From prehistoric nomads to Spanish explorers to English colonists, there have always been newcomers eager to discover Virginia and West Virginia. Over the centuries, communities within these two states have cultivated a heritage of hospitality that is still second to none.
Historic attractions continue to draw association groups to destinations in this region, which recently commemorated the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, with landmark hotels and preserved sites again in the spotlight. For memorable events, few places set as timeless a scene.
Fredericksburg & Richmond: History Hubs
The Historical Miniatures Gaming Society brought its Historicon convention to Fredericksburg, a city 50 miles south of D.C., in 2012 and 2013. The themes were, respectively, “Colonial Warfare, Imperialism & Gunboat Diplomacy, 1836–1937” and “American Civil War, 1863: Year of Decision.” The convention was ideally situated for attendee interest—there’s plenty of history here. Fredericksburg has played host to everyone from Captain John Smith to Ulysses S. Grant, and more than 350 original 18th and 19th century buildings still stand in the 40-block National Historic District.
Another group that recently chose Fredericksburg was the Virginia Association of Free & Charitable Clinics, which held its Executive Directors Conference last March at the Fredericksburg Hospitality House, an event venue with 18,000 square feet of space. “The city is very hospitable,” said Judy Griffin, its director of resource development. “It’s a charming town with a lot of history, and it was nice that our attendees got to see and learn about that—many of our folks had never been there before.”
For a setting with a real sense of heritage, small groups might opt to stay and meet in the downtown Historic District. Options include the Courtyard by Marriott, with 1,800 square feet of event space, and the Kenmore Inn, built in 1824, with six meeting spaces. Nearby, on the University of Mary Washington, a new Hyatt Place opened in January with 93 guest rooms and 1,324 square feet of meeting space. The top spot for big meetings in town, though, is the 110,000-square-foot Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center, which is conveniently located next to three meeting hotels: the Hampton Inn & Suites Fredericksburg at Celebrate Virginia, a Hilton Garden Inn and a Homewood Suites.
The Fredericksburg Area Museum & Cultural Center has three facilities for events, the largest of which is the Historic Market Square, which dates back to 1728 and can accommodate up to 500 people. At the University of Mary Washington, the 24,000-square-foot Jepson Alumni Executive Center welcomes group events, and the Stafford Campus, northwest of town, is home to the 2,700-square-foot University Hall.
Some 60 miles south of Fredericksburg is Richmond, which welcomes all kinds of organizations each year. The Association of Moving Image Archivists held its annual conference in town last year with approximately 615 attendees. The group used the downtown Richmond Marriott for accommodations and sessions and the 1,300-seat Byrd Theatre for a few off-site events, said Kristina Kersels, the association’s events and operations manager. “We always use a movie theater in the cities we visit—it’s part of our choosing criteria—and the Byrd is a great old theater,” she said.
Attendees were pleased by everything the city had to offer and its changing dynamic, Kersels said. “Our attendees were thrilled with the hotel and quite surprised by all the great, independent restaurants that were within walking distance. It’s wonderful that a lot are farm-to-table. And I’d be remiss not to mention the people—some of the friendliest we’ve met. We would definitely consider visiting again!”
Another happy group of visitors was the International Customer Service Association, which held its annual conference at the Omni/Richmond with about 170 people. “We loved it!” said Lisa Gessert, the group’s administrative director. “The area is just ideal for conferences, and we hope to head back there someday.”
The city’s largest event venue is the 700,000-square-foot Greater Richmond Convention Center, which has 180,000 square feet of exhibit space and 50,000 square feet of meeting space. There are plenty of other options including the 72,000-square-foot Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center, which can seat up to 6,000; the 12,500-seat Richmond Coliseum, with 50,000 square feet of exhibit space; and Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center, offering 43,000 square feet of event space. Attractions that double as event locales include the Virginia War Memorial, whose 18,000-square-foot Paul & Phyllis Galanti Education Center can host events overlooking the James River; Richmond CenterStage, which can accommodate groups of up to 1,700; and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, with space for up to 1,500 people.
A little farther north, the Richmond Raceway Complex offers 128,000 square feet of event space and an amphitheater for up to 10,000. West of town, in Midlothian, the DoubleTree by Hilton/Richmond-Midlothian (formerly the Holiday Inn Koger Conference Center) recently completed a $6.5 million renovation.
Hampton Roads: Coastal Conventions
Visitors have been traversing this region’s winding waterways for hundreds of years (not least because it’s the most northerly port on the East Coast that stays free of ice year-round), so the cities and towns know how to give a warm welcome. Virginia Beach is the vacation hub of the state and its largest city. The 516,000-square-foot, gold LEED-certified Virginia Beach Convention Center means business, and has 150,000 square feet of exhibit space to prove it. Last fall, the Association of Air Medical Services held its Air Medical Transport Conference here with 2,300 attendees. Natasha Ross, the organization’s director of education and events, said the area was a great host thanks to the “state-of-the-art convention center, along with the incredible support received from the entire local hospitality community.” Other groups that have recently gathered in the city include the Virginia Association of Realtors and the Virginia State Fire Chiefs Association.
In Norfolk, the riverside Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center can host groups of up to 1,500. Up the coast, Hampton is home to the 344,000-square-foot Hampton Roads Convention Center, the largest event facility in town, followed by the Hampton Coliseum, which can seat up to 13,800 people. There’s a plethora of smaller sites, too, from the Virginia Air & Space Center, with space for up to 2,000 people, and the Hampton University Museum, which can host groups of up to 275. In Newport News, the Marriott at City Center can accommodate groups of up to 1,600. For smaller gatherings, the Mariners’ Museum hosts groups of up to 600 and the Virginia Living Museum has space for special events of up to 500 guests.
