professionals create events that achieve their goals while showcasing the energy, culture, and hospitality that define St. Louis.

Hotel rooms are available for a discounted rate until August 1st at:

• Marriott St. Louis Grand - $99 per room, per night (exclusive of any taxes, fees and parking charges)
• Courtyard by Marriott St. Louis Downtown Convention Center - $99 per room, per night (exclusive of any taxes, fees and parking charges)

Parking Information

Guests are encouraged to utilize Explore St. Louis' Preferred Parking Providers when planning their visit to America's Center. 

• Location - 6th & Convention Surface Lot
• Early Bird Rate: $10
• Arrival & Payment: Guests must arrive and pay for parking before 9:00 am to receive the discounted rate.
• Parking Hours: 7:30 am - 9:00 pm

Guests arriving after 9:00 am will be subject to the standard parking rate.