Riverfront Park in Wilmington, NC.

Both North and South Carolina are idyllic and memorable destinations that cater to business gatherings while also offering attendees the opportunity to get away from it all. Whether it’s exploring the Outer Banks of the North Carolina coast, feasting on unique Southern cuisine in Asheville or taking in the quaint surroundings of Hilton Head, the Carolinas offer a range of experiences that have made it the ideal destination for corporate and incentive meetings and events.

Raleigh

Tracy Smith is senior event planner at Avalara, a company that provides tax compliance automation software. She says that Raleigh, NC, proved to be the perfect location to host her company’s 2025 annual meeting, followed by RevKO, its revenue team kickoff event.

The high-energy gathering at the Raleigh Convention Center brought together over 1,000 team members in person, with nearly 4,000 more joining via livestream. The convention center’s massive 150,000-sf exhibit hall and 32,000-sf ballroom met Avalara’s needs perfectly. Attendees participated in keynotes, training breakouts, interactive workshops and high-impact networking, all designed to equip teams for success in the year ahead. The event concluded with an awards celebration, where top performers were honored and everyone had a chance to connect, celebrate and enjoy time together in a fun, social setting.

“Raleigh offered the perfect combination of location, affordability and hospitality, making it an ideal choice for our event,” Smith says. “With our headquarters recently relocated to Durham and a growing employee base in Europe and India, hosting on the East Coast ensured better accessibility and streaming availability across time zones.” The Raleigh Convention Center was also the perfect size for the Avalara group, allowing the company to take over the space for the week.

“Attendees enjoyed the safe, walkable downtown with great food and entertainment options, while we, as planners, benefited from strong vendor support, competitive pricing and a variety of lodging options,” Smith says. “Additionally, Raleigh’s event infrastructure and resources, including Visit Raleigh, made planning seamless.”

This was Smith’s first time planning a meeting in the Carolinas, and from her experience, the region is an ideal choice for corporate events thanks to its versatility, accessibility and strong hospitality industry. With major airports offering easy connections, travel is convenient for attendees nationwide. Raleigh is also expanding, with new options on the horizon for larger groups, making it an even more attractive destination.

“We had a fantastic experience and plan to return for our 2026 event and beyond,” Smith says. For planners considering Raleigh as a corporate meeting or incentive event destination, she recommends they book early, as Raleigh is growing in popularity.

“Also leverage local partnerships,” Smith adds. “The teams at Visit Raleigh and the Raleigh Convention Center provide valuable support with venue selection, vendor recommendations and logistics.”

Also be sure to take advantage of the city’s walkability as attendees appreciate the easy access to meeting spaces, hotels and restaurants, and the mild weather makes it ideal for exploring.

“Overall, Raleigh offers a memorable event experience without the overwhelming scale or costs of larger metro areas, making it a fantastic choice for corporate meetings and conferences,” Smith says.

Myrtle Beach, SC. Courtesy Photo

Myrtle Beach

When you think of Myrtle Beach, what comes to mind? Stunning waterfront resorts? Definitely. Oceanfront convention hotels perfect for large-scale gatherings? Certainly. Quaint seaside gems for smaller events? Of course. The city has become a beacon of sorts for meeting planners who are eager to provide attendees with beautiful surroundings as they get down to business.

In February 2025, biotech company SCIEX Corporation held its annual kickoff meeting at the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort at Grand Dunes for 180 sales, marketing and service associates. Although it is mainly a training event, the gathering also focuses on networking as this is the one time a year these remote employees meet face to face.

According to Caitlin Frank, senior manager of global events at SCIEX, Myrtle Beach was a great value in the winter since it’s typically a summer destination.

“And while we didn’t have beach weather, you still can’t beat the view of waking up to an oceanfront sunrise,” Frank says. “Because it was off-season, we also got great pricing both at the hotel and the local restaurants for offsite events.” Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort at Grand Dunes offers 11 event spaces covering 35,000 sf with conference rooms that can accommodate every group’s needs.

As a corporate meeting planner, Frank sees the Carolinas in general, and Myrtle Beach in particular, as great destinations due to ease of access.

“We had delegates drive in from Virginia, Georgia and Florida … and those further away have great airlift options to destinations like Charlotte, Raleigh, Myrtle Beach and Charleston,” Frank says. “Also, the value of services in the Carolinas is very reasonably priced … restaurants don’t price gouge you like they do out west. I find that my budget stretches a lot further in the Carolinas. And of course, you can’t beat that Southern hospitality. Don’t be afraid to take your group off property and explore the local restaurants and activities. There is so much to offer in Myrtle Beach.”

Each year, a company with over 1,000 stores in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions hosts the company’s annual leadership meeting in Myrtle Beach. According to Melissa Saul, the company’s meeting planner and executive assistant, typically there are 250 to 300 people in attendance.

Usually hosted at the Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grand Dunes, the company gathering is held throughout the resort’s meeting spaces, including evening events at the outdoor pool area.

“We hold our meeting in September, so in South Carolina, it’s still a beautiful time to be outdoors,” Saul says. “Our meetings are sometimes intense, so to be able to head outdoors at the end of the day for a beautiful beachfront dinner and, most often, a live band, its key for our planning. You can’t go wrong with the Carolinas or Myrtle Beach. It’s a great spot.”

