Charlotte

You may have heard of Charlotte recently: It may have been the announcement the city will house the future NASCAR Hall of Fame, or the fact that we are known for the arts with the Levine Museum of the New South, the respected Mint Museum of Art, and its sister venue, the Mint Museum of Craft + Design. Or you may have heard of our award-winning restaurants, hotels, and shopping venues. Whatever the case, we encourage you to find out why Charlotte is truly one of the best-kept secrets anywhere - although the word is out about the award-winning Charlotte Convention Center. Designed with the input of meeting planners across the country and renowned for the use of light, space, glass, and air as the very framework of its design, the facility offers 280,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, divisible into four halls; as well as 20 covered loading docks with direct drive-in access to exhibit halls; and a 35,000-square-foot ballroom with seating for 4,200 delegates theater-style, 1,800 banquet-style, or 1,748 classroom-style. Other features include 15,000 square feet of versatile prefunction space for meeting registration, receptions, and other activities taking place in conjunction with ballroom events; more than 90,000 square feet of flexible meeting space (46 meeting rooms); and a full-service, in-house catering department equipped to serve 6,000-plus guests at one time. Special amenities include 43,000 square feet of registration space; a business center for computer access, copying, faxing, and business supplies; a visitor information center; and a preferred in-house AV provider with a complete inventory of equipment and professional technicians.

At a Glance Visit Charlotte:

Convention & Visitors Bureau
500 S. College St., Suite 300 Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: (800) 722-1994 Fax: (704) 331-2758
Web site: www.visitcharlotte.com

CONVENTION FACILITIES

Charlotte Convention Center
Total Event Space: 850,000 sq. ft.
Total Exhibit Space: 280,000 sq. ft. (divisible into four halls)
Ballroom: 35,000 sq. ft.
Total Meeting Space: 90,000 sq. ft.
Maximum Number of Breakout Rooms: 46
Registration/Prefunction Space: 43,000 sq. ft.
Number of Hotel Rooms Within Walking Distance: More than 3,700

ADDITIONAL MEETING FACILITIES

• Ovens Auditorium
• Charlotte Merchandise Mart
• Lowe's Motor Speedway
• Bank of America Stadium
• Charlotte Bobcats Arena

HOTELS

Number of Properties: 276 (Charlotte MSA)
Largest: • The Westin Charlotte (700 rooms)
• Charlotte Marriott City Center (434 rooms)
• Hilton Charlotte Center City (407 rooms)
• Omni (374 rooms)

ATTRACTIONS

• North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
• Concord Mills retail outlet mall (No. 1 tourist attraction in North Carolina)
• Lowe's Motor Speedway
• Afro-American Cultural Center
• Paramount's Carowinds
• Mint Museum of Art and Mint Museum of Craft + Design
• Levine Museum of the New South
• Discovery Place
• 46 Public Golf Courses

AIR TRANSPORTATION

Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (15 minutes from the Charlotte Convention Center) facilitates more than 580 daily departures to 123 cities including 27 international destinations. US Airways' hub offers nonstop service to Mexico City and other Latin American nations, while Lufthansa provides nonstop service to its hub in Munich. Major airlines serving Charlotte include American Airlines, ATA, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, and Lufthansa German Airlines, and Independence Air. JetBlue Airways is the airport's newest tenant.

Daytona Beach

Best known for its 23 miles of sparkling beaches, the Daytona Beach area has also become well known for its growing inventory of quality accommodations and meeting facilities. Leading Daytona Beach's transformation into a preferred meeting destination is the $63 million expansion of the Ocean Center Convention Complex, which will nearly triple the facility's size, adding 100,000 square feet of exhibit space and 30,000 square feet of meeting space. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2008, with conventions continuing uninterrupted throughout the remodeling period. Meanwhile, the world-famous Daytona International Speedway has unveiled its multimillion-dollar infield redesign, which features more than 230,000 square feet of new meeting space, and the $29 million News-Journal Center, a scenic riverfront venue, has opened in the city's downtown district. The News-Journal Center features an 850-seat traditional proscenium theater with an orchestra pit, as well as a 260-seat studio theater and conference rooms. Other new or recently refurbished meeting facilities in the Daytona Beach area include the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center and Peabody Auditorium. Several hotels have recently joined the area's roster or undergone multimillion-dollar refurbishment projects. November 2005 marked the debut of The Shores Resort & Spa, where rooms were furnished at a cost of more than $146,000 apiece as well as more than 17,000 square feet of meeting space. The Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort recently underwent a $20 million refurbishment program. Finally, two new hotels - Homewood Suites and Residence Inn - opened in February on Daytona Beach's mainland close to Daytona International Speedway.

