Meeting planners pondering Wilmington, Del. as an event locale now have three new possibilities to consider, as well as a special offer from the local CVB.
World Cafe Live in the Queen opened in Downtown Wilmington in April. The former movie theatre that lay dormant on Market Street for 50 years has been totally restored to its original glory and now functions as a spectacular venue for live entertainment that showcases the entire musical spectrum. It’s an extension of Philadelphia-based performance venue, World Cafe Live. In addition to its main auditorium which accommodates 400, the Queen Theatre houses a 160-seat restaurant and two separate meeting spaces, each of which provides flexible seating for 120 attendees. The Queen Theatre is becoming a prime choice for corporate meetings, with state-of-the-art sound and audio-visual systems that allow clients to incorporate numerous technical amenities into their events.
Sheraton Wilmington South is scheduled to open later this fall. The $24 million hotel property is located at 365 Airport Road in New Castle, immediately off I-95 and just south of the city of Wilmington. The hotel will feature 192 spacious guestrooms, primarily suites with separate living/working and sleeping quarters. With more than 9,000 square feet of ballroom and meeting space and a convenient location on the I-95 corridor midway between NYC and DC, the hotel is being marketed as a special event and meeting venue.
Cantwell’s Tavern opens in Historic Odessa’s historic Brick Hotel building in December. Located just 30 minutes south of Wilmington, Historic Odessa features some impressive examples of 18th- and 19th-century architecture and lifestyles. The 189-year-old Brick Hotel aims to resume its role as the town’s social center when it reopens its doors as Cantwell’s Tavern, a farm-to-table gastro-pub operated by noted Delaware restaurateur, Robert E. Ashby. The 8,000-square-foot facility will seat 60+ on the first floor and 50 on the second. During the warmer months, an outdoor dining patio/bar will seat 50+. Cantwell’s Tavern will function as an upscale restaurant and event venue with the ambiance and furnishings of a National Historic Landmark site as an additional bonus.
Additionally, the Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau now offers a Transportation Incentive to groups or planners booking a minimum of 100 room nights in a member hotel in New Castle County. A total of $20,000 is available on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis. More information about the special offer can be viewed at www.VisitWilmingtonDE.com.