Property Undergoes Extreme Makeover

There's no better time to discover, or re-discover, Amelia Island Plantation, an island sanctuary situated just 29 miles northeast of Jacksonville International Airport and a recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award for 26 consecutive years. The property is undergoing its own version of the "Extreme Makeover" television show, with more than $14.28 million worth of renovations and upgrades now in the works or completed.

The Amelia Inn, which offers 249 oceanfront rooms, has added new customized pillow-top mattresses, 330-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, quilted bedspreads, and more. The Inn's Beach Club Grill boasts a fresh coat of paint, new light fixtures, chairs, and upholstery.

Additionally, all rooms within The Amelia Inn now offer high-speed Internet access, which is also available in the resort's Sandcastles Villas. More than $5.3 million has been earmarked to enhance the building's 112 units, with the first phase of the project completed this past April. An HVAC system upgrade has already wrapped up and is being followed by renovations of windows and doors; the addition of queen-size sleeper sofas in units' living rooms; new linens, comforters, and pillows.

Spring 2005 marked the completion of renovations in the Ocean Grill, Sunrise Café, and Lobby Lounge. The Sunrise Café serves breakfast every day, and the Ocean Grill is a fine-dining restaurant. Connected to the Ocean Grill is the Sabal Palm Room, designed specifically for private dinners of 10 to 35 people. Etched glass partitions, rich oak finishes, new carpet, designer window treatments, chairs, lighting, artwork, and decorations have enhanced the rooms.

The Amelia Conference Center and the Executive Conference Center will feature a new look immediately following Labor Day weekend, 2006. Both centers are being painted, as well as enhanced with new carpeting, furnishings, and chandeliers. Guest rooms are being renovated.

On the golf front, Amelia Island Plantation has added Royal Amelia Golf Club to its three other championship golf courses - Oak Marsh, Ocean Links, and Long Point - bringing total play to 72 holes and creating room for tournaments of all sizes. Designed by Tom Jackson, the 18-hole Royal Amelia course is renowned as one of the best-conditioned courses in the area, with incredibly smooth TifEagle greens. The resort has also completed an extensive renovation of the award-winning Oak Marsh course. Project components included new irrigation and the renovation of bunkers, tees, fairways, and greens.

While groups will be wowed by Amelia Island Plantation's new look and amenities, the resort has always impressed planners with its ample meeting space and other accoutrements. Associations enjoy access to more than 49,000 square feet of event space to accommodate functions for 20 to 1,000 people.

Bermuda: Island is an Ideal Place for Association Meetings

Bermuda has a reputation as a chic island escape where rich history, diverse cultures, exceptional beauty, and romance come together, but it is also the ideal destination for association meetings. One of the world's top business centers, Bermuda houses the offices of more than 9,500 international companies. Just inside its 21 miles of pink sand beaches lies a grand total of 115,000 square feet of meeting space in the hotels alone. Intimate groups of eight people to large conventions of 1,500 attendees can be accommodated on or off site on private islands, at cultural museums, sprawling botanical gardens, or historic sites. All offer friendly, professional customer service and a sophisticated ambiance.

Nestled in Bermuda's largest fortress, the historic Bermuda Maritime museum can house 800 people under a tent. Not far away from the museum lies the convention center at the Royal Naval Dockyard. During the day, its 24,000-square-foot Clocktower Shopping Mall is reserved for the 29 boutiques on the lower level. Once the sun sets, the top floor of the center turns into the most posh venue on the island.

Bermuda's mix of hotels is equally diverse; no matter what a group's needs or budget, the island can supply the perfect venue. Full-service hotels, such as the Fairmont Southampton; Mandarin Oriental's Elbow Beach Hotel; intimate cottage colonies (like Cambridge Beaches and Ariel Sands); and smaller properties offer a total of 3,400 rooms. Most of these properties will accommodate groups with special rates and packages. Every modern amenity is available, with many deluxe four-star venues providing state-of-the-art technological services.

Outside of meetings, groups can experience Bermuda's world-class dining, as well as duty-free shopping at the boutiques along Front Street in Hamilton, the island's capital. Many hotels feature world-class spas. As for golf, Bermuda offers more golf courses per square mile than anywhere else in the world. With stunning scenery and an unpredictable wind factor, the island's courses are renowned for both their beauty and the challenge they offer golfers.

