Situated in the heart of Coastal Virginia, Chesapeake’s convenient mid-Atlantic location is within 750 miles of two-thirds of the U.S. population. And thanks to the nearby Norfolk International Airport (ORF), getting your group here couldn’t be easier. With hotels ranging from traditional to trendy, you can tailor your group’s surroundings to its tastes and your budget. The city’s winning combination of accommodations, meeting venues, attractions and activities provides plenty of options for your group’s agenda.

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Charlotte’s Center City is the convention district, an area boasting nearly 100 restaurants plus attractions ideal for after-meeting entertainment. Charlotte’s compact layout combined with a winning hotel package will make your next meeting a success; both from the perspective of easy planning and from an attendance point of view.

Once you’re here, explore off-the-beaten-path Charlotte neighborhoods, high-octane adventures at attractions like the NASCAR Hall of Fame and time-tested, year-round things to see and do. No matter where you go in Charlotte, you’ll find a lot to your liking…not to mention plenty of Southern comforts and urban excitement along the way.

For more information, visit charlottesgotalot.com.

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Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Kansas City, Missouri

Designed by internationally acclaimed architect Moshe Safdie, the stunning Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts opened its doors last September not only to Kansas City’s patrons of the arts, but also to meeting attendes. The defining aesthetic of the dramatic 285,000-sq.-ft. facility is a sharply contrasting blend of steel and glass, curves and angles, which creates a fascinating interplay of light, shadows, reflections and transparency. With an equal emphasis placed on acoustic design, the 1,800-seat Muriel Kauffman Theatre and 1,600-seat Helzberg Hall are the perfect venues for keynote addresses or special events. Both spaces are connected by the large, glass-enclosed Brandmeyer Great Hall, which can be used for receptions or exhibits.

The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is located in the Crossroads Arts District, a mixed-use neighborhood with a concentration of art galleries, restaurants, nightclubs, shopping and residences. Next door is the Kansas City Convention Center, an eight-square-block facility with 388,000 square feet of exhibit space, 48 meeting rooms, ballrooms, a plaza and a 10,700-capacity arena. A few blocks away is the Power and Light District, Kansas City’s premiere entertainment zone, with more prominent dining, shopping, and nightlife, as well as frequent festivals, concerts and special events.

The Tech Museum
San Jose, California

What could be a more appropriate atmosphere for an inspiring and thought-provoking meeting in Silicon Valley than a place called The Tech Museum? This institution of innovation set in the heart of San Jose is the perfect locale to stimulate creativity, discussion and ideas. That’s why the opening party of Rejuvenate Marketplace 2011 was held among the museum’s hundreds of cutting-edge exhibits. But it is not just for receptions. The entire three-story, 132,000-sq.-ft. building can be rented for large events—additionally, galleries, a hall, the rooftop terrace and the Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater can be reserved separately or together. Elegant catering is available from on-site restaurant, Cafe Primavera.

Within a couple blocks is the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, which can accommodate large events with 143,000 square feet of exhibit space, 31 meeting rooms and 22,000-sq.-ft. ballroom. Also within walking distance are more museums and theaters, parks, restaurants, shops, and hotels such as the Marriott and Hilton. The Paseo de San Antonio Walk is a pedestrian thoroughfare that leads to San Jose State University, with dining along the way. For explorations outside the city, light rail stations are conveniently located throughout downtown with service to neighboring cities Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Campbell and Mountain View.

Myriad Botanical Gardens and Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

An oasis in the middle of downtown Oklahoma City is the Myriad Botanical Gardens and Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory. Since 1988, people have been retreating to this special 17-acre property and its several different types of gardens, two-acre lake and public art. But the star attraction here is the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, a remarkable enclosed jungle-like environment containing reptiles, amphibians, birds, butterflies, fish, exotic tropical plants and a 35-foot waterfall. It can be rented separately for special events (seating capacity is 80), as can Meinders Garden and the Water Stage, which can accommodate several hundred people. Formal meetings can be held in the 5,000-sq.-ft. Dean A. McGee Center, which contains the Terrace Room and Water Plaza Room, each with seating for 120 people.

Across the street from the gardens is the Cox Convention Center, with more than 1 million square feet of flexible meeting space, and Chesapeake Energy Arena, home of the NBA’s Thunder. Within a few blocks is Bricktown, a former warehouse district turned entertainment mecca featuring restaurants, nightlife, shopping, hotels and Bricktown Riverwalk. A popular excursion is floating along the Bricktown Canal in water taxis, which can be chartered for private groups.

NASCAR Hall of Fame
Charlotte, North Carolina

A venue for meetings and events that is sure to get hearts and minds racing is Charlotte’s NASCAR Hall of Fame. Opened in May 2010, this homage to stock-car racing champions has interactive, cutting-edge exhibits available for guided group tours, events and meetings of up to 2,500 in size. The entire 150,000-sq.-ft. facility can be rented, as well as individual spaces such as the Great Hall, Legends Room, Belk High Octane Theater or the 32,000-sq.-ft. outdoor Ceremonial Plaza.

The hall of fame is just one component of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Complex, located uptown (don’t be confused—downtown is locally known as uptown or Center City). The complex is connected to the Charlotte Convention Center. The 850,000-sq.-ft. convention center features the 40,000-sq.-ft. Crown Ballroom, part of a recent 102,000-sq.-ft. expansion. Nearby hotels include Hilton Garden Inn and the Westin, and a variety of upscale restaurants are in the vicinity. A few blocks away is Time Warner Cable Arena, home of the NBA’s Bobcats.

Hilton Columbia Center
Columbia, South Carolina

The capital of South Carolina bills itself as “Famously Hot,” and meeting planners should take note—Columbia’s temperate climate makes it a great meeting destination year-round. A block away from the South Carolina State House in its thriving city center is the Hilton Columbia Center, which consistently ranks as one of the top Hilton properties worldwide. The hotel has 5,956 square feet of flexible function space, including a ballroom that can be broken into multiple rooms, two meeting rooms and two boardrooms. It is across the street from the 142,500-sq.-ft. Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

The Hilton is situated on the edge of the lively Congaree Vista district, a historic section of downtown that was once the city’s industrial and rail center. Revitalized in the last 15 years, the area now contains some of the city’s finest dining, nightlife, shopping and galleries. Also in close proximity are the University of South Carolina, South Carolina State Museum and the Riverfront Park and Columbia Canal.