Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1194291
AREA GUIDES TAR HEEL STATE OFFERS VARIETY OF OPTIONS FOR MEETING GROUPS B Y D O S W E L L I N G R A M With the Great Smoky Mountains to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, North Carolina offers a wide array of outdoor recreational activities, from raft- ing on the Nantahala River to strolling on the beach at Nags Head. In Charlotte, one of the favorite hang- outs for gallery hopping and listening to live music is the NoDa arts district (the name is short for North Davidson). Charlotte's Afro-American Cultural Center showcases a variety of art pro- grams and hosts events on its rooftop terrace. There's an art museum on the campus of North Carolina Central University in Durham, while a series of bronze sculp- tures along Parrish Street chronicles the history of the area that was dubbed "Black Wall Street" in the early 20th century. • • GREENSBORO • • Home to the largest hotel in North Carolina (1,000 guest rooms) plus 87 other lodging facilities nearby and the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, one of the largest entertainment facilities in the Southeast (seats 23,500), Greensboro can easily host events ranging from small corporate meetings to large citywide events. The city's central location, easy accessibility and versatile conference facilities make it a destination of choice for meeting planners nationwide. With 197,000 total sq. ft. of exhibit space Greensboro's Coliseum Complex is by far the city's top meeting and confer- ence venue, offering flexibilities and space for any size and just about any style desired. For each of the 1,100 events presented yearly, a variety of con- figurations are possible. The 167,000-sq. ft. Special Events Center can be parti- tioned into four halls, leaving 60,000 sq. ft. for exhibits and 4,500-seat general seating setup for group sessions or enter- tainment. Because of Greensboro's rich heritage within the African-American community, conference attendees will have no trouble finding events or landmarks representing Black history throughout the city. The African American Atelier promotes its exhibition programs in a modern, spa- cious three-gallery space on the main level of the Greensboro Cultural Center. This venue helps educate African- Americans and the community at-large and provides bridging opportunities for artists, children, adults and special popu- lations including the physically and men- tally challenged. Explore the history of the American civil rights movement with a guided tour of the International Civil Rights Center & Museum's permanent exhibition, "The Battlegrounds." This engaging encounter, introduced with a captivating audio/video narrative, includes a journey through time via pictorials, artifacts, video reenact- ments, and interactive components. Ava Pope serves is director of Sales for the Greens- boro CVB. If you are looking to book a meeting or event in the Greensboro area make sure and contact Pope and the Sales Dept. at (336) 274-2282 Located at the center of North Carolina and the midpoint of the East Coast, PTI is strategically positioned at the hub of the dynamic Piedmont Triad region, situated between the cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point where I-40, I-85 and the I- 73 and I-74 converge. • • WINSTON-SALEM • • With the renovations and enhance- ments at the Benton Convention Center B M & T ••• September/October 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 48 N O R T H C A R O L I N A • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS The Sheraton Greensboro Hotel 985 Grandover Resort Hotel & Spa 244 Greensboro Marriott Downtown 280 DoubleTree by Hilton 175 Hyatt Place 124 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Greensboro Coliseum Complex total exhibit space 197,000 sq. ft. meeting rooms 4 The Sheraton Greensboro Hotel total exhibit space 186,548 sq. ft. meetingrooms 81 largest ballroom 16,500 sq. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Greensboro Convention & Visitors Bureau – (718) 853-8100 www.visitgreensboronc.com Greensboro Black Chamber of Commerce www.northcarolinadb.com Greensboro International Civil Rights Center and Museum photo credit: Greensboro CVB AVA POPE