ConventionSouth Magazine - January 2015 by Marlane White

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Married To The South For 30 Years & Still In Love. VOLUME 31 â&#x20AC;¢ NUMBER 6

JANUARY 2015

pg. 10

Marketing To Millennials

putting it in

perspective Welcome 2015! It’s a new year and is poised to be an exciting one as the meetings and hospitality industries are in great shape. What’s more, the price of gasoline is under $2.50 a gallon in most areas of the country! This will surely help “fuel” the meetings industry even more as attendees will be able to save at the pump when traveling to events. And, with the low fuel prices, drive-in meetings destinations make a smart choice when selecting a site. In this issue, you’ll find our guide to some of the South’s top drive in destinations and meetings sites. Along with their convenient locations and accessibility via Interstates and Highways, these sites are especially known for their ability to host meetings. Furthermore, the South as a whole is a fantastic drive-to region as there is less inclement weather during the colder months. With that point made, let me segue to another feature article in this issue: Cool Spots for Summer Meetings. Since parts of the South are known to be hot during the summer, we wanted to know where the best “cool” spots were. So we pinpointed about 50 destinations from Maryland across to Missouri that are located in higher elevations and therefore have a more temperate summer climate. These cool spots were then placed on an his year, I celebrate my 10th year online ballot located on ConventionSouth’s Facewith ConventionSouth Media Group. book page where readers and fans could vote for their top picks. You’ll find the surprising results of this fun competition on page 12.

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Marlane Andrea Bundock is the associate publisher and editor of ConventionSouth Media Group.

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Jenny Anderson, CMP National Association of College & University Business Officers David Bruce, MMP, HTS CMP Meeting Services Jeff Hurt Velvet Chainsaw Consulting Robert Mandelbaum PKF Consulting

Scan this tag contact me with your thoughts! ConventionSouth (ISSN 1074-0627) is published monthly by Covey Communications Corp., P.O. Box 2267, Gulf Shores, AL 36547. It is mailed under Standard mail rates. POSTMASTER: CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED TO ConventionSouth Subscription Office, P.O. Box 2267, Gulf Shores, AL 36547. Editorial and advertising offices are located at 2001 West First St., Gulf Shores, AL 36542. Editorial ideas, photographs and content suggestions are welcomed; however, the publisher and editorial team retains the right to edit all content in print and online. Photos are typically obtained from direct sources and credits are given at the discretion of the editorial team. Copyright 2014 by Covey Communications Corp. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without express written permission of the publisher or editor is strictly forbidden.

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Meg Slentz Nagy, CMP Meetings To Order Sue Walton May & Williams Ltd. James Hobbs Meeting Expectations Loriann White, CMM, CMP American Express Meetings & Events

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what’s

inside JANUARY 2015

COOL SPOTS FOR SUMMER MEETINGS

VOLUME 31 • NUMBER 1

Your Picks For South’s Top 12

Your votes are in! ConventionSouth’s readers and fans have selected

Destination Showdown: Northeast Florida

p.12

their Top 12 picks for the “South’s Cool Spots for Summer Meetings.” These

Mississippi Gulf Coast

“cooler” destinations are located within the South’s higher elevations; therefore offering a more mild climate during the peak of summer.

And, since many of these mountainous destinations are popular vacation destinations during the winter months,

Middle Georgia

groups are sure to find great summertime deals.

Guide To Drive-In Meetings

p. 14-39

More and more attendees are taking to the road to travel to and from events, especially with the low cost to fuel up the tank. So it’s smarter than ever to plan your next event at one of the South’s top drive-in meetings destinations. We have some of the South best “easy-drive” places to meet featured in this special information and advertising section.

Association Meetings p. 10 Draw new enthusiasm toward your association events with these tips on how to market to Millennials, therefore helping to draw in participants to your events as well as to keep them engaged while they’re on site.

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p. 6-7 insight & ideas

47 50

What’s making headlines in the meetings industry, plus tech tools meeting hacks.

p. 10-11 news across the south p. 57 Advertising Reference Guide

Support our partners, find out who came together to make this special honors and awards issue a success.

D.C. Area Upstate South Carolina

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NEWS

IDEAS

headlines • trends • ideas The Value Of Business Travel Survey Reveals The Importance Of Successful Trips & Meetings CWT Solutions Group, the consulting arm of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, has released its latest research into the return on investment of business travel. “The Value of Business Travel: The Travelers’ Perspective” surveyed 10,000 traveler respondents to determine how travelers view the ROI (return on investment) of a trip, and to offer guidance on reducing the number of unsatisfactory business trips. Travelers were asked to measure the success of their last trip, with 88 percent of all trips scoring successful. Meanwhile, 9.5 percent of trips were seen as average, with no significant benefit compared to cost, and 2.5 percent of trips were deemed unsatisfactory. Those who scored a trip as most unsatisfactory were asked if they had anticipated this, with 68 percent agreeing they had. The answers show that low success is, in most cases, anticipated prior to the trip. When low-success trips are investigated, common patterns do emerge. When a meeting is unsuccessful, it is mainly due to a lack of preparation (40 percent) or a lack of a clear agenda (16 percent). Some of the main factors related to trip failure are: The number of meetings taking place during the trip; the total time spent in meetings; and advance booking. What Causes Business Trips & Meetings To Fail? If the return on a given trip is the sum of the returns of the meetings which took place during that trip, then more meetings will generate more value and implicitly fewer failed trips. A trip with only one meeting produces an unsatisfactory result 19 percent of the time. This is reduced by a factor of 2 when the number of meetings increases to 6 or more. As a rule-of-thumb, every additional meeting reduces the probability of an unsuccessful trip by about 10 percent. Related to the number of meetings is the time spent in meetings during the trip. In 38 percent of the unsuccessful trips, the cumulative meeting time was four hours or less. When the cumulative meeting time is one hour or less, the probability of an unsuccessful trip is 28 percent. This probability is reduced to 8% when meetings take up a total of two days or more.

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Action Plans To mitigate the risk of an unsuccessful trip, the report suggests the following: n Arrange more meetings per trip—a trip with only one meeting produces an unsuccessful result 19 percent of the time. As a rule of thumb, each additional meeting reduces the likelihood of an unsuccessful trip by 10%. n Allow plenty of time for meetings—when cumulative meeting time per trip is less than one hour, the probability of an unsuccessful trip is 28 percent. This is reduced to 8% when meetings take up two or more days. n Plan and book early—the longer in advance a trip is planned, the less likely it is to fail. Early planning allows travelers enough time to book their trips and arrange their meetings. n

Top 100 Meeting Hotels Released By Cvent

Cvent, the cloud-based enterprise event-man#7: Gaylord Texa agement platform, has n Resort & Convention Cent released its annual list of er the top meeting hotels in the United States, culled from its Cvent Supplier Network. The top 10 are below. For a full list, visit www.cvent.com. Leading the list of the Top 100 U.S. Meeting Hotels are the following: 1. ARIA Resort & Casino - Las Vegas 2. Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center - Nashville 3. The Venetian and Palazzo Resort, Hotel & Casinos - Las Vegas 4. Omni Nashville Hotel 5. Hyatt Regency Chicago 6. Hilton San Diego Bayfront 7. Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center - Grapevine, Texas 8. Hilton Anatole - Dallas 9. Fontainebleau Miami Beach 10. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Autograph Collection n

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NEWS

IDEAS

Hilton Launches New Lifestyle Brand In Neighborhoods Looking for something new? Hilton Worldwide has announced the launch of Canopy by Hilton, a new hotel brand that redefines the lifestyle category around the mindset of today’s leisure and business travelers. “Built on extensive market research, our highly anticipated Canopy by Hilton brand delivers a fresh approach to hospitality and the guest experience,” said Christopher Nassetta, president/CEO of Hilton Worldwide. “We saw an opportunity to not only enter the lifestyle space by developing a new brand, but also to redefine this category by creating a more accessible lifestyle brand. We identified the need to take the emphasis off of capitalintensive design and deliver exactly what the

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target consumer desires: an energizing, comfortable stay with more included value.” Canopy by Hilton represents a new hotel concept with high growth potential and a clearly defined guest experience. Four essential elements define what it means to be a Canopy hotel: 1. Great neighborhoods. Canopy by Hilton’s will strive to be “the streetlamp of the neighborhood” with local design, food and beverage, art, and local know-how. 2. More included value. Basic Wi-Fi and an artisanal breakfast are included, along with a local welcome gift and an evening tasting of local beer, wine or spirits (if allowed). 3. A Positively Yours Culture. With a “posi-

tively yours” service culture, hotel “Enthusiasts” will deliver a one-stop approach to front-of-house service.

Canopy by Hilton will develop through newbuild and conversion projects in key urban neighborhoods and vibrant secondary markets around the world with properties expected to begin opening in 2015, including these six neighborhoods in the South: • Downtown Miami’s Brickell • Bethesda North (Montgomery County, Md.) • Downtown Nashville • Savannah’s Historic District • Uptown Charlotte • Oklahoma City’s Bricktown n

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across the

south

sushi rolls created using burger components and pick-up style sandwiches created using sushi ingredients. Its opening rounds out the yearlong historic expansion to Universal CityWalk and caps off an epic year for Universal Orlando Resort. Other new venues recently added as part of the expansion include VIVO Italian Kitchen, Red Oven Pizza Bakery, Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food and Hot Dog Hall of Fame.

Georgia Arkansas

255-room Holiday Inn City Center in Fort Smith FORT SMITH—The Holiday Inn City Center in downtown Fort Smith has changed owners. The hotel, combined with the Courtyard By Marriott next to the Fort Smith Convention Center, are tied in promotional packages with the Fort Smith Convention Center, according to local tourism officials. The developer who bought the hotel is in talks with several hotel chains fora future re-branding of the Holiday Inn following renovations. Renovations to guest rooms, the lobby and the restaurant will begin in Spring 2015.

Florida

Eclectic New Venue Rounds Out Year-Long Expansion To Universal Orlando’s CityWalk ORLANDO—Universal CityWalk’s newest restaurant, The Cowfish, is now officially open, bringing the nation’s original “Sushi Burger Bar” to the heart of Universal Orlando’s entertainment complex. The Cowfish was first established in North Carolina and features an exciting menu that offers something for everyone, including innovative sushi rolls, unique craft burgers, and “Burgushi”—a cutting-edge fusion of burger and sushi that offers the best of both worlds. “Burgushi” items include

Augusta Marriott At The Convention Center Begins Multimillion-dollar Renovation AUGUSTA—Augusta’s downtown Marriott hotel has begun a multimillion-dollar renovation to its main tower, according to local news reports. March has been set for a completion date. The renovation will include a complete guest room makeover, including new bathrooms. Common areas, such as the concierge rooms, will also be changed. The Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center offer 236 guest rooms in the main hotel tower and 136 rooms in the Suites tower.

Kentucky

Developer Being South For Burnside Island State Park Lodge SOMERSET—Kentucky tourism officials are seeking proposals for a developer to build the first privately operated lodge at a Kentucky state park, according to local news reports. Burnside Island State Park will be home to the lodge, which could also include a restaurant, a convention facility and a swimming pool. A feasibility study released with the request envisioned a lodge with at least 60 to 100 rooms; a 300-seat restaurant; a convention center; and an indoor recreation center and pool.

Maryland

The Hotel At The University Of Maryland To Break Ground In 2015 COLLEGE PARK—The Hotel at the University of Maryland will break ground in spring 2015. The hotel and conference center will be built on a parcel of land on the east side of campus. The hotel will feature 295 guest rooms with executive level and premium suites; a rooftop banquet facility and veranda overlooking the UMD campus; 43,000 square feet

Le Meridien Charlotte Opens After Renovation Completed CHARLOTTE, N.C.—The Le Méridien Charlotte has opened following a multimillion-dollar transformation. The hotel offers 300 guest rooms with 18 suites and 55,000 square feet of event space as part of the dual branded complex that includes the 305-room Sheraton Charlotte Hotel. Le Méridien Charlotte also opened Evoke Restaurant, Longitude Bar. n

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New Hote l To In Late 20 Open 15 of meeting space; and two full-service restaurants. The hotel is anticipated to open by Fall 2016.

room” lobby concept, which features modern, open and flexible lobby space for guests to use for business, leisure or time to themselves. Complete room and corridor renovations will also take place. The hotel offers 16,000 square feet of meeting space.

North Carolina Missouri

New Owners Announced For The 295-room Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza KANSAS CITY—Carey Watermark Investors Incorporated has acquired the Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza. They announced a number of improvements that will be made to the property, including updates to food and beverage outlets, meeting spaces and the hotel’s exterior. The Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza will also implement Marriott Hotels’ signature “Great-

96-room Hotel Slated for Mooresville MOORESVILLE— A 96-room hotel has been announced for Mooresville CHARLESTON, S.C.—A downtown Charleston hotel more than six years in off Interstate 77 Exit 33. The the works is now under construction, according to local news reports. The hotel developer is currently in five-star, 155-room hotel, to be named Dewberry Hotel, is expected to negotiations with three “highopen late 2015. The hotel will include a set-back penthouse that will be end” hotel chains on the project, used as event space. with some rooms being extendedThe owner said the Meeting Street property will serve as an stay. Construction is expected to introduction to his independent Dewberry Hotel brand. The take a year and a half to finish. next hotel under the brand will be in Charlottesville, Va., according to local news reports. n ture of global transactions, and George R. Brown Leads the only convention Way To Virtual Currency center in the world offering access HOUSTON—Virtual currency is Houston First, the parent organizato digital money on site is the considered by some to be the fution that manages the downtown George R. Brown (GRB) Convenconvention center. tion Center. “We think this will be an A CoinVault ATM has been installed on the second level of the attractive option for international GRB, near the convention center’s travelers coming to Houston,” Goldberg said. “There will be no popular Starbucks location. need to carry large amounts of Bitcoin, the most widely used hard-currency during travel. Pick and well known form of crypup your funds when you arrive in tocurrency, is a decentralized Houston. Exchange-rate converdigital money system that is dissions for those seeking U.S. tributed worldwide. Unlike tradidollars are done automatically tional currencies, such as the U.S. at our bitcoin ATM.” dollar, bitcoin is issued and The list of merchants that acdistributed without any central cept bitcoin as a payment form is authority. expanding. Among the household The amenity being served is names that accept bitcoin are convenience and travel peace of Dell and PayPal. You can donate mind, according to Mark Goldbitcoin to United Way. n berg, assistant general counsel for

Construction Underway For Dewberry Hotel Project

Texas

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ASSOCIATION MEETINGS:

Marketingto Millennials:

It’s All About Interaction

By D. Fran Morley

emember the old days (like five years ago) when Baby Boomers ruled? For decades, Boomers knew all there was to know. We were on the cutting-edge of technology that hadn’t changed much for nearly thirty years. We were cool with sending and receiving faxes and we easily morphed into emails. We understood the need to keep our websites up to date. We were in charge of our message. And then . . . everything changed. Call them Generation Y or Millennials: today’s young adults live in a world where technology affects almost everything: it’s more than just entertainment, it’s how they communicate and learn about what’s happening around them. It’s also constantly changing. A website is static—think online brochure—and today’s consumers want interaction. Smart marketers know that they can use that interaction as marketing: free marketing. “Whether you want to change, whether you are ready to change or not, your customer is changing,” said motivational business speaker and marketing expert