Bermuda teems with rich history and a blend of British, African, and Portuguese cultures. St. George's, the island's original capital, is home to the oldest continuously operating Anglican Church in the Western Hemisphere.

Getting to Bermuda is easier than ever. JetBlue offers two daily flights between the island and John F. Kennedy International Airport. Other airlines flying to Bermuda - which is just a two-hour flight from most U.S. East Coast gateways - include American, Continental, Delta, US Airways, USA3000 Airlines, United, Air Canada, and British Airways. In a limited-time offer, groups booking 15 rooms or more for at least three nights are eligible for a $200 per person airline credit. Booking must occur by Dec. 31, 2006; travel, between Nov. 1, 2006 and March 31, 2007, or Nov. 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008. The offer is good for new bookings only and cannot be combined with other offers.

Disney Institute Offers Unparalleled Learning Opportunities for Groups

Meeting attendees, put on your thinking caps (the ones with the Mickey Mouse ears, that is). The Disneyland Resort in Southern California now offers a new slate of professional development curriculum presented by the Disney Institute.

"Disney is world famous for innovation and creativity," said George Aguel, senior vice president for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "Our newest Disney Institute programs at the Disneyland Resort help attendees leverage these powerful leadership tools in their own organizations."

Robert Donahue, director of Resort Sales and Services at the Disneyland Resort, added, "These new programs enrich the meeting experience for planners and attendees alike. Our hotels and theme parks have always been a source of inspiration to people, and we have professional development content that can help them harness that inspiration. It's another example of what makes the Disneyland Resort such a unique meeting location."

Disney Institute programs showcase proven Disney management practices that are easily adapted to other organizations. The programs are available as an added feature exclusively for groups meeting at the Disneyland Resort and are facilitated by Disney leaders. Disney Institute offers 90-minute presentations or three-hour workshops on creativity and innovation in the workplace, quality service, people management, and loyalty. In addition, customized full-day and three-and-a-half day seminars complete with guest speakers and field experiences - such as "Pluto's Pursuit" scavenger hunt - encourage team communication, leadership, and trust.

The Disneyland Resort features two theme parks, Walt Disney's original theme park, Disneyland; and Disney's California Adventure park, a salute to California through Disney storytelling; three hotels including the luxurious 745-room Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa; the 489-room Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel; and the 990-room Disneyland Hotel; as well as the Downtown Disney District, a public esplanade of dining, family entertainment, and shopping. Meeting attendees can easily walk from their hotel rooms or sessions to the theme parks and to the Downtown Disney District. To plan a meeting at the Disneyland Resort, call (714) 956-6556 or visit www.disneylandmeetings.com.

Fort Lauderdale: Area Ranks Among Top Resort Destinations

Over the past few years, Greater Fort Lauderdale has become a favorite resort meetings destination. And it's no wonder, given the area's many attributes. Greater Fort Lauderdale is:

BEACHY

Greater Fort Lauderdale's 23 miles of golden sands stretch enticingly along calm, azure Atlantic waters. The Clean Beaches Council, a national coastal group, recently designated Greater Fort Lauderdale's beaches as "Blue Wave Beaches," a distinction that places them among the nation's cleanest, safest, and most user-friendly beaches.

ACCESSIBLE

Getting to Greater Fort Lauderdale is a breeze. The Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport is modern, spacious, and convenient. It is also located just minutes from the business district and hotels, the Broward County Convention Center, Port Everglades, and area beaches.

NAUTICAL

More than 300 miles of navigable inland waterways and azure Atlantic waters are reason enough to make water-related activities part of your meeting plans. Yacht charters, water taxis, sport fishing outings, sightseeing trips, cruises-to-nowhere, Caribbean jaunts, Everglades airboat rides: Groups will find plenty of choices in Greater Fort Lauderdale, the "Venice of America."

CULTURAL

The epicenter of the area is downtown Fort Lauderdale, home to chic Las Olas Boulevard and the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District, which includes the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Stranahan House, the Museum of Discovery & Science and 3D IMAX Theater, Museum of Art, and the charming Himmarshee Village. Festivals and events round out the cultural calendar.

