No city better embodies the essence of middle America than Kansas City. Commonly referred to as the “Heart of America,” it is situated within 250 miles of both the population and geographic centers of the United States. Accessibility and affordability are key to K.C.’s appeal as both a business and leisure travel destination; and the most geocentral major city in the country is thriving economically with one of the fastest growing and most productive labor markets in the Midwest.

Kansas City, Mo., (population 450,000) is the largest of 136 cities composing a bi-state metropolitan area that extends for 20 miles on both sides of the Missouri-Kansas border and almost 30 miles north to south. The metro area consists of almost 2 million people and includes three cities with populations exceeding 100,000 — Independence Mo.; Kansas City, Kan.; and Overland Park, Kan.

The Osage, Kansa and Wyandotte tribes originally inhabited the Kansas City region. In the early 1800s, trappers and traders founded the settlement that would become Kansas City on the southern bank of the Missouri River. It soon became a prime gateway for pioneers heading west along the Oregon and Santa Fe trails. After disembarking from riverboats on the Missouri, they continued their journey westward passing through a bustling market area that today is known as City Market. Now the largest farmer’s market in the Midwest, City Market celebrated its 150th year of operation last year.

There is a lot of anticipatory buzz concerning two blockbuster openings slated for the fall — the Power & Light District and Sprint Center.

In its formative years Kansas City’s economy primarily revolved around agriculture and livestock as it became the Midwest’s principal market for wheat and cattle. While grain milling, meatpacking and agricultural equipment are still important local industries, diversity is key to the prosperity of 21st century Kansas City. Companies now headquartered here include AMC Entertainment, American Century Investments, Great Plains Energy, H&R Block, Hallmark, Sprint and UMB Financial.

A $7-billion citywide redevelopment program, which includes $4.5 billion allocated for downtown development, got underway in 2004 and will run through 2010.

“We are in the midst of one of the largest urban construction projects ever undertaken in the U.S.,” said Bill Bohde, vice president of convention sales at the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association. “An entire 14-square-block area was leveled — except for a few historic buildings — to make way for the new convention district.”

The opening of the 45,450-squarefoot ballroom at the Kansas City Convention Center was a recent milestone. One of the 10 largest convention center ballrooms in the United States, it can host up to 4,650 people in theater-style seating and 3,000 for meal functions. The addition of the ballroom is part of a multi-phase makeover of the facility that also includes a $14-million expansion of the stage and reconfiguration of the seating of the Music Hall. The upgrade was intended to attract more convention business to Kansas City and there is already a noticeable uptick in bookings into 2008 and beyond.

There is a lot of anticipatory buzz concerning two blockbuster openings slated for the fall — the Power & Light District and Sprint Center. Covering nine square blocks in the heart of downtown, the Power & Light District is a mammoth $850-million entertainment complex just two blocks from the Kansas City Convention Center. The largest new development project of its kind in the Midwest includes restaurants, shops and nightlife — even a block dubbed “Kansas City Live,” featuring a permanent outdoor performance stage. Destined to become a hot spot for visitors and conventioneers, it will transform from a retail and lunch destination by day into an exciting dining and entertainment venue at night.

Power & Light is adjacent to the $276-million Sprint Center, a multipurpose 18,500-seat arena. Slated to open in October, Sprint Center willhost everything from sporting events to concerts and shows, as well as large or small private events. The arena is also equipped with 72 private suites that can accommodate from 12 to 82 people. Nearly 1 million visitors are expected to visit the new downtown developments in their inaugural year. Not only is Kansas City primed for an increase in tourism, but the business climate is especially attractive for corporate relocation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Kansas City workers contribute 50 percent more “value added per hour” than the national average.

Environmental sustainability is also high on the list of priorities for local residents, who are using finite resources wisely and helping to create “earth smart” programs that benefit the community, including investing and working to preserve parks and historic neighborhoods. More than 100 buildings in the Kansas City area are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Two of the oldest structures are the John Wornall House, built in 1858, and the Savoy Hotel and Savoy Grill — the city’s oldest continuously operating restaurant — completed in 1888.

