Minneapolis (July 16, 2026) – Meet Minneapolis took Minneapolis' story directly to one of its most important audiences on Tuesday, hosting more than 100 meeting planners and industry leaders from the Chicago area for "The Power of Place: Minneapolis Shapes the Story," a signature client event at the newly opened Obama Presidential Center.

Rather than a traditional client reception focused on hotels and convention space, the evening immersed attendees in the people, culture and experiences that define Minneapolis. Through conversations with community leaders, artists, entrepreneurs and meeting professionals, Meet Minneapolis demonstrated how the city's unique character creates memorable visitor experiences – and why those qualities increasingly influence where organizations choose to host future meetings and conventions.

The event reflected Meet Minneapolis' ongoing work to tell a fuller, more authentic story about the city. As destinations compete aggressively for meetings and conventions that generate significant economic impact, meeting planners are looking beyond venues and hotels to better understand the communities where they bring their attendees. For Meet Minneapolis, that means showcasing the people, culture and sense of place that make Minneapolis unlike anywhere else.

The event was supported by the Minneapolis Tourism Improvement District, which invests in strategic sales and marketing efforts designed to attract meetings, conventions and visitors that drive economic impact for Minneapolis businesses and residents.

"The right place can inspire new ideas, strengthen connections and leave a lasting impression," said Melvin Tennant, president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis. "That was the idea behind The Power of Place. Rather than simply hosting another client reception, we created an experience that embodied the values we share with meeting planners and introduced them to the people whose stories make Minneapolis such a compelling place to gather."

The program featured a moderated conversation with Minneapolis leaders and changemakers, including:

• Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey
• Diane Moua, chef and owner of Diane's Place, whose nationally recognized restaurant celebrates Hmong cuisine and culture
• Reuben Kitto Stately (Kitto), Dakhóta musician, composer and educator whose work centers on language revitalization, identity and cultural reclamation
• Jamie Martin, MS, CAE, CMP, director of conference and event services for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, who shared firsthand experience bringing a major national conference to Minneapolis

The discussion was moderated by Andrea Mokros, interim president and CEO of Hennepin Arts and former special assistant to President Barack Obama and director of strategic planning for former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Meet Minneapolis selected the Obama Presidential Center because its mission closely aligned with the evening's theme. The organization was honored to become the first destination marketing organization to host a client event at the Center since its grand opening.

"It was the perfect setting to demonstrate that the places we choose shape the experiences people remember," added Tennant. "We hope our guests left with a deeper understanding of Minneapolis – not just as a destination, but as a community with stories worth experiencing."

Through events like The Power of Place, Meet Minneapolis continues to strengthen relationships with meeting professionals while building confidence in Minneapolis as a destination for future meetings, conventions and events. Those efforts help generate visitation, support local businesses and workers, and contribute to the city's long-term economic vitality.

###

ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS
Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. The organization actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience, and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to positively impact the economic and social prosperity of the Minneapolis community. Meet Minneapolis is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) of Destinations International.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Kathy McCarthy, Senior PR Director, o 612-767-8048, c 612-508-9720, kathym@minneapolis.org
Kevin Kurtt, PR Manager, o 612-767-8118, c 952-288-9319, kevink@minneapolis.org