The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks has received the ConventionSouth’s Readers’ Choice Award for 2024, as well as multiple category awards for 417 Magazine’s “Best of” Readers’ Choice Awards 2025.

Lodge also receives multiple category recognitions by Best of 417 Readers’ Choice Awards 2025

The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks has received the ConventionSouth’s Readers’ Choice Award for 2024, as well as multiple category awards for 417 Magazine’s “Best of” Readers’ Choice Awards 2025. These awards showcase The Keeter Center’s commitment to providing an exceptional experience for guests.

ConventionSouth Readers’ Choice Award

The publishers of ConventionSouth, the national multimedia resource for planning events in the south, have presented The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks with a 2024 Readers’ Choice Award. 

“ConventionSouth readers and fans have once again voted to decide the best meeting sites in the south, and it is no surprise to us that The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks has been selected to receive our annual Readers’ Choice Award,” said Tiffany Burtnett, ConventionSouth associate publisher. “This prestigious recognition comes from the United States’ top meeting professionals who hold events in the south. These planners demand the highest level of customer service and quality facilities, and they have determined that The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks indeed displays the commitment to professionalism, creativity, and service that they require.”

The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks is among 474 convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs), meeting facilities, hotels, and unique venues located across the South to receive this year’s Readers’ Choice Award. Throughout the year, meeting professionals nominated the meeting sites they believe provide exemplary service for group events. The nominated sites were then compiled onto an online ballot where meeting professionals and fans voted for the best of the best.

Since its creation in 2001, this is the third time that The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks has received the award. The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks will be featured as an award recipient in the December 2024 Awards Issue of ConventionSouth magazine.

"We are beyond thrilled to be recognized for the third year in a row for ConventionSouth's 2024 Readers' Choice Award,” said Mollie Crawford, director of sales and marketing for The Keeter Center. “It showcases our students’ hard work and attention to detail. It also highlights our extraordinary meeting facilities, from our state-of-the-art, 320-seat Royal Oak Forum to the 4,000-square-foot Silver Dollar City Parlor. The Keeter Center is the perfect venue for any event, from small functions requiring an intimate boardroom setting to grand events where no detail is overlooked. The Keeter Center offers a perfect blend of personal attention and warm, rustic elegance.”

Best of 417 Readers’ Choice Awards

This year marks the eighth consecutive year that The Keeter Center has been honored in the Best of 417 Readers’ Choice Awards. The Keeter Center was awarded first place winner of Best Branson Area Restaurant, first place winner of Best Place for Brunch, second placer winner of Best Restaurant Service, and second place winner of Best Sweet Treats. 

Each year, 417 Magazine highlights outstanding businesses in Southwest Missouri, inviting the public to vote for their favorites across various categories. The Keeter Center’s continued success in these awards reflects the unwavering support from guests in the region.

Previous 2024 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice® Awards 

Along with these awards, The Keeter Center also received the 2024 TripAdvisor® Travelers’ Choice™ Award, “Best of the Best,” and the restaurant designation of “Hidden Gems,” placing Dobyns Dining Room in the top 10 percent of restaurants in the nation. To view the press release, visit College of the Ozarks, The Keeter Center earn 2024 TripAdvisor® Travelers' Choice Awards