All about Grand Rapids!
History of
Grand Rapids
From Furniture City to Beer City - Grand Rapids history is full of art and...
President Ford & Betty Ford
One of the most iconic couples, President Gerald Ford and Betty Ford spent...
Downtown
Grand Rapids
Downtown Grand Rapids offers a variety of entertainment, dining, shopping...
Neighborhoods
Grand Rapids has 8 distinct destination neighborhoods to explore each with...
Grand Rapids Regions
The Grand Rapids is made up of many surrounding communities with their own...
Beach Towns
Coastal towns with unique shops, beaches and lighthouses!
Colleges & Universities
Grand Rapids is a college town with at least 15 institutions of higher...
EXGR Recognitions
We're proud of our accomplishments - Check them out!
Eco Friendly
You live a green lifestyle and you want your travel experiences to reflect...
Community Healing Through Art: Windows GR Project
Now that the local businesses' broken windows have been replaced, the beautiful art boards that cover them have come down. These boards, which serve as an art expression and important social justice
#BLACKLIVESMATTER Everyday, Everywhere Even in Grand Rapids
Angela Nelson, Vice President of Multicultural Business Development, responds with a statement and open letter addressing the recent killings of Black people, protests in our city and destruction to
Interview with Experience Grand Rapids' CEO Part 2
Experience Grand Rapids makes a big impact on the economy and quality of life in West Michigan thanks to the talents and dedication of our diverse employees. From the leadership of our CEO to the
Interview with Experience Grand Rapids' CEO
Experience Grand Rapids makes a big impact on the economy and quality of life in West Michigan thanks to the talents and dedication of our diverse employees. From the leadership of our CEO to the
State of Black Tourism: A 2019 Meeting Review & What it Means for GR
If you’re a frequent user of Instagram and happen to follow travel influencers or hashtags, then you can’t miss the increasing number of posts from people traveling the world – many of whom are black
Understanding the Importance of Associations
In the never-ending quest to attract visitors to Grand Rapids/Kent County, the professional world of association management plays a vital role. In fact, the number one convention or group meeting
Black Greek Organizations Unite in Grand Rapids for #BeforeILetGoChallenge
One year after Beyoncé’s stunning Coachella performance, a Netflix documentary chronicled her journey and took a behind-the-scenes look at creating an impeccable concert. To viewers’ surprise, the
Grand Rapids: An Artful Community
Art matters to Grand Rapids. Especially public art. That affinity is evidenced in the city’s veneration of La Grande Vitesse , a 42-ton steel sculpture by Alexander Calder that graces Calder Plaza in
Understanding Convention Services with Experience Grand Rapids
Experience Grand Rapids makes a big impact on the economy and quality of life in West Michigan thanks to the talents and dedication of our diverse employees. From the leadership of our CEO to the
Our Grand Outdoors
When you think of Grand Rapids, you might think about the award-winning craft beer and food scene. Or perhaps the fact that it’s Michigan's second largest city with a history of furniture
A Proven Playbook for 2019: A Letter from Doug Small
Experience Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids/Kent County tourism industry closed the books on another record year in 2018. This was the ninth consecutive year that hotel room revenue – our barometer
The Shifting Tourism Industry
Grand Rapids, a shift is taking place. Some would characterize the shift as cultural. Some would say it’s a power shift, or perhaps even a paradigm shift. One local group intently focused on making
Diversifying the Hospitality Workforce with Grand Rapids Public Schools
The tourism industry is as healthy as I’ve experienced in my 36-year career. In fact, it is prospering at a pace that makes it challenging for our hundreds of stakeholders to keep up with available
Discovering Tourism in Grand Rapids
Have you taken notice of all the cranes throughout downtown lately? There are a variety of construction projects in the works from restaurants, entertainment venues, hotels and much more. In fact, in
The Downtown Market: Something for every taste
Whether they come for a business meeting, a weekend getaway, a family vacation, or an annual convention, West Michigan visitors’ interests are as diverse as their backgrounds. So, when it comes to
Locals Help Bring Meetings to Grand Rapids
As the newest member of the Experience Grand Rapids leadership team, I’m commonly asked, “What do you do?” and “What does multicultural business development mean?” In short, I lead and support the
#GRSummerProject
Experience Grand Rapids is excited to partner with Magic 104.9 and Grand Rapids Public Schools to promote the #GRSummerProject.