Greensboro

With over 98 hotels, Greensboro is centrally located on the Eastern Seaboard, offering easy accessibility for attendees. The city’s expansive meeting and convention venues include the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, celebrated for its 22,000-seat arena and ideal for meetings, conventions and events of all sizes. There’s also the Koury Convention Center, which features the city’s largest hotel and is perfect for companies in search of a unique venue to host a conference or other event.

In addition to shopping and dining experiences that will keep attendees entertained after work hours, Greensboro also boasts 125 municipal parks, offering a wealth of opportunities to get outside and enjoy the city environs. This was enticing for David Stevens, a wellness architect with Olympian Meeting, who recently organized a sales kick-off meeting for a supply chain company at Greensboro’s Grandover Resort & Spa with about 200 attendees and 15 exhibitors.

“While we looked at Charlotte, Greensboro was closer for … employees, and the property we selected really did everything they could to earn the business by being a true partner and not just giving us dates and rates,” Stevens says. “After coming and doing our site visit, the additional venue offerings downtown and around the area offered a lot of historical and fun destinations, which we used for our party one night, and it ensured the teams had opportunities to plan their own get-togethers as well.”

Kiawah Island

Located near Charleston, Kiawah Island is fast becoming a favorite destination for corporate groups looking for the right balance of business and pleasure. With 10 miles of stunning beach and more than 30 miles of bike trails that link it end to end, Kiawah Island offers an array of outdoor excursions for attendees to enjoy.

Nestled in a serene oceanside oasis in the Lowcountry, Kiawah Island Golf Resort is conveniently close to downtown Charleston. Attendees here have the opportunity to venture out on the Kiawah River for a dolphin encounter, where they might just get to witness these incredible creatures strand feeding, which is when they herd fish onto shorelines or mudbanks, then lunge out of the water to catch them. It’s a learned behavior of bottlenose dolphins in only a few places on earth, and the South Carolina Lowcountry is one.

One trend being embraced by corporate planners and attendees alike is taking advantage of the many authentic experiences to be had in the South Carolina Lowcountry, which provide a real sense of place and cultural meaning. Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Mingo Point Oyster Roast is a great example. Here, attendees can partake in a time-honored local social custom — eating oysters prepared in the traditional manner over an open fire.

In addition to providing such unique experiences, the Kiawah Island Golf Resort also boasts 500 villas, as well as a number of luxury homes, some of which are in prime beachfront locations. Corporate groups can also gather throughout the resort’s 90,000 sf of flexible indoor/outdoor meeting space to collaborate, socialize or network.

The meetings team for one health care financial company found that the modern meeting and conference space options — as well as the luxurious, world-class accommodations — set Kiawah Island Golf Resort apart from other venues.

“The resort offers so many opportunities for team-building outdoors, from golf and biking tours to spa retreats and more,” says meeting planner Kristen D’Allegro. “It’s the perfect balance of work and play. With all these incredible features, there’s simply nowhere else you’d want to be for our next event.”

Greenville

Greenville offers an ideal setting for meeting planners thanks to its wide range of versatile venues, which includes everything from South Carolina’s largest convention center to smaller, more intimate spaces with stunning views. Plus, Greenville’s central location between Charlotte and Atlanta makes travel a breeze — with more than 110 nonstop flight options — ensuring that attendees can quickly and easily reach their destination.

The city’s walkable downtown and proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains offer a beautiful backdrop for both work and leisure, and with its Southern hospitality and international food scene, Greenville is always a memorable destination for both business and pleasure, ensuring your event is a success from start to finish. Just ask Jennifer Herring, CMP, senior director of global accounts at NHS Global Events.

Herring has worked with one corporate client that holds its annual conference in Greenville, and it’s been a great success.

“They use the convention center and a mix of hotels near the center and downtown,” Herring says. “People genuinely love coming to Greenville. There’s something about the city that people want to return to. The restaurants, boutiques, nature, well-designed hotels — it all comes together in a charming way. It’s not like other destinations. There’s a warmth and personality to the city that people really connect with.”

When planning this corporate annual conference, Herring has found that Greenville stands out because it checks all the boxes for both planners and attendees. As she explains, the people are incredibly easy to work with — there’s a real spirit of hospitality, and the city truly values its convention customers.

“The destination is easily accessible, and once you’re here, the downtown is walkable,” Herring adds. “Greenville has great restaurants, shops and hotels in close proximity so you feel connected. [It] has a perfect balance of charm and warmth with great hotels, which isn’t easy to find.”

One of the things Herring really loves about the Carolinas is the people and the uniqueness of the place, which you feel right away. As she explains, it’s not just about the venues, it’s about the experience.

Says Herring: “There’s a warmth here that makes people feel welcome. You also get so many unique, local touches — from mom-and-pop restaurants to one-of-a-kind shops, instead of the usual big chains. There’s something special about discovering those little hidden gems throughout the state. It makes events feel more personal and memorable, which is a big win for both planners and attendees. A lot of planners automatically look at places like Charleston or Asheville, and those are great, but Greenville deserves to be in that conversation. It’s one of those destinations that really surprises people in the best way.”

