For planners looking for the ultimate value-add destination, Hampton Roads is tough to beat.
The region is steeped in 400 years of history, and its attractions draw millions from around the world each year. Evolving entertainment options, moderate weather and miles of scenic waterfront make Hampton Roads a meetings powerhouse.
Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is a big draw for groups thanks to its affordability, a beachy vibe (35 miles of waterfront), military heritage and moderate weather.
"September through May is many destinations’ off-season," says Al Hutchinson, vice president of convention sales and marketing for the Virginia Beach CVB. "For us, it’s peak season, thanks to our moderate weather. During this time, attractions and venues are very affordable."
One popular activity for groups is a boat trip to watch humpback whales (from December to March) or bottlenose dolphins (from April to October). Soaking up the sun at one of three distinct beaches in Virginia Beach—the Cheaspeake Bay, Resort Area and Sandbridge—is a nice break after workshops. The three-mile boardwalk at the Resort Area beaches has a park-like atmosphere with quaint shops and entertainment nightly during the summer months.
Hutchinson says a must-see is the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, which completed the Restless Planet exhibit last November.
"Planners have said that the aquarium exceeds their expectations," Hutchinson says. "You can easily do a reception there for 3,000."
Meanwhile, the Old Coast Guard Station is an easy museum to get to near the boardwalk. Galleries provide insight into the early days of shipwrecks along the Virginia coast. Attendees with a passion for aviation will appreciate the Military Aviation Museum.
And it’s fairly easy to stay near the water’s edge in Virginia Beach: 7,800 out of the city’s 12,000 guest rooms are oceanfront. By this summer or fall, a developer is expected to be announced for the convention center’s planned headquarters hotel.
Group-ready hotels include the Westin Virginia Beach Town Center, the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, the Sheraton Oceanfront and the Founders Inn and Spa.
Norfolk
Norfolk is located where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, groups have many options that take full advantage of the city’s scenic waterways. Scores of entertainment choices, historic sites and a central location make Norfolk even more appealing.
It’s all easy to get to thanks to the Norfolk Electric Transit, or NET, a free shuttle bus that runs a 2.2-mile circuit through downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. The Tide, a 7.4-mile light rail system, is under construction and set to begin service in 2011.
Norfolk includes 5,000 hotel rooms and features an amazing array of options, from full-service properties to boutique inns. Some group-ready hotels include the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside, Crowne Plaza Norfolk and Marriott Norfolk Waterside, which is connected to the Waterside Convention Center.
Popular excursions for groups include tours of Naval Station Norfolk (the world’s largest naval installation) aboard the Navy-themed vessel Victory Rover and playing with the sails or taking the helm on the American Rover.
Solid off-site choices here are many and varied. The waterfront Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center can accommodate up to 150 guests. The Norfolk Botanical Garden offers 30 themed gardens and can accommodate groups of up to 440 for receptions and banquets.
Hampton
Chesapeake Bay and the Hampton Roads Harbor border the city of Hampton, which is situated on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, just east of Newport News. Groups can enjoy plenty of water-related activities, notably harbor tours aboard the Miss Hampton II.
The city is the nucleus of a lot of history as well. Hampton celebrates its 400th anniversary this year. The city is North America’s oldest continuous-English-speaking settlement.
"We’ve got anniversary events planned throughout the year," notes Ryan LaFata, media relations manager for the Hampton CVB. "The celebration will put a spotlight on all the amazing historical attractions that Hampton offers."
The CVB recently launched a series of iPod walking tours that interpret the city’s historical gems. Tours can be downloaded for free from iTunes or at the CVB website. For those that don’t have iPods or forgot to pack one, rentals are available.
The Virginia Air & Space Center recently opened the first phase of a new gallery about exploration of the moon, Mars and beyond. The final phase is expected to open later this year.
Other noteworthy attractions include the Hampton University Museum, located downtown, and the Casemate Museum at Fort Monroe. More than half of Hampton’s attractions are free.
The main meetings venue is the Hampton Roads Convention Center, which includes 344,000 square feet of convention and exhibit space. It’s anchored by a John Q. Hammons Embassy Suites hotel. The city includes 3,200 guest rooms.