LODGING

WESTIN CROWN CENTER

This favorite of business travelers is located within Hallmark’s Crown Center entertainment complex and provides easy access to downtown and the Country Club Plaza. It contains 729 guestrooms, including 49 suites, plus a 24-hour business center, three on-site restaurants, full fitness facilities, an all-season swimming pool and jogging track as well as tennis and basketball courts.
WESTIN CROWN CENTER
One E. Pershing Road
tel 816 474 4400
http://www.westin.com/kansascity

HYATT REGENCY CROWN CENTER

Connected by a glass-enclosed walkway to the Crown Center, the 40- story Hyatt contains 731 standard guestrooms and 42 suites and is just minutes from nearby theaters and restaurants. The hotel’s “Business Plan,” features a sophisticated contemporary room with an oversized desk, wireless Internet and complimentary breakfast, local calls and ealth club access.
HYATT REGENCY CROWN CENTER
2345 McGee St.
tel 816 421 1234
http://www.crowncenter.hyatt.com

KANSAS CITY MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN

The city’s largest hotel offers 983 guestrooms and suites in two towers in the heart of downtown.The atrium waterfall at the entrance accents the hotel’s dramatic interior design. Each room is ergonomically designed for maximum efficiency, and all offer wireless Internet access. The hotel is undergoing a multimillion-dollar makeover; renovations to the larger of the hotel’s two towers was recently completed and work on the second tower is underway.
KANSAS CITY MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN
200 W. 12th St.
tel 816 421 6800

DINING

THE AMERICAN RESTAURANT

This acclaimed establishment serving “all-American” cuisine has been one of Kansas City’s crown jewels for more than 30 years. The city’s only Mobil Four Star restaurant offers a delightful mix of fine food and wine combined with one of the best views in town from atop the Crown Center department store. Guests can complement their meals with one of more than 900 selections from the restaurant’s renowned wine list.
THE AMERICAN RESTAURANT
200 E. 25th St., Suite 400
tel 816 545 8000
http://www.theamericanrestaurantkc.com

PLAZA III, THE STEAKHOUSE
Kansas City’s classic prime steakhouse for more than 40 years, Plaza III is one of the top ten steakhouses in America and serves USDA prime eef that has been aged in the restaurant’s temperature-controlled, specially designed beef locker. After dinner there is dancing at the restaurant’s club, featuring local jazz musicians.
PLAZA III, THE STEAKHOUSE
Country Club Plaza
4749 Pennsylvania Ave.
tel 816 753 0000
http://www.plazaiiisteakhouse.com

FIORELLA’S JACK STACK BBQ
Kansas City has more than 100 barbecue restaurants, and this one is rated the No. 1 barbecue restaurant in the country by Zagat’s. Opened in 1957, Fiorella’s has evolved from the typical barbecue house into the largest, fullservice Wood Cookery in the industry. The menu is a carnivore’s dreamcome- true with its selection of ribs, beef, pork and certified Angus steaks.
FIORELLA’S JACK STACK BBQ
101 W. 22nd St.
tel 816 472 7427.
http://www.jackstackkc.com

INFO TO GO

Kansas City is served by Kansas City International Airport (MCI) 15 miles northwest of downtown. Ground transportation is provided by several taxi services including Kansas City Taxi (tel 816 471 6050) and Checker Transportation Group (tel 816 461 8400). KCI Shuttle (tel 816 243 5000, http://www.kctg.com) offers shared rides to downtown hotels.

DIVERSIONS

A definite “to do” is attending a live session at one of the city’s jazz joints. Among the best places for contemporary jazz is the Blue Room at the American Jazz Museum located at the epicenter of the city’s Historic Jazz District at 18th & Vine (tel 816 474 8463, http://www.americanjazzmuseum.org). Blues and jazz flourished here from the 1920s to the 1940s, and at one time there were more than 100 clubs featuring nightly performances by America’s best jazz musicians including hometown heroes Count Basie, Charlie Parker and Lester Young.

Kansas City also has a lively arts and culture scene, and the stellar cultural center is the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (4525 Oak St., tel 816 751 1278, http://www.nelson-atkins.org) now in the final stage of its first expansion since opening in 1933. Upon completion in June, there will be 70 percent more space in which to display its world-class collections of Asian art, European paintings and modern sculpture.The museum recently acquired the entire Hallmark Photographic Collection of more than 6,500 works by 600 photographers.

An integral part of the city’s thriving arts scene is the Crossroads Arts District adjacent to Southwest Boulevard. Here, once vacant buildings house unique shops, restaurants and more than 40 galleries. Crossroads is a favorite gathering place on the first Friday of each month when galleries remain open until 9 p.m. Along Southwest Boulevard you’ll find some of the city’s most popular Mexican and Latin American restaurants.

