Southern Sweep

By Joan Drammeh

America’s Southeast region roams from the Atlantic coast to the Gulf of Mexico, traversing the Great Smoky Mountains and the historic cities of the Deep South.

The U.S. Census Bureau does not provide a standard listing of Southeast states, encouraging and challenging organizations to define the region according to their needs. Two basic rules of thumb apply: Georgia is always included and Texas is never. While the Southeast may exist as an idea, it can no longer be easily defined, either by cultural stereotypes or geographic borders.
Each state boasts distinctive cuisines, along with its history. From North Carolina to Alabama, wineries, farmer’s markets and local crafts offer visitors a fresh taste of the region’s mountains, shorelines and cities. Unusual venues showcase the natural features and activities of some environments, whether it be waterfalls, rivers and mountains or white sand beaches, making them a good choice for youth and family groups. For those large groups looking for easy fly-in options with plenty of convention space, many in the region offer relatively inexpensive venues and activities, along with historic tours, museums, major shopping outlets and distinctive restaurants.

Here are some of the cities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee that embrace faith-based groups with their own versions of Southern hospitality.

ALABAMA
Affordable airfare and accommodations keep meeting planners coming back to Birmingham a city that has embraced change while respecting its history. The Jehovah’s Witnesses Watchtower and Full Gospel Baptist Church returned to this centrally located Southeastern city in 2009. The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex features 220,000 square feet of exhibit space surrounded by 14,000 hotel rooms in the Greater Birmingham area. One of the most popular attractions for visitors is Barbers Vintage Museum and Motor Sports Park, which holds the largest motorcycle collection in North America and reopened in a new location in 2003.

Located on the banks of the Alabama River, Selma is home to the state’s largest historic district with more than 1,250 sites. The Sturdivant Hall Museum, National Voting Rights Museum and Martin Luther King Jr. Street historic walking tour are a few attractions where visitors can learn about Selma’s rich history. Popular tourist destinations include the Paul M. Grist State Park, Old Cahawba Archaeological Park and Edmund Windwon Pettus Bridge. The Greek revival style Carl C. Morgan Convention Center is a 10,000-sq.-ft. facility that can seat 475 for meetings.

In Huntsville visitors can explore tourist attractions reflecting the heritage of Alabama’s first English-speaking city, the American Civil War and accomplishments of rocket scientists. The Von Braun Center is a multi-purpose entertainment venue that offers meeting planners a smorgasbord of options. Its South Hall provides more than 100,000 square feet of continuous space, while the North and East/West halls provide an additional 50,000 square feet of exhibit space. A 10,000-seat arena, 2,153-seat concert hall and 502-seat playhouse theatre cement the Von Braun’s status as the preeminent meeting location in the area. Huntsville’s U.S. Space & Rocket Center hosts the “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination” exhibit in the summer of 2010. The arrival of the 12,000-sq.-ft. exhibit will mark its first showing in the Southeast and the largest temporary exhibit in the Space Center’s history.

Mobile is a port city that is home to 5 Rivers: Alabama Delta Resource Center, America’s newest cruise terminal and future home of the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf. The 90,000-sq.-ft. maritime museum shaped like a ship opens in downtown Mobile in 2010. The handsome, modern Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center takes advantage of its downtown location on the edge of the Mobile River with a 100,000-sq.-ft. exhibit hall. With 250,000 acres of scenic waterways, woods and wetlands at the Alabama five rivers – where the Mobile, Spanish, Tensaw, Apalachee and Blakely rivers flow into Mobile Bay – there are opportunities for waterborne group adventures and seafood dinners. Go below a World War II submarine or walk the deck of a mighty battleship on a trip to the USS ALABAMA – one of America’s finest military parks.

Nicknamed Pleasure Island, Orange Beach, Ala., is known as the gateway to Gulf Shores and home of The Wharf. Bays, bayous and the Intracoastal Waterway provide a beautiful beach backdrop to 18-Championship holes, 15 restaurants, an amphitheater and marina. The Golf Club of The Wharf is designed in the tradition plantation style and features a clubhouse, pro-shop and dining room. The 10,000-seat Amphitheater provides the biggest entertainment on the coast with liver performances and big sound. The Wharf’s landmark Ferris Wheel is the tallest on the Southeast and provides tree-top views and gulf breezes. Visitors looking to shop can find stores and restaurants lining Main Street, Wharf Parkway and The Boardwalk at The Marina.

GEORGIA
“We kick back and enjoy life here,” says Bill Tipton, executive director of Brunswick & the Golden Isles CVB, Georgia’s coastal islands area. “That’s the mindset. Yes, we work and yes, we wear shirts and ties. Meetings are put on in a very professional way but there is less intensity. People remember the meetings that they have down here.”