At a Glance

Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Sally Gardiner, Director of Convention Sales, or Jennifer Coto, Senior Sales Manager
126 E. Orange Ave. Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Phone: (800) 544-0415 or (386) 255-0415
Web site: www.daytonabeachcvb.org
E-mail: sgardiner@daytonabeachcvb.org or jcoto@daytonabeachcvb.org

CONVENTION FACILITIES

• Ocean Center Convention Complex
• Total Event Space: 225,000 sq. ft.
• Conference Center: 14,000 gross sq. ft.
• Arena: 46,000 gross sq. ft.
• Maximum Number of Breakout Rooms: 16, plus 1 board room and 1 VIP room
• Assembly Seating Capacity: 10,000
• Concert Seating Capacity: 9,440
• Banquet Seating Capacity: 2,000

Additional Meeting Facilities

• Daytona International Speedway
• News-Journal Center
• Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center
• Peabody Auditorium

HOTELS

Number of Properties: More than 200
Number of Rooms: More than 12,000 area-wide
Largest: • Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort (742 rooms)
• The Plaza Resort & Spa (332 rooms)
• Daytona Beach Resort & Conference Center (305 rooms)
• Ocean Walk Resort (245 rooms)
• La Playa Resort (233 rooms)
• The Shores Resort & Spa (212 rooms)

ATTRACTIONS

• 23 miles of beaches
• DAYTONA USA/Daytona International Speedway
• Championship Golf Courses including LPGA International
• The Florida Tennis Center
• Daytona Lagoon Waterpark
• Museum of Arts & Sciences
• Daytona Beach TrolleyBoats
• River Queen II
•Seaside Music Theater
• Southeast Museum of Photography

AIR TRANSPORTATION AND ACCESSIBILTY

Conveniently located in Central East Florida, the Daytona Beach area is easy to reach via Interstate 95 and Interstate 4. Direct flights to Daytona Beach International Airport from Atlanta, Newark, and Washington D.C. are now available via Delta, Continental, and United Air Lines.

Memphis

Perched high on a bluff overlooking the slow rolling Mississippi, Memphis marches to the beat of the Blues, of Stax-era soul, of the countless neighborhood barbecue shacks and the King's own Graceland. It's a city that spills up from the soil and lingers on the melancholy mojo of the best guitar you've ever heard. With a multibillion-dollar downtown renaissance and a $92 million convention center expansion and renovation project, Memphis is more than just a place to visit; it's the perfect place to meet. In fact, no other convention center in the country offers an in-house performing arts center that connects to its exhibit space. But that's just the beginning. There are 50 one-of-a-kind attractions, such as historic Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, Sun Studio, Smithsonian's Rock 'n' Soul Museum, Elvis Presley's Graceland, and the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, not to mention a wide array of dining options, including down-home authentic Southern fare (think ribs and barbecue) to upscale eclectic cuisine. Great climate, friendly people, Southern ambiance, and a convenient location … the list goes on. Memphis is committed to serving all the business needs of convention and meeting planners with a convenient and affordable package. From music landmarks to restaurants, from the elegant hotels to the mystical nightclubs, there's just something real about Memphis, an irresistible soul that's drawn people here for more than a century.

At a Glance

Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau
47 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 543-5300 Fax: (901) 543-5350
Web site: www.memphistravel.com

CONVENTION FACILITIES

Memphis Cook Convention Center
Total Event Space: 350,000 sq. ft.
Exhibit Space: 188,000 sq. ft.
Largest Contiguous Space: Main Exhibit Hall, at 125,000 sq. ft.
Ballroom: 28,000 sq. ft.
Total Meeting Space: 74,000 sq. ft.
Maximum Breakout Rooms: 31
Hotel Rooms Within Walking Distance of Convention Center: More than 2,500
Hotel Rooms Adjacent to Convention Center: 830

ADDITIONAL MEETING FACILITIES
• FedExForum
• Agricenter International
• Mid-South Coliseum
• Hilton Memphis
• Marriott East
• The Peabody Hotel
• Holiday Inn Select Airport

HOTELS

Properties: 220
Rooms: More than 21,000 citywide
Largest: • Marriott Downtown (600 rooms)
• The Peabody Hotel (478 rooms)
• Hilton Memphis (405 rooms)
• Holiday Inn Select Airport (380 rooms)
• Memphis Marriott East (320 rooms)
• Doubletree Downtown (280 rooms)
• Doubletree Hotel (266 rooms)

