June 4, 2010

In the Spotlight: The Crowne Plaza at Fort Magruder

Situated on an historic landmark – the original redoubt from the Civil War’s 1862 Battle of Williamsburg – the Crowne Plaza Williamsburg at Fort Magruder offers a fresh décor, quiet garden retreats and amenities that go far beyond its unassuming exterior.

Looking for the perfect place to hold a meeting, banquet or wedding?  The Crowne Plaza is the perfect spot.  Its 300+ guestrooms and 26,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space feature state-of-the-art equipment and amenities.  Meeting and event rooms – from the Clara Barton Room to the Jefferson Davis Amphitheater to the elegant Richmond Hall ballroom – pay tribute to the hotel’s historical backdrop while providing up-to-date services for meetings as small as 10 people or receptions for up to 700. A dedicated staff makes every meeting and event unforgettable. 

The Crowne Plaza Williamsburg at Fort Magruder offers the ideal setting for both business and pleasure, including programs for all ages.   This June, the hotel launches its Family “Stay & Play” program.  Activity coordinators will lead the fun with daily activities to entertain the entire family throughout the summer.  Experience “Starry Nights” every Monday with pizza made in the Crowne Plaza’s own outdoor brick oven.  Enjoy a movie on the big screen under the stars, popcorn and candy in hand.  Grab your hat and boots and join in an Outdoor Cookout that includes local entertainers every Wednesday night.  How about a poolside luau that includes a pig roast?  One will be held every Friday!

The Crowne Plaza is also pleased to be home to The Traveling Jones Theater.  Adults will enjoy “Edgar Allan Poe Comes Alive,” a spellbinding two-act play in which Edgar Allan Poe comes back to life to chat humorously with the audience and present his classic poems and short stories.  “Anita Reedmore’s Rock and Roll Book Report” will enthrall youngsters with a one- hour romp through classic American Literature, from Rip Van Winkle to Moby Dick. 

Every Saturday night, the Veranda Restaurant features “Dress Up for Dinner – Colonial Style.”  Sheila Arnold, master storyteller, will entertain all ages and share 18th-century tales.  The character of “Ol’ Bess” comes alive, engaging children to participate in the re-enactment of an era long gone, but certainly not forgotten.

The Crowne Plaza Williamsburg at Fort Magruder is truly “The Place to Meet,” whether for business or pleasure.  Visit www.cpwilliamsburghotel.com or contact 757.220.2250 to join the fun this summer and all year-round!

NN/Williamsburg International Airport Welcomes Frontier's New Nonstop Denver Service

Cross-country travel just got easier and more enjoyable, as the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport welcomed a new non-stop Frontier Airlines route and opened a new state-of the-art concourse.

On May 3 Frontier Airlines began operating four weekly flights between Newport News/Williamsburg International and Denver.  The new Frontier flights enable travelers to fly non-stop across two time zones to the airline’s Denver hub and connect to other points beyond.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.frontierairlines.com. 

“This is a very exciting day for Frontier Airlines,” said Daniel Shurz, Frontier’s vice president of planning and strategy. “With the delivery of three new Airbus A320s and additional E190s this spring we are able to expand our service to new and underserved markets out of Denver. Customers in Newport News and Hamptons Roads region can now look forward to Frontier’s excellent customer service and affordable fares as they travel to/from Denver and beyond.”

The Frontier flights operate out of the Newport News/Williamsburg Airport’s new, $13.5-million Concourse A, part of the facility’s $23-million upgrade to make flying more convenient for travelers to and from the Virginia Peninsula. The Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport is served by AirTran Airways, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines and US Airways, serving seven non-stop cities and providing connections worldwide. 

Colonial Connections - Specialists in Destination Management and Receptive Tour Services

Based in Williamsburg just minutes from Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area and with more than 20 years experience, Colonial Connections offers a full range of services for groups of all sizes and types – from customized sightseeing tours and transportation logistics to special events and programs.  This destination management and receptive tour services firm has long-established relationships with local hospitality and travel partners that ensure clients receive the highest quality service with the best vendors.

 “We know the ‘ins and outs’ of the region, and our expertise allows us to find the perfect combination of activities and programs best suited to any group’s specific needs,” notes Sophia Harler, Colonial Connections owner.  “We pride ourselves in being a straightforward company of real people providing real services designed to exceed the expectations of our clients and their constituents.”

A conversation with Sophia and VP of Sales and Marketing Terri McIlwean leaves no doubt that they and their staff stand ready, willing and totally able to create a memorable experience for conference guests.  Colonial Connections has achieved that for groups as small as 10 people – and as many as 3,500 people at America’s Anniversary Weekend.

“There’s no better back drop for a meeting or event than Virginia’s Historic Triangle,” points out Sophia.  “From Southern plantation receptions and 18th-century-style tavern dinners to championship golf and water-based excursions, we can develop a wide variety of activities and truly one-of-a-kind opportunities.” 

Can off-site events be planned at the area attractions? “Yes!” responds Terri. “Historic Jamestowne, Jamestown Settlement, Shirley Plantation, the College of William & Mary’s Alumni House, Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens all provide venues for exciting and unique evening events.”