Destination Match Making
“What does Experience Grand Rapids do?” That’s a question we're often asked. Our reply is saying we inspire people to visit Grand Rapids for leisure and conventions. Which is the short, not so fun,
Beyond a Visit
As Grand Rapids’ and Kent County’s destination marketing organization, our team has the privilege every day of telling – and showing – people what a great place this is to visit. That’s our job. But
Way to go Grand Rapids!
10 places that prove Grand Rapids is the craft beverage capital of the U.S.
USA Today 10Best named Grand Rapids the craft beverage capital of the U.S.! We weren't surprised but you can learn why here.
Best Places for Older Travelers to Visit in 2020
Expedia's travel blog "conquer your someday" named Grand Rapids #10 in their list 'Best Places for Older Travelers to Visit in 2020'. View the full article here.
Every State's Best Travel Destination for 2020
Travel Pulse named Grand Rapids the "Best Travel Destination in Michigan for 2020". Check out the full list here.
Beer Lovers — Book One of These "Beercations" For Your Next Getaway
Travel + Leisure named Grand Rapids a great "beercation" for the beer lover. Learn why here.
The 10 Best Places to Retire in the U.S.
Conde Nast named Grand Rapids the #9 Best Place to Retire in the U.S. in 2019. Learn why here.
The Best Breweries in Grand Rapids
Thrillist outlined the 'Best Breweries in Grand Rapids'. Click here to learn more about this great list.
7 Midwest Cities that are Absolutely Worth Exploring
TripAdvisor Rentals Blog named Grand Rapids one of the '7 Midwest Cities that are Absolutely Worth Exploring'.
Say cheers to the 15 best beer cities around the world
CNN Travel named Grand Rapids one of the '15 best beer cities around the world'. Read the full article here.
10 U.S. Tours That Even Americans Should Take
The Discoverer Blog named the '10 U.S. Tours That Even Americans Should Take' which includes a Beer Tour in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Learn more here.
16 INCREDIBLY ROMANTIC GETAWAYS IN THE MIDWEST, FROM MAJOR CITIES TO HIDDEN GEMS
Grand Rapids was named one of the '16 Incredibly Romantic Getaways in the Midwest' by TripAdvisor because of outdoor activities like paddle boarding and picturesque places like Frederik Meijer Gardens
Michigan’s Best City for Singles
Insurify found the 'Best Cities for Singles' in America which includes Grand Rapids. Learn why at the full article.
The 30 most popular destinations for millennials in 2019
Insider named Grand Rapids one of 'The 30 most popular destinations for millennials in 2019'. Click here to read the full article.
The Best Food City in Every State 2019
Thrillist named 'The Best Food City in Every State', and Grand Rapids was dubbed the best in Michigan. Learn why at the link.
Top 10 Underrated Foodie Cities in the U.S.
Grand Rapids was named one of the Top 10 Underrated Foodie Cities in the U.S. by Webstaurant Store blog. Click here to read the full list.
Top 10 Smaller Cities Poised to Skyrocket
Realtor.com named Grand Rapids the #6 smaller cities poised to skyrocket. Click here to learn more about why Grand Rapids made the list.
LendingTree Ranks the Best and Worst Cities for New Small Businesses
LendingTree named Grand Rapids the #2 best city for new small businesses.
The Hottest Real Estate Markets to Watch in 2018
Trulia.com named Grand Rapids the #1 Hottest Real Estate Market to Watch in 2018. Click here to learn why!
Forget New York- millennials are flocking to 10 US cities to get a job, buy a home, and…
Business Insider named Grand Rapids the #1 place that Millennials are flocking to in the US to get a job, buy a home, and start a life. Click here for the full article.
The Best Places to Buy a Home in 2018—Plus Where to Hang Out Once You Move In
Vogue included Grand Rapids on their list of "The Best Places to Buy a Home in 2018—Plus Where to Hang Out Once You Move In". Click here to view the full article.
25 U.S. Cities That Millennials Can Afford — and Actually Want to Live In
The Penny Hoarder ranked Grand Rapids #2 out of 25 U.S. Cities That Millennials Can Afford - and Actually Want to Live In. Click here for the full article.
America’s Most Underrated Cities
Travel + Leisure named Grand Rapids the fifth most underrated city in America. Click here for the full list.
The 10 Big U.S. Cities With the Fastest-Growing Economies
Forbes named Grand Rapids the #1 fastest growing economy in the U.S. based on Headlight Data. Click here to view the full article.
FASTEST GROWING LARGE METRO ECONOMIES OF 2016 ARE GRAND RAPIDS, ORLANDO, NASHVILLE
Headlight Data named Grand Rapids the fastest growing large metro economy of 2016. Click here for the full article.