ATTRACTIONS

• Beale Street
• National Civil Rights Museum
• Graceland
• Smithsonian's Rock 'n' Soul Museum
• Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
• Sun Studio
• Gibson Guitar Factory
• Stax Museum of American Soul Music
• Children's Museum of Memphis
• Memphis Grizzlies NBA
• Memphis Redbirds (triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals)
• Memphis Zoo (featuring pandas and polar bears)

AIR TRANSPORTATION

Memphis International Airport is just 15 minutes from downtown Memphis. Ten passenger airlines serve the airport. Carriers include Northwest Airlines, Northwest Airlink/Pinnacle Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (with daily nonstop trans-Atlantic service to Amsterdam and convenient connections to and from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East), American Airlines, AirTran Airways, ConAir, Continental Express, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, and US Airways.

Myrtle Beach

Break with convention in a city with all the ingredients for successful events. Book your next convention at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, an incredible convention facility in a city that offers endless opportunities for fun when the convention is over. Sometimes it seems planners follow some pretty crazy rules, such as, "Heads hit the pillows by 10 p.m." Not at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, where delegates need not settle for an early curfew when world-class restaurants and entertainment venues are open and just minutes away. This state-of-the art facility is large enough to accommodate more than 80 percent of all conventions and trade shows held in the United States. Break with attendees squeezed into small meeting spaces: Why accept limited meeting space and columned exhibit halls? The Myrtle Beach Convention Center boasts 250,000 square feet of flexible event space. The 100,800-square-foot, column-free exhibit hall is divisible into three sections; our elegant 17,000-square-foot ballroom can comfortably seat more than 1,700 people. Twenty functional meeting rooms accommodate breakout sessions for up to 200 people theater-style. A 30,000-square-foot Events Plaza landscape is a unique space for receptions, oyster roasts, barbecues, and other outdoor activities. Convention center security monitors and staff keeps our facility safe 24 hours a day. Modern meeting-goers also enjoy other features, including wireless Internet access, electricity, cable, telecommunications, and water every 30 feet throughout our exhibit halls. Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines can be provided on request in select areas. The Myrtle Beach Convention Center is the official Southeastern site for videoconferencing needs, both nationally and internationally. South Carolina is a right-to-work state, eliminating the need for a lot of unnecessary rules and expenses. At the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, we only have one rule: Host great meetings. And we do!

At a Glance

Myrtle Beach Convention Center
2101 North Oak Street Myrtle Beach, SC 29578
Phone: (843) 918-1225 Toll Free: (800) 537-1690 Fax: (843) 918-1243
Web site: www.myrtlebeachconvention center.com

MEETING & CONVENTION SPACE

Total Event Space: 250,000 sq. ft.
Exhibit Space: 100,800 sq. ft. (column free and divisible into three halls)
Exhibit Booth Capacity: 520
Arena Capacity: 10,000 people
Exhibit Hall Meeting Capacity: 8,000 people
Exhibit Hall Banquet Capacity: 6,000 people
Ballroom: 16,890 sq. ft.
Maximum Event Capacity, Theater-Style: 1,728 people
Maximum Banquet Capacity: 1,350 people
Maximum Number of Breakout Rooms: 22

ON-SITE HOTEL

Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel
Total Guest Rooms: 402 luxurious guest rooms
Suites: 3

ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS

• Terrific shopping
• Sparkling entertainment
• Championship golf courses
• Fine and Low Country cuisine

ACCESSIBILITY

The Myrtle Beach Convention Center is located only three miles from the Myrtle Beach International Airport, which is served by US Airways, ASA/Delta/Comair, Continental, Northwest, Spirit, and United Express. Our city offers great accessibility by Interstate highways as well. Both air and land travel will ensure your guests arrive ready to enjoy all this great destination offers.

Norfolk

Meet steps from the sparkling Elizabeth River and discover the charm that is Norfolk, Va. This Southern seaport, perhaps best known as home to the world's largest naval base, is making waves on the meetings front. Centrally located in the heart of the mid-Atlantic, Norfolk offers groups more than 5,200 hotel rooms and state-of-the art meeting venues, all within a short travel distance of three international airports and major East Coast cities. Downtown Norfolk has been transformed into a compact meetings and conventions destination. Within 10 downtown city blocks, you will find more than 1,200 committable hotel rooms, and 206,000 square feet of meeting space - all a short walk to trendy restaurants, arts districts, museums, patriotic attractions, and shopping. The Waterside Convention Connection - a collection of hotels, convention and retail space - is perfectly suited to host groups from 10 to 1,000. For truly memorable events, consider one of Norfolk's unique venues. Set sail aboard a top sail schooner or host a party onboard the largest battleship ever built, the USS Wisconsin. Arrange an event at the picturesque Norfolk Botanical Garden or inside the Tiffany Glass exhibit at the nationally acclaimed Chrysler Museum of Art. Norfolk meets business with pleasure! Those with a little free time can explore the city's historic neighborhoods, complete with cobblestone streets, historic homes, and walking tours throughout the 400-year-old city. Let groups or spouses enjoy theater performances, live concerts, art and cooking classes, or a day of antiquing. Make sure your event is smooth sailing by contacting the Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau.