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Karen McCullough. “It doesn’t matter what age we are, it’s about how we use technology. Today’s young adults (members of Generation Y were born after 1980) seek active involvement. They prefer to connect using technology rather than meeting face to face, and they trust a personal recommendation from a friend or even from a stranger over any marketing piece or ad.” McCullough shared this information during a talk at the Virginia Beach Convention Center as part of a “Making Millennial Magic” FAM trip for journalists and event planners, sponsored by the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. According to McCullough, it is vital to engage event participants to “talk” about an event—before, during, and after. “Meeting attendees are your potential marketers. The more time they spend on social media, the more promotion for your event. You want to give them every opportunity to spread the word: when they register, when they are attending, and after the event. It’s your job to get them excited about it and to provide easy ways for them to connect and post about it on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Yelp, or whatever they use.” Finding the right balance in using social media versus traditional media is the problem, said Cynthia Graddy, CMP, meeting planner for the National Dental Association. “Here is where we struggle, quite frankly. Our older members couldn’t care less about social media, but they are the ones who register early and often. They buy the tickets to the special events and participate in our pre- and post-conference events. The younger set register late, stay for the absolute minimal amount of time, do not bring their family, and usually are the ones not participating (as a large subset) in our pre- and post-conference activities. Their level of participation is much like their attention span—limited.” w w w. c o nve n t i o n s o u t h . c o m

Given that, Graddy says her organization had by using social media, everyone is doing the some success with Facebook and Twitter. “We marketing for you and your event.” used Facebook and Twitter to market things like Meredith Barlow, an associate at Gioworks, a special guests appearances, special sessions, or hotel site selection company, puts herself in the registration and “older Gen Y” “Meeting attendees are your hotel deals. My generation, and simple analysis is The more says that she that Facebook still appreciates worked better than time they spend on getting a postTwitter because card in the mail. the more we can explain a “I’m never You want to give them every going to open little better. We don’t have everyan envelope that opportunity to spread the word. day household isn’t a bill or —Karen McCullough, names as our motivational business speaker and marketing expert someone paying speakers, so we their bill to me, have to explain their significance to the dental but I’m definitely going to stick a postcard about field, and that can be quite challenging in 140 an event on my fridge. I know the value of social characters.” media, and I use it, but personally I still like getEach medium has a best use, McCullough ting postcards in the mail.” advised. “LinkedIn is professional. Post an artiShak Castile-Jones, director of the EVP tour, cle about keynote speakers or about conference agrees that a new approach is needed. “Marketcontent. Facebook is about community. This is where you post pictures of the conference team or of people who attended last year, with comments on what everyone learned and how much fun they had. When you tag the people in the photos, it goes to their pages, which instantly markets the event. Twitter is for real-time promotion. A hashtag for the event gives everyone a place to comment on what’s happening right now—and lets others know what they are missing by not being there.” Instagram worked for Brenna Venvertloh, MBA, a planner with Association Central, an association management company. “I use Instagram to post pictures during events with a hashtag. I love looking through everyone’s posts and seeing what others captured.” Having real-time access is important, she said. “We prefer to accomplish all tasks electronically, so having all information online is a must for quick access.” McCullough suggested using Pinterest or Instagram to post photos of the event, YouTube, for videos from the previous year or as a promotion for this year, and blog posts written by keynote speakers, workshop presenters, sponsors, or other key individuals. “Promote the conference using real people,” she said. “Remember, younger people like personal recommendations. At the event, encourage everyone to take photos of everything—each other, presenters, the food—and post them. Everything we do at a conference is an opportunity for marketing, and

potential marketers. social media, promotion for your event.

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ing to millennials requires a tech-savvy approach, with quick-to-the-point messages. Traditional marketing is more expensive, but less time consuming: we could place one ad, leave it alone, and watch it work. Marketing to millennials costs less but can take more time.” Keeping event participants engaged is the key, she said. “Millennials are often on their phones and tablets, checking emails or texts or social media. If they are able to ‘interact’ with our event via social media, which they are checking constantly anyhow, the engaging factor is amplified.” Linda Barclay, managing director for USA Sports Production, said she left McCullough’s presentation knowing that her organization has to get totally up to speed on using social media for marketing. “We know that print ads and emails aren’t enough these days. If you aren’t using Facebook, Twitter or YouTube, then you probably aren’t reaching these younger generations.” n

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COOL SPOTS FOR SUMMER MEETINGS Y

our votes are in! ConventionSouth’s readers and fans have selected their Top 12 picks for the “South’s Cool Spots for Summer Meetings.” In December 2014, editors compiled a Facebook voting ballot showcasing 60 destinations that are well fit for summer meetings as they are located within the South’s higher

elevations; therefore offering a more mild climate during the peak of summer. And, since many of these mountainous destinations are popular vacation destinations during the winter months, groups are sure to find great summer deals. From those 60 “cool spots,” voters were asked to pick their favorite meeting spots and the top 12 are featured below.

Your Picks For South’s Top 12 KEY: = City elevation in feet.

Provided by www.Wikipedia.org

= Average high & low Fahrenheit temperatures in August. Provided by www.Weather.com

Top 5 1. Anderson, South Carolina

Make a splash at Lake Hartwell. Along with several marinas, Lake Hartwell is home to Sadlers Creek State Park, which features a lakeside campground, fishing, picnicking, hiking, a meeting facility, and boat access for those who wish to explore the lake’s 56,000 acres. n = 747 feet

= Low 66° / High: 89°

2. Lynchburg, Virginia

Liberty University’s Snowflex Centre, located on Liberty Mountain, is a synthetic ski slope featuring the most innovative technology in the snow sports industry, and its the only one in the United States. Mountain ski resorts are only accessible during winter, but Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre will be accessible during all four seasons, day and night. Snowflex offers skiing, snowboarding, tubing and equipment rentals. Snowflex is a multi-layer, material that simulates the effects of snow, allowing maximum speed and edge control for turns. Misting devices give it the slip and grip of real snow. Extra padding and support enhances the most extreme maneuvers and stunts, culminating in the ultimate adventure. n = 630 feet

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= Low 62° / High: 85°

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3. Mercer County, West Virginia

Jump on an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and journey one of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails. This managed ATV trail system offers 500+ miles of trails and seven systems located throughout the mountains of Southern West Virginia. The newest addition to the Hatfield McCoy Trails, the Pocahontas Trail System, is now open in Mercer County. The Trailhead is located in the historic town of Bramwell, W. Va. and consists of approximately 60-80 total miles. Permits are available in Bramwell. n = 2,438 feet

4. Garrett County, Maryland

Garrett County is the western most county of Maryland in the middle of the Alleghany Mountains and claims the state’s highest point and largest lake. Along with enjoying six state parks, groups can keep cool during the summer months with activities on Deep Creek Lake, Maryland’s largest freshwater lake. Boating, swimming, fishing and sailing are popular summer fun activities. Sailing on the lake is exceptional with races held every weekend during the season. You can grocery shop, dine at several restaurants, visit the night spots, see a movie, get fishing bait or boating supplies all from your boat! n = 2,461 feet

= Low 56° / High: 78°

= Low 57° / High: 80°

REST OF THE BEST

These “Cool Spots for Summer Meetings” round out your picks for the top 12 higher elevation cities in the South that provide more moderate summer temperatures and great savings opportunities.

6. Springfield, Missouri = 1,299 feet

= Low 66° / High: 90°

7. Hickory, North Carolina = 1,188 feet

= Low 66° / High: 86°

8. Greenville, South Carolina

5. Summersville, West Virginia

Skin Diver Magazine calls Summersville Lake “The Little Bahamas of The East!” for good reason. It is the cleanest, clearest freshwater lake east of the Mississippi River. Average summertime visibility is 20-45 feet depending upon rainfall. Sarge’s Dive Shop provides NAUI / YMCA scuba certification classes and lessons, scuba, swimming snorkeling charters or trips, and lake tours. Sarge’s diving season runs from mid-May through mid-September. n = 1,180 feet

= Low 59° / High: 80°

= 965 feet

= Low 69° / High: 89°

9. New River Gorge, West Virginia = 2,014 feet

= Low 59° / High: 81°

10. Roanoke, Virginia = 883 feet

= Low 65° / High: 86°

11. Knoxville, Tennessee = 886 feet

= Low 68° / High: 87°

12. Columbia, Missouri = 758 feet

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= Low 64° / High: 87°

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FEATURE: Drive-In Meetings

Fill Up & Drive

Sustained high oil production and plummeting oil prices mean gas prices will continue to remain low,

MISSOURI

according to GasBuddy.com’s 2015 Fuel Price Outlook. The Outlook calls for a yearly national average of $2.64/gallon, a far cry from

OKLAHOMA

2014’s yearly national aver-

ARKANSAS

age of $3.34/gallon. In addition to a lower national average, GasBuddy’s forecast sees just one month in which the national average may breach $3/gal: May, while January will likely see the lowest monthly average of the year. Even more good news is that the South offers some of the lowest gas prices in the country,

LOUISIANA

according GasBuddy.com’s map below. n

TEXAS

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Chicago

MARYLAND

A C

WEST VIRGINIA VIRGINIA KENTUCKY

NORTH CAROLINA

South’s Drive-In Hot Spots

TENNESSEE

Map City, State

E G

SOUTH CAROLINA

GEORGIA

MISSISSIPPI ALABAMA

L N

S R

Q P

FLORIDA

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Where To Learn More

Howard County, Md.

pgs. 51 & 53

Fairfax County, Va.

pgs. 22 & 50

Ocean City, Md.

pg. 18

Greensboro, N.C.

pg. 33

Greer, S.C.

Greenville, S.C.

pgs. 55 & 59

Columbia, S.C.

pgs. 24 & 25

Chattanooga, Tenn.

pg. 17

Peachtree City, Ga.

pgs. 34 & 35

Augusta, Ga.

pgs. 16 & 48

Columbus, Ga.

pgs. 16 & 49

Georgia State Parks

Savannah, Ga.

Valdosta, Ga.

Daytona Beach, Fla.

Ocala, Fla.

South Walton Beach, Fla.

Pensacola, Fla.

pg. 32

Alabama Gulf Coast

pg. 36

Mississippi Gulf Coast

Meridian, Miss.

Marksville, La.

pgs. 30 & 31

Laredo, Texas

pg. 11

pgs. 38-39 & 56

pg. 27 pgs. 2 & 21 pg. 37 pgs. 28, 29 & 41 pg. 20 pgs. 3 & 23

pgs. 19, 44 & 60 pg. 26

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Drive-In Destinations

SPONSORED CONTENT

Augusta Marriott Undergoes Major Room Renovation

Get ready for a new experience at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center, a luxury hotel in Augusta, Ga. The main tower of the downtown hotel is getting a multimillion-dollar renovation to transform 236 guest rooms into a stylish and more spacious new look, including adding hardwood floors and 55-inch TVs. Additional enhancements are set for concierge rooms and public areas. The project is set to be complete this February. We are truly Augusta's premier facility. The 100k square feet of meeting space and the location on the banks of the Savannah river make us unique. n

contact: Carlos A. Morales, Director of Sales, Augusta Marriott At The Convention Center Carlos brings over 30 years of professional Hospitality Sales and Marketing experience in regional, national and international market development accomplished in seven distinctly different markets and across numerous brands. (706) 722-8900 carlos.morales@augustamarriott.com www.marriott.com/agsmc

Things Are Cookin’ In Columbus!

If you think it’s hot in Columbus—you haven’t been in our kitchen lately. Ovations and Chef Larry White have brought the hottest culinary trends to The Trade Center. Serving Down HomeStyle to Classic French the offerings are locally sourced and made to order. In addition to being in one of the most architecturally significant convention centers in the country you can now dine in style. n

contact: Mia Frederick, Columbus Georgia Convention & Trade Center (706) 327-4522 mfrederick@columbusga.org www.columbusgaconventioncenter.com

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Chattanooga Is Committed To Providing Exemplary Service

Chattanooga is easily accessible, affordable and hospitable. Located centrally in the Southeast, Chattanooga is within two hours of Atlanta, Nashville, Knoxville, Huntsville and Birmingham and offers 2,200 downtown hotel rooms. Downtown is safe and walkable. To make it easier to get around, there’s a free electric shuttle

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that connects the downtown hotels, restaurants, attractions, shopping and more. Chattanooga boasts one of the top 10 green convention centers in the nation. Located downtown, the state-of-the-art facility offers 185,000 square feet of meeting space all on one level, including 100,800 square feet of columnfree exhibit space. For complimentary assistance in planning your event, the Chattanooga CVB is ready to assist you and make sure your event runs smoothly and efficiently—from your initial interest to your final selection of hotels, facilities, restaurants, attractions and more. n

The Chattanooga CVB staff provides the highest level of assistance when planning your meeting or convention. Meeting planners remark how their “Chattanooga Experience” of personal attention, efficiency, flexibility and a commitment to go above-and-beyond has made an incredible impression and has them eager to return.

contact: Michelle Lawson, Director of Convention, Housing and Visitor Services, Chattanooga CVB (800) 964-8600 michellel@chattanoogacvb.com www.chattanoogameetings.com

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The Roland E. Powell Convention Center Has Some Big News!

There’s a lot happening at Ocean City, Maryland’s Roland E. Powell Convention Center– and it’s all for you! We’ve renovated our multi-functional facility to 214,000 square feet to suit any occasion of any size. Hold a small conference or a large convention in any of our newly expanded exhibit halls. Or use one of our 25 meeting rooms, including two executive boardrooms. And with bigger space, comes a bigger experience. Your breath will be taken away by the beautiful panoramic bayfront views from our grand ballroom. The center also features on-site food and beverage service along with full-service catering, Wi-Fi service, and free on-site parking for 1,200 cars and buses. The new 16,000 square foot Performing Arts Center opened this past December and is al-

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ready making waves! The 1,200 seat auditorium is the perfect space for general sessions, presentations and large seminars. Our theater-style, two tiers of fixed seating and 51 foot high ceiling will help you take the stage and hold a meeting your audience is sure to remember. When your meetings have ended, Ocean City has miles of beach and a famous threemile boardwalk to relax on after a busy day. Not to mention our 17 premier golf courses, 200+ restaurants, great shopping and more to always keep you entertained. Plus, we’re easy to get to—OC is within 5 hours of New York and Richmond and less than 3 hours from Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia. If you’d rather fly, the Salisbury/Ocean City Regional Airport is just 30 minutes from OC.

