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airy, the 4,100-square-foot, street-level mez- zanine overlooks the exhibit hall and provides easy access to all other areas of the center and the attached Raleigh Marriott City Center. Granite details, stunning artwork, casual seat- ing and a gracious reception area create the ideal spot to mix and mingle before or after events. All capacities listed are maximum room set without staging and with no or mini- mal AV equipmen Three major meeting properties—Raleigh Marriott City Center (400 rooms), Sheraton Raleigh Hotel (353 rooms) and the Residence Inn Raleigh Downtown (175 rooms)—sit on the convention campus with the Raleigh Convention Center and provide meeting plan- ners and attendees with convenient, modern and upscale accommodations. Raleigh's cut- ting-edge Southern cuisine, handcrafted brews and spirits, toe-tapping music and warm, friendly welcomes—all cultivated by smart and savvy locals—create an energizing combination promising to elevate the experi- ence of meeting delegates and help meetings and conventions thrive. Raleigh, N.C., is often dubbed the "Smithsonian of the South," based on an abundance of high-quality, free museums, his- toric attractions and educational institutions. Discover rich history and science through captivating, state-of-the-art exhibits in Raleigh at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, recognizable by its three-story mul- timedia globe named the Daily Planet, and the North Carolina Museum of History, which brings our state's diverse history alive with an expansive permanent collection; admission is free at both museums! RDU International Airport serves Raleigh and the Research Triangle Region of N.C. • • CHARLOTTE • • The Queen City lives up to its name, offer- ing visitors and locals the finest experiences— without overcharging them. For starters, quick, direct flights and short drive times from many major cities make accessing Charlotte a cinch. Bonus: Charlotte Douglas International Airport is just 7 miles from Uptown. The thousands of hotel rooms located in Uptown are known for their plush amenities, stunning skyline views, and proximity to restaurants, entertainment hubs, museums and more. Situated within the compact and walkable convention district, they offer guests and event attendees direct and easy access to the Charlotte Convention Center and other major city facilities. The 550,000-sq. ft. Charlotte Convention Center is located across the street from the 700-room Westin Hotel and is also connect- ed to the NASCAR Hall of Fame via an over- street walkway. The facility features 280,000 sq. ft. of total exhibit space, it's largest meet- ing room weighing in at 40,000 sq. ft., and an impressive 50,000 plus sq. ft. of breakout rooms. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (704) 334-2282 )www.charlottemeetings.com • • DURHAM • • To say that Durham has a wide range of meeting facilities ready to host your next meeting or convention is, quite simply, an understatement. From a convention cen- ter complex to a wide range of unique meeting venues, Durham has options to make sure your attendees have an enjoy- able experience in the location that suits your needs. The Durham Convention Center offers 35,000 sq. ft. of multifuction space, including a 15,500-sq. ft. Grand Ballroom, a 11,500-sq. ft. Junior Ballroom, and 3,800 sq. ft. of meeting rooms. Durham has over 8,000 guest rooms and 70 lodging properties, ranging from charming bed and breakfast inns, to full- service and luxury hotels. The city is only minutes from an international airport, packed with iconic meeting locations (including two outstanding universities) and welcomes more than 3,500 conven- tions and meetings annually. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Discover Durham – (919) 956-9404 www.discoverdurham.com B M & T ••• September/October 2022 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 46 AREA GUIDES Raleigh Convention Center photo credit: Raleigh C.C • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Sheraton Raleigh Hotel 353 Raleigh Marriott City Center 410 Holiday Inn Raleigh Downtown 202 Embassy Suites Raleigh- Durham Airport 154 Hampton Inn & Suites Raleigh Downtown 126 Residence Inn Raleigh Downtown 175 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Raleigh Convention Center Total Exhibit Space 146,843 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 41 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Raleigh – (800) 849-8499 www.visitraleigh.com