Direct Line: 757-253-2313
Virginia Living Museum - Winter Planetarium Shows
January 04 - March 30
Jan. 4 - March 30 Winter Planetarium Shows
Choose among four shows in the Virginia Living Museum’s Read on
"Art Stop"
January 14 - March 10
Create a work of art to take home inspired by objects in the collection during the program at 10:30 Read on
Jamestown Settlement - From Africa to Virginia
February 01 - February 29
Gallery exhibits, a printed family gallery guide and guided tours of the museum’s outdoor Read on
York River State Park - Getting to know us!
February 02 - March 11
Getting to Know Us (Sunday, Feb 5th, 12th, & Mar 4th, 11th, 2:30-3:30 pm)
Are you new to the Read on
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The Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance sends out quarterly eNewsletters to meeting planners. If you would like to receive these eNewsletters, please enter your email address in the box below (from the main page): |
 Lisa Pacheco
Senior Sales Manager, Conferences
757.229.6511
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August 3, 2009
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In the Spotlight: Kingsmill Resort & Spa
For an area of small size and population, Greater Williamsburg has played host to many world leaders and major world events. From 1983 and the G7 (now G8) Economic Summit of the globe’s largest industrialized nations to 2007’s World Forum on the Future of Democracy, heads of state, diplomats and business leaders have converged here for conferences and meetings of almost every size. In February of this year the Democratic Caucus, the annual retreat for House Democrats, met here, complete with a visit by President Obama on his first foray from the nation’s capital since being inaugurated. The many qualities that make the Williamsburg area a great vacation destination – its unique combination of 400+ years of American history, world-class museums, exciting theme parks, great dining and shopping, and beautiful natural settings for outdoor activities – also make it an ideal choice for meetings and conferences, strengthened by the commitment of the area’s hotels and conference centers to serve the needs of meeting planners. Kingsmill Resort & Spa has been selected by planners of the Democratic Caucus for five consecutive years. And while arrangements for participation by a U.S. President may not top every meeting planners’ needs lists, Kingsmill’s Vice-President of Sales & Marketing Mike Garrow points to facilities and staff that are ready to fulfill the highest expectations of current and prospective conference clients. Renowned for its natural beauty along the historic James River and three championship golf courses that have earned it a coveted spot on Golf Digest’s list of “The 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America,” Kingsmill features impressive conference facilities. These encompass 16,000 square feet of meeting space and 16 meeting rooms. Seven of these rooms make up Kingsmill’s IACC-certified Conference Center, each opening to a deck or outdoor pre-function area. Rooms are equipped with soundproofing, adjustable lighting, individual climate controls and state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, part of the resort’s extensive AV inventory. Garrow cites Kingsmill’s conference staff and its in-depth technical expertise as a meeting planner’s greatest asset, beginning with a designated Conference Planner through to the on-duty Conference Concierge who is always available for last-minute edits to presentations and help with administrative details. Kingsmill’s in-house capabilities include technicians certified by the International Communications Industries Association and its own destination services team, which can assist in everything from arranging transportation, tours, and outdoor activities to creating themed events, both on and off site. The added on-the-spot value of this staff aided one planner faced with an overlap of a conference dinner scheduled during the last game of the Final Four. Knowing that many attendees would want to check on the game, the initial request was to bring in a monitor in one corner of the room. Kingsmill staff instead integrated the game into the dinner meeting, with plasma screens posted around the room and tables decorated with basketball décor and favors. Attendees got a memorable event and the meeting’s integrity and networking value was preserved – all at a minimal cost. “One hit wonders are not what we or our clients are about,” states Garrow. Recognizing that national businesses and associations need to rotate their meeting locations, Kingsmill maintains relationships with premier hotels and conference centers nationwide for referrals clients know they can trust. With so much to experience in Greater Williamsburg, Garrow knows they’ll be coming back. |
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Greater Williamsburg in the News“Williamsburg: America’s Historic Triangle” was the featured profile destination in the June issue of U.S. Airways Magazine, the award-winning in-flight magazine of US Airways, which flies into all three airports serving the Historic Triangle – Newport News/Williamsburg, Norfolk International and Richmond International. The 22-page story showcased our area’s hospitality and many attractions, hotels, restaurants and economic growth to 7+ million travelers on 4,000 daily flights to more than 200 cities in 35 countries. You can read the profile at here. Colonial Williamsburg’s Golden Horseshoe Golf Club was twice recognized by media this year. It received a 2008-2009 “Platinum Places” award from Golf Odyssey: The Insider’s Guide to Sophisticated Golf Travel, and was named #4 on the list of the best resort golf courses in Zagat’s Top U.S. Hotels, Resorts & Spas 2009 survey. Vanity Fair’s 2009 Spa Guide recommended The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg as one of the best in North America. And the Williamsburg Inn is ranked among Travel + Leisure’s Top 500 Hotels in the World. Great Wolf Lodge made news by achieving Green Seal™ certification for its lodging operations, meeting the Green Seal organization’s rigorous environmental standard, which includes nearly three dozen environmentally responsible criteria for lodging properties. The resort also launched its own environmental program, “Project Green Wolf,” to cover its waterpark operations and resort amenities as well. |
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A Seasonal Look Ahead
We may be pushing the envelope, but American business works during the holiday season – and meetings can, too, especially when there’s so much to take advantage of in the Historic Triangle for holiday spirit and memorable off-site events. Colonial Williamsburg has been known for decades for putting magic into the holidays, from the beauty of distinctive natural decorations throughout its Historic District to festive music, delicious feasts, and special interpretive programs to the magnificent Grand Illumination event and fireworks, taking place this year on December 6. Historic Yorktown ushers in the season on December 4 with its own Illumination and Christmas Tree Lighting, including entertainment and a procession of lights through the historic area to Riverwalk Landing. Special events continue through December 12 with special holiday markets, lighted boat parade, cookies with Santa and a activities surrounding the Toyland Parade. In 2009, the area’s popular festivities are even bigger. In addition to the “Foods & Feasts of Colonial Virginia” on November 26-28 at Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center, the two living history museums’ “A Colonial Christmas” recall holiday traditions of the 17th and 18th centuries throughout December with special interpretive programs, films and tours.
For the first time in its 34-year history, Busch Gardens Williamsburg is open for the holidays. The “World’s Most Beautiful Park” will be transformed for “Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration,” complete with one million twinkling lights, a spectacular 45-foot light-animated tree, marketplaces that include regional artists and artisans, and holiday foods and entertainment with Old World flair. The park will be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 4 - 9 p.m. beginning Nov. 27; opening each evening Dec. 18-27, excluding Christmas Day. |
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| Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance Sales Staff Lisa Pacheco Senior Sales Manager, Conferences Direct Line: 757-253-2313 |
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