New in Wilmington
• The
Hilton Wilmington (N.C.) Riverside is undergoing an $8.5 million renovation of its 272 guest rooms, pool and public areas, to be finished this winter. The hotel's 20,000 square feet of meeting space also will be redone.
• The 186-room
Embassy Suites by Hilton Riverfront, opening in November, will connect to the Wilmington Convention Center. The all-suites property offers event space for up to 750 people.
Soaring stage
Wilmington's
Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College is ideal for 1,500-seat events. The three-story glass-walled lobby and an intimate studio theater also are available for receptions.
Greenville, S.C.
Local Update
• A $125 million expansion at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is adding walkways, new dining options and more, plus a 1,700-square-foot conference center.
• Ground will be broken in 2018 on the 160-room Grand Bohemian Greenville. The downtown Kessler Collection property will offer a spa, a restaurant, meeting space and a 4,000-square-foot ballroom.
Meeting Hotels: The greater Greenville area offers more than 8,000 guest rooms, including the 330-room Hyatt Regency Greenville, 268-room Embassy Suites by Hilton Greenville Golf Resort & Conference Center and 256-room Hilton Greenville.
To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit mcvenues.com.
Convention Center: TD Convention Center; exhibit space, 280,000 square feet; meeting rooms, 17. (864) 233-2562
Airport Transit: Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, 12 miles east of the convention center; transfer by shuttle, $38; by Uber, $26
Taxes: Room tax, 5%; sales tax, 5%; total tax on hotels, 10%
Group Venue: Home to the Carolina Ballet Theater, the Peace Center is a six-acre campus of venues and meeting spaces including a 2,100-seat concert hall and a 4,000-square-foot lounge for events. (864) 467-3000
Contact: Visit Greenville SC, (864) 233-046
Draft and Dim Sum
Enjoy a craft-beer event at the new
Brewery Bhavana in Raleigh, a novel downtown eatery that includes a dim sum restaurant, a library, a flower shop and a taproom. Orchestrated by head brewer Patrick Woodson, the available ales have names like Till, Plow, Yield, Grove, Sprout and Bloom. (919) 829-9998
RALEIGH, N.C.
Local Update
• The 135-room AC Hotel by Marriott Raleigh North Hills has opened with a restaurant, a rooftop bar and 1,370 square feet of meeting space.
• A $37 million project at the 374-room Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley has doubled the hotel's meeting space to 22,181 square feet. Also added was the Braise restaurant and bourbon bar.
• Now open is the 175-suite Residence Inn by Marriott Downtown, across from the Raleigh Convention Center.
• A renovation of all 229 guest rooms at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel has been completed.
Meeting Hotels: About 1,000 guest rooms can be found in the city's downtown district, including the 400-room Raleigh Marriott City Center, 374-room Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley and 353-room Sheraton Raleigh.
To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit mcvenues.com.
Convention Center: Raleigh Convention Center; exhibit space, 150,000 square feet; meeting rooms, 20; (919) 996-8500
Airport Transit: Raleigh-Durham International Airport, 14 miles north of downtown; transfer by taxi, $30; by shuttle, $24, by Uber, $25
Group Venue: If getting trapped with a zombie is the ideal activity for your group, visit the Raleigh Room Escapes, where four options offer team-building enjoyment for up to 34 people. An RRE mobile escape room also can come directly to you.
Contact: Visit Raleigh, (800) 849-8499