ADVERTISING SECTION
Meeting and Conference Destinations:
Virginia Beach

Surf, Sand and Meetings
Accessible and beautiful ocean and bay fronts, parks, golf courses, entertainment, affordability and ease of travel make Virginia Beach a popular tourist destination. After all, the city offers a myriad of activities from fishing, swimming, boating and biking to exploring museums and lighthouses to dining on local seafood. And, with two-thirds of the U.S. population within a day’s drive, many have the option of traveling to Virginia Beach by car.

What makes Virginia Beach attractive for tourists, also makes it an appealing place to hold meetings, conventions and trade shows. The city is nearing completion on the first phase of its new Virginia Beach Convention Center, which will be almost three times the size of the city’s current convention center, allowing it to host much larger events.

The Virginia Beach Convention Center will offer more than 500,000 square feet of space and include a 150,000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall, approximately 29,000 square feet of meeting space and a 31,029-square-foot ballroom. Serviced by a seasoned staff of service-oriented professionals, this new facility will offer competitive rates, 2,230 free parking spaces and be situated just blocks from one of the mid-Atlantic’s most beautiful beaches.

State-of-the-art audio-visual systems, art and information conveying video walls, wired and wireless broadband connectivity, signature ballroom finishes, telescopic seating platforms for large general assembly functions, extensive water features, and a 15-story observation tower are other features of the new center.

Phase 1A is slated to open in June 2005 with the entire facility opening in 2007.
Virginia Beach also offers a variety of hotels with conference and convention facilities.

Virginia Beach Convention and Visitor Development
2101 Parks Avenue, Suite 500
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
757-437-4793 or 800-700-7702
www.vbfun.com
Contact: Al Hutchinson, director of convention sales
ahutchin@vbgov.com

CONFERENCE FACILITY
The Pavilion Convention Center
A multi-purpose center featuring 67,000 square feet of exhibit space, including 11 meeting rooms and a 1,000-seat performing arts theater, The Pavilion Convention Center offers flexible meeting, banquet, trade show and entertainment facilities. The Pavilion serves groups ranging in size from 15 to 6,000.

CONFERENCE HOTELS
Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront
3100 Atlantic Avenue
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
757-213-3000
www.hiltonvb.com
Contact: Richard A. Brooks, director of sales and marketing
Richard_Brooks@hiltonvb.com

Opening in the spring of 2005, guests at Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront will enjoy breathtaking panoramic ocean front views as well as entertainment venues that will ensure a visitor wanting to return for more.

The hotel will offer nine meeting rooms, combining more than 12,000 square feet of function space which can accommodate 540 for banquet seating or 832 people theater style. The 7,100-square-foot Peacock Ballroom offers beautiful oceanfront views. A 1,000-space parking garage makes parking simple.

The Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront’s 295 guest rooms, including 15 suites, range in price from $89 to $399. For those who wish to be spoiled with an array of unrivaled concierge amenities, including a private access lounge, daily continental breakfast, evening hors d’oeuvres, honor bar, car service, cordless phones, bathrobes, make-up mirrors, as well as a 42” plasma TV ... the Empryean Club Level is the place to be.

Other amenities at the hotel include Catch 31, a three-meal-a-day restaurant featuring indoor/outdoor seating with outdoor fire pits; Salacia, an upscale seafood dining restaurant; a rooftop zero-edge infinity pool with a bar and grill; an indoor pool; state–of-the-art health club and day spa facilities; high speed and wireless Internet access; valet service and 25,000 square feet of onsite shopping.

Holiday Inn Virginia Beach Executive Center
5655 Greenwich Road
Virginia Beach , VA 23462
757-499-4400
800-567-3856
www.HIExecCenter.com

The Holiday Inn Executive Center is conveniently located between the Virginia Beach oceanfront and downtown Norfolk . Just minutes from many area attractions , the hotel appeals to the corporate and leisure traveler, and offers complimentary airport transportation and parking. Additionally, complimentary high-speed Internet access is available for all meeting spaces, guest rooms and suites.

The hotel features 331 oversized guest rooms, as well as four luxury suites, each with separate living areas, dining tables and small kitchens. Guests may dine at the hotel's full-service restaurant, Ashley's Bar & Grill . To keep guests energized, the hotel's fitness facility offers an indoor and outdoor pool, a sauna, a whirlpool and a fitness center. Overnight rates ranges from $89 to $189.

The Holiday Inn Executive Center boasts 20, 000 square feet of flexible event/exhibit space - accommodating up to 1, 000-and nine event rooms with versatile floor plans. Experienced conference center staff is available for all your conference needs, including our team of caterers and event planners. Complimentary wireless Internet access, onsite audiovisual equipment and support, and access to our 24-hour business center are all available.

Virginia Beach Resort Hotel & Conference Center
2800 Shore Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
757-481-9000
800-468-272
www.virginiabeachresort.com/conference
Contact: Paul Thompson, director of sales
vbresort@aol.com

The Virginia Beach Resort Hotel provides 16,000 square feet of conference space in 14 meeting rooms, including a penthouse boardroom. The resort’s professional meeting staff can handle a banquet for 360 people or a meeting for 600.

All of the hotel’s 295 rooms are luxurious suites with private balconies and views of the Chesapeake Bay. Overnight rates range from $99 to $399.

