2025 HCD Conference + Expo
The healthcare design industry heads to the “Heart of America” this fall when the 2025 Healthcare Design Conference + Expo arrives in Kansas City, Mo., Oct. 25-28.
Over four days, attendees can experience facility tours, keynote presentations, more than 100 educational sessions, networking events, and awards programs—as well as time in the exhibit hall to explore the newest products and services for healthcare environments.
The host city also is home to world-renowned cultural attractions as well as national championship sports teams and a vibrant food scene built around its famous style of barbecue.
Here’s a look at some of the sights and bites to take in while in town.
Kansas City, Missouri, art and culture attractions
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (Image credit: Jason Dailey/Visit KC)
Kansas City’s museums appeal to a range of interests, from the National World War I Museum and Memorial, housing a diverse collection of WWI objects and documents, to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, where visitors can experience the look, sounds, and feel of the game’s storied past.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art offers more than 34,000 pieces in its collection. And, befitting the city, there’s the world’s first Museum of BBQ in KC’s Crown Center district.
Sights around town
National WWI Museum and Memorial (Image credit: Visit KC)
Kansas City features more than 200 fountains throughout the metro downtown, including 15 city blocks of Spanish-inspired architecture and dozens of fountains on the Country Club Plaza, an open-air shopping and dining destination near the heart of the city.
Sports fans can gaze upon Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, which offers tours (and will host a game on Oct. 27 against the Washington Commanders).
Meanwhile, the National WWI Memorial’s courtyard and observation deck offer some of the best views of the city’s skyline.
Good eats in Kansas City
Mildred’s (Image credit: Visit KC)
For a true taste of KC, attendees will find no shortage of the city’s signature barbecue cuisine, including County Road Ice House in the heart of downtown or Slaps BBQ.
But Kansas City dining offers more than “meats” the eye, including Town Company, an upscale restaurant led by two James Bear-nominated chefs, and Mildred’s, a popular local café chain for breakfast or lunch.
Late-night diners can check out Town Topic, a classic American diner that’s been open 24/7 since 1937.
Find updates and additional information on the 2025 HCD Conference + Expo here.
Robert McCune is senior editor of Healthcare Design and can be reached at [email protected].
