Why here?
On Virginia's eastern edge, the Potomac and James rivers, the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean have shaped the state's nautical life. Explore that history in places such as Hampton (pictured) and Colonial Williamsburg, as well as Norfolk, where hotels and more are growing dockside.
AROUND THE STATE
• Following renovations, the 45-room Kimpton Morrison House reopened in Alexandria alongside the Ashlar Restaurant and Bar. The hotel has more than 2,800 square feet of meeting space.
• The 244-room, dual-branded Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton and Homewood Suites by Hilton Richmond-Downtown has opened in the state capital with 7,000 square feet for meetings.
HAMPTON
Local Update
• An $11.2 million, 109-room Hyatt Place will be built on the spot of a former Motel 6, as the city seeks to add to its convention-quality hotels.
Meeting Hotels: Group properties in the city include the 295-suite Embassy Suites Hampton Beach, 173-room Crowne Plaza Hampton Marina and 149-room Hilton Garden Inn Coliseum Central.
To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit mcvenues.com.
Convention Center: Hampton Roads Convention Center; exhibit space, approximately 320,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 33; (800) 800-2202
Airport Transit: Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, about 14 miles north of Hampton. Transfer cost by taxi, about $45
Norfolk International Airport, about 16 miles south of Hampton. Transfer cost by taxi, $50
Taxes: Room tax, 7.5%; sales tax, 7.35%; total tax on hotel rooms, 14.85%
Group Venue: Old Point Comfort, at the defensively strategic mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, is the site of Fort Monroe, which opened in 1836 and was named for the fifth president of the United States. The Commanding General's Residence and Garden, built in the early 1920s in classic revival style, is available for gracious events of up to 150 people. (757) 637-7778
Contact: Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau, (800) 800-2202
TASTEFUL RESORT
Coton and Rye, an old-style tavern, is one of five new F&B concepts at the refurbished, 296-room
Lansdowne Resort and Spa in Leesburg. The property has 55,000 square feet of meeting space.
UNDER THE STARS
A new rooftop bar offers 360-degree views at the 75-room Quirk Hotel, a Destination Hotel in Richmond. The 2,800-square-foot space, usually open to the public, can be taken over for evening events.
NORFOLK
Local Update
• The 300-room, $150 million Hilton Norfolk the Main will open in March 2017 and feature 42,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel's 39 meeting rooms collectively will be called The Exchange and will include a "collaboration room," two boardrooms and an 18,500-square-foot ballroom.
• Across the street, the 455-room Norfolk Waterside Marriott completed upgrades to its 60,000 square feet of meeting space about a year ago and plans a guest-room renovation for 2017.
• A $10 million renovation project will begin in November at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, updating all 468 guest rooms and 46,000 square feet of meeting space. The City Dock restaurant also will be refurbished with a military-heritage theme, a new 24/7 market center will be added near the check-in area, the health club will be expanded and the outdoor pool area will be redesigned. All work should be completed by April 2017.
• The city's Waterside Festival and Marketplace is undergoing a $40 million reinvention project by the Cordish Cos. The resulting entertainment area will be renamed the Waterside District. Six food-and-beverage outlets had signed up as of press time, including the Star Hill Brewery. The transformed district is scheduled to reopen in spring 2017.
Meeting Hotels: Group properties in the city include the 468-room Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, 455-room Norfolk Waterside Marriott and 208-room Doubletree Hotel Norfolk Airport Hotel.
To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit mcvenues.com.
Convention Center: Hampton Roads Convention Center; exhibit space, 320,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 33; (800) 800-2202
Airport Transit: Norfolk International Airport, 10 miles south of Hampton. Transfer cost by taxi, $25; by shuttle, $30
Taxes: Room tax, 8%; sales tax, 6%; total tax on hotel rooms, 14%, plus $2 per night
Group Venue: For a taste of what life at sea was like in the 1800s, set sail on a tall ship for a memorable outing. The American Rover, a three-masted top-sail schooner constructed in the 1980s to 19th-century specifications, can accommodate private groups of up to 120 people or smaller parties on its public outings. (757) 627-7245
Contact: Visit Norfolk Convention & Visitor Bureau, (757) 664-6620 or (800) 800-2202