An all new Tradewinds restaurant and bay front “Sunset Ballroom” are among the hotel’s many and popular features.

The resort’s health club features weight-training equipment, sauna, whirlpool, a HydroSonic Ultrasound Relaxation System and professional massage service. Other recreational amenities include a private beach, indoor/outdoor pool, Waverunners, bicycles and children’s activities. Guests can also enjoy 90 minutes of free outdoor tennis per day at the Virginia Beach Tennis & Country Club.

The hotel also offers a business center, a gift shop and a beauty salon.

ROOM REPORT
Virginia Beach boasts nearly 11,000 hotel rooms citywide and 3,500 committable rooms within a two-mile radius of the new Virginia Beach Convention Center. The resort city offers every kind of accommodation from a recently opened 176-room Hilton Garden Inn at the City’s newly created Town Center, to two oceanfront hotels currently under construction - Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront and the new Fairfield Inn by Marriott.

AIRPORTS
Norfolk International Airport
Norfolk International Airport is served by 18 airlines, including: American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Southwest, US Airways, United Express and Independence Airlines. The airport handles more than 200 daily flights, including non-stop flights to 22 U.S. cities with connecting flights to all major U.S. cities.

Long-term parking: $1 per hour; $7 per day. The newly expanded and opened terminal includes a nine-story parking garage and is part of the airport’s $133 million capital-improvement campaign.

Newport News / Williamsburg International Airport
Newport News / Williamsburg International Airport provides direct flights to Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, New York (LaGuardia), Orlando and Philadelphia, with connecting flights to all major U.S. cities. Major carriers include Air Tran Airways, ASA The Delta Connection, US Airways and US Airways Express.

GOLF
Tournament Players Club
of Virginia Beach
2500 Tournament Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
757-563-9440
www.tpc.com
Contact: Lisa Faulk Grove, marketing director
lisa-faulk@pgatoutpc.com

The 18-hole Tournament Players Club of Virginia Beach is a public golf course designed by Pete Dye with Curtis Strange acting as PGA Tour player consultant. The facility specializes in customizing golf outings for both social and business events.

The clubhouse has two meeting rooms totaling 2,500 square feet of conference space. In addition, the Colonial-style clubhouse offers food and beverage services and can accommodate up to 150 guest for banquets or meetings.

Bow Creek Municipal Golf Club
757-431-3763

Cypress Point Country Club
757-490-8822

Hell’s Point Golf Course
757-721-3400

Heron Ridge
757-426-3800

Honey Bee Golf Course
757-471-2768

Kempsville Greens Municipal Golf Course
757-474-8441

Owls Creek Golf Course
757-428-2800

Red Wing Lake Municipal Golf Course
757-437-4845

Signature at West Neck
757-721-2900

Stumpy Lake Golf Course
757-467-6119

ATTRACTIONS
Beaches
Atlantic Oceanfront, Chesapeake Bay and Sandbridge

Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center
Virginia’s marine environment is represented through 800,000 gallons of aquariums, live habitats, more than 300 hands-on exhibits and a nature trail. The center is available for special events and receptions.

Contemporary Art Center of Virginia
A nonprofit, non-collecting institution that explores contemporary art through regularly changing exhibitions and educational programming, the center is available for special events and receptions.

Oceana Naval Air Station
Home to the Navy’s most sophisticated aircraft, including the F-14 Tomcat fighter plane and the F/A – 18 Hornet. Tours are seasonal.

Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater
State-of-the-art, 20,000 capacity outdoor concert venue featuring the biggest names in rock, country, R&B, adult contemporary, hip-hop, alternative and jazz.

First Landing State Park
Virginia’s most visited state park is also famous as the site of the landing of the first permanent English settlers in 1607. Today, this National Natural Landmark features 19 miles of hiking trails, a bike trail, boat ramp picnic areas and cabins for rent.

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
An 8,500-acre beach, woodland and marsh refuge for a wide variety of migratory birds, endangered species and other wildlife, including snow geese, marsh hawks, red foxes, loggerhead turtles and Bald Eagles. Bike, hike or take the tram.

False Cape State Park
A pristine, ocean-to-freshwater bay habitat.

Adam Thoroughgood House
This quaint, 17th century English cottage is one of the oldest brick homes in America. Grounds include historic herb and flower gardens.

Association for Research and Enlightment
The international headquarters of Edgar Cayce, the best documented psychic of modern times.

Cape Henry Lighthouses
The oldest government-built lighthouse in America, the “new” one was built in 1881 and is the tallest cast iron lighthouse in the U.S.

Francis Land House
Exhibits, period furnishings, gardens and costumed guides are found at this gracious 18th century plantation home.

Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum/Dewitt Cottage
DeWitt Cottage was built in 1895 by Bernard P. Holland, the city’s first postmaster and Mayor, for his bride as a year-round home. It is the oldest remaining structure on the city’s oceanfront and is currently home to the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum.

Lynnhaven House
This 18th century brick house features lovely grounds, period furniture and tours by costumed docents.

SHOPPING
Hilltop Area
Includes Hilltop East, West, North, Hilltop Square, Regency Hilltop and La Promenade.
Lynnhaven Mall
Pembroke Mall
Resort Area
Town Center