With its longtime "Virginia is for Lovers" tagline, one of the South’s most compelling states is ideally suited to groups that adore diversity. Planners can turn to Virginia again and again, and the relationship just never gets old.
"There’s just so much," says Catherine Fox, director of tourism and communications for the Roanoke Valley CVB. "There is so much history wherever you turn, and Virginia is full of natural beauty."
Whether it’s convening near a bustling boardwalk by the sea or at the foot of stately mountains, planners have plenty of options.
Northern Virginia
The northern part of the Old Dominion state is gaining traction on the meetings scene. The region offers not just plenty of high-tech facilities (the area is home to seven Fortune 500 companies, after all), but it also boasts historical sites such as George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate, Arlington National Cemetery and Manassus Battlefield Park.
The biggest news here: Fairfax County supervisors approved a plan to transform the business district of Tysons Corner into a walkable community. The plan includes creating sidewalk cafes, manicured courtyards and an eventual rail extension to Dulles International Airport. Four stations along the way are slated to open by 2013.
"This is a game-changer for us," says Barry Biggar, president and CEO of Visit Fairfax. "We’ll be able to bring in and host more meetings. It’s great from the green perspective, too."
Northern Virginia’s meeting sites include Dulles Expo & Conference Center; Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles hotel and Lansdowne Resort. Other business centers in the area include the Dulles Corridor near Washington Dulles International Airport, and centers along the Potomac River in Alexandria. And in Arlington, the Crystal Gateway area located near Reagan Washington National Airport boasts high-tech meeting facilities and many major hotel flags. The IACC-certified Airlie Center in Warrenton is yet another option.
A new property, The Mason Inn and Conference Center Hotel in Fairfax, debuted this year.
Central Virginia
Aside from being the home of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, central Virginia is also famous for its verdant rolling hills. The capital city of Richmond anchors the region and offers outdoor experiences and more than 70 museums and attractions.
"The James River distinguishes the Richmond region as the only urban setting with class IV rapids, [and that’s] just one form of outdoor recreation," says Erin Bagnell, public relations manager for the Richmond Metropolitan CVB.
A top attraction for groups, Bagnell notes, is the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, which reopened in May after a 165,000-square-foot expansion. It’s a solid off-site option as well.
"It’s among the top 10 comprehensive art museums in the nation," Bagnell says.
Another can’t-miss site is the stately Virginia Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson. It was renovated in 2007. Self-guided and guided tours are available.
Another important attraction (or off-site option) is the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, with its classical domed conservatory.
Groups may also convene in the Museum of the Confederacy. Reenactments of Patrick Henry’s "Give me liberty, or give me death" speech at St. John’s Church in 1775 can also be arranged for groups.
The main gathering spot is the Greater Richmond Convention Center. The 405-room Richmond Marriott, which has been recently renovated, is connected to the facility. The hotel offers 30,000 square feet of meeting space.
Last year, the 250-room Hilton Garden Inn Richmond Downtown opened across from the convention center and next door to the Richmond CenterStage performing arts complex. It is situated in the former Miller & Rhoads department store, a beloved local institution. Meanwhile, the newest hotel is the Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa, which features 254 rooms and suites and 22,000 square feet of meeting space.
The Richmond area offers 16,000 hotel rooms. Among them are Doubletree Hotel Richmond Downtown, the Jefferson Hotel, Omni Hotel Richmond, Crowne Plaza Hotel Richmond Downtown and Commonwealth Park Suites Hotel.
Just outside the capital in Glen Allen, Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center offers more than 23,000 square feet of meeting space, swimming, basketball and The Crossings Golf Club.
West of Richmond, the Blue Ridge Mountains beckon and there’s plenty to explore at Jefferson’s Monticello estate near Charlottesville. Budget Travel magazine claims that the estate is one of the "eight places every American should see."
Hotel options in the Charlottesville environs include Boar’s Head Inn, Omni Hotel Charlottesville, Keswick Hall and Doubletree Hotel Charlottesville.
The nearby town of Bedford offers more history, quaint shops and fine dining for attendees to enjoy.
In nearby Lynchburg, which is situated at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the James River Conference Center offers function space for 600 people.
Hampton Roads
With miles of scenic waterfront, Hampton Roads is full of natural beauty. Throw in scores of historic attractions (as the region is steeped in 400 years of history), museums and a wide array of meeting venues, and planners have a destination that appeals to groups made up of varying demographics.
Virginia Beach is a big draw for meetings with its moderate weather, military heritage and many attractions, all set against a beachy backdrop. One attraction and off-site venue that encompasses everything that Virginia Beach is about is the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, which completed the Restless Planet exhibit last November. The facility can accommodate groups of up to 3,000 people for a reception.
The most exciting news on the meetings front here is the LEED Gold certification that the Virginia Beach Convention Center recently earned. The facility is the country’s first convention center to achieve LEED Gold honors for existing buildings. The convention center offers more than 515,000 square feet of event space.
After workshops, attendees can stroll along the city’s three-mile boardwalk, which offers a number of entertainment options and restaurants.
Group-ready hotels here include the Westin Virginia Beach Town Center, the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, the Sheraton Oceanfront, the Holiday Inn Sunspree Virginia Beach and the Founders Inn and Spa. The city offers 12,000 guest rooms, and 7,800 of those are located along the oceanfront.
West of Virginia Beach, Norfolk features its fair share of scenic waterways, as it is situated where the waters of the Chesapeake Bay meet the Atlantic Ocean. The city offers a central location and military attractions.
