Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/187632
•Pg_56-70__BMT_pg86-162 9/25/13 5:27 AM Page 63 NORTH CAROLINA VARIED OPTIONS AND WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES FUEL STATE'S GROWING PROWESS AS MEETING DESTINATION BY REGGIE MURPHY North Carolina's places are as varied as its landscapes. In the mountains, Asheville and Boone have long appealed to visitors, and smaller towns like Brevard and Lake Lure have an energy all their own. Piedmont cities from Charlotte to Raleigh and Fayetteville to WinstonSalem have countless things to do, the Sandhills boasts world-class golf, and the Yadkin Valley is home to dozens of wineries. The state's beaches are some of the best in the nation according to Dr. Beach and The Weather Channel, and Beaufort and Edenton are known as America's "coolest" and "prettiest" small towns. In the Tar Heel State, you don't just learn about history, you get involved with it. See where flight began at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, then try hang gliding yourself. Stand in the place where the sit-in movement began at the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro. And instead of just touring a historic resort like Grove Park Inn, spend a night there. ••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 city-wide events. The city's central location, easy accessibility and versatile conference facilities make it a destination of choice for meeting planners nationwide. Flexibility was built into every aspect of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, with 197,000 total sq. ft. of exhibit space. For each of the 800 events presented yearly, AREA GUIDES a variety of configurations are possible. The 167,000-sq. ft. Special Events Center can be partitioned into four halls, leaving 60,000 sq. ft. for exhibits and 4,500-seat general seating setup for group sessions or entertainment. With many hotels to choose from Greensboro offers an assortment of unique lodging options based on your group or meeting size. Planners have a numerous selection of top level lodging facilities in this hospitable city. The Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons, The Greensboro Marriott Downtown, and The Grandover Resort & Conference Center are fine choices of full service hotels that offer conference attendees a plethora of helpful accommodations as well as comparable meeting space to house conferences on site. While in Greensboro meeting attendees and leisure travels are encouraged to explore the city and its historic culture. Make sure to check out the African American Atelier Gallery. This art gallery provides rotational exhibitions, gallery B M & T ••• Septmeber/October 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 63