October | Northern Virginia | Selena Chavis

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Northern Virginia

Capital City Accessibility, Affordability & Charm

When you’re talking about meetings in Washington, the nation’s capital, Arnie Quirion, president/CEO of the Fairfax (Fairfax County, Va.) Convention and Visitors Corporation (CVC), said, “What [we] are offering the customer is a product that extends from Annapolis (Maryland) on the east to the Shenandoah Valley (Virginia) on the west.” Yes, the greater District of Columbia (D.C.) is widespread and diverse, but, according to Quirion and other destination marketing officials who represent the Northern Virginia section of the market, groups that meet there can find plenty of charm that only the Southern side of D.C. can offer.

The Potomac River separates Northern Virginia from central Washington and Maryland. Here lie the cities of Arlington and Alexandria as well as the counties of Fairfax and Loudoun.

Destination officials such as Emily Cassell, marketing director with the Arlington Convention and Visitors Service, said the charm of the market rests in its ability to capture the historical and progressive spirit of American culture while serving as a convenient gateway to Washington and all that the nation’s capital has to offer. “We have all the advantages of the District, yet we’re just across the river, offering the diversity of many different communities and attractions,” Cassell said. “We have a fun, hip, urban feel with a small-town flavor.”

Adding to the region’s appeal is the value it offers groups as well as the accessibility and convenience through two major airports, major interstates and the area’s Metrorail rapid transit system. In fact, convenience and affordability are two of the primary reasons Event Planner Debbie Dominelli is bringing the DYNA (Dysautonomia Youth Network of America) Summer Chill Event back to Loudoun County. President of the organization, Dominelli has found the Embassy Suites Hotel Dulles North and the Northern Virginia region a good fit for the group. “Because we have sick children, it’s very important that the airport has facilities and amenities very close. Everything is accessible right there,” Dominelli said, adding that the group of about 178 appreciates the small-town appeal of Northern Virginia because the “community really rallies around us. Everything is so new, so spotless. It’s a great representation of America.”

Arlington

Rich in American history, Arlington played a central role in the birth of the nation’s capital and is home to Arlington National Cemetery, The Pentagon and the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima statue). And, located just south of the Potomac River and inside the Capital Beltway—U.S. Interstate 495 that circles Washington—Arlington is “about as close as you can get to the District,” Cassell said.

With the availability of more than 10,000 hotel guest rooms, planners have plenty of options. Yet, the city is continuing to build its hotel inventory and expand its off-site meeting options in various Arlington neighborhoods deemed “urban villages.” Cassell said that several evolving areas, such as Rosslyn, Crystal City and Shirlington, offer groups a “great overall atmosphere.”

A grand opening is slated for later this fall for the 154-room Hotel Palomar Arlington at Waterview. Located in Rosslyn, the hotel will be one of the tallest buildings in the region, offering views of the Washington skyline and Potomac River, Cassell said. The property will house more than 3,200 square feet of meeting space along with wired and wireless high-speed Internet access. “Business and leisure travelers who stay at Hotel Palomar will experience French-inspired décor with a lively, playful and creative atmosphere in the heart of all the action,” said Joseph Long, executive vice president of acquisitions/development of Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants.

Two additional new meeting venues include the Kettler Capitals Iceplex, home to the Washington Capitals (NHL) and offering function space for groups, and the Signature Theatre, which recently relocated to the Village of Shirlington retail and entertainment complex. This venue offers two modern theaters, the largest of which can seat 400. Banquet and function space is also available.

Meanwhile, there’s no ignoring the existing hotels in Arlington such as the 697-room Crystal Gateway Marriott, which recently completed a renovation of its 33,000 square feet of meeting space and public areas, according to Senior Account Executive Roberto Belloni. The property has also added new venues like the Bin 1700 Australian Wine and Tapas Bar. Along with the hotel’s amenities, Belloni said that access to Washington is a major draw for meeting groups. “We literally sit just over the Potomac River, and guests can walk out of our lobby and into the Metrorail station without going outdoors.” A multimillion-dollar room renovation is slated to begin in November.

