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• Blue Ridge Region
• Charlottesville
• Danville
• Fredericksburg
• Hampton
• Loudoun County
• Newport News
• Norfolk
• Richmond
• Roanoke
• Staunton
• Suffolk
• Virginia Beach
• Williamsburg
‘City of Firsts’ offers something for everyone
With more than 100 attractions within minutes of downtown Hampton, meeting delegates will never get bored in this city. Known as the “City of Firsts,” Hampton is the birthplace of NASA, site of the first English-style Christmas in the American colony and the first training ground for American astronauts.
Visitors can swim in the Chesapeake Bay at Buckroe Beach, discover the largest stone fort in the country at the Casemate Museum at Fort Monroe, delve into hundreds of years of history at the Hampton History Museum or explore waterfront galleries of Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s underwater explorations at The Cousteau Society. For a truly unique experience, visit the Virginia Air & Space Center, which includes hands-on exhibits, more than 30 aircraft and a 3D IMAX theater.
The city also offers ample shopping opportunities, especially in the Coliseum Central shopping district. Stores have opened in the Peninsula Town Center, and the historic Phoebus and Downtown Hampton districts offer eclectic and antique shops.
ampton Convention & Visitors Bureau
1919 Commerce Drive
Suite 290
Hampton, VA 23666
(800) 487-8778
(757) 722-1222
http://www.visithampton.com
Contact: Lacy Gibson, director of sales
Convention center
Hampton Roads Convention Center
1610 Coliseum Drive
Hampton, VA 23666
(757) 315-1610
(866) 484-4722
http://www.thehrcc.com
Contact: Lacy Gibson, director of sales
The Hampton Roads Convention Center is located in the heart of Hampton Roads, so meeting attendees will appreciate the ability to drive just minutes to beautiful shorelines or historic sites. The center provides beautiful, high-tech meeting space. The convention center includes 160,000 square feet of flexible meeting and exhibition space, capable of handling conferences, intimate meetings and large consumer and trade shows.
The center includes a grand 28,000-square-foot ballroom with a banquet seating capacity of 2,000 people. The 103,000-square-foot exhibit hall can be divided into sections of three, holding up to 14,000 delegates. The conference center provides more intimate meeting experiences. It features privately accessed, secure meeting space. An outdoor terrace overlooks streams and fountains, creating the perfect spot for an evening reception. Convention attendees can also relax or work in the business center or Cyber Café.
The convention center, which opened in 2005, is equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual services, including multimedia projection and plasma screens, cameras, high-speed Internet, computerized teleprompter systems, adjustable lighting and all the conference technology needed to pull off a high-class event.
The center’s location is convenient. It is adjacent to the Hampton Coliseum, which features an open arena floor that can hold 11,000 people. Just blocks away from the convention center, stores in the Peninsula Town Center have opened, giving convention delegates a number of shopping opportunities.
Conference hotel
Embassy Suites Hampton
1700 Coliseum Drive
Hampton, VA 23666
(757) 827-8200
http://www.embassysuiteshampton.com
Contact: Neil Christian, director of catering
(757) 213-8518;
Designed with the business traveler in mind, the Embassy Suites Hampton Roads offers 295 spacious two-room suites. The hotel is the perfect partner for the Hampton Roads Convention Center. Guests can walk to the convention center via covered walkways.
The suites offer a separate living room and bedroom, and each suite includes two televisions, a sleeper sofa, microwave and refrigerator to make hotel stays convenient. Business travelers can also enjoy two dual-line phones, coffee makers, high-speed Internet and well-lit, large desks. Guests also receive a complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast and end each evening with the nightly manager’s reception.
But the hotel also offers a chance to escape. The Spa Botanica offers refreshing body wraps and relaxing massages. The hotel also offers an indoor pool and whirlpool and a fitness center. The hotel also has two restaurants and is located in Hampton’s central district, where 70 restaurants are nearby.
The hotel also has 3,500 square feet of its own meeting space. Its largest room can hold 150 people for a banquet and its business center offers the necessary Internet, faxing and printing services.
Room report
There are more than 3,000 hotel rooms in Hampton and more than 2,500 hotel rooms within walking distance of the Hampton Roads Convention Center.
Airports
Hampton is 30 minutes from both Norfolk International Airport and the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport.
Top attractions
Casemate Museum at Fort Monroe
Hampton History Museum
Hampton University Museum
Langley Speedway
Miss Hampton II Harbor Cruises
The Cousteau Society
Virginia Air and Space Center