U.S. Birthplace
Anniversary Celebration Yields New, Enhanced Off-site Venues

This year's commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, Va. - the first permanent English settlement in North America and the birthplace of America - has led to the establishment of two new world-class facilities in that area, as well as the enhancement of two others. 

Topping the list of new venues is the Archaerium, which opened in May of 2006 at Historic Jamestowne, the actual site of the settlement. Developed by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA Preservation Virginia), the $4.9 million facility showcases the findings of recent archaeological discoveries made at Jamestown. Exhibits focus on the Virginia Company period, delving into relationships between the first English settlers and the Virginia Indians; as well as into the settlers' endeavors, struggles, lives, deaths, and moves to shape a new society. Visitors can discover how archaeologists found the original 1670 James Fort in the mid-1990s and encounter displays of arms and armor, medical instruments, personal objects, ceramics, tools, coins, trade items, musical instruments, games, amusements, and food remains. Interactive virtual viewers overlooking the site transport guests back in time, showing them where objects were recovered and what the fort looked like 400 years ago. The viewers also include videos showing the remains of buildings, wells, and artifacts, as they were unearthed. The Archaerium and the archaeological research are the APVA Preservation Virginia's signature contributions to Jamestown's 400th anniversary. The facility is also the centerpiece of $63 million of investments by the association and the National Park Service in other new features of Historic Jamestowne, including a riverside restaurant, enhanced visitor transportation opportunities and outdoor exhibits, as well as the Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center.

The Visitor Center offers an overview of Jamestown's 92-year history as the first capital of Virginia through exhibits and a multimedia presentation. Exhibits centering on the landscape relate its archaeological features to the people and events that took place at this national landmark. A prominent feature is the actual archaeological remains of the original James Fort, which since its discovery has yielded more than one million artifacts that have helped historians to better understand the early years of the colony and how the colonists, African Americans, and Virginia Indians lived, worked, and interacted.

Meanwhile, Jamestown Settlement, a living museum that focuses on the story of Jamestown's founding, houses new exhibits chronicling the nation's 17th-century beginnings in Virginia in the context of its Powhatan Indian, English, and African cultures. More than 500 artifacts are integrated into a 30,000-square-foot gallery that features three-dimensional life-size structures, audio and lighting effects, and small-theater presentations. Significant enhancements have been made to Jamestown Settlement's recreated 17th-century Powhatan Indian village, English ships, and colonial fort. The theme of the Powhatan Indian, English, and African cultures is reflected in a recently developed riverfront discovery area.

At the Yorktown Victory Center, located in the town where the decisive battle of the American Revolution took place in 1781, a new long-term exhibition, "The Legacy of Yorktown: Virginia Beckons," tells the story of people who have shaped Virginia society, from the Powhatan Indians to Europeans and Africans who began arriving in the 1600s. 

Virginia: Rich in History and Beauty, a Natural for Meetings 

HAMPTON 
Convention Center Lies in Center of It All

THE HAMPTON ROADS CONVENTION CENTER is an impressive convention site. With 35 flexible meeting spaces, the 344,000-square-foot facility accommodates groups from 10 to 14,000. Its 108,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall is divisible by three. A 28,000-square-foot grand ballroom accommodates up to 2,000 people for banquets, and a 7,000-square-foot conference center provides an intimate meeting space. A second-floor outdoor terrace is ideal for luncheons and receptions.

A 295-suite headquarters hotel connects to the convention center by covered walkway. More than 2,500 hotel rooms are within immediate proximity. An additional convention hotel is planned on site and, nearby, a Hilton Garden Inn and a Spring Hill Suites are under construction. New shopping, dining, and entertainment venues will open soon at the Peninsula Town Center, and the Virginia Air & Space Center, harbor tours, African American heritage sites are nearby.

For More Information: Contact Lacy Gibson, director of sales, Hampton Convention & Visitors Bureau, 1919 Commerce Drive, Suite 290, Hampton, VA 23666; Phone: (757) 722-1222 or (800) 487-8778; E-mail: lgibson@hamptoncvb.com; Web site: www.visithampton.com. 

NEWPORT NEWS
City Offers Abundance of Remarkable Choices

Remarkable meetings deserve remarkable venues! Whether it is a unique location for your icebreaker or a full-service hotel that can handle all the details, Newport News has a wide variety of memorable choices for association meetings.