NATURAL

In Greater Fort Lauderdale, meeting attendees can get a close-up view of South Florida's fragile ecosystem, from the Everglades ("The River of Grass") to the beauty and wonder of the butterfly to sea turtles nesting on shore. At Billie Swamp Safari, experience the Everglades via airboat or swamp buggy. At Butterfly World, witness metamorphosis in living color as thousands of butterflies from around the world glide and soar amid lush botanicals.

'SPORT LAUDERDALE'

A mecca for the avid sportsperson, the area features endless holes of golf, miles of wilderness trails for hiking and biking, unsurpassed snorkeling, diving, and deep sea fishing, premier thoroughbred horse racing at Gulfstream Park, Florida Panthers hockey at the BankAtlantic Center, and interactive exhibits at the International Game Fish Association's Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum. Groups also favor Greater Fort Lauderdale for its premier guest accommodations. The following hotels rank among the area's top-tier properties:

HARBOR BEACH MARRIOTT RESORT & SPA

Tucked away on 16 acres of secluded oceanfront property in Fort Lauderdale, the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa offers the ultimate in casual elegance on South Florida's largest private beach. The $8 million oceanfront Spa at Harbor Beach is listed in "100 Best Spas of the World." Other features include 30,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, 20,000 square feet of ocean view terraces, a 200,000-square-foot private beach for special themed events, and 637 guest rooms including 35 deluxe suites.

LAGO MAR RESORT AND CLUB

At Lago Mar Resort and Club, meeting planners appreciate the mix of resort-club seclusion and urban convenience as much as leisure travelers do. Groups of up to 150 people can convene in the self-contained executive conference center, which comprises four conference rooms situated around a central lobby and 5,000 square foot of prefunction area. Zagat rates Lago Mar Resort and Club the No. 1 hotel resort in Fort Lauderdale, and AAA has given the property its Four Diamond Award.

SHERATON YANKEE TRADER HOTEL

The oceanfront Sheraton Yankee Trader Hotel combines more than 10,000 square feet of versatile meeting and banquet space with professional catering services, outstanding food and beverage options, and state-of-the-art audiovisual services and equipment to successfully accommodate business meetings and special events for up to 400 people. Most rooms offer stunning views of the ocean. For more intimate gatherings, the hotel's signature restaurant, Shula's On The Beach, features two private dining rooms that accommodate up to 50 people.

THE WESTIN DIPLOMAT RESORT & SPA

Boasting a beachfront location, The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa is South Florida's premier full-service resort with an adjacent state-of-the-art convention center that offers more than 200,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. As a member of Starwood's Convention Collection, the property features Westin's signature Meeting Concierge, a comprehensive IT department, and a business center. Additional on-site amenities include unique outdoor pools, championship golf, a spa, shopping, several dining and entertainment options, beach water sports, and a marina.

HOLLYWOOD BEACH MARRIOTT

The Hollywood Beach Marriott is located beachfront, on Hollywood's famous two-and-a-half-mile Oceanfront Boardwalk with cafes, restaurants, and entertainment. It lies mere minutes away from professional golf, sport fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, boat rentals, sunset cruises, and a Las Vegas-style casino cruise ship, as well as four miles from Gulfstream Park Racetrack, six miles from Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, and seven miles from Las Olas Boulevard, and the Broward County Convention Center. Facilities and services include direct access to the ocean, chairs, umbrellas, a full-service spa, a sun deck, a whirlpool spa, and an ocean-side dining room with an indoor/outdoor lounge.

HYATT REGENCY PIER SIXTY-SIX RESORT & SPA

An icon of the ever-growing Fort Lauderdale skyline since the 1950s, the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six Resort & Spa is a 22-acre vacation paradise that is home to Spa 66, the resort's celebrated European Health & Beauty Spa; a full-service, 127-slip marina; and the famed Pier Top, recently redesigned and reopened as a special occasion venue. With a multimillion-dollar renovation plan in place, the resort is convenient to the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, downtown Fort Lauderdale, and the beach.

FORT LAUDERDALE GRANDE HOTEL & YACHT CLUB

The Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel & Yacht Club melds modern luxury with easygoing style. Featuring 579 guest rooms and designer suites, the timeless waterfront hotel is home to a 33-slip marina, 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and a variety of dining, recreational, and entertainment options. Slated to undergo a significant enhancement program, the hotel is convenient to the downtown business district and the Broward County Convention Center and just minutes from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.

