Central Area – The Key to NAEOP 2010

Your KIMINI (Kansas, Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa) friends invite you to the 76th NAEOP Annual Conference, July 5-9, in Kansas City, Missouri at the Westin Crown Center Hotel.

From historic restorations to dramatic renovations, Kansas City is experiencing a new look. It offers a wealth of entertainment and attractions.

The Westin Crown Center, Kansas City is located in Hallmark's Crown Center. It offers easy access to 85 acres of shops, restaurants, and theatres. You will be delighted to find the hotel is also close to attractions such as the Liberty Memorial includes the National WWI Museum, Union Station, Bartle Hall Convention Center, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Negro Baseball Hall of Fame, Steamboat Arabia Museum, City of Fountains, Sprint Center for major sporting events and concerts, and many more.

Kansas City was founded in 1838 and is the largest city in Missouri. It encompasses 318 square miles. It was the location of several battles during the Civil War, including the Battle of Westport. The city is well known for its contributions to the musical styles of jazz and blues as well as to cuisine (Kansas City-style barbecue).

After the Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark visited the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers, noting it was a good place to build a fort. In 1833 John McCoy established West Port along the Santa Fe Trail, three miles away from the river. The Kansas Town Company, a group of investors, began to settle the area, taking their name from an English spelling of "Cansez."

After the Civil War, Kansas City, guided by architect George Kessler, became a forefront example of the City Beautiful movement, developing a network of boulevards and parks around the city. The relocation of Union Station to its current location in 1914 and the opening of the Liberty Memorial in 1923 gave the city two of its most identifiable landmarks. Further spurring Kansas City's growth was the opening of the innovative Country Club Plaza development by J.C. Nichols in 1925 as part of his Country Club District plan.

The Institute and Briefings chairs have worked hard to provide you with outstanding topics and presenters for your professional development and networking. The Conference Committee, with the assistance of The Travel Store Tour Company, has scheduled a number of interesting and exciting tours for your visit. We look forward to sharing this time of Service, Information, Recognition, and Fellowship with all of you. The Central Area is proud to host the 2010 NAEOP Conference and hope that you enjoy your visit to the mid-west.