Triangle’s Largest City: Raleigh, North Carolina

Hosting meetings and events in the Carolinas offers several unique advantages, making the region a standout choice for those in the insurance and financial industries to hold corporate gatherings, conferences and special occasions.

Both states boast rich histories and cultural heritages. Each offers scenic beauty and diverse landscapes. Plus, there are plenty of venues to choose from, a wide array of cuisine, and many chances to enjoy the outdoors, thanks to the weather.

Vickie Browning, client services supervisor and director of carrier relations at Gallagher, a national insurance brokerage and consulting firm in Greenville,SC, hosts a sales event for its South Carolina and North Carolina production staff each year. One year, it might be in Charleston, another in the Isle of Palms, and then perhaps Myrtle Beach.

“From coast to coast, each state you visit brings its own individual personality to the table in the shape of cuisine, scenery and culture,” she says. “I feel it’s the best way to rediscover our country and truly appreciate the uniqueness that each city brings to the table. We prefer to have it in a coastal area if possible.”

“We opened the event with golf and concluded the day with a banquet.” Browning says. “Most of our attendees have off site business meetings at local restaurants and, time allowing, they enjoy a round of golf or two.”

The trip concluded with two days of scheduled meetings with lunches and a banquet the last evening.“We had roughly 75 in attendance for this event and dinners were held by our carrier partners at different restaurants throughout the city at the conclusion of the meeting days,” she says. “We had glowing reviews of all the restaurants that were reserved.”

Loving Raleigh

Diane J. Fulton, CMP, president of Meeting Masters, Inc., brought the Intercompany Long Term Care Insurance Conference to Raleigh where meetings were held at the Raleigh Convention Center, with rooms booked at four nearby hotels. This was the first time this group had ever held their program in a non-hotel space.

“There were so many pros to holding it there,” she says. “The Raleigh Convention Center was the perfect size. My group was able to take over all the space. I would guess the convention center was designed by a meeting planner because they thought of everything a planner would want to make an event run perfectly.” Another plus was the airport was far more accessible than she had thought prior to her site visit.

“It was very close to the action, so our attendees were thrilled not to waste time in transit,” Fulton says. “Another pro was that everyone I worked with from the CVB, the hotels and the convention center all were familiar with each other.”

Attendees spent their downtime at museums, some took in an NCAA basketball game at the North Carolina University campus, and most enjoyed the many great dining experiences.

“It was one of this group’s most successful events ever, in large part because everyone on the ground cared and went above and beyond to make sure our group felt comfortable,” Fulton says.

The Umstead Hotel and Spa outside of Raleigh works with a variety of industries and markets and carefully curates all hosted group programs onsite to any specifications and preferences.

The financial and insurance industries often have specific requests with regards to set up, audiovisual and production, virtual options and otherwise that bring their programs to life and offer unique qualities for their attendees.

The Umstead Hotel and Spa offers 10,000 sf of meeting space, all with state of the art 4K technology in each of the main meeting rooms, a savvy in house audiovisual department and a highly skilled banquet and events team that works with each planner from point of contract all the way through to execution of the event and final billing.

Being a luxury hotel offering highly elevated food and beverage for events is adaptable in all kinds of custom creations. Each of the event spaces offers something different, and being a smaller property, always looking for creative ways to enhance the footprint, particularly with our expansive outdoor area options.”

Raleigh is an incredibly dynamic and growing market, with an influx of new industries and companies seeking Raleigh as a destination for their headquarters or offices.

Research Triangle Park, a hub for tech and biotech firms in Raleigh, is located very near city center, and the significant base of exceptional universities in the Raleigh Durham area makes the city full of educated, motivated talent and energy. In addition to this market brilliance, the culture in Raleigh is becoming unmatched. They have a focus on local cuisine, including a number of James Beard award-winning chefs who have transformed Raleigh’s culinary scene remarkably in the past several years.

Wonders of Wilmington

Wilmington is the headquarters for several notable fintech companies, which makes the destination well suited for hosting meetings and events within that industry. This includes nCino, the worldwide leader in cloud banking; Apiture, a leading provider of digital banking solutions; and Live Oak Bank, a fully digital bank.