So make sure to pack your flip-flops along with your wing tips and book your next event in Ocean City, MD! n

contact: Fred Wise, Director of Sales & Marketing, Ocean City CVB Fred Wise has been the Director of Sales and Marketing of the Ocean City CVB and the Roland E. Powell Convention Center since 1996. Fred is a 37 year hospitality industry professional that has represented Marriott Lodging and Sheraton Hotels and Resorts in several different cites as well as Corporate and Regional Offices. (410) 289-2800 fwise@ococean.com http://ocmdconvention center.com/

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Meet On The Mississippi Gulf Coast

Unconventional Conventions The Mississippi Gulf Coast has over 13,000 hotel rooms. Meeting space options vary from quaint bed and breakfasts to large casino resort properties. The Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center offers more than 400,000 square feet of flexible meeting and exhibit space. The facility features a 133,000 square foot dedicated exhibit hall with unlimited load capacity and plenty of power and water easily accessible for all your vendor needs. After the meeting ends, attendees will discover an instant escape where Southern hospitality, charm and beauty intermingle with world-class gaming to create a one of kind destination. With options that include fishing, golfing, shopping, museums and dining, there is something for everyone on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Home to 200 varieties of saltwater fish, the Mississippi Gulf Coast is regarded as one of the world’s top saltwater fishing destinations. Charter boats are ready and waiting to escort anglers to sweet spots on the Gulf of Mexico. One-Of-A-Kind Heritage Several attractions highlight the heritage of the Mississippi Gulf Coast including the Biloxi Shrimping Trip, Old Biloxi Schooner, Beauvoir, the Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library, and the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art. Our newest museum, the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, showcases exhibits on shrimping, oystering, fishing, a shrimp peeling machine, and numerous historic photographs and objects. Driving west after dark from the Ocean Springs bridge, a “ship in a bottle”

The Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center

can be seen while looking at the museum. The 100 Men Hall is a hidden gem in Bay St. Louis. The hall is a memorable music venue that celebrates blues music of the South going back to the 1940’s, when blues music was played most in Mississippi.

prides itself on giving great service to our community and visitors alike. Team building recreational activities include a ropes course, trails, indoor rock-climbing, and water sports such as paddle boarding, and kayaking around beautiful Gulf Coast scenery.

Nature-Based Tourism Davis Bayou in Ocean Springs is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, a treasured landscape of biodiversity. Groups are able to tour the hiking trails, bird-watch, fish, bike, or picnic. The nearly two-mile Davis Bayou Trail takes visitors through the forest and over Davis and Stark bayous. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Estuarine Education Center in Jackson County

Mississippi Sound No visit would be complete without a day at the beach. Sugar sand stretches for 26 miles to provide the perfect place to jet-ski, sail, bodysurf, or simply lounge by the water on the beautiful Mississippi Sound. Beachgoers can also enjoy an excursion to Ship Island, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. So plan your next meeting on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and stay awhile. You’ll get it. n

contact: Crystal Johnson, Director of Sales, Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional CVB A 20+ year veteran in the tourism industry, Crystal is responsible for both meeting sales and leisure group sales efforts. (888) 467-4853 crystal@gulfcoast.org www.gulfcoast.org

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If You Love Successful Events Then You Might Be The Marion Kind.

When it comes to meeting expectations, Ocala/Marion County exceeds them. Give your guests the excitement of an experience they’ll always remember in Ocala/Marion County. When you’re looking to book the best destination there are specific criteria to always be considered. From how many guests to how many dollars? Where will you eat and sleep, and will it be fun?

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Whether it’s an intimate wedding or an annual conference, Ocala/Marion County boasts a host of unique facilities to accommodate a range of budgets and audience sizes. It’s where premier catering and planning services meet antique shopping and savory cuisine, and where a day in nature brings total relaxation or an exciting adventure in the great outdoors. Book your next meeting or event in Ocala/Marion County, the perfect place for your meeting space. For more information and free planning assistance, visit OcalaMarion.com. SAVE UP TO $1,500 when you host your next meeting or event in Ocala/Marion County! Submit an RFP or contact

Sky Wheeler at Sky.Wheeler@Marion CountyFL.org or 1-888-FL-OCALA for more information. n

*Rules

regulations available at Planners.OcalaMarion.com

contact: Sky Wheeler, Sales & Operations Manager, Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau Sky has been with The County for almost two years and has extensive experience selling, planning and organizing tradeshows and events. In 201 , she was awarded one of DMAI’s 30 Under 30 honors. (352) 438-2802 sky.wheeler@marioncountyfl.org www.ocalamarion.com

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Savannah Meetings Boost Attendance Meet in Savannah for a one-of-a-kind experience that mixes historic architecture, cultural attractions, coastal cuisine and scenic beauty with successful conventions, meetings and special events. Savannah’s eclectic sophistication will enthrall your attendees, while 22 parklike, moss-draped squares placed throughout historic downtown will make them feel relaxed and focused. Elegant accommodations within blocks of abundant meeting venues make gatherings in Savannah a step above the rest. Select Savannah as your host city and your event attendance is sure to increase. The Savannah International Trade & Convention Center, situated on the Savannah River, offers a modern, spacious venue for your next meeting, convention or special event. With a total of 330,000 square feet, the facility offers 100,000 square feet of prime exhibit space and 50,000 square feet of flexible space. Up to 21 breakout rooms are in the space, including 13 meeting rooms, four executive board rooms, a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom and a state-of-the-art auditorium. A 45-by-30 foot hanger door allows large equipment and aviation-oriented trade shows to be displayed in the center’s exhibit hall. Additional meeting facilities located throughout downtown Savannah include the Coastal Georgia Center and the Savannah Civic Center. There are a variety of convention hotels throughout Savannah, including The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa (403 rooms), Savannah Marriott Riverfront (383 rooms), Hyatt Regency Savannah (347 rooms) and the Hilton Savannah Desoto (246 rooms). Nearly 5,000 rooms are available at various hotels in the Historic District and more than 15,000 total hotel rooms in the greater Savannah area. All hotels and meeting spaces in the Historic District are located within walking distance to numerous high-style boutiques, galleries, restaurants and more. Located just 20 minutes from downtown, the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is one of the busiest in the Southeast. With 43 daily non-stop flights via American, Delta, Jet Blue, United and US Airways from Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit, Houston, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., it’s easier to get here than ever before. The low-cost CAT shuttle and w w w. c o nve n t i o n s o u t h . c o m

Savannah International Trade & Convention Center

DOT shuttle are available for quicker travel, including a direct route from the airport to downtown. Once you’re here, there are several ways to get around, with many of our visitors preferring to explore pedestrianfriendly Savannah by foot. With more than 45 cultural attractions, Savannah draws meeting attendees craving a diverse experience. Trolley, Segway and walking tours covering history, hauntings, architecture and food will fill down time with excitement and entertainment. Meeting attendees also are sure to enjoy Savannah’s palate-pleasing, coastal cuisine and farm-to-table fare served at restaurants throughout the city. As your host city, we will work closely with Savannah’s hospitality industry and business community to meet and exceed your requirements. Our Southern hospitality combined with the array of services found in Savannah will help you create an expertly-executed event for any size group. We look forward to welcoming you! Whatever your needs, Savannah can

handle the details. To plan your meeting in Savannah today, contact Jeff Hewitt at (912) 644-6416 or at jhewitt@visitsavannah.com. n

get to know... Jeff Hewitt, Vice President of Business Development, Visit Savannah Jeff holds more than 25 years of hospitality experience with prior DMO senior management positions at Visit Charlotte and Tampa Bay & Company. (912) 644-6416 jhewitt@visitsavannah.com www.visitsavannah.com

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Fairfax County, Virginia — Connecting With Your Attendees There’s lots that’s new and exciting in Fairfax County, Virginia. Located directly across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, Fairfax County has always offered planners and groups beautifully renovated meeting properties, lots of exciting new restaurants and retail stores, and

plenty of world class, one-of-a-kind attractions. The biggest new attraction, by far, though, is the recent arrival of the Metrorail Silver Line, which has extended the Washington, DC Metrorail system to the Tysons Corner and Reston areas of the county. Since opening in 2014, the Silver Line connects attendees gathering at any of the Tysons Corner or Reston hotels with everything the National Capital area has to offer. “Planners have always told us that they love our hotels, our restaurants, our shopping and our overall value,” says Dean Miller, National Sales Manager for Visit Fairfax. “Now we have the one piece of the puzzle that was previously missing—easy and convenient Metrorail access to downtown Washington, DC, the Pentagon, Groups meeting in Fairfax County now enjoy easy access to the area’s outstanding shopping, dining and Reagan National Airport, and more.” entertainment attractions, via the Metrorail Silver Line. Miller notes that groups can meet in FairShown here: Shopping at Tysons Corner, “The Rodeo fax County and easily travel to the US Drive of the East Coast.”

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Capitol for grassroots lobbying, baseball games at Nationals Park, or sightseeing in downtown Washington. “For many years, planners told us they couldn’t wait until the Metro arrived, and now it’s finally here.” n

contact: Dean Miller, National Sales Manager, Visit Fairfax Dean has a quartercentury of experience helping planners organize more effective meetings in Fairfax County. Call Dean & let him go to work for you! (703) 752-9509 dmiller@fxva.com www.fxva.com

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South Walton: The Perfect Place to Do Business The twenty six miles of sugar-white sand beaches and diverse accommodations along the coast of South Walton have beckoned visitors for generations, offering an upscale yet relaxing place to unwind. Increasingly, the same unique atmosphere and amenities that vacationers have found along this strand of 16 beach neighborhoods are being discovered by meeting planners, who find that South Walton offers the perfect beach atmosphere for work, rejuvenation, and the creation of lasting memories. While summer is the perfect time for leisure travelers to hit the beaches, meeting planners find that fall and winter are the ideal seasons in which to host their meeting or event in South Walton. South Walton offers versatile facilities and comprehensive meetings services and has the ability to accommodate groups of various sizes. The destination also has a wide breadth of accommodations—from charming beachside cottages for small corporate retreats to full-service resorts with golf, shopping, dining, and more—that invite attendees to relax and rejuvenate after their meetings. Beyond the beautiful beaches, South Walton offers a myriad of activities and attractions for every visitor’s interests. Enjoy shopping at

local boutiques and art galleries, or head to Silver Sands Premium Outlets. Discover one of our five state parks by land or water. Indulge in our renowned Gulf to Table culinary scene in an award-winning restaurant. Relax at one of our upscale spas. There are also a variety of cultural activities for enhancing a meeting experience on any budget. A meeting or an incentive group can

plan their trip to South Walton around outstanding festivals such as South Walton Fashion Week, 30A Songwriters Festival, Digital Graffiti, Mountain Film Festival and South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival just to name a few. As a repeat winner of ConventionSouth Readers’ Choice Award, it’s clear South Walton has that special something meeting planners want. The destination’s distinguished meeting facilities, award-winning accommodations, gourmet dining, and creative teambuilding activities offer groups memorable and productive meetings. Conveniently located directly between ECP and VPS airports, South Walton operates on Central Time, making it the perfect meeting destination in Northwest Florida. n

contact: Pamela Watkins, Director of Sales & Special Events, Visit South Walton Pamela has been with Visit South Walton since 1997 and has promoted tourism in South Walton for over 30 years. (850) 622-7815 pamela@visitsouthwalton.com www.visitsouthwalton.com/ groups

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Columbia, South Carolina: The New Meeting Hot Spot

Centrally located in the Palmetto State, Columbia is a vibrant, metropolitan city laced with the classic charm and graciousness of the South. An idyllic destination for conventions, meetings and events, the Columbia region has all the resources necessary to make planning a quick and easy process. With the area’s plethora of nontraditional meeting spaces, abundance of affordable hotels and endless options for entertainment, The New Southern Hot Spot is just the place to host your next meeting or event.

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South Carolina State Museum

For a more contemporary feel, the Columbia Museum of Art has rentable rooms with capacities ranging from 50 to 1,000 guests. Attendees are presented the opportunity for exclusive viewings of different exhibits or collections and the museum’s team of event planners will work to create a truly distinctive experience with lasting memories. Photo courtesy of South Carolina State Museum

Meet Only eight miles from Columbia Metropolitan Airport, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center is the state’s only downtown convention center. Able to accommodate events of many sizes, CMCC has hosted an array of conventions, festivals and events that have garnered nearly two million attendees since the building first opened ten years ago. Boasting a sleek, modern design, this two-story facility is as dazzling as it is functional. For more intimate gatherings, the Columbia region offers a number of off-site reception venues. The South Carolina State Museum, which recently underwent a $21 million expansion, now includes a 55-foot digital planetarium dome and theater, an online observatory and classroom, a 4-D multisensory theater and an outdoor telescope viewing terrace. The museum has multiple rooms that can be used to accommodate anywhere from 20 to 600 attendees. Housed inside the first electric cotton mill in the nation, the atmosphere lends a beautiful, rustic air to any event. Columbia has an array of different historic properties that can be used for a multitude of events. The South Carolina Lace House, located within the Governor’s Mansion Complex, is a gorgeous, antebellum-era venue. Dating back to 1854, the Lace House and its accompanying gardens add a classic Southern touch to any gathering. Historic Columbia, preserving Columbia’s historic and cultural heritage, allows for planners to book its available properties for private occasions. These magnificently restored houses and grounds can accommodate 50 to 400 visitors and offer a glimpse into the region’s impressive past.

Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

Sleep With nearly 12,000 rooms in the Columbia region, including full service brands like the Embassy Suites, finding accommodations is easy. From cozy inns to swanky suites, there is an option apt to suite different tastes and budgets. Play As the professional responsibilities of the day begin to wind down, Columbia, SC’s nightlife is just warming up. Featuring hundreds of restaurants and bars throughout the region, there are plenty of options for kicking back and having some fun. Enjoy a hearty Italian meal at Rosso Trattoria Italia or nosh on some good ‘ol Southern barbecue at Southern Belly. Follow up with an after-dinner cocktail at The Vault at the Sheraton hotel or an ice-cold brew at Hunter-Gatherer Brew Pub. No matter where the evening takes you, you’re bound to have a great time. After a night of the urban, downtown experience, take it easy with a leisurely afternoon outdoors at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden or Congaree National Park. Enjoy one of our three hundred days of sunshine by taking to the rivers in a kayak or tube. With the warmth on

your skin and a smile on your face, you’ll be planning your next event in Columbia, SC before you’ve even left. n

contact: Jason Outman, Director of Sales, Columbia CVB Serving as Director of Sales for the Columbia CVB, Jason has over nine years of experience in the meetings, conventions, hospitality and tourism industry. (803) 545-0108 joutman@columbiacvb.com www.columbiacvb.com

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Meet In Meridian

As you plan your event, you’ll discover a community eager to welcome you, entertain you, and allow you to escape into its beauty and heritage for the short time you’re here. Meridian’s small-town atmosphere complements a passion for art crawls, historic places, and authentically local entertainment. Meanwhile, in the midst of such old-fashioned

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hospitality are cutting-edge meeting venues. An event planner’s dream, the MSU Riley Center is the perfect marriage of history and technology. The restored opera house offers meeting facilities that range from a 5,000-square-foot exhibit hall to a 2,500-square-foot studio space to numerous smaller meeting rooms. The Center’s theater provides a dramatic one-of-a-kind space to host general sessions, award ceremonies, and private entertainment performances. Alongside timeless architecture are state-of-the-art capabilities for any event you might host. The conference center’s recent audio/visual upgrade brings the latest technology to the meetings industry. Completed in June, the upgrade includes 90-inch HD LCD flat-screen televisions in all breakout rooms. Meeting planners should note that the Center continues to include the use of flat screens in the meeting room rental costs. The Center also added an upgraded internet network as well as simultaneous presentation

and session recording capabilities. Among all the places you might select for your event, not many are as convenient as Meridian, located at the intersection of interstates 20 and 59 in east central Mississippi. n

contact: Steve Martin, Assistant Director, Lauderdale County Tourism A 28-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Steve has been with the Lauderdale County Tourism office since 2009. (888) 868-7720 or (601) 482-8001 smartin@lauderdalecounty.org www.visitmeridian.com

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Escape The Traditional Meeting Space!

