Deeply rooted in southern hospitality, Norfolk is the one-stop-shop for your next memorable meeting location. From its pedestrian friendly community (recently named among the top 50 most walkable cities in the country) and its convenient Mid-Atlantic location with multiple off-site venue offerings, rich history, eclectic mix of art and an experienced services staff waiting to accommodate your needs are a few reasons to select Norfolk as your next host meeting destination. If you are looking for a perfect match, while also creating an extraordinary experience for all then check out the top five reasons why Norfolk must be included in your next site selection process.
1. Location and Transportation
Located in the middle of the Eastern seaboard, just off interstate 64, Norfolk is only a day’s drive from two-thirds of the Us population, making for a convenient destination for both business and leisure. The Norfolk International Airport offers 150 nonstop flights to major airports on seven different airlines including the newest airline, Boutique Air. Norfolk is also home to an Amtrak station whose downtown location will bring you straight into the heart of the city. Once here, downtown Norfolk and its surrounding neighborhoods are highly walkable, with designated pedestrian trails and bike lanes. A public light rail train is also available to transport you outside of the downtown area.
2. Walkability
Just a few blocks from your downtown hotel, attendees can enjoy the Elizabeth River Trail, a 10.5-mile pedestrian and biking trail on the waterfront, sail the Elizabeth River on a tall ship with Rover Cruises or tour the Battleship Wisconsin, one of the largest and last battleships ever built by the U.S. Navy. The Pagoda and Oriental Garden is nearby, a gift from the Taiwan Provincial Government, and history buffs can stroll the cobblestone streets in West Freemason where Victorian homes tower over the sidewalks and roses curl along garden fences. Narrative plaques wind through this area making The Cannonball Trail, a self-guided tour of 400 years of history, showcasing buildings and sites from the turn-of-the-century. You’ll even find a Civil War-era cannonball still lodged in the wall of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church!
For art lovers, Norfolk’s NEON Arts District boasts streets lined with art in the form of colorful murals, statues, pop-up galleries and sidewalk installations. Here attendees can explore The Chrysler Museum of Art, a free world-class museum with 50 galleries and over 30,000 objects ranging from Tiffany Glass to ancient Egyptian artifacts. The museum offers regular, free glass-blowing demonstrations on select days of the week.
3. Safety and Services
From open-air venue options with plenty of room for social distancing, to our walkable waterfront downtown helping to reduce your attendees’ transportation needs, when you book a meeting in Norfolk, you can plan on it being a safe one.The moment you choose Norfolk, our incredible event planning team will be there every step of the way. You’ll get a dedicated Destination Services Manager to ensure your event goes smoothly. Our Sales and Destination Services teams are coached up and pumped up to make your Norfolk meeting the most successful one yet.
4. World Class Off-site and Unique Venues
Norfolk offers world class offsite unique venues for groups of all sizes. Take a step outside of the board room and onto the American Rover, a three-masted topsail schooner with the Norfolk skyline as your backdrop or meet at the Chrysler Glass Studio, where you can witness glass blowing demonstrations and even create your own piece of artwork. The options are limitless, to help you create an extraordinary experience for your attendees. With the versatility and capabilities of being able to host an event on land or water, our team is ready and willing to help you pull it all together.
5. Cuisine
With more independently owned restaurants per capita than almost any city in the U.S., Norfolk has blossomed into one of the South’s most dynamic foodie destinations. With the convergence of cultures, Norfolk brings chefs, farmers, brewers and bakers to your table, giving attendees the chance to try something new without big-city hassle. Dine on the water and taste local, fresh seafood at Stripers Waterside or experience true southern BBQ from Redwood Smoke Shack.
