Location Reports Ocean City, Maryland
Ocean City not only is home to an abun- dance of year-round activities and an extensive range of lodging and dining options, but its Roland E. Powell Convention Center serves as the center- piece of this resort town as a meeting and convention destination.
While summer is peak season along the shore, fall, winter and spring bring lower hotel rates. In addition, many meeting planners schedule conventions to coin- cide with the added attraction of Ocean City’s many year-round festivals,which include Winterfest of Lights, Art’s Alive, Springfest and Sunfest.
“Ocean City, Maryland is pleased to offer year-round opportunities and a wide range of choices in lodging and dining, coupled with an outstanding convention center offering cooperative packages to all meeting planners and incentive opera- tors,” noted Fred Wise, director of sales and marketing for the Ocean City Convention and Visitors Bureau.
• WHAT’S NEW
The Roland E. Powell Convention Center is now getting even better. An expansion of the convention center is currently underway and once completed in the fall of 2012 will add 14,000 square feet of exhibit space and an additional 18,000 square feet to its Grand Ballroom. The expansion will present meeting and con- vention planners with more options to go along with beautiful bay views.
The center remains fully functional during this expansion, with 182,000 square feet of exhibit and meeting space just a stone’s throw from the Ocean City’s great hotels and eateries. The convention cen- ter also boasts16 flexible meeting rooms and three ground-level dedicated exhibit halls, offering enough space to hold more than 400 exhibit booths.
On site parking for 1,200 cars is free at the center, and its full-service convention and catering staff can offer a meeting planner, group tour and visitor guides. Maps, videos, CDs, promotional materi- als and hotel site and selection assis-
64 March April 2012
tance are available through the Ocean City Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The bureau offers a full range of services to meeting planners, group tour and con- vention marketing professionals and their clients, including things like the coordina- tion of spousal programs, shuttle service, attraction and leisure activities, golf tour- naments and eco tours.
• PLACES TO MEET
In total, Ocean City, Maryland is home to 10,000 hotel rooms (4,850 year-round committable), 20,000 condo rental units and 22,500 restaurant seats from which convention, meeting and event planners can choose.
Hilton Suites Oceanfront, which is one of Ocean City’s newest all-suite hotels, has received the AAA Four Diamond Award for outstanding excellence in the hotel, motel and lodging sector. Its 225 suites include a roomy workspace in the living room with high-speed Internet access. Meeting room, audio-visual equipment, a golf director and catered food and bever- age are available. Wireless Internet access is available in the meeting room, while the hotel’s restaurant, 32 Palm, offers creative menus in character with its Western Caribbean theme.
Other favorite meeting and convention sites in Ocean City include: Princess Royale Family Resort & Condominiums; Holiday Inn Oceanfront; Dunes Manor Hotel; Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel; and the Carousel Resort Hotel, which also has an indoor ice skating rink that can be used for events or meal func- tions. All of these hotels offer meeting and dining facilities that provide ocean views.
• UNIQUE SITES
Trimper’s Amusement Park on the Ocean City boardwalk provides groups with the opportunity to meet around the oldest carousel in the country still in operation. This venue has hosted industry organiza- tions like PCMA and MSAE, as well as corporate and association groups, and is a great place for holding a reception.
Charter a cruise aboard the pirate ship the Duckaneer at the Talbot Street Pier for a unique mixer.
Harrison’s Harbor Watch restaurant, situ- ated on the southern end of the board- walk, offers amazing views of the inlet and Assateague Island.
Another unique location is Jolly Roger Amusement Park, home to amusements, a water park, go-cart attraction, and even a zip line.
• HOT RESTAURANTS
Choices abound in Ocean City with more than 200 restaurants. Maryland is famous for crabs, and diners will find the tasty crustaceans on menus up and down the beach. From fine dining to more casual eateries, there are endless options for meal events.
Seafood buffets easily can be arranged along with cocktail functions offering waterfront views. Ocean City’s dining establishments also offer two Restaurant Week promotions, including one in spring and one in fall, that serve up great deals at some of the finest restaurants in town.
• THINGS TO DO
The Ocean City Convention Center is home to events such as the Holiday Shopper’s Fair, Oktoberfest, Seaside Boat Show, Ward World Wildfowl Carving Championship and more. One of the newer events, the OC Air Show, returns to the skies over Ocean City’s beach and boardwalk on June 9-10, 2012 with U.S. Military performances and civilian aero- batic shows.
The world-famous White Marlin Open, held each year during the first week of August, is another exciting event in Ocean City.
The area has become a golfer’s paradise, too, with close to 20 championship courses for all skill levels. Course designs capitalize on the stunning coastal vistas. An abundance of golf packages are avail- able from which to choose.
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