The sleek, 107,000-sf Wilmington Convention Center is the only convention center on the North Carolina coast. Located downtown, it offers sweeping riverfront views and plenty of natural light that helps bring the outdoors in.

It also offers meeting capabilities up to 2,000 people and a variety of spaces, along with surroundings that lead to a positive frame of mind and productivity with access to water views, fresh air, and options for wellness and/or networking activities offered during breaks.

Wilmington’s Convention District offers numerous accommodations and meeting facilities. Multiple nearby hotels are all located within walking distance of the convention center, which is connected by the Riverwalk along the Cape Fear River.

There is plenty for attendees to do in Wilmington and Beaches before or after the meeting. For example, Wilmington’s River District features restaurants, shops and attractions, most of which are within walking distance.

Visitors and groups can choose from an assortment of water and land-based activities, as well as a variety of tours including history, craft beer and theme walking tours, trolley, horse-drawn carriage tours, kayak/canoe excursions, biking and nature trails, narrated cruises, behind-the-scenes film tours and culinary adventures. The area hosts a busy lineup of festivals and special events throughout the year that may already be taking place during planned meeting and conventions.

There is also multiple championship golf courses located nearby and of course, Wilmington’s three island beaches – Carolina, Kure and Wrightsville – which are all located within an easy 20-30-minute drive of downtown Wilmington.

They also have a burgeoning culinary scene with diners and dives and fresh-to-table eateries, many within walking distance of the Convention Center District. Attendees will be compelled to arrive early or stay late and turn an ordinary event into a transformative getaway that thrills the senses. It’s more than a meeting. It’s an authentic Carolina coastal experience teeming with passion, joy, culture and adventure.

The Magic of Myrtle Beach

From a meetings perspective, Myrtle Beach is a great place for groups to meet offering over 400 hotels and resorts, 500,000 sf of total event space with some offering views of the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. Plus, the Myrtle Beach Convention Center is conveniently located in the heart of Myrtle Beach, just minutes from the airport and offering over 250,000 sf of meeting, ballroom, exhibit hall and pre-function space.

Getting to Myrtle Beach is one of the easiest parts. Myrtle Beach International Airport offers over 50 direct flights from around the country. The airport is located close to the larger resorts, making ground transportation easier for planners.

Myrtle Beach is a destination that people get excited to visit, not only for its pristine beaches with warm water but also so many activities and options for fun outside of the meeting room.

For ecotourism fans, they offer amazing dolphin tours and eco tour where you get to see up close sea urchins, blue crabs, sea horses and puffer fish and learn about their importance to our fragile ecosystem. If you are into live entertainment, they have theatres and magical shows offering exciting live shows every night.

Not to mention, Myrtle Beach is considered the golf capitol of the world with over 80 golf courses.

The culinary scene continues to evolve with more than 2,000 restaurants from fresh seafood to fine steakhouses.

A favorite off-site venue is Brookgreen Gardens, nestled in the heart of our South Carolina Lowcountry, spanning over 9,000 acres and boasting an unparalleled display of over 2,000 works of sculptural figurative art. Designated as a National Historic Landmark, Brookgreen Gardens was created by American sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington and her husband Archer in the 1930’s after her doctors recommended she leave the Northeast and move to the warmer and more humid southern client to recover from tuberculosis.

Groups often tour the gardens during the day and end the afternoon with a stroll of the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk with a popular half-mile wooden boardwalk along a natural saltwater estuary and amazing restaurants with incredible views of the saltwater marshes.

Then there’s Broadway at the Beach featuring over 350 acres of shopping, dining and entertainment including the Ripley’s Aquarium. Pop Stroke, a two 18-hole putting course designed by Tiger Woods, and TopGolf offer group team-building opportunities, as well as a great location for after-hours fun.

Barefoot Landing, located in North Myrtle Beach features over 250,000 sf of shopping, dining attractions, craft beer and entertainment.

The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa, Asheville, NC

Amazing Asheville

Asheville, a city known for its vibrant and unique character, offers an impressive selection of event venues for meeting planners, encompassing settings from rooftop mountain views to contemporary art galleries to riverside campsite retreats. These venues not only provide stunning backdrops but also reflect Asheville’s distinctiveness.