Your meetings can take a walk on the wild side at the Virginia Living Museum, where a rooftop observatory and an outdoor nature trail make great locations for icebreakers. Or sail through your next meeting with ease at The Mariners' Museum, America's National Maritime Museum, where you can dine overlooking beautiful Lake Maury and walk the deck of a full-scale replica of the USS Monitor, one of the most famous ships in the world.

Remarkable meeting space is also available at many other Newport News venues, including the Ferguson Center for the Arts, Kiln Creek Golf Club & Resort, and the Newport News Golf Club at Deer Run. All offer complete meeting facilities and are great locations for icebreakers and after-hours gatherings.

If you are looking for a more traditional meeting venue, Newport News has five full-service meeting/ conference facilities: Newport News Marriott at City Center Hotel and Conference Center (256 rooms, 1,010 banquet capacity); Omni Newport News Hotel (182 rooms, 450 banquet capacity); Point Plaza Suites at City Center (150 rooms, 380 banquet capacity); Ramada Inn & Suites (159 rooms, 300 banquet capacity); and Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites (122 rooms, 40 banquet capacity). All are conveniently located near I-64 and only a short walk or quick taxi ride from numerous restaurants and retailers and most Newport News attractions.

Once business is complete, there's plenty to keep attendees occupied, including performances at the Ferguson Center for the Arts, the Peninsula Community Theatre, and the Yoder Barn Theatre, plus live entertainment at numerous restaurants and clubs.

Easy access is provided by the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport and nearby Norfolk International Airport, with daily flights from all major U.S. cities. Amtrak has daily direct service from Washington, D.C., with connecting service from major cities.

For More Information: Contact Cheryl Morales, group marketing manager, Newport News Tourism Development Office, 700 Town Center Drive, Suite 320, Newport News, VA 23606; Phone: (757) 926-1428; Fax: (757) 926-1441; E-mail: cmorales@nngov.com; Web site: www.newport-news.org.   

NORFOLK
Wealth of Facilities Allow for Smooth-Sailing Events

DOWNTOWN NORFOLK BOASTS HOTELS, convention facilities, shopping, attractions, and a restaurant and theater district nearly unrivaled in the region. Nestled along the downtown waterfront and united by covered walkways, the Waterside Convention Connection offers more than 1,000 first-class rooms and suites, 55 meeting rooms, and 121,000 square feet of convention space. Blocks away, the Norfolk Scope Arena offers an additional 85,000 square feet of meeting space. Arriving this spring is a $36 million Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center, boasting a grand rotunda, 13,000 square feet of outdoor deck space and the latest audiovisual technology. For more unusual venues, host a party onboard the USS Wisconsin, arrange an event at the picturesque Norfolk Botanical Garden, inside the Tiffany Glass exhibit at the nationally acclaimed Chrysler Museum of Art, or at one of several historic theaters.

With more than 200 flights arriving daily at Norfolk International Airport, and a day's drive from two-thirds of the U.S. population, Norfolk is a central location by air or auto.

For a smooth sailing event, contact the Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau. Visit its Web site at www.norfolkcvb.com or call (800) 368-3097. 

VIRGINIA BEACH  
Emerges as Premier Meeting Destination

IN JANUARY 2007, THIS RESORT CITY CELEBRATED the completion of the new $202.5 million Virginia Beach Convention Center. This 500,000-square-foot facility features a 31,029-square-foot ballroom with LED lighting; a 150,000-square-foot, column-free exhibit hall; 28,929 square feet of meeting space; and wired and wireless technology. There are nearly 11,000 hotel rooms citywide and 3,500 committable rooms within a two-mile radius of the new center. A full-service, 10-floor Westin Hotel at Town Center will open in the fall of 2007, offering 234 rooms and10,000 square feet of meeting space.

Attendees can tee up on one of the award-winning golf courses or charter a boat for offshore fishing, embark on a kayaking or hiking adventure, or marvel at dolphins or whales on a boat trip.

Virginia Beach is located 20 minutes from Norfolk International Airport, which hosts most major airline carriers and offers 200 flights daily. With its rich blend of time-honored Southern hospitality and cost-efficient value, Virginia Beach is an ideal meeting destination.

For More Information: Visit www.vbmeetings.com or www.vbfun.com.