Wilmington & Beaches

Located within Wilmington’s downtown River District, the city’s Convention District is the ideal spot for corporate meetings and events, thanks to the 107,000-sf Wilmington Convention Center, which is the only North Carolina convention center on the coast. The venue has played host to up to 2,000 attendees and offers a 30,000-sf exhibit hall — perfect for gatherings both large and small. Adjacent to the convention center is an event pier and Riverfront Park, which offers additional venues in which to host corporate meetings and events, including team outings on the Cape Fear Riverboat, where attendees can experience the coastal charm of the region.

Other key venues dot the area, including the Hotel Ballast Wilmington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, which boasts over 20,000 sf of meeting space.

Asheville

Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is celebrated for the famous Biltmore Estate, River Arts District and its famous cheesemakers, among other attractions. This city of less than 100,000 people is also a preferred destination of many corporate and incentive meeting planners.

Recently, Tanger — a real estate investment trust that invests in shopping centers across the U.S. and Canada — held its annual team meeting in Asheville. According to Leslie Swanson, the company’s chief operating officer, employees from across the organization were brought to the historic Omni Grove Park Inn for two full days of corporate learning, development and team-building.

“Our team was inspired by breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and enjoyed local cuisine, music and experiences, including a special event at the popular Mills River Taproom at Sierra Nevada Brewery,” Swanson says. “We leaned on local vendors to help us provide an unforgettable experience for our team, and our event programming also spotlighted our local nonprofit partners and the Asheville Police Department, who have been so instrumental in supporting relief and recovery efforts in this vibrant community.”

Swanson points out that with their distinct culture and Southern hospitality, the Carolinas stand apart from other destinations. Plus, with an accessible East Coast location and major airports, travel to and from the area is convenient, while a variety of scenic settings — from Lowcountry coastal regions to the Appalachian Mountains — serve to elevate the experience.

“You can find plenty of metropolitan areas as well, offering diverse venue options, from modern convention centers to more intimate boutique space,” Swanson adds. “For planners considering Asheville for a corporate meeting or event, lean into the splendor and authenticity that [the city] has to offer. Embrace its heritage, celebrate its diversity and integrate its culture into your plans. Engage with community partners for their recommendations and highlight those elements in your events.”

She also recommends hiring local labor and supporting part-time and contract workers as often as possible.

“Be intentional about showing gratitude to trade partners there — they’ve had to navigate incredible challenges to be open and able to serve your group’s needs,” Swanson says. “I believe Asheville has come back better than ever from the events of last year, and the genuine hospitality the city has long been known for is even more pervasive — from hotel staff to restaurant personnel and even those walking along the street downtown. Be ready to be surprised by the warmth, ingenuity and openness of the Asheville community.”

Hilton Head

Hilton Head in South Carolina boasts a vibrant culture and a rich history that is ideal to integrate into today’s corporate meetings and events. Located in the Lowcountry region, Hilton Head is celebrated for its world-class amenities, pristine beaches and gorgeous landscapes. Stretching over 12 miles long and five miles wide, this destination offers a wealth of options for meeting planners looking to delight corporate attendees and support team-building — from world-class golfing to dolphin-watching tours to water-based excursions that celebrate the area’s pristine coast line.

Of course, for corporate planners, Hilton Head’s allure goes beyond its beaches and natural surroundings. The region’s exceptional award-winning meeting and conference facilities offer an array of options to ensure successful state-of-the-art gatherings and events.

As the largest venues on the island, Hilton Beachfront Resort & Spa Hilton Head Island offer over 46,000 sf of meeting and event space in total. This includes 26 rooms that can host up to 1,900 attendees. Nearby, the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa boasts 37,000 sf of meeting space, which includes a 13,200-sf grand ballroom and an additional 9,500 sf of oceanfront event space, allowing attendees to experience the beauty of Hilton Head’s natural environment.

For three years in a row, HCPro, Inc. — a company that insures hospitals and hospital groups — has held its annual meeting and board meeting at the Hilton Beachfront Resort & Spa Hilton Head Island. The event’s 40 attendees and their spouses or guests enjoyed everything the resort had to offer, including the stunning beach and championship golf courses.

“South Carolina is rich in history, and the group likes to tour historical places,” says Jennifer Hollis, senior event manager at HCPro, Inc. “The best advice I may give is to do a site visit of any hotels you are considering using. There is such a diversity in … properties from historical/formal to mid-level resorts to lower-level full-service resorts. Define the purpose of your event and plan accordingly.”

For instance, if golf is important to the group, you may want to be in Hilton Head, Kiawah or even Myrtle Beach. However, if history and great restaurants would matter more to attendees, Charleston may be better.

“Also, consider air travel and where your guests are coming from and how close they want to be to the airport,” Hollis adds. “Hilton Head Airport is small with fairly limited air service, so ticket prices are expensive. Charleston and Savannah have better air service but are farther from the beach. Finally, talk to other planners that have done a meeting in the Carolinas. Experience knows best.” C&IT