How about a dine-a-round or pub crawl? “We love to do those,” says Sophia. “We work closely with the restaurants in New Town, which is an upscale, mixed-use development centrally located to the area’s hotels and attractions that has a great array of restaurants and pubs within an easy, enjoyable walk.”

Do you arrange golf outings? “Absolutely! We have world-class golf courses ready to work with us to ensure a relaxing yet challenging golf experience,” notes Terri. “The Williamsburg area is one of the top 25 golf destinations in the world.”

What about entertainment? “We can secure everything from Colonial balladeers and Fife and Drum escorts to conjurers, 18th-century dance lessons and a Native American Indian Dance Troupe,” answers Terri.  “And of course we also arrange for dance bands, trios, and quartets whose repertoires meet any musical request.”

Is it possible for Thomas Jefferson or another Founding Father to speak at an event? “It’s not only possible, we also highly recommend this idea,” says Sophia.  “We’ve arranged such engagements for a number of groups, and it’s always proven to be an inspiring as well as educational experience.”

Sophia and Terri are unabashedly enthusiastic about the unique character and experiences offered by the Historic Triangle. “It’s here that the important story of our nation began and developed, from the first permanent English settlement and legislative assembly at Jamestown to the ideals of freedom and independence fostered in Williamsburg to the decisive battle of the American Revolutionary War at Yorktown.  And it’s here that one can witness the story of our nation’s birth in a way that’s relevant to today’s social, economic and political climate.  There’s no where else in this country where the exciting story of our past comes more to life than in Virginia’s Historic Triangle, and we want you to share that story with everyone!” 

Contact Colonial Connections toll-free at 800.378.1571; www.ColonialConnections.com.

Williamsburg in the News

The Williamsburg area won the top spot as “Best Destination for a Family Vacation” in the first annual Readers’ Choice Awards conducted by Budget Travel Magazine.  Williamsburg captured 47 percent of the votes, far outdistancing such nominees as Disney World (36%), Washington, D.C. (8%), the Grand Canyon (6%) and Branson, MO (last with 1%). 

The February 10-April 9 online poll garnered more than 164,000 votes across 38 travel topics.   Category nominations were suggested by Budget Travel readers and magazine staff. 

“This Budget Travel award, like our recent Top 10 ranking from TripAdvisor travelers, brings great exposure for our area as an ideal family vacation destination,” said Alliance Tourism VP Bob Harris.  “That’s a great message and positioning for conference and group tours, as well as vacationers."

The June issue of GO Magzine, the inflight publication of AirTran Airways, is featuring Greater Williamsburg as part of its Travel Report: Virginia’s Historic Peninsula.  Fourteen pages of editorial coverage will include stories about all there is to experience in the region, from living history attractions to beaches to cuisine. Go Magazine is read monthly by more than two million business and leisure travelers.

Colonial National Historical Park

It began on the swampy marshes of Jamestown in 1607. It ended on the battle scarred landscape of Yorktown in 1781. It was 174 years of hope, frustration, adventure and growth that saw a lonely settlement of 104 men and boys grow into a nation of 13 colonies of 3 million people, of many races and many beliefs.   Jamestown and Yorktown mark the beginning and end of English Colonial America.  Retrace the steps of colonial settlers and American patriots at Colonial National Historical Park.  Experience the sense of place that formed the character of a nation in the 17th and 18th centuries.  Today there is something for every family member’s sense of adventure.

Historic Jamestowne is a place of many beginnings.   It was the beginning of England's successful colonization of America with the first permanent English colony.   It was the first seat of English government in Virginia, the place where the first representative government met in 1619 and the first recorded arrival of Africans to English America.   Historic Jamestowne offers a wealth of activities for exploring.  Take a walking tour with a Park Ranger; view the visitor center’s introductory immersion theatre program; visit the reconstructed Jamestown Memorial Church and original 17th century church tower; share a moment of discovery with archaeologists at the 1607 James Fort excavation; view artifacts in the interactive Voorhees Archaearium museum; watch costumed glassblowers in the Glasshouse of 1608.  Historic Jamestowne is jointly administered with Preservation Virginia.

Yorktown is the site of the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War.  The Revolution secured independence for the United States and significantly changed the course of world history.  Yorktown Battlefield includes a visitor center with an orientation film and museum exhibits, including General George Washington’s military tents.  Join a Park Ranger for guided tours of the battlefield and village.  Driving tours of the battlefield highlight areas significant to the 1781 siege.  Enjoy visiting the Nelson House, home to a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and the Moore House, site of the surrender negotiations ending the conflict (both open seasonally).

The Colonial Parkway, a 23-mile scenic byway connecting Virginia’s Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown, provides spectacular views of both the James and York Rivers and turnouts which offer glimpses into the area’s rich cultural and natural history.

Colonial National Historical Park was created in 1930 and is administered by the National Park Service.  For more information about the park, including programs for groups, please call (757) 898-2410, or visit www.nps.gov/colo.   For younger visitors there are Junior Ranger Programs.  Several hands-on programs and living-history demonstrations are also available during the summer season.