The city offers amazing incentives for meeting planners including a Have More Fun on Us incentive program and free exclusive services including complimentary local amenities and planning assistance.

Asheville also offers a diverse range of meeting hotels for planners, including luxurious resorts, charming boutique properties, AAA four-diamond accommodations and dedicated conference hotels. The venues provide exceptional facilities, stylish accommodations and close proximity to Asheville’s cultural offerings.

For large gatherings, groups tend to stay mostly on the site of one hotel property with ample meeting space, like The Omni Grove Park Inn, The Foundry, and Embassy Suites by Hilton.

Asheville is surprisingly easy to get to with approximately 50% of the country within an eight-hour driving distance. Plus, the Asheville Airport offers direct flights to 26 markets.

Many people want to visit Asheville for personal reasons, but don’t realize that it can also be a unique and inspiring venue for meetings. Because people want to visit, attendance in Asheville is increasing. Attendees will appreciate Asheville’s natural beauty, paired with its vibrant creative scene. The top draws for groups include outdoor experiences, arts and culture, dining and wellness.

This creative mountain town is a gateway to two of the most-visited National Park Service units in the country – the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is why Asheville has been drawing creators and makers to this part of the country for generations.

Spending time outdoors inspires and encourages deeper conversations among groups, whether they set out on a zip lining tour or put on life vests and paddle down the French Broad River. Asheville’s outdoor amenities offer endless opportunities for event attendees to break away from routines and have a good time outside.

Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains just minutes from downtown Asheville, The Omni Grove Park Inn offers more than 55,000 sf of flexible meeting space, including more than 30 meeting rooms and three stunning ballrooms, catering to gatherings of all sizes and styles.

The property’s prime location allows attendees to immerse themselves in the city’s beautiful scenery and rich culture while having easy access to I-40 and the airport. With a variety of meeting spaces and event venues combined with a wide range of activities such as hiking, pickleball, and wild foraging tours, the resort provides the perfect escape for planners seeking both serene, fresh mountain air and engaging experiences for groups.

Spanning an impressive 18,000 sf, The Grand Ballroom accommodates up to 1,865 attendees for a reception or more than 1,000 for a banquet, while intimate breakout rooms offer the perfect setting for focused discussions or smaller group sessions.

Attendees can relax and unwind at the world-class 43,000-sf subterranean spa that features cavernous rock walls, arches and tunnels, with numerous water features located throughout the facility. Groups can also hit the greens at the property’s Donald Ross designed 18-hole golf course that has been played by PGA stars Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus.

Attendees can maintain their fitness routine on the road at the 50,000 sf indoor/outdoor sports complex, relax at the beautiful resort pool and savor unmatched cuisine at the finest locally sourced restaurants in town.

Check Out Columbia

A walkable downtown and proximity to restaurants, nightlife, entertainment, hotels and more is a major asset of hosting meetings in Columbia.

The Vista District, where the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center is located, offers hotel rooms within one mile of the center and numerous restaurants and bars. There are options for groups with varying budgets, plus a regional airport (Columbia Metropolitan Airport) located about eight miles from the city center and that offers direct flights to major airports.

The aforementioned Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, the state’s only downtown convention center, is a 142,500-sf facility in the middle of an exciting urban scene that includes open-air cafes, deluxe accommodations, live music and nightlife options.

Attendees in the finance space really enjoy 1208 Washington Place, a former bank and historic event venue in the Main Street District, featuring the original 1924 twin bank vaults. Attendees can also feed their brain, body and belly at Soda City Market.

Columbia sits at the convergence of three rivers, offering ample leisure water recreation like floating, fishing, kayaking and more, all against the backdrop of the downtown Columbia skyline. The Three Rivers Greenway winds along the river system for those who like to enjoy the scenery while staying on dry land. Columbia is also home to Lake Murray, where visitors can spend the day sailing, paddle boarding and swimming, among other activities.

The Carolinas combine natural beauty, cultural richness, a variety of venue options, and excellent accessibility making them a prime destination for hosting memorable and successful meetings and events. I&FMM