ADVERTISING SECTION
Meeting and Conference Destinations:
Portsmouth

Portsmouth Convention & Visitors Bureau

Where ‘old meets new’
Portsmouth has long been known as a city where “old meets new,” and that fits in perfectly with conference planners who need high-tech facilities for their events but want to offer attendees a special location. All of Portsmouth’s conference hotels are in the Olde Towne Historic District, which includes the largest collection of architecturally significant homes between Old Town Alexandria and Charleston, S.C. Visitors will find plenty to entertain themselves when the day’s meetings are over. The pedestrian-friendly historic district allows conference attendees to reach trendy shops, chef-owned restaurants, museums and art galleries with just a short walk. The city is fast becoming a dining mecca for independent and chef-owned restaurants, offering chic coffeehouses, airy bistros and upscale restaurants with memorable flavors.

The historic port city includes many attractions highlighting the “old,” including the city’s many historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Naval Shipyard Museum, where visitors can see memorabilia from the country’s oldest naval shipyard. The city offers many other unique attractions, including the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum, which highlights Virginia’s top athletes, coaches and journalists throughout history and includes hands-on exhibits for athletes to hone their skills; the Commodore Theatre, where moviegoers can eat a pizza or sip wine while watching a film on a 41-foot screen in a 1945 Art Deco-style theater; and the Children’s Museum of Virginia, which features many fun activities for children, including a $1 million antique toy and train collection.

Portsmouth Convention & Visitors Bureau (view PDF ad)
505 Crawford St.
Portsmouth, VA 23704
(757) 393-5327
www.portsmouthva.gov/tourism
Contact: Jim Coggin, director of sales
cogginj@portsmouthva.gov

Conference Hotels

Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel & Waterfront Conference Center (view PDF ad)
425 Water St.
Portsmouth, VA 23704
(757) 673-3000
www.renaissanceportsmouth.com
Contact: Rob Sanders, director of sales and marketing
Rob.sanders@RenaissancePortsmouth.com

Hold a conference with elegance and sophistication at the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel & Waterfront Conference Center. The center offers one of the most high-tech conference sites available with unparalleled views of the Elizabeth River and the Norfolk skyline. The center offers 24,335 square feet of meeting space in 10 rooms, including two ballrooms. The Portsmouth Ballroom, the largest at the center, can seat 920 people for a banquet and 1,400 when set up in a theater style. Renaissance Portsmouth also offers two outdoor reception areas on balconies overlooking the Elizabeth River. The conference center is certified by the International Association of Conference Centers. The hotel’s high-tech meeting rooms provide state-of-the-art technology, such as LCD panels, a TV production service provider, videoconferencing and walkie-talkies. Other meeting services include a 24-hour business service center, business supplies, catering and services such as a carpenter, AV technician, decorator and locksmith.

The hotel’s 249 rooms feature luxury bedding, including the new Revine Bedding Collection, with high thread count sheets and fluffy duvets. Amenities include an indoor pool and whirlpool and Southern Coastal cuisine at the hotel’s Foggy Point Restaurant.

Room Report

There are about 770 rooms available in two waterfront, full-service conference hotels, four budget motels and one boutique hotel.

Airport

Norfolk International Airport is about 12 miles from Portsmouth and offers taxi, shuttle or limousine service to and from local hotels.

Golf Courses

Bide-A-Wee Golf Course
(757) 393-8600
The Links at City Park
(757) 465-1500

Attractions

Olde Towne Historic District
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum
Commodore Theatre
NTELOS Pavilion at Harbor Center
Carrie B
Children’s Museum of Virginia

Shopping

High Street corridor
Olde Towne Historic District
Victory Crossing