BAHIA MAR BEACH RESORT & YACHTING CENTER

With spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, the Bahia Mar Beach Resort & Yachting Center is a 44-acre waterfront resort set among miles of scenic canals and sun-splashed beaches. A jewel of hospitality in South Florida, the 579-room resort offers convenient access to the shops and entertainment of famed Las Olas Boulevard as well as oceanfront dining, expansive meeting space, water sports, and world-class golf. The resort also is convenient to the convention center and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.

All-Inclusive Properties Offer Perfect Meetings

Palace resorts, the company that set the standard in five-star, all-inclusive resort accommodations, offers 11 all-inclusive properties throughout Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Cozumel, Nuevo Vallarta, and Punta Cana that are perfect venues for your next destination meeting or event. As the leader in all-inclusive meetings in Mexico, Palace Resorts is home to the largest hotel conference facilities in the area and offers groups experienced conference service professionals who regularly manage complex Fortune 500 meetings with ease. Its line of all-inclusive meeting resorts have been specially designed to accommodate any size group.

• Aventura Spa Palace offers more than 1,200 guest rooms and the largest spa in the Riviera Maya, as well as Harmony Center, a 55,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art meeting facility that can accommodate groups up to 2,200.
• Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort provides 2,000-plus deluxe suite accommodations; 155,000 square feet of conference facilities; the only Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in Cancun; and the luxurious Moon Spa & Golf Club, which features a full-service spa.
• Moon Palace, Punta Cana, is scheduled to open in late 2007 with 1,700 all-suite accommodations, a world-class spa, casino, and a top-of-the-line convention center with more than 55,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.
• Le Blanc Spa Resort, Palace Resorts' first luxury brand property and one of the most relaxing and luxurious resorts in Cancun, offers elegantly appointed meeting rooms. Groups looking for an intimate setting for their next meeting need look no further then Palace Resorts' line of first-class boutique resorts.
• Playacar Palace, located steps from the famed 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen, the ferry to Cozumel, and the Playacar golf course, is ideal for events with fewer than 50 guests.
• Vallarta Palace, located in the heart of Nuevo Vallarta, is near world-class golf, countless shops, and a marina, and offers more than 3,600 square feet of flexible meeting space.
• Cancun Palace, in the heart of downtown Cancun, will re-open in December 2006 with a new convention center that will feature a 12,500-square-foot ballroom and 13 breakout rooms.
• Sun Palace, on the outskirts of Cancun's hotel zone, is scheduled to re-open in December 2006 as Cancun's first "couples-only" resort. The property's boutique spa, intimate atmosphere, and superb beach provide the ideal setting for a small meeting or incentive program.
• Beach Palace will officially re-open in December 2006 as a freshly rebuilt property complete with spa and conference facilities for up to 200 people.
• Cozumel Palace, located on the beautiful island of Cozumel, is a traveler's paradise offering world-class snorkeling and diving, eclectic shops, and a myriad of restaurants. While the property offers minimal meeting space, it is a great venue for pre- and post-events.
• Xpu-Ha Palace is the ultimate adventure for ecological and nature lovers. The resort's bungalow-style setting is a unique retreat for pre- and post-events.

Northeastern Region is the Place to Meet

Everyone knows that the Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania offer vacationers a great outdoor escape, but one of the best-kept secrets of the popular resort region is its meeting facilities. Whether you are planning a small meeting for 10, a sporting event, or a convention for 500 or more delegates, there is a meeting space in the Pocono Mountains to suit your needs.

According to Lisa Browning Mitchell, director of sales for the Pocono Mountains Convention & Visitors Bureau Inc., "Proximity, product, and price are what draw meeting planners to Pocono Mountains meeting facilities. Our location and infrastructure to and from major metropolitan areas, such as New York and Philadelphia, make the Pocono Mountains a convenient and central location for corporate meetings and outings."

The Pocono Mountains offers a wide range of diverse meeting facilities, from quaint country inns perfect for quiet executive retreats, to large resorts and conference facilities with state-of-the-art meeting rooms. Over the past year, many meeting properties have poured vast amounts of capital into their properties to compete in the new technological marketplace. High-speed access lines, wireless capabilities, webcasting, webconferencing, and the very best in technology ensure an uninterrupted flow of information. The Pocono Mountains Convention & Visitors Bureau Inc. has kept up the pace by offering its members an independent Quality Assurance Program, setting a standard of quality for accommodations, attractions, and participating businesses. A logo informs meeting planners that the participating location is "Quality Assured."

