Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1535167
B M & T ••• May/June 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 41 deliberation, not dazzle. Charleston, the capital, pairs legisla- tive reach with riverside respite, while its Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center delivers over 200,000 square feet of strategic functionality. The connected Town Center Marriott and nearby Four Points by Sheraton offer planners walkable convenience with executive-grade amenities. Huntington, marked by Appalachian richness and uni- versity-driven velocity, offers gracious settings like the Mountain Health Arena and boutique venues flanking Pullman Square. The Delta Hotels by Marriott Huntington Downtown adds ease for high-touch events, while Marshall University's Visual Arts Center invites cultural resonance into the program. This is not a state distracted by theatrics—it offers presence. From timber lodges to academic halls, planners encounter spaces designed for insight, progression, and preservation. In West Virginia, the terrain isn't just scenic—it's shrewd. Planning here doesn't recycle sentiment—it artic- ulates truth, where authenticity isn't styled—it's sea- soned. This guide is more than a map—it's a lens. From Gulf- side boardrooms to mountaintop forums, the Southern region refuses to be summarized. It presents substance without compromise, and structure without sterility. Each city in this collection brings its own form of gravity— offering planners not just square footage, but statements. Here, identity doesn't murmur—it declares. Venues aren't props—they're instruments. And tourism isn't divorced from history—it's composed by those who shaped, struggled, and now gather with intention. The South doesn't just welcome—it equips. From state- supported incentives to walkable infrastructure, planners will find cities designed not only to host but to help strategize. These aren't passive locations; they're proac- tive partners—meeting challenges with readiness and responding to vision with built-in support. For meeting architects, program designers, and corpo- rate visionaries alike, the South offers more than regions to explore—it opens new country for strategy and belonging. This isn't where you look for potential. It's where you locate power. • • • • GETTING IN TOUCH • • • • If this regional compilation of Southern destinations inspires your next move, the tourism offices listed below offer support, guidance, and local insight to help transform your vision into reality. Alabama Tourism Department (800) ALABAMA https://tourism.alabama.gov Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism (800)NATURAL www.arkansas.com Visit Florida / Florida Tourism and Marketing Corp. (888) 7-FLAUSA www.visitflorida.com Georgia Department of Economic Development (800) 847-484 www.exploregeorgia.org Kentucky Department of Tourism (800) 225-8747 www.kentuckytourism.com Louisiana Office of Tourism (800) 225-342-8100 www.louisianatravel.com Mississippi Division of Tourism Development (601) 359-3599 www.visitmississippi.org North Carolina Division of Tourism (800) VISIT NC www.visitnc.com South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation Tourism – 803) 734-0124 www.discoversouthcarolina.com Tennessee Department of Tourism Development (615) 741-2159 www.tnvacation.com Virginia Tourism Corporation (800) VISITVA www.virginia.org West Virginia Department of Tourism (304) 558-2200 www.wvtourism.com Storer College, West VA first black college in state