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NORFOLK, VA Norfolk is the cultural, financial and entertainment hub of the mid- Atlantic coast. Centrally located on the Eastern Seaboard, Norfolk is only hours from two thirds of the U.S. pop- ulation, making getting there and meeting there extremely convenient, not only for your travel needs, but for your budget as well. The Waterside Convention Center, Norfolk's major meeting facility, is located in the downtown waterfront area and is attached on three floors to the Waterside Marriott Hotel. The center contains 36,365 sq. ft. of func- tion space, 19 meeting rooms and is elegantly decorated with fine furnish- ings and antiques. The largest exhibit hall is 14,400 sq. ft. and can accommo- date 2,400 guests in a reception, 2,000 in a theater set-up and 1,400 for a ban- quet. This historic city offers a variety of hotels and venues ready to accommo- date meetings of every size, with approximately 5,400 hotel rooms city- wide (committable) and 263,370 sq. ft. of function space in the city, and a downtown with 1,200 committable guestrooms and 222,934 sq. ft. of func- tion space. In addition to the Waterside Marriott Hotel, popular meeting properties include the 247- rom Hilton Norfolk Airport and the 208-room DoubleTree Hotel Norfolk Airport, to name a few. The Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel soars 23 stories above Norfolk's sparkling downtown waterfront, offer- ing stunning views of the city's work- ing waterfront. The hotel features 405 stylish guest rooms and suites and the high standard of service that Marriott Hotels are known for. With over 68,000 sq. ft. of indoor/outdoor space, the property can accommodate con- ferences of all sizes. When the workday is done, Norfolk offers a wide array of activities to satis- fy every taste and interest. Norfolk's thriving arts community will welcome you into their studios, their galleries, and their performance venues. From the working artists' studios located within downtown's D'Art Center, to the beautiful Tiffany glass collection at the Chrysler Museum of Art, to live performances at the Harrison Opera house, Chrysler Hall, Wells Theatre, his- toric Attucks Theatre, Generic Theatre or NARO Art Cinema in sGhent, you'll find a multitude of opportunities to enrich your creative spirit. There are a variety of guided tours offered in Norfolk that provide visi- tors a peak at what takes place behind the scenes. Sign up for ceme- tery tour at the Victorian-era Elmwood Cemetery, take a brewery, food or bicycle tour; or see the world's largest Naval Station on a 45- minute tour conducted by Naval per- sonnel. They also have a variety of self-guided tours including, the Cannonball Trail, Tales by Rail, Civil War Trails, and Waterways to Freedom, which honors Norfolk's proud participation in the Under- ground Railroad Network. The lovingly restored Attucks Theatre – which in its heyday was the focal point of entertainment, business, and racial pride in Norfolk's African- American community, is once again a star on Norfolk's cultural stage. The city is also the home to the West Point Monument at Elmwood Cemetery, a tribute to African-American veterans of the Civil War and the Spanish- American War. Nearly 100 African- American veterans are laid to rest in the West Point Cemetery – this his- toric section of the once segregated Elmwood Cemetery. Norfolk International Airport (ORF) is the major airport serving southeastern Virginia with hundreds of flights daily flights provided by American Airlines, Delta, Southwest and United. B M & T ••• November/December 2016 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 31 with over 12,000 animals in an unforgettable adventure. If you are planning to bring your meeting to Tampa during January of 2017, be sure to block out some time to experience the 17th Annual Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival – January 12 – 22. This ten-day celebration, lead- ing up to the Martin Luther Kings Holiday Weekend, includes live entertainment, exciting cultural events, rel- evant health tutorials, business advising seminars, renowned speakers, food vendors, craft vendors, a music fest with national recording artists and more. Globally recognized as one of the world's best air- ports, Tampa International Airport has long prided itself for being laser-focused on the passenger experience and making every interaction personal. y p There are a variety of guided tours p American Wa Wa W r. Nearly 100 Afr fr f ican- Norfolk skyline