ADVERTISING SECTION
Meeting and Conference Destinations:
Norfolk

A vibrant downtown renaissance
Norfolk is a Southern seaport that has undergone an urban renaissance on its downtown waterfront. The city offers an eclectic mix of sites detailing the vibrant history of this nearly 400-year-old port with a modern metropolitan style. Norfolk’s downtown waterfront is pedestrian-friendly and includes a range of spectacular cuisine, high-end shopping and a growing arts scene.

The city offers a wide range of events, historic sites and museums. From understanding the naval history at the National Maritime Museum (which houses the USS Wisconsin) to admiring more than 300,000 pieces of art at the Chrysler Museum, Norfolk offers something for everyone. Visitors can also enjoy a guided tour of Naval Station Norfolk, the largest Navy installation in the world. For those who want to spend time on the water, many harbor tours are available. The American Rover Tall Cruise ship offers a two or three-hour cruise of the Elizabeth River and the Hampton Roads harbor, the Paddlewheel Ferry provides rides between Norfolk and Portsmouth, and the Spirit of Norfolk offers lunch and dinner river cruises.

Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau (view PDF ad)
232 E. Main St.
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
(757) 664-6620
(800) 368-3097
Contact: Donna Allen, vice president of sales
dallen@norfolkcvb.com

Norfolk is the perfect place to hold a meeting or conference. The revitalized downtown waterfront has become so convenient that it’s known as the “Waterside Convention Connection.” This area boasts more than 1,000 hotel rooms. Within 10 square blocks downtown, guests can find 206,000 square feet of meeting space, an energetic dining and theater district and many retail merchants.

For those interested in holding unique events at a conference or meeting, Norfolk offers a range of unusual meeting activities. These include cruising on Schooner Virginia or the Spirit of Norfolk. The city also offers meeting space at the Chrysler Hall Performing Arts Theater, a modern setting in Fahrenheit, the restored Granby Theater that was built in 1915, the Norfolk Botanical Garden and the Pagoda & Oriental Garden. It is also possible to combine meeting space with a professional sports outing at Norfolk Scope, home of the Norfolk Admirals hockey team, and Harbor Park where the Norfolk Tides play baseball.

Conference Hotel

Norfolk Waterside Marriott (view PDF ad)
235 E. Main St.
Norfolk, VA 23510
(757) 627-4200
www.marriott.com
Contact: Cathy Grieve, director of sales and marketing
cgrieve@marriottnorfolk.com

Located in the heart of Norfolk’s historic district, the Norfolk Waterside Marriott and Convention Center offers elegant charm in a hotel overlooking the city’s vibrant waterfront. The newly renovated meeting area includes 60,000 square feet of elegant meeting space in 40 different rooms. The spacious meeting rooms are appointed with the latest in Internet technology and audiovisual equipment. The rooms are conveniently connected to the Norfolk Convention Center. The hotel offers a personalized Web site for each conference.

The Norfolk Ballroom can hold a banquet for 1,000 people and sit 2,000 when done in a theater style. Culinary experts offer customized menus for each event. An outdoor terrace on the sixth floor is also available for receptions, featuring expansive views.

The hotels’ luxurious 405 guest rooms offer lavish conveniences for guests. They have all been recently renovated and offer amazing views of the harbor. The rooms have been designed with business travelers in mind, allowing abundant work space and high-speed Internet access from the guest rooms.

The hotel also features an on-site fitness center, an indoor pool and whirlpool, sauna, spa services, a piano lounge for breakfast in the morning or cocktails in the evening and the renowned Shula 347 Steakhouse.

Room report

Norfolk offers more than 5,200 hotel rooms, ranging from budget hotels to lavish accommodations.

Airports

Norfolk International Airport is conveniently located near the Norfolk Botanical Garden, and offers more than 200 daily flights.

Top attractions

Attucks Theatre
Battleship Wisconsin
Cannonball Trail
Chrysler Museum of Art
Hampton Roads Naval Museum
MacArthur Memorial
Nauticus
Naval Station Norfolk
Schooner Virginia
Virginia Zoological Park

Golf courses

Lake Wright Golf Course
757-459-2255
Lambert`s Point Golf Course
757-489-1677
Ocean View Golf Course
757-480-2094