At a Glance

Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau
232 East Main Street Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: (800) 368-3097 or (757) 664-6620 Fax: (757) 622-3663
Web site: www.norfolkcvb.com

Convention Facilities

Norfolk Waterside Marriott
Total Event Space: 60,000 sq. ft.
Exhibit Space: 60,000 sq. ft.
Largest Space: 14,400 sq. ft.
Largest Ballroom: 14,400 sq. ft.
Total Meeting Space: 60,000 sq. ft.
Maximum Breakout Rooms: 22
Hotel Rooms: 405

Norfolk Scope
Total Event Space: 86,000 sq. ft.
Exhibit Space: 58,430 sq. ft.
Largest Space: 58,430 sq. ft.
Largest Ballroom: 25,000 sq. ft.
Total Meeting Space: 86,000 sq. ft.
Maximum Breakout Rooms: 10
Hotel Rooms Nearby: 1,000+

Additional Meeting Facilities

• Doubletree Hotel Norfolk Airport
• Hilton Norfolk Airport
• Courtyard by Marriott Norfolk Downtown
• Ted Constant Convocation Center
• Nauticus at the National Maritime Center
• Chrysler Museum of Art • Chrysler Hall
• Harrison Opera House
• The Attucks Theater

HOTELS

Number of Properties: 38
Number of Rooms: 5,200 citywide
• Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel (445 rooms)
• Norfolk Waterside Marriott (405 rooms)
• Radisson Hotel Norfolk (340 rooms)
• Norfolk Airport Hilton (249 rooms)
• Doubletree Hotel Norfolk (199 rooms)
• Courtyard by Marriott Norfolk Downtown (140 rooms)

ATTRACTIONS

• Chrysler Museum of Art
• Norfolk Botanical Garden
• Art and Theater District
• Naval Station Norfolk

AIR TRANSPORTATION

Carriers offering flights to and from Norfolk International Airport (ORF) include American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Southwest, United Express, and US Airways.

Richmond

The Richmond Region, along with the Commonwealth of Virginia, will be commemorating America's founding during 2007. Four hundred years ago, Captain John Smith made his way up the James River to Richmond, days after landing at Jamestown. Today, the region has developed into a major metropolitan area and is home to eight Fortune 500 companies. Historic buildings and world-class museums nestle next to new structures designed to harmonize with the past, even as they define the future. A new federal courts building is nearing completion; the State Capitol is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation; and a new visitor center, new hotels and new attractions will be opening in the near future. Located at the intersection of Interstates 95 and 64, the Richmond Region is within a day's drive of half the U.S. population. The Richmond International Airport, only minutes from downtown, offers daily flights with service from most major airlines. There are two train stations in the region - the historic Main Street Station in the downtown and the Staples Mill Station, which is west of town. 

At a Glance

Richmond Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau
401 North 3rd Street Richmond, VA 23219
Cleo Battle, VP of Convention Sales and Services
Phone: (804) 783-7404 or (800) 370-9004
E-mail: cbattle@richmondva.org
Web site: www.visit.richmond.com

CONVENTION FACILITIES

Greater Richmond Convention Center
Year Opened: 2003
Total Space: 640,000 square feet
Total Exhibit Space: 180,000 sq. ft. (contiguous), accommodating up to 900 exhibitors
Total Meeting Space: 80,000 sq. ft., including ballroom
Total Meeting Rooms: 34
Ballroom: 29,000 sq. ft (largest in Virginia; seats 2,500 people banquet-style)
Other Amenities: Cyber Café with Internet access, 500-space attached parking garage, business center

 Additional Meeting Facilities
• Richmond Coliseum
• Richmond Raceway Complex
• The Renaissance Conference Center
• Siegel Center

HOTELS

Number of properties: 129
Number of rooms: More than 16,000
Largest:

• Richmond Marriott (402 rooms)
• Sheraton Richmond West (372 rooms)
• Omni (353 rooms)
• Crowne Plaza River District (298 rooms)
• Crowne Plaza Richmond West (282 rooms)

