primary market; we cater to these groups and make them feel important when they are here. Wilmington is not a huge city, but it has all the amenities and attractions typ- ically found in large urban areas at a sub- stantially lower cost, and also is very accessible.”
Garnett also points out that shopping, din- ing and entertainment are tax-free in Delaware, which can greatly impact the bottom line of meetings held in the area. "This creates an immediate return on investment for meeting planners. it's also a powerful lure to attendees when they realize the savings they, too, can achieve. There's no tax on meeting rooms, and our hotel tax is substantially less than sur- rounding areas.”
In addition, the Greater Wilmington CVB offers a "Transportation Incentive" to groups or planners booking a minimum of 100 room nights at a member hotel in
New Castle County. A total of $20,000 is available on a first come, first serve basis. More information is available on the web- site:
www.visitwilmingtonde.com.
There is a tremendous diversity of meet- ing facilities available to planners who choose Greater Wilmington for their meet- ings or events, including over 300 options ranging from state-of-the-art facilities that can accommodate as many as 1,600 attendees to small boardrooms and unique meeting spaces in historic proper- ties or area attractions.
"The Chase Center on the Riverfront is our largest convention center,” says Garnett. "It can accommodate 1,600 attendees and offers 88,000-square feet of flexible meet- ing space. Clayton Hall, on the University of Delaware campus in nearby Newark, has a 500-seat auditorium, a 7,200-square foot exhibit area, 7,000-square foot gener- al session space, a business center, as well
as breakout rooms. The center is adjacent to the Courtyard Newark, a Marriott Courtyard Diamond Award winner for guest services, with more than 120 rooms. Both the Chase Center on the Riverfront and Clayton Hall in Newark offer plenty of free parking.”
Other excellent choices in Wilmington include: The Hotel du Pont (downtown), Courtyard Marriott-Wilmington (down- town), DoubleTree Wilmington-Legal District, and Sheraton Suites Wilmington.
For those seeking unique settings for their events, Garnett suggests the Soda House at Hagley Museum and Library, the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts situated along Wilmington's revitalized riverfront, Delaware Art Museum, the Folk Art Museum in Blue Ball Barn, Winterthur Museum and Country Estate, the Carriage House in Rockwood Mansion Park, and the Buena Vista Conference Center.
Mid-Atlantic EVENTS Magazine 27
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