A popular activity here is a tour of the Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval installation, aboard the Victory Rover. The Norfolk Botanical Garden, just one of many solid off-site choices here, can host groups of up to 440 people for banquets and receptions, and the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center is another premier choice for events.
The Tide, a 7.4-mile light rail system, is set to begin service next year. Norfolk’s downtown is already pretty easy to navigate thanks to free shuttle bus service. Norfolk’s 5,000 guest rooms are located in properties that include everything from full-service hotels to boutique options.
Meetings hotels include Sheraton Norfolk Waterside and Norfolk Waterside Marriott, which is connected to the Waterside Convention Center.
Just south of Norfolk, the city of Chesapeake is notable for being in the center of the Hampton Roads area. While history touches this town, it is a standout for its natural beauty. Attendees with a sense of adventure can embark on guided kayaking tours and hiking in Northwest River Park and the Great Dismal Swamp National Park.
Top off-site options here include the Chesapeake Arboretum and Portlock Galleries at SoNo. For meetings and trade shows, the Chesapeake Conference Center offers 22,700 square feet of space.
Nearby Portsmouth, meanwhile, offers plenty of Old World charm thanks to five historic districts and quaint shops.
The property selection includes Hawthorn Hotel and Suites, Holiday Inn-Olde Towne, and Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel and Waterfront Conference Center.
Farther north, the city of Hampton, set on the southeastern part of the Virginia Peninsula and bordered by the Chesapeake Bay and the Hampton Roads Harbor, is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year. The city is the oldest continuous-English-speaking settlement in North America. Hampton is hosting scores of anniversary events and exhibits throughout 2010.
"In addition to our events, we also have a series of anniversary and legacy projects," says Ryan LaFata, media relations manager for the Hampton CVB. "The city has just completed a new six-hour oral history video containing over 100 Hampton residents telling their version of over 100 Hampton stories."
History is found all along the waterfront in Hampton, which encompasses the site of the original 17th century seaport that served as the port of entry for commercial vessels from Africa, the Caribbean and Europe.
The main meetings venue is the Hampton Roads Convention Center, which includes 344,000 square feet of convention and exhibit space. The facility is 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.
North of Hampton, more history in found in the city of Williamsburg, which started out as the capital of the Virginia Colony in 1699.
In addition to the archeological tours and historical sites, groups have an array of spa and golf options. Throw in plenty of guest rooms (about 4,700 of them), and it’s easy to see why the city is a popular choice for a variety of meetings and retreats.
Hotel options here include Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel, Kingsmill Resort and Spa, Lexington George Washington Inn and Conference Center, and Williamsburg Lodge.
Farther southwest is Newport News, another picturesque city with a number of attractions and off-site venues. The city boasts five museums that are nationally accredited by the American Association of Museums, says Suzanne Pearson, media relations manager for the Newport News Tourism Development Office.
One of those museums, which also makes for an impressive off-site venue, is the Mariners’ Museum, which is the largest maritime museum in North America.
Property options here include the 256-room Newport News Marriott at City Center, which has a 23,000-square-foot conference center. Omni Newport News Hotel recently completed a renovation, and the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center recently opened with a variety of meeting spaces.
Smithfield, situated across the James River just west of Newport News, is a port town with historical treasures such as the Isle of Wight Courthouse of 1800 and Fort Boykin Historical Park, and it is also famous for its locally produced ham.
The Smithfield Center is a multipurpose conference and event venue, and hotels with meeting space include Smithfield Station Waterfront Restaurant, Inn and Marina, Hampton Inn & Suites-Smithfield and Smithfield Inn. Meanwhile, Boykins Tavern Museum is available for small events.
Farther south, Suffolk has a number of possibilities to get attendees moving, whether it’s golfing, canoeing, fishing or hiking. Group-ready hotels include the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront Conference Center and Comfort Suites Harborview.
Western Virginia
Nature lovers find a happy home in western Virginia, encompassing mountains, caverns, waterfalls and rivers that meander through lush valleys. A bit of the historic is at play too, as the Blue Ridge Parkway celebrates in 75th anniversary this year.
"The Roanoke region offers a lot for outdoor lovers in the group, whether they want adventure or relaxation," says Catherine Fox, director of tourism and communications for the Roanoke Valley CVB. "Fly-fishing, hiking and just strolling around the Farmers’ Market area are really popular."
The Farmers’ Market area has served as a unique outdoor event location, says Kelly Burd-Adams, director of sales for the Roanoke Valley CVB.
Fox says one trend is that groups are using Roanoke’s greenways for exercising while attending meetings. Whatever the event, groups want to be outdoors here. Holding receptions and dinners at night is also popular.
"Planners and attendees come away really impressed because they are having this amazing reception at night under the stars. And here the night sky is beautiful," Burd-Adams says.
Hotel news here includes an extensive renovation at the Sheraton Roanoke Hotel & Conference Center, and a new Cambria Suites hotel opened this year.
Meeting sites include Roanoke Civic Center, Salem Civic Center and the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.
In Staunton, Stonewall Jackson Hotel and Conference Center offers a historical option for gatherings.
The Homestead resort in Bath County offers meeting space amid the Allegheny Mountains, along with many team-building options and a spa.
Meanwhile, Blacksburg is home to Virginia Tech and The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. And the Wytheville Meeting Center boasts high-tech facilities as well.
In Abingdon, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education and Conference Center features 89,000 square feet of meeting space, and the town is also home to the Martha Washington Inn, which includes a spacious ballroom hosting up to 300 guests.
