2016 VIRGINIA MEETING & CONFERENCE PLANNER Visit Fairfax
A major change has taken place in the weighing of variables when selecting a meeting location. The decision regarding “where to meet” is now based far less on the traditional factors of rates, dates, and space, and far more on driving increased attendance and encouraging attendee interaction and experiential learning. The days of shepherding attendees into a hotel ballroom to listen to a speaker and stare at PowerPoint presentations have been replaced by “hands on” experiences outside the hotel, visits to local attractions, and one-of-a-kind experiences that can’t be enjoyed online.
Fairfax County, Virginia provides an ideal location for groups to engage in unique experiential learning, tours, museum visits, and one-on-one exchanges with experts in countless
NORTHERN VIRGINIA Turn meetings into unforgettable experiences in Fairfax
fields. The county’s hotel inventory provides the basics that planners need, but the county itself offers so much more. “Yes, we still have great meeting hotels that offer recently renovated rooms and meeting space, attractive rates, and easy access,” says Dean Miller of Visit Fairfax. “But offering groups great experiences is what we’re all about.” Working with Visit Fairfax, groups
are provided with options for off-site excursions, the ability to wine and dine their attendees at unique local restaurants and wineries and access to locally-based speakers and enter- tainment. Groups also have access to the attractions of the National Capital area, thanks to the Metrorail Silver line, which connects the Tysons Corner and Reston areas of the county to the entire metropolitan area.
As an example of the type of
unique experience that groups can look forward to, Miller mentioned the American Wine Society, which held its national conference in Fairfax County in 2015. Visit Fairfax assisted the group in arranging an opening night reception featuring Virginia wines exclusively (from 20 wineries around the Commonwealth), as well as the services of Thomas Jefferson, the “Father of Virginia Wine”, who greeted and chatted with guests about 18th century viticulture at the reception. “Almost every group we work with sees their attendance increase when they meet here,” notes Miller. “And everyone we talk with afterwards is glad that they decided to get together here.” If you’re looking to add a new dimension to your program, just give us a call … we’ll come up with some great ideas to help you make your gathering special!
Dean Miller / National Sales Manager / Visit Fairfax /
dmiller@fxva.com / (703) 752-9509
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OCTOBER 2016
ADVERTISING SECTION
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