Value is a key advantage of the Pocono Mountains, with prices considerably lower than big-city alternatives. Groups can take advantage of special off-season meeting offers from late October through December, and April through June. Seasonal packages include skiing and snowboarding.

The region offers more than 35 magnificent golf courses; plenty of recreational opportunities at lakes, rivers, and indoor and outdoor water parks; a 2,000-seat country western showplace and restaurant; and a shopping outlet complex of more than 100 stores.

The Pocono Mountains region is easy to get to from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, via major interstates and is also served by several international airports. For more information on this extremely accessible and appealing destination, contact the Meetings and Convention Department of the Pocono Mountains Convention & Visitors Bureau Inc., the official destination marketing organization for the four counties of Carbon, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Celebrating Five Decades of Tradition

Gold is the color this year at The Sea Pines Resort. Opened in 1956 by developer Charles Fraser as the first eco-planned resort in the country, the classic South Carolina beach destination is celebrating five decades of welcoming meeting attendees and leisure travelers alike.

Situated at the southern tip of Hilton Head Island, The Sea Pines Resort offers a wealth of amenities to complement any association conference or convention. Awarded Golf Magazine's Silver Medal - a designation reserved for a handful of the "Best Golf Resorts in America" - The Sea Pines Resort affords guests golf privileges on three championship golf courses that encompass Lowcountry landscapes of lagoons and salt-riddled marshes. The Harbour Town Golf Links, an 18-hole, 6,973-yard course, serves as the resort's innovative masterpiece.

In addition to the Harbour Town Golf Links, The Sea Pines Resort serves as home to the Ocean Course, the first golf course on Hilton Head Island. Built in 1962, the course was re-designed by Mark McCumber in 1995 and exemplifies the use of classic and traditional principles of course design. A combination of lagoons, bunkers, and contouring creates a contemporary 6,906-yard course that has been named "Beginner Friendly" by the National Golf Course Owners Association.

A "Mini-Marsh" novice-friendly layout with a junior set of tees distinguishes the par-72 Sea Marsh Course, which is also "Beginner-Friendly" certified and designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. While the course is comparatively short, prevailing winds create challenges for golfers.

The Golf Academy of Hilton Head Island offers guests multimillion-dollar practice facilities, video swing analysis, putting greens, a chipping area, two teaching tees, driving ranges, and practice bunkers. A complete cadre of golf instruction ranges from three-hour clinics to four-day schools, with Class A PGA professionals providing instruction. For children, a junior golf program provides a fun introduction to the game with an emphasis on golf safety, etiquette, rules, and fundamentals.

In addition to golf, The Sea Pines Resort - one of the "World's Best Places to Stay" according to Condé Nast Traveler - also encompasses Lowcountry landscapes and five miles of Atlantic beaches. Delegates can play tennis on one of 23 clay courts, enjoy a 605-acre Forest Preserve, dine at 18 restaurants, or relax along more than 50 lagoons and lakes. Accommodations range from ocean-side villa retreats and the Four Diamond AAA-rated Inn at Harbour Town - a 2005 Condé Nast Traveler Gold List winner - to beachfront cottages and homes.

Three Unique Properties Create Mid-Atlantic's Premier Destination Resort With a History

What could be easier for meeting planners than deciding on Colonial Williamsburg Hotels? Colonial Williamsburg Hotels' collection of unique properties includes the Williamsburg Inn, which underwent an extensive restoration a few years ago to double the size of its rooms and now features 62 guest rooms plus 7,000 square feet of function space; the mid-priced Woodlands Hotel & Suites, with 300 rooms and 14,000 square feet of function space; and the Williamsburg Lodge - complete with an expert team ready to help organize and plan events in an easy-to-reach, historic setting. Whether your group is plotting to revolutionize the industry or holding its annual meeting, Colonial Williamsburg's facilities offer an atmosphere sure to inspire great ideas. After all, this town inspired a nation!

Colonial Williamsburg eagerly anticipates the reopening of the Williamsburg Lodge with its new conference facility this September and the opening of the spa in late 2006. These improvements will allow Colonial Williamsburg to take its place as the mid-Atlantic's premier destination resort and meeting experience.