A Matador guide to the best college towns in America
Matador Network named Grand Rapids one of the best college towns in America. Check out the full article here.
The 25 Best Towns of 2017
Outside Magazine named Grand Rapids "Best River Town" in their "The 25 Best Towns of 2017" list. Click here for the full article.
The 13 best day trips from Chicago
Time Out Chicago named Grand Rapids one of "The 13 best day trips from Chicago". Click here for the full story.
Founders Brewing Co. to Receive the Prestigious 2017 World Trader of the Year Award
Media Contact: Kerri Orders WMWTA Spokesperson kerriorders@yahoo.com For Immediate Release Founders Brewing Co. to Receive the Prestigious 2017 World Trader of the Year Award GRAND RAPIDS,
A Tale of New Cities
Tasting Table named Grand Rapids one of their "under-the-radar culinary gems". Click here for the full article.
Travelocity & The American Distilling Institute Name America’s Top20 Craft Spirits…
Travelocity and The American Distilling Institute named Grand Rapids #10 by population in their "America’s Top 20 Craft Spirits Tourism Destinations" list. Click here for the full article.
WORLD FOOD TRAVEL ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2017 FOODTREKKING AWARD WINNERS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 11, 2017 CONTACT: Stephanie Kotschevar, Experience Grand Rapids 616-233-3577, skotschevar@experiencegr.com WORLD FOOD TRAVEL ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2017 FOODTREKKING
20 of the greenest cities in the nation
Expedia named Grand Rapids one of "20 of the greenest cities in the nation". Click here for the full article.
Grand Rapids Named Best Beer Scene in 2017!
USA Today 10Best named Grand Rapids the #1 Best Beer Scene in 2017! Click here for the full article.
21 super cool US cities, ranked
Expedia's travel blog viewfinder named Grand Rapids #18 of "21 super cool US cities, ranked".
50 States Series: Top Spring Gardens & Conservation Areas Worth Traveling For
FlipKey by TripAdvisor named Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park the "Top Spring Gardens & Conservation Areas Worth Traveling For" in Michigan. Click here for the full article.
Underappreciated American Cities You Should Totally Move To
Thrillist named Grand Rapids one of the "Underappreciated American Cities You Should Totally Move To" due to the beer, art and music scenes. Click here for the full article.
Best Cities for Small Business
Grand Rapids was named the 10th \in ValuePenguin's "The Best Cities for Small Business Owners" poll. Click here for the full article.
100 Best Places to Live in the USA
U.S. News & World Report ranked Grand Rapids #19 on it's "100 Best Places to Live in the USA" list. Click here for the full article.
Best Value Cities for Craft Beer and Cycling
Trivago named Grand Rapids the fifth Best Value Cities for Craft Beer and Cycling. Click here for the full article.
Pure Romance Reveals “Sexiest City in America” for 2016
Pure Romance Reveals “Sexiest City in America” for 2016 with Philadelphia taking top position CINCINNATI (December 14, 2016) – For the first time in three years, there is a new U.S. city that earns
Best Motorcycle Locations in the United States 2016
TheRevver named Grand Rapids #20 on their Best Motorcycle Locations in the United States 2016 list. Click here for the full article.
Top 10 Beer and Wine Metro Areas
Infogroup named Grand Rapids #3 in their "Top 10 Beer and Wine Metro Areas" list. Click here for the full article.
6 Amazing Small Cities For A Family Vacation
Flipkey by Tripadvisor named Grand Rapids one of "6 Amazing Small Cities for a Family Vacation". Click here for the full article.
The 10 Best Craft Beer Towns in America
Matador Network named Grand Rapids one of "The 10 Best Craft Beer Towns in America". Click here for the full article.
The Best Food City in Every State
Thrillist named Grand Rapids the best food city in Michigan in her article: "The Best Food City in Every State". Click here for the full article.
The Best American Cities for Creatives (That Aren't NYC, LA, or SF)
Thrillist.com named Grand Rapids one of "The Best American Cities for Creatives (That aren't NYC, LA, or SF)". Click here for the full article.
These Are the 15 Best Cities for Beer Lovers
RedFin named Grand Rapids the number four city for beer lovers. Click here for the full article.
America's Best Beer Cities, As Chosen by Beer Experts
Conde Nast Traveler named Grand Rapids one of "America's Best Beer Cities, As Chosen by Beer Experts". Click here for the full article.
6 Must Visit U.S. Cities for Beer Connoisseurs
Travel Channel named Grand Rapids one of the 6 Must Visit U.S. Cities for Beer Connoisseurs. Click here for the full article.
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