An at-a-glance guide to leading meeting&convention destinations CityFile

Virginia Beach V

Eco-Achievement and More by the Shore

IRGINIA BEACH reached a major milestone this year as its convention

center became the first in the country to achieve LEED Gold certification for Existing Buildings —and the largest building in the Commonwealthof Virginia to win LEED Gold for Existing Buildings. The convention center has more than 500,000 gross square feet of space, including a 150,000-square-foot, column-free exhibit hall, nearly 29,000 square feet of meeting space, and a 31,000-square-foot ballroom. Staffed by a seasoned team of service-oriented professionals, the facility offers competitive rates, 2,230 free parking spaces, and is just blocks from one of the mid- Atlantic’s most beautiful beaches. The convention center’s LEED certification is in addi-

DOWN BY THE SEA: The Virginia Beach Convention Center captures the essence ofthe coastal destination in its design, including wooden-boardwalk entrance walkways and a soaring, nautical, glass-curtain wall.

tion to several sustainability initiatives and programs the CVB and its hospitality partners have embraced as part of the Commonwealth’s “Virginia Green” campaign to pro- mote environmentally friendly practices. Virginia Beach now boasts more than 100 Virginia Green–certified hospi- tality businesses and is the state’s first “Virginia Green Destination.” Aside from the convention center, there are a number

of unique, environmentally friendly meeting venues in Virginia Beach. Capable of hosting up to 2,000 people,

At a Glance

CONVENTION FACILITIES The Virginia Beach Convention Center is the first in the country to achieve LEED Gold certification for Existing Buildings. Hotel rooms citywide: 12,000 Committable hotel rooms within two miles of the Virginia Beach Convention Center: 3,500

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the Virginia Aquarium &Marine Science Center allows meeting attendees to experience a dramat- ic event in its live shark and sea- turtle galleries or enjoy the new, $25-million “Restless Planet” permanent addition, featuring 12,000 square feet of spectacular habitats and exhibits, 110,000 gallons of aquariums, 6,000 new animals, and 367 new species. Another green venue, the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Town Center, features an inti- mate, 1,300-seat theater with an outdoor performance plaza and a grand lobby that’s perfect for catered events. Meeting-goers interested in

giving back during their stay can take advantage of the Virginia Beach CVB’s social-responsibility

opportunity. This program involves a partnership with the United Way of Hampton Roads, which enables visi- tors to volunteer in a variety of ways. The Virginia Beach CVB can assist with identifying additional volunteer opportunities that suit individual groups’ goals. Situated at the midway point on the East Coast,

Virginia Beach is within a day’s drive or less for more than two-thirds of the nation’s population, and is a mere four hours fromWashington, D.C. Norfolk International Airport services the entire greater region, with more than 200 flights daily from most major U.S. carriers.

ATTRACTIONS Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, charter-boat fishing, dolphin- and whale-watching boat trips, 11 golf courses, historic lighthouses, three-mile-long Virginia Beach Boardwalk, First Landing State Park, Naval Air Station Oceana, Town Center, the Association for Research and Enlightenment

FOR MORE INFORMATION Al Hutchinson, Vice President of Convention Sales & Marketing, Virginia Beach CVB, 2101 Parks Avenue, Suite 500, Virginia Beach, VA 23451; PHONE: (757) 385-4700 or (800) 700-7702; E-MAIL: ahutchin@vbgov.com; WEBSITE:www.vbmeetings.com

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