By Tonia Kimbrough
Virginia blooms with possibilities for meetings and events to satisfy a diverse range of agendas. This lush, geographically diverse state offers a little something for everyone.
Military groups and educators will find the state a veritable treasure trove of patriotic and historic locations. Virginia was home to eight U. S. presidents and seven signers of the Declaration of Independence. It boasts the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown (1607) and lays claim to the training site of the original seven American astronauts at NASA Langley. And five Civil War-oriented National Parks draw millions of visitors to Virginia each year.
Meeting planners focused on religious retreats and conferences can choose from several facilities in the state that cater to faith-based organizations. “There are many options for religious groups, including the Hilton Memorial Conference Center in Woodbridge or Massanetta Camp and Conference Center in Harrisonburg,” says Joni Johnson, National Sales Manager for the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
Another popular spot for retreats is Shrine Mont in Orkney Springs, which is open early spring through mid-November. This outdoorsy oasis can accommodate groups of 20 to 550. Here you’ll find inspiration at an open-air cathedral of the Diocese of Virginia built in 1925. Several types of accommodations are available, from individual cottages to full-service inns on the grounds. This summer marks the 19th Annual Bishop’s Bluegrass Festival to be held at Shrine Mont.
Social and fraternal group organizers should consider one of Virginia’s many “alternative” meeting locations. Johnson recommends resorts/spas and wineries, for example. “There are more than 40 wineries in Virginia with dedicated meeting spaces,” she says. For a real camaraderie boost, check out a location for camp-side conferencing. A good option: Marriott Ranch, which Johnson says boasts “the best Western trail riding this side of the Rocky Buttes.” The spread offers 4,200 acres of “blue sky” activity space and 3,800 square feet of meeting facilities.
For more ideas, here are a few specific regions and cities to narrow your options:
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West to East
Go west toward the Blue Ridge Mountains if convenience and spectacular beauty top your wish list. Here you’ll find Roanoke, a vibrant city within a day’s drive of half the nation’s population. An array of accommodations from the historic to the modern, large to small, offer 5,800 rooms to house attendees.
Another option in the Blue Ridge region is Wytheville, with a new convention facility offering 24,000 square feet of functional meeting space and an 8,500-square-foot banquet hall for reunions and meetings. Nearby hotels provide more than 1,200 rooms.
For a metropolitan vibe, try Richmond, Virginia’s capital city, centrally located in the middle of the state. Richmond is home to the Virginia Performing Arts Center, the state’s Museum of Fine Arts and a fantastically entertaining Canal Walk – 1.25 miles of waterfront strolling with venues for outdoor events, restaurants, shops and stops to catch a canal boat ride.
Nearly 16,000 hotel rooms at various price points in Richmond make it easy to accommodate your guests. The Omni Richmond Hotel is centrally located in the city’s financial and historical districts. The facility combines luxury and southern charm and overlooks the scenic James River. Fourteen meeting rooms provide 15,000 square feet of function space. Over 360 guest rooms can conveniently pamper your attendees for an “under-one-roof” event.
If the eastern Virginia shore is more your thing, this location offers you many options as well. The area boasts “unforgettable” venues for meetings, from luxury yachts to an 18th-century plantation to conferencing among exotic fish at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center.
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Green All Over
Regardless of the destination you choose in Virginia, keep in mind a new program that allows you to plan a totally “eco-friendly” event. “As planners are becoming more environmentally conscious, Virginia’s convention and meetings industry is responding,” says Johnson. You can learn more about eco-friendly options in Virginia by visiting http://www.virginiagreentravel.com. There you’ll find everything from accommodations, conference facilities and restaurants that are going “green.”
No wonder Virginia blooms with convention possibilities!
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Convention Facilities
- Roanoke Civic Center is the largest convention facility in western Virginia. It offers a spacious coliseum (seating capacity up to 11,000), theater (seating capacity of 2088), and multi-purpose exhibit hall (14,000 square feet).
- Richmond gives you one of the state’s largest convention facilities, which recently expanded to include more than 180,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space with more than 32 meeting rooms. Soon, you’ll also be able to book rooms for your attendees in the newly constructed 250-room Hilton Garden Inn Hotel adjacent to the property.
- Virginia Beach offers a new convention center with a 37,000 square-foot ballroom, 150,000 square feet of exhibit space, and over 25,000 square feet of additional meeting space.
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