The 343-room Crystal City Marriott is currently undergoing a guest room renovation that is slated for completion in March 2008, according to Sales Assistant Sarah Jackson. The property houses 11 meeting rooms and more than 10,000 square feet of function space.

The 386-room Hilton Crystal City Hotel at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport provides groups with numerous advantages compared to staying in downtown Washington, said Director of Sales Ben Thompson. “With complimentary transportation to National Airport, located just blocks from the hotel, the traveler does not have to fight the D.C. traffic or the lack of parking that Washington is known for.” The property houses 22,000 square feet of meeting space and recently completed a full parking garage renovation and refurbishment of the hotel entrance.

A view from Arlington, Va., which lies south of the Potomac River from Washington, highlights the accessibility to the District of Columbia, made especially easy through Arlington’s Metrorail connection, seen below.

According to Associate Director of Sales Arthur Scanlon, the 685-room Hyatt Regency Crystal City has also completed a $25 million renovation. “All guest rooms were redone to give a great new look—one of the finest in all of Washington. We have also renovated the ballroom and added a multi-purpose room by remodeling what was the 23,000-square-foot exhibit hall.” The property offers 50,000 square feet of meeting space.

Alexandria

Founded in 1749 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Alexandria is nationally recognized for its abundance of 18th- and 19th-century architecture, award-winning restaurants and eclectic shopping—much of which is found in the Old Town district.

According to Lorraine Lloyd, acting president/CEO for the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association, the city is also continuing to expand its current inventory of more than 4,200 guest rooms.
The 253-room Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria opened this past summer as a conversion of the former Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Alexandria and will undergo a multimillion-dollar renovation of guest rooms, restaurants, meeting space and public areas by the end of the year. Kevin Kowalski, vice president of brand management with Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, North America, said, “The close proximity to government agencies and American history destinations will attract both business and leisure travelers.” The property houses 10,000 square feet of meeting space and will feature an outdoor rooftop pool and other full-service amenities.

The area is also eagerly awaiting the opening of the 319-room Westin Alexandria this November, Lloyd said, adding that the property will be the centerpiece of The Carlyle, a mixed-use project. Meeting space will encompass 18,000 square feet and include a 7,900-square-foot ballroom.

Marking Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants’ ninth hotel in the Washington metropolitan region, Lloyd said that the Hotel Monaco Alexandria will open in Old Town this December. Approximately $22 million will be invested into the property—the former Holiday Inn Select Old Town. “Greater Washington D.C. has proven to be a highly successful market for Kimpton,” said Mike Depatie, Kimpton president. “Our style of boutique hotels and level of personalized services is unparalleled in this region.” The 241-room property will feature more than 8,000 square feet of meeting space.

Fairfax County

Accessibility to the Tysons Corner neighborhood, which offers large shopping malls, and to Washington Dulles International Airport in Loudoun County is set to improve with the planned extension of the Metrorail, said the CVC’s Quirion. “That is absolutely going to happen. It’s just a matter of ‘when.’ It will affect everything from Dulles Airport into the city.

Add to that development further expansions of Tysons Corner Center and the surrounding area, and Quirion said that there are “big expectations” for what the future holds. “Everybody is looking at the metro coming through Tysons and it becoming more of a downtown atmosphere with apartments and condominiums.”

Quirion said that Fairfax County, which is situated west of Arlington, has the advantage of being in the “center” of the Northern Virginia convention market. The county is home to some of the region’s most popular attractions, including Mount Vernon Estates and Gardens and Tysons Corner, the largest concentration of stores on the East Coast.

Audrey Slade, public relations manager with the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, said the centralized nature of the area and the abundance of attractions provide a major draw for groups. “The advantages of meeting here in Tysons Corner include being situated in one of the most exclusive business and shopping districts in the country. Because we’re located one mile outside the Capital Beltway, Tysons Corner is considered a quintessential example of an edge city, an area with a rich concentration of shopping, entertainment, and business that lies just outside of a traditional urban area,” she said, adding that the hotel offers 30,000 square feet of function space.