Brunswick & The Golden Isles of Georgia welcomes visitors to “Come Coast Awhile” on the sun-drenched beaches of St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island. One of the most popular venues in the area is Epworth By The Sea, a Methodist Retreat center that welcomes all faiths at a value price. Located on St. Simons Island, the Epworth has excellent food services and offers meeting rooms and auditoriums that can accommodate large and small groups. “It’s a spectacular place if you just think about the natural splendor that is here,” says Tipton. “The oaks and moss get you the second you hit the island. It is like being hugged by a tree.”

Less than an hour north of Atlanta, Dawson County and Historic Dawsonville showcase the history and old-fashioned charm influenced by their location in the North Georgia Mountains. Dawson is a rural county steeped in Appalachian culture where gold mining, moonshine and motor sports glory are part of the local lore. Once a quaint mountain farming community, Dawsonville is now a thriving small city that invites groups to enjoy modern-day attractions mixed with mountain hospitality.

With 5,500 historic structures on the National Register and 11 historic districts, Macon is one of the great historic cities of the American South. The city’s claims to fame include Ocmulgee National Monument and Indian Mounds, Georgia Music Hall of Fame and Hay House – Palace of the South. It is also home to Georgia’s largest entertainment facility and convention center outside of metro-Atlanta, the 140,000-sq.-ft. Macon Centreplex. An auditorium, coliseum and convention center provide event seating anywhere from 2,688 to more than 9,000. In September of 2009, a Macon Marriott City Center Hotel will open next to the Macon Coliseum and provide 220 rooms and 5,000 square feet of meeting space At Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, meetings are held amid woodlands and lakes. Visitors can enjoy golfing, hiking, biking and fishing when the meeting day is over. The Mountain Creek Conference Center, with 60,000 square feet of meeting space, and the Lodge and Spa Conference Center, with 36,000 square feet of space, can both accommodate groups of all sizes. Other Callaway Garden venues include ballrooms, the John A. Sibley Horticultural Center, Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center, a beach and the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center. There are four types of lodging options including cottages, villas and an inn. The newest addition to the resort is the Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens, which provides 150 deluxe guestrooms and suites surrounded by lush foliage – all 60 minutes southwest of Atlanta.

Lake Lanier Islands Resort offers 23,000 square feet of meeting space next to the gleaming waters of Lake Sidney Lanier. Meeting planners have various meeting options that can accommodate groups of all sizes. Outdoor covered pavilions can accommodate 35 to 5,000 guests while the resort’s 22 meeting and event rooms can handle up to 500. After-hours options for convention attendees include the equestrian center, and beach and waterpark.

LOUISIANA
Heralded as the “Gateway to New Orleans,” Jefferson Parish has two convention/conference centers that provide approximately 250,000 square feet of meeting space and offer the ambiance of New Orleans in a more serene setting. The Pontchartrain Center, located in Kenner, along the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, hosts more than 400 events annually in its 70,000 square feet of convention space. The Alario Cen ter is another multipurpose facility with seating for 2,200. One must-visit venue for future Jefferson conventioneers is the Jefferson Performing Arts Center, which broke ground in 2007 at LaSalle Park in Metairie and will be completed in the fall of 2010. The $28 million project will come equipped with 80,000 square feet of space and seating for 1,050.

With 21,000 hotel rooms within a 2.1-mile radius and the proximity of more than 1,000 restaurants, New Orleans is a favorite that lives up to its “Big Easy” name for meetings. The New Orleans Morial Convention Center has 3.1 million square feet of space, a 4,000-seat auditorium, 12 exhibit halls and 140 meeting rooms. More importantly, New Orleans is one of the Southeast’s most unique cities that excites prospective attendees. “You can’t ride on one of the oldest streetcars in the country, visit the St. Louis Cathedral or enjoy Mardi Gras festivities anywhere else but New Orleans,” says Nikki Nicholson, vice president of convention sales at the New Orleans CVB. “We’ve got wonderful properties and an abundance of restaurants at all price ranges. You can get a cup of gumbo or for $3.25 have some coffee and beignets.” In 2013, the New Orleans Armstrong International Airport, which has 117 daily flights servicing 33 cities, will complete a $100 million renovation in preparation for the 2013 Super Bowl.

St. Tammany Parish sits along Louisiana’s Northshore and is another unique destination that proclaims to be neither a suburb of New Orleans nor its stepchild. For more than a century, St. Tammany has been a destination for New Orleanians seeking to get away from the city. Meeting planners looking to escape to an area rich in history, culinary heritage and green spaces can follow suit. The Northshore Harbor Center is a 45,000-sq.-ft. facility that can host a convention up to 2,500 people. Castine Center, located in Mandeville, is a 28,000-sq.-ft. arena with ample parking, a covered porte cochere and a 900-sq.-ft. caterer’s warming kitchen. The Rivers Retreat Center is a bed and breakfast that offers two meeting facilities – a 2,800-sq.-ft. conference center and a 3,500-sq.-ft. pavilion – and a beautiful setting for meetings along the Little Tchefuncte River. The area is replete with homegrown shops, seafood, restaurants and interesting watering holes.

