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New or improved Virginia accommodations Lay your head tonight in some special place. In Virginia you can choose from a Five-star luxury motel to rustic mountain hideaway – each offering something unique. Some Virginia lodging venues are destinations in themselves. Others are stops along the way during the most memorable vacation you’ve ever had. Friendly innkeepers and staff complement outstanding facilities throughout the commonwealth, making you feel at home while on the road. A personal note. The above introduction was written by the Virginia Tourism Organization and sometimes verges on the "too addy" for my taste. But I do have some experience in lodging facilities, with my first job doing public relations for the Royal Hawaiian and other Sheraton hotels in Hawaii, then creating Frommer's Bed & Breakfast North America guidebook series for Simon & Schuster, and more recently writing the Unoffical Guide to Bed & Breakfasts in the Southeast. I have probably slept in more beds than Rip Van Winkle, and I can vouch for the fact that most of the Virginia accommodations I've visited certainly rank with the best in America and Europe. Now that sounds a little "addy" too. Blame it on too many days of writing adjective-bloated travel ads and sipping too many mai tais on the Beach at Waikiki. Hal Gieseking
Comfort Inn Airport – Newport News New 104-room all-suite hotel adjacent to the Jefferson Commons shopping area. Minutes from Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. Restaurants within walking distance. Hotel amenities include high speed wired and wireless Internet, indoor pool, exercise room, guest laundry and free airport shuttle. Opened August 2006.
Cox’s Creek Cottage – Roseland A year-round vacation home located in the mountains of Nelson County. Property joins the National Forest and has a bold stream running through the yard with native trout. Nightly and weekly rates available. Opened August 2006.
The George Washington Hotel - Winchester Currently undergoing a complete restoration to be completed in May 2007, The George Washington Hotel will offer the charm, grace and sophistication of the past while featuring modern amenities for the 21st century. Superior accommodations will be paired with the finest service, reminiscent of a bygone era where guests can expect to be pampered at their hotel of choice. The 90-room hotel will offer approximately 5,000 square feet of meeting space with wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, two executive boardrooms, two breakout rooms and an outdoor pocket garden. For corporate meetings and retreats, the hotel can host groups from 2-150 people and receptions for up to 300. The Grand Ballroom with its 12 opulent chandeliers can accommodate 175 people for receptions, highlighting the gourmet cuisine of the hotel’s executive chef. Opening May 2007.
Gold Key Resorts Ocean Beach Club – Virginia Beach The Ocean Beach Club, Virginia Beach’s brand-new luxury resort, features an oceanfront pool, a tiki bar, retail shops and restaurants. Oceanfront private balconies, top-of-the-line furnishings and flat-screen TVs are standard in every room, ranging from queen efficiencies to one-, two- and three-bedroom suites. Primarily a vacation ownership property, rooms are available to rent upon availability. Hampton Inn and Suites at Chesapeake Square Mall – Chesapeake The Hampton Inn & Suites Chesapeake at Chesapeake Square Mall, is situated perfectly in the heart of Hampton Roads within walking distance of the Chesapeake Square Mall and minutes from Harbourview Town Center, Norfolk International Airport and Newport News/Williasmburg Airport as well as a step away from great restaurants and live entertainment. Eighty-six amenity-filled guest rooms and spacious suites highlight the facility, along with state-of-the-art fitness center, 24-hour executive work area, indoor pool and whirlpool spa, guest laundry facilities, 24-hour Suite Shop and more than 1,000 square feet of meeting and banquet facilities. Opened June 2006.
Newport News Marriott at City Center Hotel and Conference Center – Newport News New 256-room hotel (250 rooms and 6 suites) with attached 25,225-square-foot conference center. Hotel amenities include high-speed Internet access, business center, concierge floor, indoor pool and whirlpool, fitness center and guest laundry, three restaurants. Entire hotel is non-smoking. Walking distance from restaurants, shops and special events at City Center at Oyster Point and a quick “Jump Over Jeff” shuttle ride from Port Warwick. Conference Center includes 12,032-square-foot Grand Ballroom, 4,176-square-foot Pearl Ballroom and smaller breakout and meeting rooms. Opened August 2006.
Mariners Landing – Huddleston The Pointe #4, featuring spacious condominium resort rooms and 20,000 square feet of new meeting space, including a deluxe grand ballroom, will open in 2007 at Smith Mountain Lake.
Savannah Suites – Newport News New 124-room, extended-stay hotel with full kitchens. Located close to City Center at Oyster Point and Port Warwick shopping, restaurants and entertainment districts. Hotel amenities include high speed Internet, fitness center, guest laundry and fully-equipped kitchens. Opened August 2006.
Shadow Mountain Rentals – Montebello Cabins nestled in the mountains of the Blue Ridge, two miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway on Route 56. Chalet sleeps six and consists of two bedrooms with queen-size beds, sofa sleeper next to stone fireplace, satellite TV, full phone services, washer and dryer, large deck. Pet-friendly. Opened July 2006.
Williamsburg Lodge A complete renovation and transformation of this gracious facility includes 323 guest rooms, new Federal-style guest houses, new 45,000-square-foot conference center, 31 meeting rooms, outdoor function areas overlooking the Colonial National Parkway and a new restaurant featuring the best in regional cuisine. Opened 2006.
Williamsburg Winery - Wedmore Place Each of the 28 rooms of the upscale boutique inn located on the grounds of the Williamsburg Winery will reflect the personality of a European wine-making province. Designed around a large cobblestone courtyard featuring a stone fountain brought from France, the inn will boast a health-oriented wing on the floor above the pool house featuring a gym and a massage and pedicure room. Wedmore Place will also be a site for the enjoyment of nature – with amenities such as walking trails, bike trails, canoeing and an herb garden on site. Opening March 2007.
Meeting Facilities: Some of America’s most outstanding new conference centers are here in Virginia. They join traditional favorites that continue to set the standard in accommodating conventions, conferences, meetings and gatherings of all sizes.
Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center The Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center is a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose facility for trade shows, consumer shows, exhibits, receptions, banquets, meetings and conventions. The main hall comprises 80,000 square feet of exhibit space that can be divided into variable sizes and dimensions to accommodate multiple shows simultaneously. It also has 10 meeting rooms with a combined space of 14,000 square feet.
Wytheville Meeting Center – Wytheville Spacious, comfortable and technology-friendly – those are the terms being used to describe the new multi-purpose meeting facility at one of Virginia’s favorite crossroad’s Wytheville. The Grand Ballroom can seat 500 banquet style and up to 1,000 theater style. Smaller rooms can accommodate up to 150. A large caterer’s kitchen, lobby and pre-function space and an outdoor recreation area present attractive meeting options. The center will be visible from both I-81 and I-77. Opening early 2007.
Saddleback Hall at Veritas Vineyards & Winery - Afton Conferences, retreats, private events and concerts – they can all happen at Veritas Vineyards and Winery’s new Saddleback Hall. Veritas brings a reputation for the highest standards of excellence in food, wine and service to group events. Accommodates up to 250 people. Opened summer 2006.
The above information was provided by the Virginia Tourism Organization
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