Tired of holding your corporate gathering in the usual meeting spaces? Georgia State Parks offer a multitude of exciting facilities for meetings that can fit any budget. From hotel-style lodges that can accommodate up to 600 guests,

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to pioneer camps that offer private camping areas for the outdoor enthusiast, Georgia State Parks are the perfect place for your next corporate gathering. When not brainstorming and strategizing, your group can enjoy golf, boating, fishing, nature walks, swimming and an abundance of activities – all without leaving the property. Family members who come along for the trip will find plenty of activities as well. So whether you’re looking for

corporate activities or fun for the family, Georgia State Parks offer options for all. n

contact: Vernie Clark, Event & Group Sales Coordinator, Georgia Parks & Tourism Vernie promotes the state parks and historic sites and their passion for nature, conservancy, and outdoor adventure across the state. She received her B.A. with honors in German Studies from the University of West Georgia. (770) 389-6274 vernie.clark@dnr.state.ga.us www.gastateparks.org/ gatherings

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When The Meeting Breaks, The Ocean Awaits

Located in the heart of Daytona Beach and only 400 feet from the Atlantic Ocean, the Ocean Center Convention Center is the area’s convention, entertainment and sports complex. Flexible and unique meeting spaces create a great venue for groups looking for the perfect meeting spot. The Ocean Center features an exhibit hall, arena, ballroom and over 32 meeting rooms. The Ocean Center event staff delivers seamless events and will assist with every detail from start to finish. A staff with years of experience offers a blend of skill and creative talent to provide flawless production for each group. Award-winning catering is offered by Ovations Food Services which is noted for exceptional quality, colorful presentations and refreshing creativity. The Ocean Center is in the core area of Daytona Beach and surrounded by hotels, shopping, restaurants and attractions. The Atlantic Ocean is only steps from the Ocean Center and offers 23 miles of beautiful beaches. The area is served by Daytona Beach International Airport which is only minutes away and the Ocean Center is only 60 minutes from Orlando International Airport. Quick Facts: n Directly across from the Atlantic Ocean and spectacular beaches n Over 200,000 square feet of space n 93,028 square foot Exhibit Hall n 42,146 square foot Arena n 11,904 square foot Ballroom

n 32 meeting rooms with over 32,000 square feet of space n Art galleries throughout the building featuring local Florida artists n Spacious pre-function areas n Award-winning catering by Ovations Food Services n Full on-site event staff n Surrounded by hotels, restaurants, shopping, attractions and entertainment n An abundance of beach activities n Year-round warm weather and over 300 days of sunshine! And remember, when the meeting breaks the ocean awaits. n

contact: Angela Daniels, Director of Sales, Marketing & Event Services, Ocean Center Convention Center Angela has been in the hospitality business for over 2 years. She joined the Ocean Center as Director of Sales, Marketing and Event Services in 2011. Prior to joining the Ocean Center, Angela was Director of Marketing with the Hilton Daytona Beach. (386) 254-4524 direct line adaniels@oceancenter.com www.oceancenter.com

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The Possibilities Are Endless!

Located in the heart of Central Louisiana, Paragon Casino Resort is the premier resort destination in Louisiana. It is owned and operated by the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana. It’s the perfect getaway destination that offers many exciting amenities for everyone. The Paragon Hotel has a bayou-themed atrium with live alligators and aquatic wildlife as its dramatic centerpiece. Many of our French Quarter inspired Atrium tower rooms feature French doors that open onto a private balcony overlooking the breathtaking scene of the hotel Atrium. Paragon features an impressive lineup of luxury amenities and attractions including over 500 hotel rooms, a soaring retail atrium with five distinct gift shops and an indoor tropical pool with swim-up bar. Hotel guests also have access to the state-of-the-art fitness center adjacent to the indoor pool. If you prefer the great outdoors, choose the full-service RV resort with over 200 slips and 30 cabins and a huge pool with a newly added splash pad for the little ones. Paragon RV resort is also pet friendly. With more than 1,500 Las Vegas-style slot machines and over 64,000 square feet of gaming action, Paragon also features a state-of-the-art off track betting center, as well as 45 table games, including Craps, Blackjack, Roulette and an eight-table poker room. Paragon offers great nightlife entertainment. Guests can enjoy a fun night life atmosphere at the Atrium Bar with an actual frozen bar top that keeps your drinks chilled all night long! Check our entertainment calendar often at www.paragoncasinoresort.com to find out which national act will come to the Mari Showroom next. For your dining pleasures, choose from one of seven different dining options all under one roof including an elegant steak house, a 50s style diner and everything in between. Enjoy a date night at the Paragon Cinema where you can view the latest box office hits at our state-of-the-art digital three-screen theater. To make the experience complete, drop off the kids at Kid’s Quest Child Care Activity Center where they will enjoy an indoor playground, karaoke, iPad and game system stations and much more! The older kids can enjoy game adventures in our arcade facility located next door to Kid’s Quest. In the mood for relaxation, visit Spa La Vie for a complete rejuvenation experience. Guests can

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enjoy a full-service spa and indulge in services such as massages, facials, body wraps; plus, relax in the steam room, sauna or whirlpool at no additional cost. Don’t forget to pamper yourself at the full-service salon which includes a hair and nail salon. An all day spa pass is also available for guests wanting to experience the steam room, sauna and whirlpool only. Our resort offers over 75,000 square feet of meeting space. The Earl J. Barbry, Sr. Convention Center consists of over 30,000 square feet of the function space equipped with state-of-the-art technology designed to accommodate conferences, banquets, receptions and concerts of any size. Comfortable and versatile, our conference facility has the flexibility to accommodate groups of 10 up to 2,500 guests. Regardless of your group’s size or needs, Paragon Casino Resort has a space option that is perfect for you. We offer impeccable service, sensible pricing and an experienced staff to accommodate you. Voted best in entertainment in the southern region, Paragon offers a diverse musical entertainment lineup for everyone. The Mari Showroom has accommodated world class entertainers and continues to do so with upcoming performances by KC and the Sunshine Band-December 27, Foghat- January 18, Sara Evans-February 6, The O’Jays-February 14, The Band Perry-March 21, Family Feud Game Show-May 24-26 and many more to come. The outdoorsmen can enjoy Tamahka Trails, an eighteen-hole championship golf course with fully stocked pro-shop and grillroom. For more

outdoor fun, take a stroll on our nature trail. This tree-shaded boardwalk takes you across the natural waterway over to the Tunica-Biloxi Cultural and Educational Resource Center. While there, take a tour of the museum for an in-depth learning experience on the TunicaBiloxi Tribe. As an added bonus, history buffs can learn more about the Tunica people every Saturday in the Paragon Hotel Atrium where the Tunica-Biloxi Legend Keepers sing and tell stories of their Native Tribe. A live alligator feeding show adds excitement. At Paragon Casino Resort, the possibilities for fun are endless. Paragon offers a variety of hotel packages combined with amenities such as golf, spa and dining. Book your stay today! n

contact: Kit Musgrove, Director of Convention Services, Paragon Casino Resort Kit has over 20 years of management and corporate sales experience & is responsible for all daily operation requirements of the convention, sales and catering department. kmusgrove@paragon casinoresort.com (318) 240-6310 or (800) WIN-1-WIN, ext. 6310 www.paragoncasinoresort.com

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Use Unique Spaces To Build A Productive Team In 2015

If you’re going to invest in taking your top executives on the road this year, pack in challenging, fun experiences and toss out the boring boardrooms. You won’t find stale settings in Pensacola—a beautiful beach town in Northwest Florida, equipped with unique meeting spaces that will excite and ignite your employees. It’s “game on” when you participate in the Naval Aviator Experience at the National Flight Academy. The Flight Academy adventure center, aboard NAS Pensacola, allows professionals to command a virtual aircraft carrier, work together in flight simulators, and tough it out in survival school. If you’re looking for smooth sailing for the year ahead, groups will find it on Pensacola’s “Ferrari on the water.” The Dare II trimeran is one of the only public-use trimeran vessels in the U.S., providing

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amazing voyages across the blue waters of Pensacola Bay. Pair a sail with a private dinner party at the famous Fish House for a memorable corporate event. Create a team of MVPs, literally, by meeting at Pensacola’s Bayfront Stadium. Named the “2012 Ballpark of the Year” and home to the Blue Wahoos, the expansive outdoor facility allows companies to use the baseball field, batting cages, and bleachers for a grand slam event. If it’s food and fun you crave: divide into teams, hunt, eat, and repeat during a progressive dinner and scavenger hunt on Palafox Street. Named one of the “10 Great Streets in America,” Palafox is in the heart of downtown and offers 8 blocks of pedestrian friendly shops and awardwinning restaurants. Meeting in Pensacola means exploring and

finding adventure. Use the creative itineraries and venues by air, land, and sea above to plan your next retreat. n

contact: Leslie Mathews, Convention Sales Manager, Visit Pensacola Leslie assists meeting planners, attends sales conventions and is in several meeting planner associations, including PCMA and STS. She is TMP certified and a Southeast Tourism Society’s Marketing College graduate. (850) 434-2142 lmathews@visitpensacola.com www.visitpensacola.com

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Meet In The Center Of It All—Greensboro, NC

Meet in the center of it all! Greensboro’s loca-

city’s largest hotel with 1,016 rooms all under

tion in the center of North Carolina and the

one roof. The nearby Greensboro Coliseum

first SciQuarium in June of 2013 that entertains

East coast makes it the best place to meet.

Complex contains a 23,000-seat arena that can

those of all ages. n

Well known for its Southern hospitality,

be downsized to 11,000 seats. In addition

Greensboro has big city amenities and small

150,000 square feet of meeting space is await-

town appeal. Greensboro is strategically

ing your exhibition and breakout needs. There

located at the juncture of three major inter-

are nearly 10,000 hotel rooms in Greensboro.

states (I-40, 85, 73) and features the Piedmont

The International Civil Rights Center and

Triad International Airport with service

Museum showcases Greensboro’s role in the

across the nation.

civil rights history of the nation. Downtown

An easy ride to the Smoky Mountains or the

also features Center City Park, the Historical

Carolina coast, Greensboro’s location is ideal

Museum, Cultural Arts Center, Children’s

for meetings and play!

Museum and Edible Schoolyard.

The largest self-contained hotel/convention

for its variety of restaurants and entertainment.

GA, is the Koury Convention Center offering

If golf is your game, tee it up in Greensboro.

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contact: Ava Pope, Director of Sales, Greensboro Area CVB A long-time veteran of the hospitality industry, Ava has worked as Director of Sales with the Greensboro CVB for over 20 years.

The nightlife in downtown is well known

facility between Washington, DC and Atlanta, 250,000 square feet of meeting space and the

The Greensboro Science Center opened the

Enjoy over 20 courses year round.

(336) 274-2282 or (800) 344-2282 apope@visitgreensboronc.com www.visitgreensboronc.com

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Drive-In Destinations

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Lights, Camera, MEET…….in Peachtree City

A Perfect Location In A Master-Planned City Creates An Environment For Highly Successful Meetings

Planning a successful meeting is a lot like making a great movie: You need the right script, people, and of course—a great location! Peachtree City, Georgia has a fabulous location and is quickly becoming the ‘Hollywood of the South’. Nestled just 25 minutes south of Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International airport, you’ll find one of the most unique meeting destinations in the country. With over 90 miles of paved cart paths, visitors enjoy a host of activities that are easily accessible by one of Peachtree City’s signature vehicle’s—A Golf Cart! Your group can experience a little bit of Hollywood in Peachtree City while aboard The Southern Hollywood Film Tour. The picturesque city proudly shares in the claim to fame of the hit television series The Walking Dead. Peachtree City can also be spotted in high-budget films such as “Sweet Home Alabama,” starring Reese Witherspoon, and “Joyful Noise,” starring Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton. On The Southern Hollywood Film Tour, groups will visit famous film and television sites. From young children to senior citizens, The Southern Hollywood Film Tour will entertain everyone! Recent star sightings in Peachtree City include Michael Douglas, Paul Rudd, and Norman Reedus. While Peachtree City has continually won awards for being a great place to raise children and to retire—it is also a fun place to visit as a vacation or meeting destination. The Peachtree City Convention and Visitors Bureau is fortunate to partner with two full service hotel/conference centers, plus 5 additional premier properties. From moderately priced rooms to elegant suites, we have the perfect choice to fit your budget. During your visit, let the Peachtree City CVB help you arrange unique experiences for your attendees. Wherever you stay in Peachtree City, you are sure to find the comforts of home. Additionally, Peachtree City’s easy access to nearby Atlanta attractions such as the CNN Center, High Museum of Art, Georgia Aquarium and the Atlanta Motor Speedway make it the perfect choice for a meeting destination with something for everyone. With five distinct villages located throughout the city, each supported by a retail center, Peachtree City is a shopper’s dream! From

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locally owned boutiques to national chains, you are sure to find something to love. There is also a diverse selection of locally owned restaurants. From Asian to Southern, the owners and chefs put their heart and soul into providing a delicious menu of food and drinks. Along with great food, you also get the spirit of the neighborhood, staff and owners. Recreational activities are in abundance in Peachtree City. Within a 5-minute golf cart ride from your hotel, play golf at one of three private courses, or tennis at Peachtree City’s USTA Tennis Center. Next, imagine the excitement of a Golf Cart Scavenger Hunt. Dividing your group into teams for a fun outing makes for an excellent team building experience. Customizing this event is easy! Teams are given a list of items to either collect or photograph, like a grocery bag from the Fresh Market or a team picture in front of the fountain at City Hall plaza. Once teams return to the start line, points are given for items collected, time of completion, and creativity. This out of the box activity has always been a huge success among every participant. A concert under the stars is another favorite thing to do in Peachtree City! Nestled in the pines and located in the heart of the city, the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater is a summer hot spot among locals and visitors. ‘The Fred,’ a 2500 seat outdoor amphitheater, is home to inter-

national touring acts like Huey Lewis, Foreigner, and Gladys Knight. In Peachtree City you’ll find a community with big ideas and big hearts, a place where Southern hospitality meets resort style living, a town that invites you to learn how much better life can be at 15 mph. We invite you to roll out the red carpet for your next meeting in Peachtree City Ga.The Peachtree City Convention and Visitors Bureau will help you plan a meeting that has your attendees relaxed and ready to focus! n

contact: Jennifer Nirenberg, Sports and Group Sales Coordinator, Peachtree City CVB As the Sales Coordinator for Sports and Group Sales, Jennifer is ready to provide an effortless customer experience when planning your meetings. The PTC CVB earned the Gold Level Benchmark of Excellence from the GACVB in 201 , and you can expect first-class service from our team. (678) 216-0282 jnirenberg@visit peachtreecity.com www.visitpeachtreecity.com