The Peninsula Town Center, a new shopping and dining complex, opened this year, while the NASCAR Sports Grille recently opened at the Power Plant of Hampton Roads, which offers a number of nightlife options.
Williamsburg
Williamsburg is well known for Colonial Williamsburg, the restored historic area of the city, since it was originally a fortified colonial settlement founded in 1632. It was also the capital of the Virginia Colony beginning in 1699. The city is part of Virginia’s Historic Triangle, along with Jamestown and Yorktown. The area is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It’s also a big hit with groups, and archeological tours and candlelight excursions are favorite ways to experience it.
In addition to great attractions, Williamsburg is serious about meetings. The Business Roundtable, an association of the CEOs of the country’s top 100 largest firms, has met here since 1995. The city boasts 17 conference properties and 4,700 guest rooms.
Among the many group-ready properties are Kingsmill Resort and Spa, Lexington George Washington Inn and Conference Center and Williamsburg Lodge.
Relaxing spas and more than a dozen golf courses are mixed in with all that’s historic.
Newport News
One of the surprising things about Newport News is the number of impressive attractions for a city its size. The list includes sites that focus on military history and its waterfront location (specifically its position on the north shore of the James River).
"We have a population of less than 200,000 people, but we have five nationally accredited museums," says Suzanne Pearson, media relations manager for the Newport News Tourism Development Office. "That’s more than you’ll find in some states."
One of the standouts is the Mariners’ Museum, which is the largest maritime museum in North America.
"It’s located in a gorgeous park," Pearson notes. "The space there is huge. It includes an outdoor terrace and a courtyard. Signature paddle boats leave from the museum, too, depending on the time of year.
The Virginia Living Museum is another outstanding attraction that also pulls double duty as a unique off-site option. The museum can accommodate groups of up to 500. Its rooftop patio is ideal for cocktail parties, when groups can look at the night sky through a telescope. The facility features an outdoor deck that overlooks Deer Park Lake. It even includes a small amphitheater.
Ferguson Center for the Arts is another cool off-site option with its three theaters and long colonnade.
The largest meetings hotel is the 256-room Newport News Marriott at City Center, which includes a 23,000-square-foot conference center. The hotel is located in City Center at Oyster Point, which includes more than 40 retailers.
On the renovation front, the Omni Newport News Hotel recently completed a renovation. Also, the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center recently opened with a variety of meeting spaces.
More hotel options for groups include Point Plaza Suites at City Center, Days Inn City Center at Oyster Point and the Hilton Garden Inn.
Chesapeake
Chesapeake gets high marks for its location in the heart of the Hampton Roads region. And the Chesapeake Conference Center is just 15 minutes from Norfolk International Airport. Chesapeake also offers theater, arts, historic sites and outdoor adventure.
Guided kayaking tours and hiking offer great scenic experiences thanks to the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and Northwest River Park.
Chesapeake offers a number of unique off-site options such as Portlock Galleries at SoNo and the Chesapeake Arboretum.
Making planning a lot easier is the fact than nine hotels are within walking distance of the convention center.
Portsmouth
Like her Hampton Roads sisters, Portsmouth includes plenty of history thanks to five historic districts. This quaint seaport is situated along the Elizabeth River, about seven minutes from Norfolk, giving groups plenty of options with a riverfront view. It’s a quick ferry ride from Norfolk and just 20 minutes from Virginia Beach.
A main draw for groups is the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, which can be either a great off-site choice or a place for the main meeting thanks to abundant event space. Shoppers will appreciate the amazing number of antique shops nestled along High Street. Legend has it that one of the homes here held Benedict Arnold captive. And the Spirit of Independence, a sailboat charter, sails out of Olde Towne.
Meetings-equipped hotels include the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel and Waterfront Conference Center Hawthorn Hotel and Suites and Holiday Inn-Olde Towne.
Suffolk
Suffolk offers an overwhelming number of outdoor adventures, since it’s the biggest Hampton Roads city that’s closest to the 111,000-acre Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Swimming, canoeing, kayaking and fishing are also popular. And golfers can choose between five scenic courses.
Suffolk also has plenty of historical attractions.
Group-ready hotels here include the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront Conference Center and Comfort Suites Harborview.
