WILMINGTON, N.C.
A full-service Embassy Suites, located adjacent to the Wilmington Convention Center, officially began welcoming guests at the start of the new year. Thanks to the addition of the Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront Hotel, meeting and convention attendees now have the option of staying at a hotel adjacent to the convention center and located in the heart of Wilmington’s Convention District.
“We have been eagerly anticipating the opening of a convention center hotel since the Wilmington Convention Center opened, so this is a very exciting time for us,” said Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo. “The new Embassy Suites will allow us to satisfy the demand for larger groups in the downtown River District area and in on-site accommodations from a wider variety of groups and conventions.”
The new Embassy Suites features 186 two-room guest suites. All guest suites (except the one-room kings) include a separate sleeping room, bath, living area, minibar, refrigerator, microwave, two flat screen TV monitors, cozy seating, dining table, desk and Wi-Fi internet options. Guests to the hotel are welcomed with a complimentary made-to-order breakfast and two-hour manager’s evening reception.
The hotel occupies a total of 162,866 square feet, 6,600 square feet of which is meeting space. The first floor features an indoor pool and fitness center, snack/coffee area and an atrium with seating, as well as a ballroom and pre-function space. The second floor includes a riverfront restaurant, boardroom and three small meeting spaces. There is a 4,003-square-foot roof deck and bar on the ninth floor.
The hotel’s 160-seat restaurant—Steam Restaurant & Bar—offers hotel guests and non-guests alike sweeping views of the river, as well as an indoor/outdoor terrace with floor-to-ceiling windows. The restaurant’s kitchen is being led by Executive Chef Tyler Powell. A Memphis native, Chef Powell most recently held the position as chef de cuisine at Kimball’s Kitchen at the famed Sanderling Resort in the Outer Banks. Steam’s menu is heavily influenced by seafood, including daily “fresh catch” specials.
No. 9 bar and restaurant will feature expansive views of the Cape Fear River and downtown Wilmington, along with 25 beers on tap, including many North Carolina and Wilmington breweries. The rooftop restaurant’s menu will focus on small plates, with an emphasis on creating a street food, lounge vibe.
Wilmington’s Convention District, located riverfront and within the city's walkable River District, is connected by a nearly two-mile scenic Riverwalk that combines Wilmington’s historic charm and rich past with modern design and new attractions. A walkable downtown, with access to more than 200 restaurants, shops and attractions, plus three nearby beaches, create a memorable setting for groups.
The Convention District is anchored by the Wilmington Convention Center—the largest convention center on North Carolina’s coast—and is further strengthened with recent upgrades and openings.
“Wilmington’s riverfront is transforming and attracting some exciting additions we will see come to life in 2018 and beyond,” said Kim Hufham, president and CEO of the Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). “We look forward to sharing these developments with meeting [attendees].”
