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B M & T ••• July/August 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 25 The Norfolk Waterside Marriott and Hilton Norfolk The Main give planners strong downtown anchors, with a combined total of over 128,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, river views, and hotel-based convenience that keeps a program moving. From there, your attendees can shift easily from general session to Granby Street, Waterside District, Nauticus, or the Battleship Wisconsin, making offsite experiences natural extensions of the agenda instead of transportation projects. A reception at Nauticus puts the Elizabeth River and maritime history directly into the evening. A private event at the Chrysler Museum or Glass Studio adds color, craft, and conversation. And for planners of color, the Attucks Theatre offers unique cultural presence. Its history as a Black-built and operated landmark gives arts programming, heritage moments, and special events a sense of purpose that feels earned. Wellness can stay simple and atmospheric: a morning walk or bike ride along the 10.5-mile Elizabeth River Trail, a garden reset at Norfolk Botanical Garden, or spa time at Letoile Day Spa between sessions. Norfolk lets your meeting flow—through water, art, his- tory, music, and downtown movement that makes attendees feel connected, not contained. For more information contact Visit Norfolk – (800) 368- 3097 or www.visitnorfolk.com. k R i c h m o n d k Richmond is the kind of destination where business agen- das can naturally become broader conversations. Your atten- dees can spend the morning inside the Greater Richmond Convention Center, move through downtown on foot beneath notable architecture and public art, then end the evening in Jackson Ward talking history, leadership, culture, and community over cocktails and dinner. The Greater Richmond Convention Center, with 700,000 sq. ft. of adaptable space anchors the experience, giving plan- ners the scale for conferences, exhibits, banquets and multi- track programs with downtown access. Nearby hotels like the Hilton Richmond Downtown, Omni Richmond Hotel and The Jefferson Hotel add flexibility, whether the agenda calls for executive sessions, polished receptions or a gala with real architectural presence. The James River cuts through the city bringing outdoor energy through trails, river views, and movement between sessions. Jackson Ward—the "Harlem of the South"—adds immediate cultural context. Black history tours and programming through the Elegba Folklore Society allows attendees to engage with stories of Black entrepreneurship, creativity, resilience, and civic power. Offsite events at The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the city's arts districts add purposeful, cultural layers to your program. Evenings move easily between Shockoe Bottom, Carytown, and the Fan, where dinners, networking events, and spontaneous conversations take on flavors of their own. A gathering at Common House Richmond feels intimate and contemporary; an event at James River Cellars Winery leans relaxed and social. Richmond gives planners riverfront swagger, creative energy, and cultural substance for memorable moments. For more information contact Visit Richmond – (888) 742-4666 or www.visitrichmondva.com. Richmond GRCC k R o a n o k e k Roanoke gives your meeting a mountain backdrop with- out asking you to trade ease for atmosphere. The day can begin in a historic conference center, move into downtown restaurants and museums, then open into Blue Ridge air with trails, overlooks, and scenery that quietly changes the mood of a group. Here, productive gatherings feel restora- tive. The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center anchors the experience with historic character, 63,000 sq. ft. of flexible Hotel Roanoke Conference Center V I R G I N I A S P E C I A L S E C T I O N