Fairfax County is home to 14,600 hotel rooms, and numerous properties are undergoing conversions and major renovation efforts, Quirion said, explaining that the Holiday Inn Tysons Corner will be transformed to the 312-room Crowne Plaza Tysons Corner in October, offering 10,000 square feet of meeting space, the Sleep Advantage program and other amenities.

Formerly a Doubletree Hotel, the 405-room Westin Tysons Corner recently underwent a $22 million renovation. “The instinctive service and focus on personal renewal of the Westin brand is a perfect complement to the energy and excitement of the Washington, D.C., metro area,” said Sue Brush, senior vice president, Westin Hotels and Resorts. The renovations also include upgrades to the BlueFire Grille restaurant and the BlueFire Lounge, the fitness center, and the pool.

The 395-room Fairview Park Marriott completed an $8 million renovation in 2006. The renovation enhanced guest rooms with the Marriott Revive bedding package and work station designed for the business traveler, said Director of Sales and Marketing Handan Bas-Bailey. The property offers 18,000 square feet of meeting space. Renovations to the fitness center, lobby and exterior are planned for 2008.

Three Hotel Indigo properties are set to open at the end of 2008 in the Fairfax County communities of Ashburn, Chantilly and Herndon, said Jay Patel, CEO of Asha Companies. “Fast-growing, near-urban markets like the four we have identified in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., metropolitan area are an ideal setting for Hotel Indigo’s unique and inspired concept.” The largest of the properties will be in Herndon and will include a spa, an indoor/outdoor pool and the brand’s signature Golden Bean restaurant. All of the properties will range from 100-200 rooms each and offer complimentary wireless Internet access as well as meeting space.

Loudoun County

According to Cheryl Kilday, president/CEO of the Loudoun Convention and Visitors Association, Loudoun County will “have a whole new capacity for groups starting next March,” thanks to an expansion planned at the National Conference Center. “It’s going to have the largest ballroom in Northern Virginia,” she said regarding the center’s ability to accommodate 1,800 people. Presently, the facility offers 250,000 square feet of function space.

Meanwhile, the county continues to be recognized as a portrait of the more rural aspects of Northern Virginia, Kilday said, emphasizing that it is a great choice for those who don’t want to meet in a city but still want easy access to Washington Dulles International Airport. “The setting is different in Loudoun. It’s just totally different than being in a big city,” she said, adding that free parking and shuttle service to Dulles from area hotels and resorts are available.

Key Info: · Sales Tax: Ranges from 4.5 to 5 percent throughout the region. · Hotel Tax: Ranges from 4 to 6 percent throughout the region. · Climate: The mid-Atlantic region provides a mild climate with summer highs in the mid-80s to winter highs in the 50s.

Offering more than 4,700 sleeping rooms and more than 50 meeting and conference facilities, Loudoun is continuing to grow its hospitality infrastructure, and the area is looking forward to upcoming construction on the 168-room Salamander Inn and Spa, Middleburg, Kilday said. “They are going to break ground really soon, and it’s going to be an ultra-luxurious resort and spa.” She said that the project should be completed in late 2009.

Situated on 47 acres of countryside, the Briar Patch Bed and Breakfast just completed a refurbishment effort and offers unique meeting space via its Bronze, Silver and Gold meeting rooms. Kilday said that the venue is great for small or large meetings, retreats or teambuilding outings.

A new Hyatt product, the Hyatt Place Dulles Airport North, was introduced following a conversion from a former AmeriSuites. Along with meeting space for small groups, Kilday said the property offers luxurious rooms and a homey atmosphere.

The 305-room Lansdowne Resort recently underwent a $60 million renovation that includes the addition of a 16,500-square-foot ballroom to its 45,000 square feet of meeting space. According to spokesperson Dianne Murphy of Bendure Communications, the property also has made “management additions from general manager to director of sales and marketing, food and beverage director, and director of catering.”

Several properties offering meeting space for groups of less than 100 will open in late 2007 and include the 162-room Hotel Sierra at Washington - Dulles, the 158-room Springhill Suites Dulles Airport, and the 170-room Hampton Inn and Suites Dulles Airport.