Meeting planners and attendees who have recently visited Colonial Williamsburg's hotels have marveled at the Lodge's overall transformation. The changes are not purely cosmetic; they were made to give meeting planners as much flexibility as possible in hosting a variety of events. Improvements include a restored lobby; a new 200-seat restaurant; four new guesthouses; and extensive renovations to the South Hall and Tazewell Hall, for a total sleeping room count of 323 spacious guest rooms. The new 45,000-square-foot conference center features 31 versatile function rooms and two ballrooms of 12,000 and 7,000 square feet.

Ever have a speaker who arrives just in time for their engagement and in need of freshening up? One of the unique touches of the new conference center is the comfortable Green Room, which has a private bathroom, complete with a shower. The new center gives the lodge 60 percent more function space and twice as many breakout rooms as the previous facility. In addition, a 25,000-square-foot luxury spa, located between the elegant Williamsburg Inn and the Williamsburg Lodge, is set for a late 2006 debut. The three-level building will feature indoor and outdoor heated pools; 12 treatment rooms (including a couples suite with deep soaking tub); a hydro room with a Vichy shower; a fitness center with a spring-loaded floor in the group studio, as well as personal TV units at each stationary workout station; a full-service salon with manicure and pedicure stations; men's and women's locker rooms with steam and whirlpools; quiet areas; and a retail shop. The spa's unique, signature treatments will be based on the continuum of wellness drawn from research of the best practices from the past five centuries. One of the world's best known spa designers, Sylvia Sepielli, has been hard at work to ensure this will be one of the country's most unique spa experiences.

This caps more than $150 million in improvements of Colonial Williamsburg's hotel and resort properties. The three hotels will offer a total of 66,000 square feet of conference space. The layout is very convenient to all of Colonial Williamsburg's offerings: Everything is within walking distance, or attendees can jump on the complimentary shuttle that runs throughout the Historic Area and Colonial Williamsburg Hotels.

What's more, members of groups convening in Colonial Williamsburg Hotels will never be at a loss for post-meeting activities. Golfers will appreciate the 45 holes of championship golf at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club. The par-71 Gold Course, a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design, is named a GOLF Magazine Gold Medal Resort and a Golf Digest's 41/2 Stars for "Places to Play." The number 16 green is one of the very first island greens in the country; this, along with number 17, has appeared in GOLF Magazine's top 500 Holes in the World. Jones' son Rees created the Green Course, a links-style layout carved through the forest. This course has hosted more USGA events than any other course in Virginia. The nine-hole executive course, Spotswood, is popular with families and novice golfers.

Other options for relaxation include two additional outdoor swimming pools, eight tennis courts, lawn bowling, croquet, volleyball, horseshoes, shuffleboard, extensive nature trails, bicycling routes, and miniature golf. Dining options include nine restaurants, including four historic dining taverns. The Kings Arms Tavern was a favorite among the founding fathers and George Washington's favorite was Christiana Campbell's. The Williamsburg Inn is home to the Four Diamond AAA-rated Regency Room; for something more relaxing and casual, there's Huzzah at the Woodlands Hotels and Suites, or one of the two clubhouses. Shopping is plentiful in the trades' shops in Colonial Williamsburg's renowned 301-acre Historic Area - the nation's largest living history museum - as well as in the gift shops in each of the hotels. Discover the 40 Shops of Colonial Williamsburg and the adjacent Merchants Square, a wonderful collection of unique and national retailers in a setting along brick sidewalks between the Historic Area and the College of William and Mary, the country's second oldest college.

Colonial Williamsburg Hotels offer meeting planners flexibility in making housing decisions. Groups can have a tiered price structure within varying room blocks by accommodating guests at the Lodge, the Inn, and the Woodlands. When all the work is complete, Colonial Williamsburg will offer a total of 1,070 guest rooms and suites. The facilities will be able to comfortably host all types of group events, from small board meetings to incentive groups looking for a different and unique location, to conventions for up to 1,300 attendees.

Topping it all off, Williamsburg is an easy, 150-mile drive from Washington, D.C., midway between Richmond and Norfolk on I-64. Air accessibility is better than ever. Planners and delegates can choose from among three international airports - Newport News/Williamsburg is the closest, only 20 minutes away and has 31 direct non-stop flights daily from Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Orlando. Richmond and Norfolk are both 45 minutes away and have 25 and 22 direct non-stop flights, respectively.