ATTRACTIONS

The Richmond Region is rich in museums and historic sites, and in 2007 will participate in the commemoration of the founding of Jamestown. The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar opens in 2006, and more recently the Center for Architecture opened its doors on historic Monument Avenue. The Region also offers gardens, historic homes, and the natural resource of the James River. Listed are only a handful of the gems you'll find in the Historic Richmond Region.
• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
• Museum & White House of the Confederacy
• Virginia Historical Society and Museum
• Maymont
• Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
• Black History Museum
• St. John's Church

AIR TRANSPORTATION

The Richmond International Airport, only minutes from downtown, currently has eight air carriers with nonstop flights to 22 destinations and connecting flights to destinations worldwide. The recent addition of AirTran and Jet Blue offer low fares for business travelers, as well as meeting attendees. Current and future additions include additional air carrier gates, new roadways, and a new addition to the existing terminal building, making it one of the most convenient airports on the East Coast. 

Greater Wilmington, DE

Nestled in the heart of the mid-Atlan- tic, midway between New York and Washington, D.C., along the I-95 corridor and only 30 minutes from center city Philadelphia, Delaware's Greater Wilmington and Brandywine Valley area offers unparalleled variety to experience, tax-free. Easily accessible from I-95, the New Jersey Turnpike, Amtrak (70 trains daily) and the Philadelphia International Airport (20 minutes), Greater Wilmington boasts more than 6,000 guest rooms and 300 meeting rooms. In addition to enjoying world-famous museums and attractions, theaters, four-star restaurants, and tax-free shopping, attendees can stroll along the 1.2-mile picturesque Riverwalk or ride a water taxi to outlet stores, nightclubs, and restaurants. Wilmington offers the convenience of big city amenities, delivered with hometown charm. In conjunction with Wilmington's Riverfront revitalization, the Chase Center on the Riverfront's $7 million dollar renovation resulted in the addition of a 31,900-square-foot exhibit hall and lobby, 266-seat auditorium, and an additional 5,200-square-foot ballroom. This makes it the largest meeting venue in the area, with 87,000 square feet of meeting space accommodating up to 2,100 attendees. Equally impressive is the completion of the Delaware Art Museum's $31 million makeover, adding significant space specifically designed for hosting larger national and international traveling exhibitions and meetings. The Brandywine River Museum, Delaware Museum of Natural History, and Rockwood Mansion have also completed recent renovations and are distinctive venues to consider for a unique setting. Eighty-two annual events and festivals embrace the area's diversity, including the August Quarterly, the nation's oldest black festival circa 1814; Day in Old New Castle, the nation's oldest Home and Garden tour circa 1910; and Greek, Italian, Polish, and Jazz festivals. To unlock all that this tax-free destination has to offer, just contact the Greater Wilmington, DE CVB, which holds the key.

At a Glance

Greater Wilmington, DE Convention & Visitors Bureau
Esther Lovlie Director of Meeting Sales
100 W. 10th Street - Suite 20 Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (800) 489-6664
E-mail: elovlie@wilmcvb.org
Web site: www.VisitWilmingtonDE.com

CONVENTION FACILITIES

Chase Center on the Riverfront Convention Center
Total Event Space: 87,000 versatile sq. ft.
Exhibit Space: 40,000 sq. ft. (22,000 sq. ft. column-free)
Largest Ballroom: 12,800 sq. ft.
Prefunction Space: 11,000 - 21,000 sq. ft.
Meeting Space: 11,000 sq. ft.
Meeting Rooms: 10-13 rooms
Hotels Number of Properties: 38
Number of Downtown Guest Rooms: 831
Total number of guest rooms within 5-20 mile radius of the Convention Center: 5,000
Downtown Properties:
• Brandywine Suites (49 suites)
• Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Wilmington (126 rooms)
• Doubletree Downtown Wilmington (217 rooms)
• Hotel du Pont (216 rooms)
• Sheraton Suites Wilmington (223 suites)

Attractions:
• Amstel House
• Bob Carpenter Center
• Brandywine River Museum
• Chaddsford Winery
• Delaware Art Museum
• Longwood Gardens
• Mid-Atlantic Grand Prix
• New Castle Court House Museum
• Winterthur Museum and Country Estate

Transportation

Easily accessible from I-95, the New Jersey Turnpike, Amtrak (70 trains daily), and only 20 minutes from the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). PHL has 30 airlines that provide 700 daily departures to more than 120 cities, including 52 daily nonstop flights to 31 international destinations. Delta services our local airport, New Castle County Airport (ILG), with two nonstop flights daily to Atlanta - Delta's largest hub.