TENNESSEE
Meeting planners looking to provide rugged outdoor beauty and adventure to convention attendees will find plenty of variety in Gatlinburg, ranging from downhill skiing to whitewater rafting and hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Two of the areas most popular attractions, aside from its legendary mountains, are the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum and Gatlinburg Sky Lift and Aerial Tramway.

The Xtreme Youth Conference and the Christian Meetings & Convention Association both met in Pigeon Forge in 2009. Although the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a major draw, visitors also enjoy Pigeon Forge’s other must-visit destinations such as Dollywood, WonderWorks and Hoot N’ Holler. In 2010, this destination with more than 8,000 lodging units welcomes a Titanic Museum Attraction. With all these new attractions, visitors must not ignore Pigeon Forge’s history. Stop by the Old Mill, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and pick up some corn meal gifts and takeaways.

Sevierville is home to the newest meeting and exhibit facility in the Smokies. The Sevierville Events Center at Bridgemont features a 108,000-sq.-ft. exhibit hall and two 18-hole golf courses. The complex is beyond comprehensive with walking trails, an entertainment zone and onsite restaurant. Hiking, fishing, horseback riding and a trolley ride into historic downtown are just a few of the ways visitors can take in Sevierville’s natural splendor.

NORTH CAROLINA
Halfway between New York and Florida, Fayetteville is a destination easily accessible by plane, train (an Amtrak station is located in the heart of downtown) and automobile. Whether attendees are looking to tour unique buildings and homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places, visit the country’s largest military installation, Fort Bragg, or challenge themselves at one of 20 area golf courses, Fayetteville offers plenty of ways to pass the time between meetings. The Expo Center can be adapted for meetings from 10,000 to 60,000 square feet and is connected to the Crown Coliseum, which provides a luxurious pre-function area and ballroom.

Located along the state’s southern border, Charlotte is so accessible that it garnered the nickname “International Gateway to the South.” The Charlotte Convention Center, home to 90,000 square feet of meeting space, is a mecca of convenience. Within walking distance of the center, visitors will discover two major dining, entertainment and shopping venues. The EpiCentre has 267,000 square feet of possibilities including EpiCentre Theaters, Strike City, BlackFinn Restaurant & Saloon and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. At the NC Music Factory visitors can enjoy a “stroll district” that “rivals the likes of SoHo, Buckhead or Beale Street.” Charlotte’s 35-acre Upton Village is in its first phase of construction and offers first-rate entertainment op tions like the Fillmore and the Uptown Amphitheater that put the “music” in Music Factory.

Named after patriot commander Nathanael Green, it is no wonder that Greensboro is home to a convention complex that is directly adjacent to a war memorial. The Greensboro Coliseum Complex offers 150,000 square feet of meeting space neighboring the 2,376-seat War Memorial Auditorium. Less than a mile away, planners will find even more reasons to meet in Greensboro: the largest privately owned convention center complex between Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. The Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons and Joseph S. Koury Convention Center combine to provide 1,017 guestrooms and more than 250,000 square feet of meeting space. One historical attraction that is sure to draw crowds is the $22-million International Civil Rights Center and Museum opening February 1, 2010, on the 50th anniversary of famous sit-ins at the downtown Woolworth store.

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Anderson boasts numerous historic attractions including churches steeped in African-American history. There is even an entire district where visitors can step back in time with guided tours of antebellum plantations at Woodburn and Ashtabula homes. For groups looking to enjoy Anderson’s natural ambiance, Anderson Civic Center’s outdoor amphitheater provides a green setting. The Anderson Civic Center is a 28,800-sq.-ft. arena with a 7,700-sq.-ft. ballroom in addition to the Anderson Sports and Entertainment Complex with numerous fields and picnic areas. Another option is the 18,000-seat William A. Floyd Amphitheater, a natural-terrain facility featuring a
natural stream, pond and fountain.

Anderson County has more than 1,500 hotel rooms. Recognized as one of the countries most “walkable cities,” Columbia invites convention attendees to leave the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center and discover its riverwalk, where three rivers flow into downtown. Another of Columbia’s attractions is an elite circus collective; the Columbia Alternacirque is a performance group featuring belly dancers, fire performers and hula-hoop performers that will liven up any meeting. A favorite for faith-based groups, including Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith and the Promise Keepers’ Men of Integrity, Columbia is a destination known to welcome conferences on a consecutive basis to its convention center, which features 24,700 square feet of exhibit space. The Columbia Metropolitan CVB in partnership with the South Carolina Tourism & Hospitality Educational Foundation is so committed to the area’s reputation for Southern hospitality that it offers a Certified Hospitality Hotspotter Program.