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Drive-In Destinations

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Gulf Shores & Orange Beach: Find The Spark Of Productivity

Find the spark of productivity you’re looking for on the sugar-white sand beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. With the beautiful turquoise blue of the Gulf of Mexico as your backdrop, creating programming for a productive, interactive and memorable meeting, board retreat or convention brings you to a whole different state of engagement. Our experienced sales professionals utilize their extensive knowledge of the area to save you both time and resources—matching you with the ideal property and activities that best suit your meeting goals. Our meeting and accommodation options can serve the needs of up to 2,000 attendees. These include a full-service convention hotel, limited service properties with ample meeting space, a conference center with tradeshow space, and luxury condominium resorts with meeting space and

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on-site catering. Our staff will assist with procuring proposals on your behalf, arranging site visits of the properties and surrounding area, and can help with finding the right free time or team building activities for your group. Many of the favorite leisure activities along the Alabama Gulf Coast include golf, charter fishing, sailing excursions, nature outings, spa outings and shopping. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are located at the western tip of the Panhandle region, just south of Mobile, Ala., and are within a day’s drive of most southeastern cities. The destination’s location along the Gulf of Mexico is home to many state and regional association meetings. Board of Directors and sales incentive groups also find the area an ideal location for productive and rewarding meetings. The area is easily reached via the Pensacola and

Mobile airports, or by corporate jet at the Jack Edwards National Airport. Let our staff help plan your next successful meeting! n

contact: Mary Statkewicz, Senior Sales Manager, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism Mary joined Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism nine years ago after a 20 year career in hotel sales with Marriott, Stouffer and Radisson Hotels. (888) 421-8715 groups@gulfshores.com http://gsobmeetings.com

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Drive-In Destinations

SPONSORED CONTENT

On The Map...30.84 Degrees North & 83.28 Degrees West

Visit Valdosta and the James H. Rainwater Conference Center. Many meeting planners have complimented the Rainwater Conference Center on the open pre-function area and the flexibility of the space, not to mention the great staff. Conference attendees can network comfortably when not directly engaged in meetings,

while their families enjoy the local adventures. Surrounding the conference center are numerous flag hotels, abundant dining and shopping. Take advantage of The Rainwater Conference Center’s great space, affordable pricing and excellent location. Put Valdosta on your Map! n

contact: Sandra Roose, Director of Sales James H. Rainwater Conference Center (229) 219-4405 www.rainwaterconferencecenter.com

We can go upscale on food

Veranda decorated for a colorful party

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Drive-In Destinations

SPONSORED CONTENT

The BMW Performance Center Offers A High Performance Meeting Experience As soon as you arrive at the BMW Performance Center you feel something exciting is about to happen. Maybe it’s the clean lines of the sleek, modern facility or the sounds of roaring engines and squealing tires emanating from the track. Or maybe it’s the sight of the full range of BMW vehicles, from SUV’s and sedans to coupes and M cars, just waiting to be pushed to their limits. Whatever it is, it engages the senses and raises the pulse. It’s an atmosphere that creates anticipation. Because when you arrive at the BMW Performance Center, you know you are going to have fun. Imagine a conference, meeting or corporate event that blends the high performance excitement of the Ultimate Driving Machine with the resources and flexibility of a state-of-the-art conference facility. The BMW Performance Center is more than just a driving school, it’s the perfect location for teambuilding events, corporate retreats, conferences, meetings and customer and employee appreciation experiences. The 64,000-square-foot Performance Center offers flexible space with small, intimate meeting rooms that easily convert into large open conferences spaces, each with cutting edge audio/video technology and Internet streaming. The Performance Center’s Café is a destination in itself, serving a mix of authentic German favorites, southern specialties, sandwiches and quick serve items. From finger

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foods and hors d’oeuvres to full service meals, the Café’s culinary team works closely with meeting and event planners to create the perfect menu for attendees eager to refuel after an exhilarating experience on the track. Oh yes, the track! With over two miles of asphalt that can be configured in a number of challenging ways the Performance Center track is a blank canvas for the Center’s roster of performance driving instructors and fleet of over 100 BMW vehicles. The Performance Center’s instructors include current and former race car drivers, stunt drivers and speed record holders. The instructors are the cream of the performance driving crop and through their knowledge, skill and enthusiasm are able to push driving students through their comfort zones to experience the rush of what BMW vehicles are truly capable of. The Performance Center instructors can custom design driving programs that include experiences such as the Skid Pad, Rat Race, Water Walls and Timed Laps, that challenge drivers to push their limits and improve their skills though a series of dynamic steering, cornering, braking and acceleration techniques. The BMW Performance Center is located just off I-85 in Spartanburg, South Carolina and just minutes away from the GreenvilleSpartanburg airport. The Performance Center’s location is easily accessible by car and is approximately a two and a half hour drive from

contact: The BMW Performance Center (888) 345-4269 www.bmwusa.com/ performancecenter https://www.facebook.com/ bmwperformancecenter

Atlanta and less than one and a half hours from Charlotte. A variety of hotels and restaurants are located nearby and the Performance Center’s staff can arrange for transportation. For conference and meeting attendees with some energy left after a full day of burning rubber, the town of Greenville is just a short twenty minutes away. With a long list of accolades from national publications and television programs, Greenville is one of America’s hottest emerging destinations. The city is full of quaint shops, boutiques, award winning restaurants and a world-class collection of museums, galleries and theaters. Some call the BMW Performance Center the Ultimate Driving Machine Amusement Park. Offering a technologically advanced facility, amazing food and the adrenaline rush of pushing BMW vehicles to their limits, it’s easy to see why. To plan your next event at the BMW Performance Center please call (888) 345-4269. n

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n w o d w o h S n o i t a n i t s De I

S E SOUTH’ H T O T S GUIDE NSIDER’S

TOP

AT S DESTIN G N I T E E M

Editor’s Pick: “Most Accessible Destination”

Editor’s Pick: “Most Meetings Friendly”

IONS

54 Editor’s Pick: “Most Affordable Destination”

D.C. Area

VA KY

NC TN

Upstate S.C.

Middle Georgia

LA TX

Mississippi Gulf Coast

Northeast Florida FL

Editor’s Pick: “Best Area For Gaming”

44 40

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Editor’s Pick: “Best Destination to Relax”

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ALABAMA ARKANSAS

FLORIDA

GEORGIA KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MARYLAND MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI NORTH CAROLINA OKLAHOMA TENNESSEE TEXAS VIRGINIA WEST VIRGINIA

INSIDER’S

GUIDE

The Sand Blaster Roller Coaster is now open as part of Daytona Boardwalk Amusement rides, which also includes go-karts and a ferris wheel.

By Mary Haban

Northeast Florida n

Daytona Beach n Jacksonville n Amelia Island n St. Augustine

Discover A New Daytona Beach

Visitors are discovering a new Daytona Beach—an exciting chapter in the destination’s history showcasing its racing heritage, idyllic East Coast oceanfront location and impressive arts affiliation. The area is in the midst of investing more than $1 billion in renovations and construction, all of which are making for an even more exciting vacation stay. Now open are Daytona Beach’s first oceanfront roller coaster and the world’s first oceanfront Hyatt Place. The hotel opened in October 2013, offering direct beach access for 143 rooms, and an expansive oceanfront pool and spa with pool bar. Race fans will rejoice over the DAYTONA Rising Project—a $400 million overhaul at Daytona International Speedway that will create a worldclass attraction when it opens in January 2016. Enhancements include three new concourse levels that will span the front stretch; five expanded and redesigned fan entrances called ‘injectors’; 11 social areas dubbed ‘neighborhoods,’ each the size of a football field with open sightlines and dozens of video screens so no one will miss the on-track action; more than 60 new luxury trackside suites with patios; 14 elevators and 40 escalators in the new grandstand; and, 101,000 new 20”-21” grandstand seats featuring backs and arm rests. The legendary Hard Rock Vice is coming to the iconic Daytona Beach shoreline. The Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach is currently in the planning stages with the property slated to break ground at the end of 2014 with construction completed in late 2016. The property will feature 250 guest rooms, a Hard Rock Cafe, two rock star suites, a spa and a pool area complete with a bar and grill, and 28,000 square feet of meeting space. The Residences at Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach will offer 107 luxurious condominium units. The Museum of Arts & Sciences is welcoming the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art, a $13 million facility filled with 2,700 paintings w w w. c o nve n t i o n s o u t h . c o m

dating from the 19th century, the most extensive collection of Florida art worldwide. Slated to open February 2015, the 26,000-square-foot home of the Brown’s unprecedented collection will also feature a mezzanine showcasing their signature pieces, six changing galleries, conference and education rooms, a café with outdoor seating and a gift shop. Called One Daytona, nearly 1.1 million square feet of premier shopping, dining, accommodations, theater and entertainment are planned just steps from the ‘World Center of Racing’ and minutes from the ‘World’s Most Famous Beach’ on 181 acres along International Speedway Boulevard. Bass Pro Shops and Cobb Theatres are confirmed to anchor One Daytona. In 2015, the new Daytona Beach Tortugas baseball team, an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, will take to the field. Games will be played at historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark in scenic downtown Daytona Beach. n

Rendering of One Da ytona

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N O R T H E A S T

F L O R I D A

Historic Meetings:

St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & the Beaches Known as the nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine also holds the distinction of being one of the country’s most charming. Founded in 1565, the city has some serious staying power – in fact, it’s about to celebrate a 450 year birthday, and still reflects a rich Spanish heritage and Old World charm. Unique attractions, historic hotels, charming inns, museums and historical sites provide inspiring settings for meetings accommodating 10 to 1,500 or more attendees. And this city stays open late. “In a lot of places, they roll up the streets at 6pm…not us,” says Glenn Graham, Director of Conference Sales for the CVB. “We keep everything open, even the historical areas.” ‰Serious Seaside Settings – The area’s multitude of beautiful beaches, captivating waterways and inspiring terrain are prime backdrops for outdoor gatherings and teambuilding programs. Top-rated resorts, including the Four-Diamond Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort Spa, the Five-Diamond Ponte Vedra Inn Club, and the Four-Diamond Ponte Vedra Lodge Club — combine to offer 100,000 square feet of meeting space. Each resort has recently completed major renovations and added spectacular resort and meetings facilities.

‰Legendary Links – Known as the world center of golf, the area is home to the World Golf Hall of Fame and the famed King Bear course, the only course co-designed by Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. The Clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass offers 13,000 sq. ft. of function space with inspiring views of the famous TPC Stadium Course, home of the PGA TOUR and THE PLAYERS Championship. The Renaissance Resort at The World Golf Village also adjoins to the St. John’s County Convention Center. n

Southern Elegance: Amelia Island Ever hear the quote, “if you build it they will come?” Kevin Costner made the line famous in the inspirational baseball movie Field of Dreams. Now, the folks in Amelia Island are loading their bases with a real heavy hitter of an incentive that’s bound to be a homerun with meeting pros. If you’re thinking of bringing a group to this authentic island, but want to check it out first, you can. The Flights for Sites program offers planners up to $400 in airfare reimbursement to do just that. “Once we get the meeting planner here, it becomes a whole lot easier to sell the product and the conversion rate becomes very high,” says Gil Langley, President and CEO of the Amelia Island Convention and Visitors Bureau. What keeps planners coming back is the sheer, untouched beauty of this 13-mile long and two-mile wide impeccable island community. Stunning seaside accommodations with breathtaking views and meeting space to match are also high on the list. Recent multi-million dollar renovations at the five-star, five-diamond, 446-room Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, and the completion of the re-imagination project at the 404-room; 300-villa Omni Amelia Island Plantation, help keep Amelia Island a fan favorite. “We offer the comfort and relaxation of a Southern destination, delivered in a sophisticated manner with outstanding customer service,” adds Langley. n

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Hoyt House Bed & Breakfast

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N O R T H E A S T

F L O R I D A

EDITOR’S

HOT PICKS NORTHEAST FLORIDA and its diverse

cities and beach communities have countless options for groups seeking an easy-to-reach Florida experience. Our eyes are especially on Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, which both have many new and exciting offerings for groups on the horizon or recently opened. TOP PICKS:

Go Off The Grid From historic buildings, to modern museums, romantic rivers to beautiful beaches, take your next meeting outside. Jacksonville’s MetroPark offers 27-acres of waterfront glory with a 2,400 sq. ft. stage, a green room and generous seating. Feeling adventurous? Take your group on the St. Johns River or get wild at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (pictured above), with a behind-the-scenes tour of animal habitats and wild scavenger hunts. n

Water, Water...Everywhere From oceanfront resorts to elegant riverfront convention hotels, this “River City by the Sea” boasts an impressive selection of unique venues to accommodate groups from 10 to 10,000 in a modern and vibrant setting. Book your group on a dining cruise, take in an eco-adventure, paddle down a river, or bask on the beach, the options to w w w. c o nve n t i o n s o u t h . c o m

See Ad On Page 29

Daytona Beach CVB www.daytonabeachmeetings.com Hilton Daytona Beach Resort/ Ocean Walk Village www.daytonahilton.com

Jacksonville: Restful rivers. Modern museums with mega cool meeting space. Did we mention world-class medical institutions, trendy boutiques, a cruise port, and Major-League sports? The list of reasons to book a meeting here gets bigger and better. Here, is Jacksonville. Nestled between the Atlantic Coast and the St. Johns River, it’s the largest city by landmass in the continental United States. With 200 properties totaling 18,000 hotel rooms and loads of unique meeting space, what more could a planner hope for? According to Paul Astleford, President & CEO of Visit Jacksonville, not much. “We close business when planners come here,” he says. “It’s the diversity of options and vibe that Jacksonville represents.”

Ocean Center (855) 376-8149 www.oceancenter.com “Located in the heart of Daytona Beach, only a few steps from the Atlantic Ocean and the Ocean Walk Shoppes featuring eateries, movie theaters, entertainment and shopping.”

indulge in nature’s sanctuary are endless. Jacksonville has 21 miles of white-sandy and exciting beaches and over 85,000 acres of parks, the largest urban park system in the entire nation. Dining Districts Galore Admit it. Food is one of the big reasons you look forward to exploring a new town. In Jacksonville, look no further than the historic, charming neighborhood of San Marco. Located minutes from Downtown’s Southside, you’ll stumble upon an epicurean treasure filled with Jacksonville’s best restaurants including bb’s, Bistro AIX, The Grotto, Mathews and Taverna. It’s electric and eclectic, without being pretentious. Tech It Out Great historic architecture and state-of-theart technology combine to create the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center. Think big with 275,000 sq. ft. of flexible space, including 22 meeting rooms and top-notch wireless capabilities. n

FOLLOW UP:

St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Florida’s Historic Coast www.floridashistoriccoast.com Amelia Island CVB www.ameliaisland.com Visit Jacksonville & The Beaches www.visitjacksonville.com/meetings

NORTHEAST FLORIDA IN-DEPTH

Visit www.ConventionSouth.com for more about the Northeast Florida area through our interactive Insider’s Guide with maps, videos more.

