N MANY WAYS, NOR- folk, Va., is just what you would expect:
quaint, with nautical characteristics, historic neighborhoods, and a salty tinge to the air. And while crisp fall weather and harbor breezes greeted attendees dur- ing a fam trip sponsored by VisitNorfolk on Oct. 15–17, we also saw first- hand the many options available to groups. A walkable and easy-
to-navigate downtown is home to the 405-room Norfolk Waterside Mar- riott Hotel and Conven- tion Center, which offers 45 meeting rooms with more than 60,000 square feet of space. The Shera- ton Norfolk Waterside recently renovated its 445 guest rooms and offers 31,000 square feet of space in 12 meeting rooms. Connected by a walkway, the Mar- riott and the Sheraton
together provide an ample meeting complex. Rounding out the hotel space downtown is the 339-room Radisson Hotel Norfolk, with 15 meet- ing rooms and 30,000 square feet of space. In addition to hotels,
downtown has abundant off-site options, including Town Point Park, a city- run outdoor space along the water that during the press trip hosted the 23rd annual Town Point Virginia Wine Festival. Not far from Town Point stands the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center, with 80,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space; Nauticus, The National Maritime Center, offer- ing five meeting rooms, 2,700 square feet of space, and a 350-seat theater; and the USS Wisconsin, a World War II battleship permanently moored in Norfolk.
Some press-trip
participants also enjoyed a reception at the D’art Center, a former office building downtown that has been converted into roughly 40 artist studios, with atrium space for group functions. Our trip ended with a brunch river cruise aboard the American Rover, a sailboat with room for more than 100 people. On land, exploring the
city is easy, thanks to pe- destrian-friendly streets, scenic waterways, and a free downtown electric NET shuttle. Plus, there’s FRED (Free Ride Every Day) — large, electric golf-cart type shuttles that move in and around downtown and carry about six passengers. n — Alan L. Kleinfeld, CMM, CMP