Virginia

Virginia Beach
The 214-room Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel completed a multimillion-dollar renovation this past spring. The property revamped 25 of its oceanfront suites, each of which now comes equipped with two flat-screen televisions, a kitchenette, pull-out sofa beds and private balconies. Upgrades also include the addition of a new outdoor pool plaza with a bar and grill that seats up to 60 people. The hotel offers a total of more than 13,000 square feet of meetings space.

The new 200-room Oceanaire Resort Hotel and Conference Center, the third phase of the Ocean Beach Club & Resort, is nearing completion. The property will feature 10,000 square feet of meeting space, along with a lounge and a health club.

Work continues on the Laskin Road Gateway development, a mixed-use project that will add more than 130,000 square feet of office space, retail and restaurants, in addition to 178 apartment units. The new facilities are scheduled for completion this fall.

Meeting Hotels
Properties in Virginia Beach include the 400-room Cavalier Hotel, 295-room Virginia Beach Resort Hotel & Conference Center, 292-room Double­Tree by Hilton Hotel Virginia Beach, 290-room Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, 243-room Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront, 214-room Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel, 176-room Hilton Garden Inn, 167-room Ramada on the Beach, 160-room Courtyard by Marriott and 149-room Crowne Plaza. For a more comprehensive list of hotels, visit mcvenues.com.

Convention Center
Virginia Beach Convention Center; exhibit space, approximately 150,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, five; (800) 700-7702

Airport Transit
Norfolk International Airport, about 19 miles from the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Transfer cost by shuttle, $41; transfer cost by taxi, $42-$45

Taxes
Room tax, 8%, plus $1 per room, per night; sales tax, 5%; total tax on hotel rooms, 13%, plus $1 per room, per night

Contact
Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, (757) 385-4700 or (800) 700-7702

Up Close

The eagerly antici­pated 168-room Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg will open next August. Here is a property profile, by the numbers:

• 340: Number of acres of the entire resort, which offers miles of hiking and biking trails in addition to horse riding and skeet-shooting

• 100: Age, in years, of an old stallion barn that will serve as the resort's 5,000-square-foot ballroom once fully restored

• 22: The number of vineyards within a 30-minute drive of the resort

• 30: Distance, in minutes, from Washington, D.C.'s Dulles International Airport

Chesapeake
The 119-room Hampton Inn Chesa­peake/Greenbrier recently completed a renovation of its guest rooms; double rooms now feature queen-size beds, rather than doubles. Rooms also received new artwork and flat-screen televisions.

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Chesapeake has upgraded the bedding and telephones and added flat-screen TVs in all 90 guest rooms. The hotel offers one 650-square-foot meeting space.

The 119-room Hyatt Place Chesapeake/Green­brier has added hot items to its complimentary breakfast menu, including waffles and French toast. The property has 1,362 square feet of meeting space and offers free Wi-Fi throughout.

Meeting Hotels
Properties in the Chesapeake area include the 226-room Norfolk Marriott Chesapeake Hotel, 136-room Aloft Chesapeake, 132-room Springhill Suites Chesapeake Greenbrier, 124-room Comfort Suites, 121-room Residence Inn Chesapeake Greenbrier and 119-room Hyatt Place Chesapeake/Greenbrier.

Convention Centers
Hampton Roads Convention Cen­ter (about 12 miles northwest of downtown Chesapeake); exhibit space, approximately 320,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 33; (757) 722-1222

Hampton Coli­seum (12 miles northwest of Chesapeake); exhibit space, 84,827 square feet; number of meeting rooms, three; (757) 838-5650

Airport Transit
Norfolk International Airport, approximately 15 miles northeast of downtown Chesapeake. Transfer cost by taxi, about $20

Taxes
Room tax, 8%; sales tax, 5%; total tax on hotel rooms, 13%

Group Venue
The 48-acre Chesapeake Arboretum features a variety of themed gardens and 3.5 miles of hiking trails. For groups, the property's pecan grove can accommodate up to 150 guests. (757) 382-7060

Contact
Chesapeake Convention & Visitors Bu­reau; (888) 889-5551

Richmond
The 183-room Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center  completed the first phase of a $3 million renovation in June. The property installed state-of-the-art technology in its more than 23,000-square-foot, IACC-certified conference center. Also revamped were the hotel lobbies, meeting and function space, and the Tavern bar and restaurant. Phase II, which is expected to be completed in 2013, will include the renovation of all guest rooms and suites.

The former John Marshall Hotel recently reopened as the Residences at John Marshall. The property, which was closed for some 20 years, underwent a two-year renovation and, while now mainly used for apartments, has two original ballrooms still available for events. The 4,930-square-foot Virginia Room and the 3,400-square-foot Marshall Ballroom both feature 1920s design and vintage crystal chandeliers. Planners can also make use of the 1,996-square-foot balcony.

Meeting Hotels
Properties include the 410-room Rich­mond Marriott, 372-room Shera­­ton Richmond West, 361-room Omni Richmond, 298-room Crowne Plaza Richmond Down­town, 262-room The Jefferson, 250-room Hilton Garden Inn Rich­mond Downtown, 250-room Westin Richmond, 242-room Marriott Rich­mond West, 224-room Embassy Suites Richmond, 183-room Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center, 135-room Aloft Richmond West, 134-room Hyatt House Richmond West, 102-room Wingate by Wynd­ham Richmond Short Pump and 80-room Residence Inn by Marriott.

For additional information on Rich­mond hotels and meeting facilities, visit mcvenues.com.

Convention Center
Greater Richmond Con­vention Center; total exhibit space, 180,000 square feet; total meeting space, approximately 80,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 38; (804) 783-7300

Airport Transit
Richmond International Air­port, about 10 miles from downtown. Transfer cost by taxi, $20

Taxes
Room tax, 5%; sales tax, 8%; total tax on hotel rooms, 13%

Group Venue
After being closed for some 40 years, the Hippodrome Theater in historic Jack­son Ward has reopened its doors and now offers a variety of live music, a full-service dining area, a VIP club, a dance floor and a bar. Built back in 1904, the stage has seen the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington. This former silent-movie and vaudeville venue can accommodate up to 672 people. (804) 308-2913

Contact
 Richmond Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, (800) 370-9004

Other Cities, Other Sites
Leesburg. The 296-room Lansdowne Resort recently completed renovations of its meeting and events facilities. The 9,525-square-foot ballroom received new carpeting and digital reader boards, while the executive boardroom saw a redesign that included new furnishings, technology and lighting, and the amphitheater received an upgrade of its acoustic panels and A/V equipment. In February, Destination Hotels & Resorts assumed management responsibilities of the former Benchmark Hospitality property, which offers 50,000 square feet of meeting space.
Contact:Lansdowne Resort, (703) 729-8400

Charlottesville. In April, the Boar's Head Inn completed renovations to its 175 guest rooms, outdoor walkways and fitness center. The property, which sits on 573 acres, includes 22,000 square feet of function space, recreational facilities and several dining options.
Contact:Boar's Head Inn, (800) 651-1543

Hot Springs. This month, The Home­stead will open three new recreational features: an 18-hole miniature golf course inspired by the resort's renowned Cascades course; a new adults-only spa garden with a geothermal mineral bath and hot springs; and a water-recreation spot with a 400-foot lazy river, three 100-foot water slides and a poolside restaurant. The upgrades are part of a $25 million renovation.
Contact:The Homestead, (800) 838-1766