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ALABAMA ARKANSAS FLORIDA GEORGIA KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MARYLAND

MISSISSIPPI

MISSOURI NORTH CAROLINA OKLAHOMA TENNESSEE TEXAS VIRGINIA WEST VIRGINIA

INSIDER’S

G U I D E By Marcia Bradford

Mississippi Gulf Coast

From glamorous casinos featuring 24-hour gaming and top-tier entertainment to tucked-away historic treasures, the Mississippi Gulf Coast offers a mixture of fast-paced excitement and laidback charm. With 62 miles of scenic shoreline on or near the Gulf of Mexico and several small southern towns, it’s a place where visitors can participate in ecotourism adventures in the morning and tour microbreweries during the afternoon. “The Mississippi Gulf Coast offers so many options for meeting and event planners,” said Renée Areng, CDME, Executive Director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Convention Visitors Bureau. “From charming and historic locations to the grandeur of casino properties and the Coast Convention Center, planners can create a personal experience on the Coast.” n

Convene Near the Beach In early December, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center hosted the premiere event of the national LEGO Creativity Tour, Powered by LEGO KidsFest, drawing more than 16,000 people over three days. Aaron Wartner, spokesperson for the LEGO KidsFest, described both the facility and the surrounding community as “fantastic.” He explained that the LEGO Creativity Tour was developed as a way to connect with smaller markets. “We had an awesome experience. Both the center staff and the CVB staff were amazingly helpful and the convention center is spectacular,” Wartner said. “It’s attractive and filled with light, easy to get in and out of and immaculate - you could have eaten off the showroom floor.” The location near the beach and the many nearby attractions helped draw people from throughout the region, he added. “Everyone is surprised on their first visit here, when they see how large and attractive this facility is,” said Jaime Ochs, event coordinator for the convention center. Just across the street from the beach, the 400,000square-foot facility can handle groups of up to 6,000 for everything from trade shows to elegant dinners, she explained. Completely renovated in 2009, it features an attractive light-filled lobby with decor that reflects the surrounding water, sand and sunny climate of the Mississippi coast. The exhibit hall has 35-foot ceilings, along with the latest in telecommunications, storage, load capacity and power. Accessibility is a big selling point for the facility, Ochs said. Just 10 miles from the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, the center has 2,000 on-site parking spaces and loading

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docks that can accommodate extra-large items. The Coliseum, located next door, seats up to 15,000, allowing for a variety of activities at one property, Ochs pointed out. Last summer, the 1,500 participants of a Baptist Youth Group conference held group functions in the arena and smaller breakout activities in the convention center meeting rooms. For additional convention and event space, the Biloxi Civic Center has a 15,214-square-foot ballroom and can accommodate groups of up to 2,500. A great spot for performances and ceremonies, the facility features a stage, mezzanine, dressing rooms, a green room and state-ofthe-art audiovisual system. n

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M I S S I S S I P P I

G U L F

C O A S T

Old-School Seclusion in Ocean Springs

Play & Stay If your group’s got game, the Mississippi coast has the options. A number of upscale resorts mix the glitz and glamour of high-rise casino hotels with state-of-the-art meeting facilities, while tucked-away retreat properties offer serenity and seclusion. New meeting space was recently added to the Mississippi coast as part of the $100 million transformation at the Golden Nugget Biloxi (formerly the Isle of Capri Casino & Resort). Director of Sales Brenda Taylor said the entire property, including the 721 guestrooms and suites, has been given a fresh, new look. By remodeling existing meeting space and adding new space, the facility now offers 23,000 square feet for groups of up to 1,000. On-site restaurants include Morton’s Steakhouse and Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. For one-of-akind private functions, check out H2O Pool + Bar, the largest and sleekest pool on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, with numerous lounges, daybeds, cabanas, a restaurant, a swim-up bar, live music AND poolside gambling. Overlooking the beach and offering 1,740 newly remodeled guestrooms, including 95 luxury suites, the 32-story Beau Rivage Resort & Casino has 50,000 square feet of state-ofthe-art meeting space, which can accommodate groups of up to 1,800, according to Mary Cracchiolo Spain, regional director, public relations for MGM Resorts International, Mississippi Operations. Known for its beautiful and elegant atrium and shopping promenade, the Beau has 10 restaurants, four bars and a spa and salon, which was rated by Travel + Leisure as one of the top 20 in the U.S. Adding yet another special touch

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for guests, the AAA Four-Diamond property recently upgraded its VIP check-in service. In addition to an 85,000-square-foot casino, a 1,550-seat theater boasts a $3 million sound and lighting system. There’s also a large pool, with private cabanas, and Fallen Oaks, an 18-hole golf course. Among the best sites for special group events, Cracchiolo cited the Red Brick Room, the terrace outside the Azalea Ballroom that overlooks the pool and the elegant Oaks Boardroom. By February, all 1,088 guestrooms and suites at the IP Casino Resort Spa will have been completely redone, according to Leslie Barfield, Director of Hotel Sales. With 32 floors overlooking a back bay and 70,000 square feet of gaming, the AAA Four Diamond property offers VIP check-in and King Spa Suites. Barfield said the penthouse suites are great for association officers or executive perks, with space for receptions and onsite catering offered. On the property’s entire top floor is Thirty-Two, a fine-dining Steak and Seafood restaurant with excellent views. An elegant board room and Studio, a 1,400-seat theater often used for keynote addresses, are included in the 65,000 square feet of meeting space for up to 1,200. For a unique treatment, try the Arctic Snow Room in IP’s Senses Spa. Replacing the former Grand Casino Biloxi, Harrah’s Gulf Coast has a large outdoor event site, which can accommodate up to 60,000 people. Overlooking the beach, it’s great for concerts and other events. There are also several spaces in the facility’s dining area for small gatherings. n

For a truly unique retreat, check out the Gulf Hills Hotel and Conference Center in Ocean Springs. This historic, secluded property was built in the 1920s as a hideaway for Al Capone and became a get-away for Elvis Presley during the 1960s. Today, smaller groups can book the entire facility, which has 52 spacious guestrooms and two elegant and luxurious suites. The meeting space, designed with simple elegance of days past, can hold 300 for receptions, 150 for banquets, and has a special board room. General Manager Donna Brown said groups that book the hotel have the run of the facility, including the large pool, and access to the 18-hole golf course and lighted tennis courts on the property. There’s also a launching area for kayaks and canoes in a back bay that leads out to the Gulf of Mexico. “It’s perfect for reunions, weddings, retreats, company parties and all sorts of special occasions,” she said. Just a short drive away, downtown Ocean Springs offers lots of dining and shopping options located in charming, historic structures along shady, walkable streets. n

Beach Baseball

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is about to get a new minor league baseball stadium, which will also serve as a state-of-the-art special event center. MGM Park at Beau Rivage, scheduled to open in 2015 and located just across the street from the Beau Rivage Resort Casino, will be the home field for the Biloxi Shuckers, who will play in the Double-A Southern League. Additionally, the 5,000-seat stadium will be able to accommodate up to 18,000 people for other types of events. “This will be a game-changer for the Mississippi coast, in terms of both sports competitions, concerts and other large-scale special events,” said Mary Cracchiolo Spain, regional director, public relations for MGM Resorts International, Mississippi Operations. n J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 ⎜ ConventionSouth ⎜

M I S S I S S I P P I

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C O A S T

Unique Special Event Sites

EDITOR’S

HOT PICKS MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST is a 24-

hour gaming destination without the distractions of Las Vegas but with much of the fun. While not enjoying a chance to win it big, groups can take to the beach and enjoy fresh seafood. TOP PICKS: Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional CVB (888) 467-4853 www.gulfcoast.org “Travel professionals that can help you plan your next unconventional convention.” See Ad On Page 60 Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center (228) 594-3700 www.mscoastcoliseum.com/ “Located directly across the Biloxi beach—a perfect place for ample convention space and activities.” See Ad On Page 60

FOLLOW UP: Beau Rivage Resort & Casino www.beaurivage.com Golden Nugget Casino Hotel Biloxi www.goldennugget.com/biloxi Harrahs Gulf Coast www.caesars.com/harrahsgulfcoast IP Casino Resort & Spa www.IPbiloxi.com

MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST IN-DEPTH

Visit www.ConventionSouth.com for more about the Mississippi Gulf Coast area through our interactive Insider’s Guide with maps, videos more.

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Seeking an authentic Blues experience? The historic 100 Men D.B.A. Hall in Bay St. Louis, where Etta James, Professor Longhair, Irma Thomas and other blues and jazz artists performed can accommodate groups of 200 - 250 for special events. Music is available and food provided by local caterers. One of the few standing original buildings on the Mississippi Blues Trail, this landmark was built in 1922 by the 100 Men Debating Benevolent Association, which served the surrounding community. n Mary Mahoney’s Old French House Restaurant in Biloxi is located in a structure dating back to 1737, when the area was a European outpost, this historic treasure offers delicious seafood cuisine with a Cajun flair. n The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum in Biloxi features pleasure and fishing boats from the past on display, along with exhibits of the area’s shrimping and oystering industries. n The Estuarine Education Center at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Gautier offer teambuilding and leadership training opportunities ranging from rockwall climbing to the ropes course to scavenger hunts on the 40-acre property that runs along the Mary Walker Bayou and the Pasagoula River. n The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art in Biloxi houses collections of George E. Ohr and other regional and international artists and offers classes for small groups. n

A Place Apart: Bay St. Louis At the west end of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the city of Bay St. Louis features many historic structures and waterfront attractions. Just off the beaten track, but still a place with lots of action, is the Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis. The 14-story hotel features themed decor, providing the glamorous feel of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Thomas Dean, CMP, Senior Sales Manager, said all soft goods in the 291 guestrooms and suites were redone in 2014. Tucked away from the casino, the 14,000square-foot conference center has a spacious prefunction area that is light and sunny, overlooking a pool and lazy river, which was installed in 2014. There’s an 18-hole Arnold Palmer Golf Course, The Bridges, and a small marina. Bogart’s Steakhouse overlooks the water and can be booked privately by groups of up to 80. Dean said groups that meet at the Hollywood

Casino enjoy side trips to the nearby Stennis Space Center and Waveland Park. “Additionally, nearby Old Town Bay St. Louis, a walkable area that is full of boutique shops and fun dining spots right along the bay, definitely helps me sell the property to groups.” Green pointed out the shops and Little Theatre in Old Town Bay St. Louis as wonderful places for off-site activities and spouse tours. Also, the Depot District has a community hall that fits up to 700, and an outdoor arena. Bucaneer State Park, just 10 minutes away, has a wave pool and water park. “We’re becoming a popular family reunion mecca and are beginning to draw many sports events, ” Green said. “There’s a boat for groups of 40 that can be chartered to go into the bay or gulf. Also, St. Rose DeLima Church, a beautiful, historic African American Catholic Church, is just one of several popular stops for African American Heritage Tours. History buffs love the area.” n w w w. c o nve n t i o n s o u t h . c o m

ALABAMA ARKANSAS FLORIDA

B o at i n g e Down Thl Cana

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KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MARYLAND MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI NORTH CAROLINA OKLAHOMA SOUTH CAROLINA TENNESSEE TEXAS VIRGINIA WEST VIRGINIA

the rs along Boat tou er a ff o l a n Ca Augusta erspective tp pleasan aterway. w e th on

INSIDER’S GUIDE

By T. Wayne Waters

Middle Georgia

HA l N ana ta C s u ug rs/A oge R.R

Georgia’s east/west midsection offers classic southern ambiance, three prominent riverside cities, at least a half-dozen universities and, in Statesboro, a lively small town with surprising offerings. n

Statesboro: Raptor Center, Winery,

Brewery & Southern Hospitality Aplenty

studio and a classroom. The Averitt Center is also home to the 363-seat Emma Kelly Theater.

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Statesboro CVB

Nicely located about 60 miles by the interstate from Savannah, about 125 from Macon, and only 45 minutes from the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Statesboro, Ga., is a great location for a small conference. With more than 26 meeting spaces offering a total of over 250,000 square feet of meeting space, much of it at various Georgia Southern University facilities, and nearly 1,100 hotel rooms, Statesboro can accommodate sizeable events —and provide engaging recreation, as well. Another Statesboro meeting space is slated to open January 2016 in the Natural Resources building on the Ogeechee Tech campus. The new Ogeechee Technical College Conference Center’s auditorium will be able to accommodate up to 500 attendees and also have classroom space available. The campus also has additional meeting space. “We have a beautiful little downtown and some wonderful restaurants, a great winery and a new brewery,” said Heidi Jeffers, Executive Director of the Statesboro CVB. “The Statesboro CVB staff can provide all sorts of information and services to The Averitt Center for the Arts in downtown Statesboro is groups or businesses visiting. We love to help. Southern hospitality is alive and a restored late-19th century bank building that now houses an art gallery, four art studios, an additional multi-purpose well in Statesboro.” n

M I D D L E

G E O R G I A

Macon: Museums, Lakes, Rivers & More Several major projects have Robin North, Vice President, Sales and Services for the Macon/ Bibb County CVB, excited in 2015. First scheduled opening is for the new Tubman African American Museum, set for this spring. It will be the largest African American museum in the southeastern U.S. and will have exhibits and educational programs and also provide a venue for conventions and conferences. “It is spectacular,” North said simply, of the Tubman, which is located right across from the Macon Visitors Center. “It has a huge, soaring atrium topped off by what looks like an African headdress at the top of the building, with a clerestory window all the way around. The galleries have glass balconies looking down on a beautiful terrazzo floor. It’s quite beautiful.” Following soon after the Tubman opening, a $2.7 million water park on eight acres at Lake Tobesofkee’s Sandy Beach, just 15 minutes from downtown Macon, is slated for a summer 2015 opening. The Marietta-based Spirit of America Theme Park and Development LLC enterprise

will feature an indoor pool, wave pool, lazy river and water slides. The area has several major meeting venues including the Edgar H. Wilson Convention Center at the Macon Centreplex, the largest meeting facility in Georgia outside of Atlanta. The facility provides a nearly 31,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall, a 9,100square-foot ballroom, 13 meeting rooms and additional pre-function space, along with an adjacent nearly 40,000-square-foot arena with theater, classroom and banquet space of its own. Macon’s Anderson Conference Center features a large atrium banquet room that can host up to 850 people and additional rooms for smaller groups. The facility is operated by Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia. Another Macon conference facility is the Middle Georgia State College Professional Sciences Center, with a 4,500-square-foot banquet hall, an 1,100-square-foot boardroom, nearly 4,000 square feet of pre-function space, and additional classrooms and other space.