Twenty miles to the northwest, in Williamsburg, the new Kingsmill Resort opened last summer. Farther north, in Irvington, a popular resort for retreats is the Tides Inn set on Chesapeake Bay. Recent guests have included the Virginia Credit Union League and the National Propane Gas Association. “The beauty of the area is a big draw for our members,” said Baron Glassgow, senior director of the association’s management services.
The Blue Ridge Mountains: Meetings on High
The Blue Ridge Mountains in southwestern Virginia have been renowned for their beauty. Many groups base themselves in Roanoke, a city with ample meeting venues as well as quick access to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Large options include the Roanoke Civic Center, which has a 14,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall, a 10,500-seat coliseum, a 2,151-seat theater and a new, 46,000-square-foot Special Events Center. A few blocks away is Center in the Square, where a $30 million renovation was completed last spring. The center is home to the History Museum of Western Virginia and the Science Museum of Western Virginia, both with event space for up to several hundred people, as well as the Mill Mountain Theatre. Southwest of downtown, the South County Library has two venues for up to 200 people, and AmRhein Wine Cellars has event space for up to 150 people. And 25 miles north of Roanoke, in Fincastle, Virginia Mountain Vineyards welcomes groups with a 7,500-square-foot event space.
On the hotel scene, the new Hampton Inn & Suites/Roanoke Airport is expected to open in May with 126 guest rooms and 2,884 square feet of meeting space. In 2015, a new Hilton Garden Inn property is scheduled to open. Recent visitors to the Roanoke region include the Virginia Moose Association, the Virginia State Reading Association and the Harley Owners Group, which held an event with 1,700 people in town recently. “The riding through the area is absolutely beautiful, and the merchants and area restaurants are very welcoming to our attendees,” said Jo Ann Emmons, the group’s rally coordinator.
West of Roanoke is Salem, which was founded in 1802. Today, groups visiting the city can enjoy modern meeting facilities, such as the 40,000-square-foot Salem Civic Center, which can be configured for events as large as 6,000 people.
Some 65 miles north of Roanoke, 72,000 square feet of event space await at the historic and recently improved Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs. In nearby Staunton, the downtown area boasts six historic districts and unique venues that range from the American Shakespeare Center to the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum. Hotels with meeting space include the Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center, Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn and Inn at Old Virginia.
In September, a new Hyatt Place Hotel opened in Charlottesville, 100 miles to the east of Hot Springs. Features include 137 guest rooms and 2,015 square feet of meeting space. One of the town’s more established meeting hotels is the Boar’s Head Inn, which has private wine tours and tennis courts. Larger events can be held at the University of Virginia/Charlottesville’s John Paul Jones Arena, which has 27,000 square feet of space and can accommodate upward of 14,000 people. A popular attraction is Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, which groups often visit for tours. The property also welcomes special events with four dedicated spaces.
In Blacksburg, planners can organize events at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University. Campus spaces include the Inn at Virginia Tech & Skelton Conference Center, which has 24,000 square feet of event space, and the new, 147,000-square-foot Center for the Arts, which opened last fall. Some 20 miles northwest of Blacksburg, in Pembroke, the historic Mountain Lake Hotel has reopened as the Mountain Lake Lodge after a multimillion-dollar renovation.
Lesser-known towns in the region are worth a look, especially if your group is seeking unique areas with recreational options and excellent hospitality. About 110 miles southwest of Blacksburg is Abingdon, which is proud to have been welcoming visitors for more than two centuries. The Martha Washington Hotel & Spa has event space for groups of up to 200 people. Also in town is the Heartwood Artisan Center, where up to 240 people can gather. The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center has room for up to 1,200 people, and the Virginia Ballroom & The Abingdon Senior Center can host groups of up to 300 people.
Southeast of Roanoke, on Smith Mountain Lake, the Mariners Landing Resort Community & Conference Center in Huddleston has 34,000 square feet of event and meeting space. Another 50 miles south, in Danville, the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research offers a 20,000-square-foot conference center.
West Virginia: Sites Worthy of Praise
When many meeting planners think about taking their group to West Virginia, one of the first properties to spring to mind is the landmark Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs. It stands to reason that if it’s good enough for the 26 U.S. presidents who have stayed at the resort, then it’s good enough for your board members.
Ten miles west, in Lewisburg, meeting venues include the State Fair Event Center, which boasts 40,000 square feet of space; the Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center, which welcomes special events of up to 300; and, near the Greenbrier Valley Airport, the Quality Inn. And 50 miles east, Beckley is home to the Tamarack Conference Center, which has 12,000 square feet of function space.
Charleston, the state capital and largest city, has a range of event venues from which to choose, starting with the 131,000-square-foot Civic Center. Groups that have met at the center include the West Virginia Association of Fairs & Festivals, the West Virginia Coal Association and Travel South USA. Notable spaces within the center include the 13,600-seat Coliseum and the 3,483-seat Municipal Auditorium. And the Charleston Marriott Town Center is just two blocks away.
Just northwest of Charleston is Huntington, home to the Big Sandy Superstore Arena, which offers more than 28,000 square feet of meeting space including some newly renovated meeting rooms. In Morgantown, to the northeast of Charleston, West Virginia University welcomes groups with 26 on-campus venues.
States That Inspire Change
In 1606, English poet Michael Drayton proclaimed Virginia to be “Earth’s only paradise!” As it did Drayton, the natural beauty of Virginia and West Virginia continues to attract both meeting planners and their attendees, who find the states’ destinations to be some of the country’s most fascinating for inspiring gatherings.