Shopaholics have plenty to keep them busy beginning downtown at the Hallmark Crown Center (2450 Grand Blvd., tel 816 274 8444,

< a href=”http://www.crowncenter.com”>

www.crowncenter.com), with more than 60 shops offering an assortment of specialty items plus restaurants and live theater. Also located here is the Hallmark Visitor Center consisting of 14 galleries depicting the history of the amous greeting card company founded here in 1910.Today, Hallmark produces 50,000 types of greeting cards that bring in around $4 billion dollars a year.

Another place to “shop ’til you drop” is Country Club Plaza (4745 Central St., tel 816 753 0100, http://www.countryclubplaza.com). One of America’s original shopping malls, dating from 1922, it retains its opulent Spanish revival architecture.

Beer aficionados are naturally attracted to the Boulevard Brewing Company (2501 Southwest Blvd., tel 816 474 7095, http://www.boulevard.com), the Midwest’s largest specialty brewer. Daily tours are offered and its tasting room is available for private events.

Riverboat gaming is also a big draw as four facilities are just five minutes from downtown.They include Harrah’s Casino and Hotel (One Riverboat Drive, tel 816 472 7777, http://www.harrahs.com), Argosy Casino (777 NW Argosy Parkway, tel 800 270 7711, http://www.argosy.com), Isle of Capri (1800 E. Front St., tel 816 855 4165, http://www.isleofcapricasino.com) and Ameristar Casino (3200 N. Ameristar Drive, tel 816 414 7000, http://www.ameristarcasino.com), the last of which has the largest floating casino floor (140,000 square feet) in the world.

For a taste of the wild west, it’s just 25 miles from downtown Kansas City to Kearney, Mo., site of the Jesse James Farm and Museum. The notorious outlaw was born at the farm home in 1847, and the museum has an intriguing display of James family artifacts. James eventually moved to nearby St Joseph, Mo., where he met his untimely end when shot by a rival gang member in 1882.

At Home With Kay Barnes former mayor of Kansas City

Kay Barnes left office in March after completing two four-year terms, the maximum allowed by Kansas City’s term limits.

Global Traveler: What do you consider your most significant accomplishments during your eight years in office?
Kay Barnes: At the top of the list has to be the revitalization f downtown Kansas City as well as improving the neighborhoods and upgrading the city’s overall infrastructure.We’ve been able to move multiple initiatives forward; at the same time 13 ballot issues passed y the voters in the past eight years. Most of these were related to basic services such as increased fire protection and a new police academy.

GT: Why is Kansas City a good place to do business?
KB: One of our strengths is a diverse economy, which means that a wide range of industries are thriving here, such as transportation — e are a major rail and truck traffic hub — and we also support pharmaceuticals, life sciences and animal science. As a result we have a stable economy — we may not experience the soaring highs that occur in places like Silicon Valley but we don’t experience the lows either. Overall it’s a very hospitable environment for business, and the fact that we are centrally located is especially attractive to businesses from around the country as well as internationally. Our cost of living s also reasonable, with great housing opportunities.

GT: How would you describe the essence of the city?
KB: Our appeal is multifaceted with elements of the Wild West combined with strong links to the history of jazz, as well as cutting-edge arts and cultural programs. People who visit or come to do business here are surprised by the richness of the community and the many different aspects of city life whether your interest is toward professional sports, the arts or agribusiness.

GT: How does tourism figure into the overall plan for the city’s future?
KB: It’s a critical component of what we have been doing since I took office. The main force driving the revitalization of downtown is to create an environment that is very attractive to conventions. The results are now becoming evident even before all these new amenities become available as convention bookings are coming in at a much stronger pace than before. Site visits are indicating to planners hat we are delivering as we promised we would and we expect even more bookings in the years ahead.

GT: What steps have you taken to improve public safety and quality of life?
KB: This has always been a major focus of the mayor and city government as we have an excellent police department with a declining crime rate. We have an ongoing challenge to be responsive to infrastructure needs from sewers to bridges, streets and roadways. Almost 40 percent of Kansas City is undeveloped which means we have lots of room to roam, to expand and grow, and also to revamp some of the older neighborhoods.

GT: As you leave office, what do you see coming in the next five years?
KB: I hope that the new mayor will be able to build on projects and what we have created during my eight years in office. I hope there will be an enlarged vision that will include further infrastructure developments such as light rail and will continue to work on our downtown area and our neighborhoods.