“We actually train people on how to have Southern charm at our front desks,” says Twila Jones, sales manager for the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism. “I’ve grown up in Columbia and lived here my entire life and nothing compares to its charm.” In addition to its sandy white beaches, Myrtle Beach is a destination that offers major coastal resorts, shopping venues and conference centers. The Freestyle Music Park, formerly Hard Rock Park, is the area’s newest theme park and features the Time Machine and Iron Horse. Broadway at the Beach, a sprawling shopping center, is South Carolina’s largest festival entertainment complex and Myrtle Beach’s premier shopping locations. For a diverse meeting destination where conference attendees can relax on the beach, go horseback riding along the Atlantic or set sail for a dinner cruise, head to the 100,800-sq.-ft. Myrtle Beach Convention Center. In the past year, the center has hosted faith-based groups Student Venture, Student Life, the National Baptist Convention and others. There’s a plethora of themed dining options for large groups surrounding the center including Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, Cheeseburger in Paradise and Tommy Bahama’s Tropical Café.

FLORIDA SUNSHINE
Florida is one of America’s favorite destinations, where visitors bathe in the warmth of Southern hospitality. The climate, sandy white beaches and friendly natives know how to make guests feel welcomed. Indoor and outdoor venues invite convention attendees to take in some sun during and after the meeting.

Daytona Beach has 23 miles of beaches and an ocean park atmosphere. Beyond the beach, there is a wide range of museums, historical attractions and nightlife, all featuring a beach backdrop. With the LPGA, U.S. Tennis Association, Daytona International Speedway and the Daytona 500 Experience as annual calendar events, Daytona Beach is accustomed to hosting big groups. The Ocean Center has 205,536 square feet of total meeting space and there are more than 12,000 hotel rooms in the area. StarLite of Daytona dining cruises are the newest attraction in town. The StarLite Princess, a paddle wheeler dinner cruise, opened in June of 2009 and cruises along the Intracoastal Waterway from May to September.

Hot, bright and sandy. That’s how people who meet in Pensacola describe their working conditions. The Pensacola Bay area lures vacationers with 52 miles of beaches along the Gulf of Mexico in Pensacola Beach. It’s a native, affordable play land enhanced by the 95 daily flights into Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport. Pensacola’s accessibility along with the Pensacola Civic Center attracts meeting planners. The civic center accommodates both large and small groups with its 10,000-seat arena, 20,000-sq.-ft. exhibition space, 13,000-sq.-ft. meeting space and 12 meeting rooms. An additional 40 venues totaling 150,000 square feet and 8,800 rooms also are in the area. Pensacola’s walkable historic downtown has art galleries, shops and small restaurants.

Thirty-five miles of white sand beaches and eight major barrier islands border St. Petersburg and Clearwater, just 30 minutes from Busch Gardens and 90 minutes from the Disney World Resort. The TradeWinds Island Grand Resort offers meeting planners 70,868 square feet of meeting space in a lush, tropical atmosphere. Indoor and outdoor spaces are available at the St. Petersburg Beach resort, also inhabited by white swans, Japanese Koi and native Florida waterfowl. The $40-million “BayWalk” entertainment complex in downtown St. Petersburg is a hot spot for shopping and nightlife.

Panama City is no longer just a spring break destination. With a recent building boom, Panama City Beach has a lot of meeting space and the Panama City-Bay County International Airport is just three miles northwest of the business district. The convention center at the Boardwalk Beach Resort contains more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space. For meeting planners looking to plan an outdoor event, the Sunset Pavilion features a 9,000-sq.-ft. deck with panoramic views of the beach. The Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort’s 32,700-sq.-ft. conference center features a 13,365-sq.-ft. Grand Palm Ballroom and meeting space for groups ranging from 10 to 2,000.

Tampa is an ideal meetings destination for planners looking to immerse attendees in semi-tropical fun. Busch Gardens, the Henry B. Plant Museum and Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center are just a few of the attractions that can be found in this city, which is ranked the 8th cleanest city in America by Yahoo! The Westshore business district is brimming with hotel and restaurant options conveniently located near Tampa International Airport. The waterfront Tampa Convention Center is a 600,000-sq.-ft. building that brings the sparkling light of the bay indoors. The Channelside District, located in downtown, is home to Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruise terminals and The Florida Aquarium.

Planners looking to offer guests adventure in Florida’s swamps and scrub should head to Kissimmee. Meeting in the Florida Everglades isn’t what you think. Sure there are wetlands, working cattle ranches and wildlife galore, but there is also an abundance of meeting space. The Exhibition Building at Osceola Heritage Park has 47,850 square feet of exhibit space while the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center has 400,000 square feet.