Black Meetings and Tourism

September/October 2013

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•pg_28-41__BMT_pg3-58 9/25/13 12:54 AM Page 34 MEETING AT THE BEACH BY SOLOMON J. HERBERT II ajor regional medical conventions, hemispheric financial conferences, and international professional gatherings have been held at beachside resorts and venues for years. But increasingly — thanks to the availability of meeting rooms and exhibit space, together with today's modern telecommunications network, frequent airline connections, and unmatched tourist attractions — many of the beach destinations across the world are being recognized as locations of choice for businesses, organizations and professional groups that want to complement the usefulness of their meetings and conferences with pleasure. Beach Resorts are especially prevalent in Central America and the Caribbean. Closely related to these resorts are convention and large meeting sites. Generally these occur in cities where special meeting halls, together with ample accommodations, as well as varied dining and entertainment, are provided. Typically, in these cities there might be several hotels that are located close to each other, allow- M VIRGINIA BEACH CONVENTION CENTER ing for multiple functions at different spots. Many of the beach resorts/hotels around the world offer a comfortable and fun environment for functions such as weddings, family reunions, bachelor/bachelorette parties, fraternal organization conferences and many other types of group meetings. Because of the all-inclusive aspect of many of the beach resorts, planners have the option to offer their clients reasonable package deals that could save money in the pocket book in the long run. And we know everyone likes a deal! Planning a meeting at the beach can be a very exciting venture. The experienced planner has the option to make efficient use of your group's time by interweaving substantive business meetings with entertaining "theme nights," intriguing excursions, visits to cultural attractions and, of course, lots of simple leisure-time fun. Trips to historic sites, natural attractions, championship golf courses, world-class shopping centers, or magnificent beaches, can be easily integrated with the formalities. around) and the East Coast beach hideaway of Sandbridge. Tranquil, sce- nic and the perfect place to relax, Chesapeake Bay Beach offers a low- Virginia Beach is a meeting locale that rivals any on the East Coast. With more hotels, entertainment, shopping and dining options than ever, it's the ideal place to bring people together year-round. You'll find the perfect balance of coastal charm and big-city amenities. There's a Virginia Beach vibe that's right for your event. The city showcases venues and amenities that appeal to associations of all sizes and rival most metropolitan areas. Virginia Beach boasts 35 miles of coastline from the Chesapeake Bay, the Resort Area on the ocean coast (including one of the best boardwalks 34 B M & T ••• September/October 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com

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