The Augusta Riverwalk shows why this Georgia city has been called The Garden City of the South.

The Tubman African American Museum in Macon is set to open within the next few months. Macon-Bibb County CVB/Verner Johnson Museum Architects Planners

Macon has about 300 hotel rooms downtown and some 4,700 more counting the ones concentrated nearby along I-75. The FourDiamond 217-room Macon Marriott City Center Hotel is connected to the Macon Centreplex and has 5,000 square feet of meeting space of its own, as well as the Vintage restaurant and bar. n

Augusta: Canal, Riverwalk & More

NHA R.Rogers/Augusta Canal

Augusta CVB

Augusta, Ga., home of famed golf tournament The Masters, has much more than just golfing glory to offer visitors and meeting planners. Chief among the city’s attractions is the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area, which includes The Augusta Canal Discovery Center at Enterprise Mill, an interactive museum in a historic mill that highlights the history of the waterway and the industry that developed on its banks; themed boat tours down the canal in a large Petersburg Boat; and walking, biking and canoe/kayak trails along the canal. Enterprise Mill can host special events, accommodating up to 250 indoors or 750 using the outside Courtyard Gazebo. This small city along the banks of the Savannah River has several historic sites and multiple Antebellum mansions and other historic structures, as well, many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Augusta Riverwalk is a two-tiered park and walkway that features several gardens, the Jessye Norman Amphitheater, and restaurants. Artists Row is a popular riverside area filled with galleries, studios, shops and eateries. The Morris Museum of Art, with its thousands of works depicting Southern culture, is also on the Riverwalk. The LEED-certified Augusta Convention Center, entering only its third year of operation, offers 100,000 square-feet of total event space including up to 26 breakout meeting rooms at its riverfront location. The Augusta The Augusta Canal Museum Marriott at the Convention Center attached to the facility serves as its is located in a historic mill exclusive caterer. The 372-room Augusta Marriott at the Convention and provides an engaging presentation of the canal’s Center is undergoing a $5 million renovation of its main tower of importance to the developguest and meeting rooms. Renovations should be completed within ment of this riverside city. the next few months. n

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M I D D L E

G E O R G I A

EDITOR’S

HOT PICKS TOP PICKS: Augusta Marriott At The Convention Center (706) 722-8900 www.marriott.com/agsmc “Augusta’s premier hotel destination will only get better upon completion of their multimillion room renovation in Feb. 2015.” See Ad On Page 16

The Chattahoochee RiverWalk is a 22-mile walking and biking area along the Chattahoochee River in Columbus. The trail is paved with asphalt, concrete and brick.

Columbus: Urban Whitewater, Military History & More Columbus, the second-largest city in Georgia, continues to reap the benefits of its decision to release the dammed water of both the City Mills and the Eagle and Phenix dams, thus restoring the natural flow of the Chattahoochee River and creating the longest urban whitewater rafting course in the world. USA Today chose Columbus’ whitewater course as one of the Top 12 Manmade Adventures in the World. Alongside this whitewater action runs the 15mile Chattahoochee RiverWalk. As special as the Chattahoochee River is for Columbus, there are other top-notch activities to enjoy in a city that also boasts the Port Columbus Civil War Naval Museum; the National Infantry Museum; The Columbus Museum; the CocaCola Space Science Center; the historic Springer Opera House; and the beautiful Columbus Historic District with its spectacular architecture. Some of these facilities offer limited event space. Columbus is a city blessed with several excellent major meeting facilities. The Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center, located in the Historic Columbus Iron Works on the banks of the Chattahoochee, has 182,000 square feet of

usable floor space that includes a 55,000 squarefoot exhibit hall and 22 breakout rooms. The Cunningham Center Conference Center at the Cunningham Center for Leadership Development provides a 5,432-square-foot banquet hall, six seminar rooms, an executive board room and four computer training labs. The Columbus Civic Center is an entertainment venue for major musical concerts and sports events but the 10,000-seat facility also has reconfigurable 5,000-square-feet Hospitality Suites, an outdoor patio overlooking the Chattahoochee, and full-service kitchen and support personnel. RiverCenter for the Performing Arts often has musical and theatrical performances going on but also rents its 2000-seat Bill Heard Theatre, 450seat Legacy Hall and 150-seat Studio Theatre. Columbus has more than 4,600 hotel rooms, chief among them the historic 177-room Marriott Columbus located across from the Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center. The hotel was constructed around a restored 19th-century cotton mill and offers 4,800 square feet of meeting space and an Atrium Lobby that can accommodate up to 240. n

Columbus GA Convention & Trade Center (706) 327-4522 www.columbusgaconventioncenter.com “Experience the Difference in Columbus, Georgia. Contact us to find out how you can qualify for reduced rent!” See Ad On Page 16 Georgia State Parks (404) 656-3530 www.gastateparks.org/corporate-groups “Little Ocmulgee Lodge features conference facilities located far from distractions, yet outfitted with the latest technology and a beautiful on-site golf course.” See Ad On Page 27 FOLLOW UP: Augusta CVB www.augustaga.org Columbia County CVB www.choosecolumbiacounty.com Columbus CVB www.visitcolumbusga.com Macon - Bibb County CVB www.visitmacon.org Statesboro CVB www.visitstatesboroga.com Warner Robins CVB www.warnerrobinsvisitorscenter.com

MIDDLE GEORGIA IN-DEPTH

Raptors In Flight

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Georgia Southe rn University

The Lamar Q. Ball Jr. Raptor Center at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro offers not only an exciting array of raptors and flight demonstrations but also a lecture hall and outdoor pavilion. n

Visit www.ConventionSouth.com for more about the Middle Georgia area through our interactive Insider’s Guide with maps, videos more.

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 ⎜ ConventionSouth ⎜

ALABAMA ARKANSAS FLORIDA GEORGIA KENTUCKY LOUISIANA

MARYLAND

MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI NORTH CAROLINA OKLAHOMA TENNESSEE TEXAS

VIRGINIA

INSIDER’S

GUIDE

By T. Wayne Waters

N. Virginia • D.C. • Maryland The Washington D.C. area inspires attendees through the attractions of the nation’s

capital as well as through numerous nearby communities within Northern Virginia and Maryland. Here you’ll find countless museums and historical

WEST VIRGINIA

sites that showcase the evolution of the country as well as exciting new attributes like the expanding Metro Line through Northern Virginia. Along with the countless options for meetings found throughout the region, groups find it a top destination because it’s—simply put—easy to get to. Several major Interstate highways come in to the city and the Beltway surrounds it. If flying in, Washington Dulles International, Ronald Regan National and Thurgood Marshall Baltimore/Washington International airports are all close by. On the ground, there is the Amtrak Virginia Railway Express, the Washington Metro system and several major interstates. n

Fairfax County, Virginia Situated just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., Fairfax County is home to some of Northern Virginia’s premier capital-area cities including Arlington, Alexandria, Annandale, Chantilly and Reston. George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center and Great Falls National Park are among this locale’s treasures. Fairfax County is also home to Washington Dulles International Airport and to Tyson’s Corner, known as “The Rodeo Drive of the East Coast” for its 500+ upscale stores located within one square mile. Fairfax County offers 105 hotels with more than 18,000 hotel rooms. There are 21 properties considered meeting hotels, all of which provide at least 5,000 square feet of meeting space. Other

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conference centers include two Executive Conference and Training Centers, in McLean and in Sterling; two Waterford facilities – Waterford at Fair Oaks and Waterford at Springfield; and the Grand Atrium in Vienna. The 100,000square-foot Dulles Expo is located just six miles south of Washington Dulles International Airport and has the 233room full-service Holiday Inn Chantilly-Dulles Expo located on site. The big news for Fairfax County communities outside of those closest to Washington, according to Visit Fairfax Destination Marketing Specialist Ali Morris, is that new Silver Line Metrorail stations open this year, including four in Tysons

Silver Line Metrorail

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Corner and one in Reston. “This will give planners immediate Metro access to 10 meeting hotels with more than 5,000 square feet of space, as well as approximately seven additional hotels perfect for smaller meetings,” said Morris. Morris said that other recent developments include the display of the Space Shuttle Discovery at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center and a new winery, The Winery at Bull Run. On the horizon is the new Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center, slated to open by year’s end. The new hotel will have 300 rooms and 15,500 square feet of meeting and event space. Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner, as well as office and residential towers associated with the new development, will be connected directly via a covered walkway to the Tysons Corner Center, an upscale shopping facility.

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Here are 3 top places to meet in Fairfax COMING County: SOON! Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner: The 450-room Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation. It has a new lobby, a newly expanded state-of-the-art fitness center, and a new wine bar and pub, Brix & Ale. Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner now boasts 47,000 square feet of meeting space and its ballroom, one of Hyatt Regency Ty the largest in the area, has nearly 11,000 sons Corner Cent er square feet with 29-foot-high ceilings. Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles: the city. It’s in the midst of Reston Town Center, This Chantilly, Va., property has a “retreat like with more than 50 retail stores, 30 restaurants, setting” that includes access to the Signature and a movie theater close by. The hotel’s new Westfields Golf Club by Fred Couples. It also Tavern 64 restaurant is receiving great acclaim. features 40,000 square feet of meeting space and Hyatt Regency Reston offers 32,000 square feet expert event planners. of meeting space, 12,300 square feet of it in one Hyatt Regency Reston: The 518-room Hyatt ballroom. n in Reston is the only Four-Diamond property in

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Washington, D.C. Our nation’s capital is the true center of the action not only for politics but also for exceptional and unique tourism. There simply is no other location in the nation with anywhere close to the same number and quality of attractions and the cultural cache of Washington, D.C. “It’s a very exciting time in the city right now,” said Sarah Maciejewski, director of communications at Destination DC, the organization tasked with marketing the area as a convention, tourism and special events destination.“There is some $8.5 billion in development currently underway. This is more than any other destination in America and D.C. is becoming more and more visitor-friendly with all of this new progress.” CityCenterDC is among the hottest projects. The-acre urban hub just east of the White House will have hotel space, condominiums, offices, restaurants, shops and more as it gradually evolves. When complete, CityCenterDC will offer 295,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, a luxury hotel and a 1.5 acre public plaza/park. Four major new attractions are scheduled to open in Washington, D.C. in the next three years. The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial is slated for this autumn and The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture for next year. The National Law Enforcement Museum and Buzzard Point DC United Stadium, the new home to

Marriott Marquis Washington

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D.C.’s soccer team, are set for 2016. The D.C. central metro area continues to sprout hotels, even with nearly 30,000 hotel rooms already. Maciejewski points to three that opened last year, two slated for this year, and one planned for 2016 that will redevelop an existing iconic structure. Scheduled to open May 1, the massive Marriott Marquis Washington D.C. will have 1,175 rooms, more than 100,000 square feet of event and meeting space, 55 breakout rooms, and retail and restaurant space. Also opening this spring, Cambria Suites Hotel at CityMarket at O will offer 182 suites, a rooftop pool and a terrace with expansive views of the city. CityMarket at O is a still-developing upscale mixed-use district with retail, lodging and restaurants one block north of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Set to begin development as these new properties open, Trump International Hotel - Old Post Office -Washington, D.C., the somewhat cumbersomely named product of a $200 million redevelopment of the iconic postal facility that first opened in 1899. The hotel will have 270 large guest rooms with 14- to 16-foot ceilings, a nine-story atrium and 39,000 square feet of meeting space including a 13,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom with soaring double-height ceilings. The luxurious new building is scheduled to open in 2016. These new properties will join last year’s D.C. newcomers: the 147-room, threemeeting-room Courtyard by Marriott Washington D.C./Foggy Bottom right beside George Washington University; the 116-room Hampton Inn Washington D.C./White House with meeting space sufficient for up to 135 just down the street from that most famous home; and the 48-room Capella in Georgetown with a 14-seat executive boardroom and a private rooftop lounge. It’s also getting even easier to get around the D.C. metro area. The Silver Line Metro Extension is proceeding apace and the line to Tysons Corner should open this year. Meanwhile, first phase of the D.C. Streetcar project should have H Street NE Streetcar passenger service available this year. n

Ocean City Performing Arts Center

Ocean City, Maryland This aptly named community has 10 miles of beach, a three-mile boardwalk, some 200 restaurants, 18 golf courses within a short drive, 9,500 hotel rooms, and a 214,000-square-foot convention center—just right for modestly sized conventions. A new performing arts center in The Roland E. Powell Convention Center is what has Jessica Waters of the Town of Ocean City most excited. It’s scheduled for completion this December. “The project, which consists of construction of a 1,200-seat performing arts auditorium is expected to attract major shows, concerts, plays and other performances,” said Waters. In other developments, Waters noted that a new 101-room La Quinta Inn is under construction, and a new restaurant, as well as a new brewery, are in the works. Top resorts in Ocean City include Ocean City Clarion Resort, a beachside property with a 40,000-square-foot conference center; the Grand Hotel and Spa, a 250-room hotel on the Ocean City Boardwalk with 10,000 square feet of meeting space; and the Holiday Inn Oceanfront Hotel, which offers several pools, tennis courts, an on-site restaurant, a pub and 6,700 square feet of meeting space. n

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Montgomery County, Maryland

Positioned in the northeast section of Washington, most of it just outside the Beltway, among the communities located in Montgomery County are Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Gaithersburg, Rockville and Silver Spring. The county is home to the headquarters of hundreds of major corporations, as well as 60 galleries, 22 theaters and 50 historical venues, and more than 33,000 acres of parkland. According to Montgomery County CVB Director of Marketing Bethany Mattocks, a recently opened entertainment venue and a soon-to-open mixed-use community with a couple of interesting entertainment venues of its own are two of the most compelling developments in the county. The Bethesda Blues & Jazz Club opened in 2013 with 300 dinner seats and 200 performance-only seats. Pike & Rose is a mixed-use retail and residential community scheduled to open this spring and by year’s end should include an iPic Theater, a high-end movie theater with two restaurants. On the hotel front, the Hyatt Bethesda is undergoing major renovations, IHG will open the very first EVEN Hotel in Rockville, and Choice Hotels International will open a flagship 140-room Cambria Suites by summer’s end across the street from its world headquarters in Rockville. The EVEN hotel will have 167 rooms and reflect the brand’s health-centric design and operations. The Cambria Suites is an upscale all-suite lifestyle brand that accentuates social space and comfortable working environments. The Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center: With 447 guest rooms and approximately 50,000 square feet of event space, including a 23,700-square-foot ballroom and a 120-seat amphitheater, Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center can provide most meeting planners with everything they need in a comfortable, service-oriented environment. The Bolger Center: Sitting pretty on 83 landscaped acres with a campus style setting, the 432room Bolger Center is a Dolce Hotels & Resorts facility. Nature trails; tennis, volleyball and basketball courts; bike rentals; and a team-building ropes challenge course are among the special amenities at the property. An IACC approved venue, The Bolger Center has 70,000 square feet of meeting space in 75 spacious meeting rooms and has an IT/AV staff on site. n

Howard County, Maryland

“Ideally located between the nation’s capital and Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, Howard County is where Maryland comes together,” said Sarah Kurtanich, CTA, sales coordinator for Howard County Tourism and Promotion. “Our central and convenient location, adjacent to Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Annapolis makes Howard County the strategic choice in Maryland to hold a meeting or event.” “Columbia, Ellicott City and other Howard County regions offer meeting planners a wide selection of state-of-the-art hotels and variety of unique venues with the space, technology and atmosphere Challenge they need and all of the amenities their participants your enjoy,” she said. “Meeting planners will find full-service attendees at Terrapin national brands, boutique hotels, historic mansions, environmenAdventures tally friendly centers and more. All of our venues are ready and excited to help meeting planners create the perfect event.” The 260-room Doubletree by Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport offers 10,000 square feet of meeting space; the 152-room Doubletree by Hilton Columbia offers 14,000 square feet of meeting space; the 290-room Sheraton Columbia Town Center offers 16,000 square feet of meeting space; and the Conference Center at the Maritime Institute in Linthicum Heights offers 232 guest rooms and 30,000 square feet of meeting space. n

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EDITOR’S

HOT PICKS TOP PICKS: Visit Fairfax (703) 752-9506 www.fxva.com “Getting around Fairfax County and the National Capital area is a breeze now that the Metrorail Silver Line is open!” See Ad On Page 22 Visit Howard County (800) 288-TRIP (8747) www.visithowardcounty.com “From scenic landscapes to historic main streets, Howard County is where Maryland comes together! Fast and convenient access to Washington D.C. and Baltimore doubles your planning options.” See Ad On Page 51 Roland E. Powell Convention Center (800)-OC-OCEAN www.ocmdconventioncenter.com “Newly renovated multi-functional facility complete with a brand new 1,200-seat Performing Arts Center— all just steps from the beach!” See Ad On Page 18 FOLLOW UP: Destination DC www.destinationdc.com Montgomery County CVB www.visitmontgomery.com Ocean City, Maryland CVB www.ococean.com

NORTHERN VA/D.C./MARYLAND IN-DEPTH Visit www.ConventionSouth.com for more about the D.C. area through our interactive Insider’s Guide with maps, videos more.

