From expansive, iconic properties such as Stonewall Resort and The Greenbrier—dubbed “America’s resort since 1778”—West Virginia offers groups luxury meeting experiences mixed with opportunities to get out into some of the most beautiful natural areas in the U.S. All of it is in relatively close proximity to the major metropolitan areas of Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
“The Mountain State is easy to get to,” said Lauren E. Hough, public relations manager, West Virginia Department of Tourism. “It’s a day’s drive away from two-thirds of the U.S. population and commercial airports are conveniently located in five of the nine travel regions. West Virginia is a four-season travel destination, so no matter what time of year your event takes place, you’re guaranteed stunning mountain views, small towns brimming with arts and culture, and incredible outdoor adventure.
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“Morgantown, Charleston, Huntington and White Sulphur Springs are a handful of the most-traveled-to places in West Virginia for groups, specifically for meetings,” she continued. “Our charming mountain towns shouldn’t be overlooked, though; they’re ideal for retreats and meetings alike.”
One of, if not the, largest convention facilities in the state is the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center in the capital city of Charleston. Recently benefiting from a $100 million renovation, the facility offers 100,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including a 50,000-square-foot exhibit hall, and has 1,200 hotel rooms within walking distance.
Major meetings hotels within walking distance of the convention center include Marriott, Embassy Suites, Four Points by Sheraton, Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn and Courtyard by Marriott properties.
Huntington’s primary convention center is the 7,500-seat Mountain Health Arena and the newly renovated Convention Center at Mountain Health, an ASM Global-operated facility with 15,000 square feet of meeting space and an outdoor space many groups use for receptions under the stars.
Huntington, which has the 183-room DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Huntington with 20,000 square feet of meeting space, is also noted for Marshall University, which houses various meeting rooms and banquet facilities. Huntington’s Heritage Farm Museum and Village, a Smithsonian Affiliate celebrating Appalachian heritage, recently added additional outdoor options, including a four-story aerial challenge course.
Morgantown benefits from relatively close proximity to Pittsburgh International Airport, which is about an hour and a half away, and also a wealth of outdoor options.
“During the pandemic, I think the open-air meeting experiences really hit home for people,” said Tami Wood, group sales manager for Visit Mountaineer Country CVB, which represents the Morgantown region. “We have very unique venues that offer outside meeting spaces and collaborative meeting spaces. Groups can come in for a meeting and also experience the outdoors in all seasons and experience some great teambuilding activities to get people out and about. We have prebuilt itineraries for groups coming in.”
Downtown Morgantown offers the 85-room boutique Hotel Morgan, near West Virginia University, which completed a renovation in 2021 and has a ballroom that can accommodate 200 along with several small conference rooms. The major conference hotel is the Marriott at Waterfront Place, set on the Monongahela River with 207 rooms and a 30,000-square-foot event center.
A unique venue worth checking out is The Terrace, at West Virginia Botanic Gardens. This 3,500-square-foot indoor/outdoor space overlooks 85 acres of forest with giant windows to take in the view. Opened in 2022, the facility can accommodate 200 seated for a reception.
A myriad of activity options can be found at Coopers Rock State Forest, about 10 miles from downtown. The park offers a variety of covered pavilions and a stunning overlook from Coopers Rock. Popular activities here include bouldering and WVU Zipline & Canopy Tours at the WVU Outdoor Education Center.
Activity Options
Being cooped up indoors for too long would be a shame in such a gloriously natural state, so groups are well-advised to incorporate outdoor activities in their agendas. Top options including fly fishing, stargazing—West Virginia was named “the most under-the-radar stargazing destination in the U.S.” by Travel + Leisure—shooting sports, scenic train excursions and, most notably, whitewater rafting.
Offering the highest density of whitewater runs in the country, according to the West Virginia Department of Tourism, the New River Gorge, near Fayetteville, West Virginia, tops the bill. It’s also home to the newest U.S. National Park, the 70,000-acre New River Gorge National Park & Preserve. Ironically named, the New River is recognized as among the oldest rivers in the world, at between 260 and 325 million years old.
Whitewater rafting on the New River is a “bucket list” type of adventure that numerous outfitters can arrange for groups. Two of the biggest outfitters in the New River Gorge area are Adventures on the Gorge and ACE Adventure Resort.
Both outfitters offer multiple options for groups aside from rafting, including aerial programs such as canopy ziplines, hiking, shooting sports, horseback riding, rock climbing and rappelling, as well as teambuilding facilitated by expert guides. Both also offer accommodations and ACE even boasts its own waterpark.
Iconic Resorts
When it comes to definitive resort experiences in West Virginia, two properties rise to the top: The Greenbrier, located in White Sulphur Springs; and Stonewall Resort, near Roanoke.
The Greenbrier
One of the most prestigious resorts in the U.S., The Greenbrier sits on an 11,000-acre expanse. The property offers 710 rooms, including 128 Estate Homes and Legacy Cottages, and boasts interior design from the legendary Dorothy Draper.
On the meetings side, the property offers 200,000 square feet of flexible space, including a 16,000-square-foot Colonial Hall, 40 breakout rooms and a 16,500-square-foot exhibit hall.
Activity options are legion here, with more than 55 indoor and outdoor options such as shooting sports, falconry, championship golf, an off-road driving school, horseback riding and many, many more.
One incredibly fascinating aspect of The Greenbrier is “The Bunker.”
Now available for private tours, the 112,500-square-foot underground space was built as part of a clandestine U.S. government program to accommodate the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in the event of a national emergency or nuclear war.
The two-story bunker is ensconced 720 feet into a hillside under the West Virginia Wing. Built between 1958 and 1961 and kept secret from the public (under the guise of construction of the West Virginia Wing), the facility was immediately rendered obsolete after an expose about it was published in 1992 by The Washington Post.
Stonewall Resort
Located within Lewis County’s Stonewall Resort State Park, recreational opportunities at Stonewall Resort are also legion, and the 191-room, IACC-accredited property with 20,000 square feet of meeting space also boasts an Arnold Palmer-designed championship golf course.
“We’re literally in a state park and in part owned by the state, so that helps us garner a lot of government business within the state, and surrounded by a beautiful lake,” said John Annicchiarico, vice president of sales operations for management company Benchmark/Pyramid Luxury & Lifestyle. “So, there’s lots of recreational opportunities, such as renting a boat for large groups, and many other water activities.
“One of my favorite things about meeting at the resort is individual ways to sneak off, such as taking advantage of the hiking trails off the resort,” he added, “so you can take a hike in the morning before the meeting starts.”
Annicchiarico also highlighted the resort’s Lakehouse Collection of three- and four-bedroom luxury homes on Stonewall Jackson Lake; Mtn. Laurel Spa; moonshine tasing events; and Lightburns Restaurant, which is set on top of a hill with commanding views of the lake and resort.
“It’s like doing an offsite without having to pay to do an offsite,” he mused.
Connect
Charleston CVB
(304) 209-7015
Huntington Area CVB
(304) 525-7333
Visit Mountaineer Country CVB (Morgantown)
(304) 292-5081