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ALABAMA ARKANSAS FLORIDA GEORGIA KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MARYLAND MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI NORTH CAROLINA OKLAHOMA

SOUTH CAROLINA TENNESSEE TEXAS VIRGINIA WEST VIRGINIA

INSIDER’S

Spartanburg CVB

Historic reenactments enliven things around Walnut Grove Plantation (circa 1765) in Roebuck, S.C., just outside of Spartanburg.

G U I D E By T. Wayne Waters

Upstate South Carolina

South Carolina’s Upstate extends from its border with North Carolina down to about Anderson County, an area of the state marked by ridges and foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and includes major urban centers Greenville and Spartanburg and smaller burgs Rock Hill, Anderson and Clemson. Among the attributes the region is most noted for are its great outdoor recreation, its significant historic sites, and its rising tourism and meetings profile. The CVBs of both Greenville and Spartanburg were Readers’ Choice winners in December 2013. n

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Center rsity Conferen ce Clemson Unive

Clemson, South Carolina, is a picturesque college town some 30 miles from Greenville. The northwest South Carolina town is primarily identified as the home of Clemson University but its location in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and at the shore of Lake Hartwell speaks to its great outdoor recreation options. The Clemson University Conference Center Inn won Readers’ Choice recognition in December 2013. The facility offers 17,000 square feet of meeting space and has a ballroom that can seat up to 400 comfortably. It also has four separate meeting rooms, smaller seminar rooms, an executive boardroom and a tiered auditorium that seats 107. “Our conference center space is being updated this month with a complete refurbishing of the ballroom and new flooring of the public spaces,” said Executive Assistant Director and Marketing Manager Penny Hall. “Also starting this month, we’ll start renovating our 89-room hotel guest rooms one floor at a time, to be completed this summer. They’ll be gutted and we’ll install walk-in showers instead of tubs, new tiles, new flooring, new furnishings.” n

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Clemson: Outdoor Rec & Tiger Paws

The Clemson University Conference Center & Inn is continuing its renovations, due for summer completion.

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Greenville: Buzz & Bounty “There is definitely a buzz about Greenville right now more than ever before,” said Taryn Scher, public relations representative for VisitGreenvilleSC. “We were just named a Top Ten Place to Visit in 2015 by Lonely Planet and the New York Times recently featured us. People are visiting Greenville more than ever and they come to find out what the buzz is all about and they see that it’s very real and not just hype. It’s a great destination that’s accessible for a lot of groups to get to and a lot more affordable than some of the bigger cities.” A big part of the buzz continues to be about Greenville’s restaurant scene, remarkable in its quality, variety and number for a small city. Dozens of downtown eateries offer sumptuous bounty from French, Italian, Hispanic cuisines, along with upscale Southern food, serious steakhouses and more. Greenville’s primary large-meeting space is the TD Center, which offers 60,000 square feet of meeting space and 280,000 square feet of exhibit space. SMG manages the facility and its SAVOR …Greenville catering arm offers unique menu options for up to 1,800 guests. Several of Greenville’s prime hotels have been renovated recently or are currently being renovated. The 200-room Crowne Plaza Greenville, with 7,000 square feet of meeting space, finished a $4 million total property renovation a year ago and the 256-room Hilton Greenville, with 14,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space, recently underwent a $1.8 million refreshing. The 268room Embassy Suites Greenville Golf Resort Conference Center is currently refreshing its guest rooms and will upgrade the atrium and ballroom, according to Scher, this spring. The property has 23,000 square feet of event space and sports a par-72 championship golf course. Another choice downtown Greenville property is the 330-room Hyatt Regency Greenville, with 35,000 square feet of meeting space, a dedicated meeting planner lounge and built-in conference registration. It was named one of ConventionSouth’s Top New Renovated Meeting Facility in the South For 2014. There’s also a new hotel property scheduled to open late this year. The Aloft Greenville Downtown is slated for a November opening in the midst of Greenville ONE, a multi-use development in the heart of the city. An Embassy Suites is also reportedly on the way at Greenville ONE. n Greenville is an eminently walkable city but rickshaws provide an alternative means for seeing the city’s downtown.

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Spartanburg: Upward & Summit

Spartanburg is growing in leaps and bounds, said Spartanburg CVB Sales Manager Patricia Byrd. “People are interested in coming here for meetings and are pleasantly surprised when they get here. When we host meetings in Spartanburg, we roll out the red carpet. We do things that larger destinations aren’t able to do.” Summit Pointe Conference & Events Center is one of this Upstate city’s primary meeting facilities. With over 19,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, Summit Pointe is attached to the 126-room Hampton Inn & Suites. The city’s most meeting space is available at the Spartanburg Marriott, another of CS’s Top New & Renovated Meeting Facility in the South For 2014, which is situated in the heart of downtown Of the hot happenings going on in SpartanSpartanburg, the Spartanburg Marriott added a burg. The concierge level and the Terrace, a new property outdoor dining option, just last year. added a concierge level and the Terrace, a new outdoor dining option. The Spartanburg Marriott can provide nearly 31,000 square feet of meeting and event space including an 11,000 + square-foot ballroom, 27 event rooms and three boardrooms The Upward Star Center, a 128,000-square-foot sports facility which also has seven meeting rooms, opened late last year. Upward Star is located just a few miles from city center. “There is some opportunity there to do some team-building exercises and small meetings, as well,” noted Byrd. n

Greenville CVB

Baxter M. Hood Center at York Technical College – Rock Hill, S.C.

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The Baxter M. Hood Center at York Technical College in Rock Hill, S.C., was a ConventionSouth Readers’ Choice award December 2013 and also recognized by ConventionSouth editors as a Top New Renovated Meeting Facility in the South For 2014. The multi-use facility is located about 90 miles east of Greenville and recently renovated its ballroom and lobby. It offers 16 meeting rooms, which also includes a 165-seat tiered theater, a boardroom, a digital computer lab and full-service catering. n J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 ⎜ ConventionSouth ⎜

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EDITOR’S

HOT PICKS UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA is the

region in the westernmost part of the state and is also known as the Upcountry. After BMW's initial investment into the area, foreign companies have made a substantial presence in the region making the area one of the fastest growing in the country. TOP PICKS: VisitGreenvilleSC (800) 351-7180 www.visitgreenvillesc.com “Don’t miss one of the Southeast’s hottest destinations: Lonely Planet named Greenville, SC #7 “Best in the US” for 2015!” See Ad On Page 59 BMW Performance Center (888) 345-4269 www.BMWUSA.com/ performancecenter “The BMW Performance Driving School is the perfect place to combine team meetings with exciting, informative driving clinics.” See Ad On Page 39 FOLLOW UP: Anderson CVB www.visitanderson.com Spartanburg CVB www.visitspartanburg.com Visit Clemson www.visitclemson.com

UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

Visit www.ConventionSouth.com for more about the Upstate South Carolina area through our interactive Insider’s Guide with maps, videos more.

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Anderson: Lake Hartwell & Arts Aplenty

Anderson, county seat of Anderson County, sits about 30 miles southwest of Greenville. It was granted the #1 spot last year by CS editors for the magazine’s “The South’s Cool Spots For Summer Meetings” list. The biggest recent news in Anderson is the December ribbon cutting and boat launch christening ceremony for the Green Pond Landing & Event Center located by Lake Hartwell, about 10 miles from city center. Primarily a development designed to attract large fishing tournaments to the county, Green Pond’s enhanced boat ramp (pictured left) on Lake Hartwell and accompanying parking lot and landscape work should be finished soon. Further development is slated to include pavilions, a terraced amphitheater, a canoe/kayak launch and restrooms, though no timetable has been established for the additional phases. Anderson’s largest event space is The Civic Center of Anderson, part of the Anderson Sports & Entertainment Center located a few miles out from downtown. The Civic Center facility has a conference center, exhibition hall, two meeting rooms and a board room. It is all attached to a 28,000-square-foot entertainment arena. Also at the 300-acre site is the Anderson Sports Center, which has athletic fields and supporting buildings. Anderson County has more than 2,000 hotel rooms, including the 148-room Hilton Garden Inn & Destination Pointe Event Center. The property has an additional two dozen two-room suites and a lounge. The Destination Pointe Event Center at this Hilton has a full-service fine-dining restaurant and a total of nine separate function rooms. Here’s how Neil Paul, Sales Manager for the Anderson CVB put it: “When you meet in Anderson, enjoy big city amenities with a small town pace from the banks of Lake Hartwell to the sunset view atop our cozy downtown.” n

Greer: Whoosh & Vroom! The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, now known also as GSP Airport, is conveniently located about halfway between its two namesake cities, in Greer. The airport has a $125 million renovation project called WINGSPAN that is scheduled to be complete in 2016. The three-phase project has a number of major elements, including in its final phase construction of a conference center. Recently, two new concourse restaurants opened and additional eateries and retail shops are on their way. Another major asset in Greer is the BMW Manufacturing Co. facility. Guided plant tours

are sometimes available and the Zentrum facility at the plant can provide a 250-seat theater, considerable event space and access to the Boxer Café. The BMW Performance Center at the plant can host small meetings, and groups may take driving instruction and classroom instruction. n

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ConventionSouth Sponsor Index

Make your job easier! Work with meetng suppliers who are actvely seeking your business and have a genuine interest in serving the needs of meetng planners by supportng the editorial content of ConventonSouth. The following meetng suppliers have sponsored this issue. Learn more about them on the page numbers listed below and tell them you saw their ad in ConventonSouth.

ALABAMA Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism (888) 421-8715 www.gsobmeetings.com

Georgia State Parks (770) 389-6274 www.gastateparks.org/ corporate-groups

FLORIDA Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa (800) 559-1805 www.hiltonsandestinbeach.com Ocala/Marion County Visitors & Convention Bureau (888)-FL-OCALA www.ocalamarion.com Ocean Center (855) 376-8149 www.oceancenter.com The Pearl Hotel (888) 656-6463 www.thepearlrb.com Visit Pensacola (800) 874-1234 www.visitpensacola.com

Columbus Georgia Convention & Trade Center (706) 327-4522 www.columbusgaconvention center.com

James H. Rainwater Conference Center (229) 245-0513 www.rainwaterconferen cecenter.com Peachtree City CVB (877) 782-4250 www.visitpeachtreecity.com

Valdosta-Lowndes Conference Center & Tourism Authority (800) 569-TOUR www.visitvaldosta.org

Visit Savannah (877) SAVANNAH www.savannahmeetings.com

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Receive a free packet of information directly from our sponsors, including meeting site guides and brochures. Just fill in the following information based on how you would like to receive the information and send it to us. We'll ask our sponsors to send you their free guides simplifying your research and planning process. You can fax the form to (251) 968-2033, scan or snapshot it and email it to info@conventionsouth.com or fill out the online form at www.conventionsouth.com/forms. interest.cfm or via this scan tag. NAME: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ TITLE: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

COMPANY: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Visit South Walton (800) 822-6877 www.visitsouthwalton.com

XSITE TALLAHASSEE (727) 822-4414 www.xsiteshow.com

STATE: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ZIP: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PHONE: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ FAX: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EMAIL: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

GEORGIA Augusta Marriott At The Convention Center (706) 722-8900 www.marriott.com/agsmc

Please note any particular sponsors who you would like to order a free guide from:

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This sponsor index is published for the convenience of our readers. Every effort is made to list advertisers’ names, web addresses, phone numbers, and page numbers correctly. The publisher is not liable for errors or omissions.

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ConventionSouth Sponsor Index LOUISIANA

MISSISSIPPI

Paragon Casino Resort & Conference Center 31 (800) WIN-1-WIN www.paragoncasinoresort.com

MARYLAND Ocean City, Maryland CVB (800) OC-OCEAN www.ococean.com

Roland E. Powell Convention Center 18 (410) 289-2800 www.ocmdconventioncenter.com Visit Howard County (800) 288-TRIP (8747) www.visithowardcounty.com

Meridian/Lauderdale County Tourism (888) 868-7720 www.visitmeridian.com Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional CVB (888) 467-4853, ext. 215 www.gulfcoast.org MSU Riley Center (601) 696-2200 www.msurileycenter.com

SOUTH CAROLINA 26

NORTH CAROLINA Greensboro Area CVB (800) 344-2282 www.visitgreensboronc.com

BMW Performance Center (888) 345-4BMW www.bmwusa.com/ performancecenter

Columbia CVB (803) 545-0108 www.columbiacvb.com

Embassy Suites Columbia Greystone 25 (803) 252-8700 www.embassysuitescolumbia.com VisitGreenvilleSC (800) 351-7180 www.visitgreenvillesc.com

TENNESSEE Chattanooga CVB 17 (423) 424-4419 www.chattanoogameetings.com

TEXAS Laredo CVB (800) 361-3360 www.visitlaredo.com

VIRGINIA Visit Fairfax (703) 752-9509 www.fxva.com

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