Convention Insider (Conventions.net)

If you are looking for a conference center, convention center, or trade show location that is paradise, inside the building and out – especially out – look no further than the Ramada Plaza on Nag’s Head Beach.

Nag’s Head, North Carolina, is part of the breathtakingly beautiful Outer Banks, home of the planet’s loveliest beaches.  Some of the most famous lighthouses of our time are here, along with much of our country’s pirate history.  That’s right:  I said PIRATE.  Ocracoke Island, also part of Nags Head, was home to the notorous Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. 

The Ramada Plaza itself is a place of comfort, convenience, and plenty of room for whatever function you are planning, be it a reunion, party, reception, retreat, wedding, conference, convention, or trade show – of almost any size, too.  Small?  Medium?  Large?  Extra Large?  the Nag’s Head Beach Ramada Plaza can accommodate your every need.

Just look at that view from this conference room!

All of this can be found at the Ramade Plaza Nags Head Beach Hotel, 1701 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil HIlls/Nags Head, NC 27948

Contact information: Phone: 252-441-2151    FAX:  252-441-1830

E-mail:  info@ramadainnnagshead.com

After your meetings, dinners, etc. are over, your attendees can step out of the hotel onto the beach, and experience the wonder that is the Outer Banks. There are many historic places within a short drive from the hotel, too. The Lost Colony of Roanoke and Kill Devil Hills (where the Wright Brothers flew that first airplane) are two of many fascinating places to visit.  Drive a little south onto the ferry at the southern tip of the islands, and your car and you will be on your way to Ocracoke Island, where you can eat at the famous Howard’s Pub, visit the British Cemetary, and explore the pirate museum, among other things.

Chicago’s Navy Pier is a fabulous convention center, mall, carnival, theater, riverfront, and you name it.  One thing it is not is a hotel, but there are many fine hotels within walking distance of the Pier.

From the Navy Pier website, here are its handy FAQ:

Frequently Asked Questions about Event Planning

6. Where do buses stage at Navy Pier?
There is no staging at Navy Pier. Our marshalling yard is located 31st Parking Lot (one block west of Lake Shore Drive. As an alternative, buses can stage on Elston Avenue between Potomac Avenue and LeMoyne Street.
Additional locations:

• 1200 South Canal Street (except Sundays) – parking available only on the east side of
  Canal Street, south of Roosevelt Road
• 420 South Franklin Street
• Clybourn Avenue at Division Street
• McCormick Place Marshalling Yard
  Click here for Motorcoach information.
  
  7. What are the height restrictions for the East and West Garages?
  The West garage is 6ft. 3 in., and East garage is 7ft. 9in.

  8. Where can I park when I drive to Navy Pier?
  Navy Pier’s on-site parking garages accommodate 1,740 vehicles. Please click here Parking, for detailed information on Navy Pier garages and prices.

  9. Where can I get a taxi?
  There is a taxi line formed throughout the day at the front of the Pier. There are cab phones available at Entrance 1 and 2.
  
  10. How do I get to Navy Pier?
  Click here for information about “Getting Here!”

  11. I have an event in Festival Hall or the Grand Ballroom, where should I be dropped off?
  Once you have arrived to Navy Pier, there is only one road leading you toward the East End, proceed down the North Dock to Entrance 2, which is the farthest drop off point at Navy Pier.
  
  12. If I wanted to buy Pier Park tickets in conjunction with my event, who do I need to speak to?
  Your Sales or Event Manager will gladly assist you in securing group tickets for Pier Park.

  13. Does the trolley service run all year long?
  Yes. Trolley hours vary based on time of year or events held at Navy Pier. Please click here to view current hours.

  14. How do I report or claim lost property?
  Click here to complete the claim form. We will contact you within 48 hours during the standard business work week (Monday through Friday).

  15. Is there a general information number for Navy Pier?
  Our general number is 312-595-PIER or 1-800-595-PIER.
  
  16. Where is the food court?
  Located at the front of the Pier in the Family Pavilion.

There are many different venues within the Navy Pier.

The beautiful Walter E. Washington Convention Center is brand new as far as the usual D.C. building is concerned, but its history is long and interesting.

The city’s first convention center was built in 1874, and a second floor was added in 1893.  This conference hall served D.C. for a little over fifty years!  The present Washington Convention Center opened in 2003.

Click here to see the center’s interactive map.

According to the St. Louis Business Journal, the St. Charles Convention Center brought in $4.6M in 2009:

The Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center, at 104 Conservation Drive, Roscommon, MI 48653, is a lovely change from the usual traffic-heavy downtown convention center!  Contact Mark Buchinger at 989-821-6200 for a visit or tour, brochures, and any other information.

Set on the northern shores of Higgins Lake, the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center continues its mission to provide a quiet, relaxing atmosphere the natural way for a variety of organizations. Originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the RAM Center is a tranquil setting that allows groups to get away from the hustle and bustle of more urban counterparts to focus on the group’s specific needs. Whether those needs be educational, team building, training, retreat or other purposes, you’ll find the ideal environment for your organization.

The RAM Center serves:

• Environmental and Conservation Education Groups
• Government Agencies
• Education Institutions
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Community Service Clubs
• Groups of Persons with Disabilities
• Organizations with a natural resources or conservation focus

The conference center offers modern facilities with an up-north atmosphere. The meeting rooms can accommodate groups as small as 10 and as large as 135. Six lodges house overnight guests in comfortable twin-bed rooms. Warm pine walls, cedar furniture, vaulted cathedral ceilings and massive stone fireplaces are a few of our amenities. Meeting rooms are equipped with multi-media projectors, VCRs, large screens, slide and overhead projectors.

The RAM Center’s meals are legendary, with ample portions and food cooked to perfection. The menu features a variety of savory dinners, fresh baked breads and rolls, hearty breakfasts, and delectable lunches. Vegetarian and special dietary needs are well accommodated. During the warmer months, cookouts on the shores of pristine Higgins Lake are popular alternatives to the dining room. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual clothing is encouraged.

Michigan’s abundant natural resources are close at hand and available for everyone to enjoy and appreciate at the RAM Center.  Whether it’s canoeing, hiking, cross-country skiing, swimming or fishing, they’re all available to enjoy when the work is over for the day. Golfing, museums and movie theaters are nearby.

Sounds expensive right? Perhaps the best part of the RAM Center is its reasonable costs. Overnight rates range from $78.25 to $89.25 per person and includes three meals, audio-visual equipment, lodging, coffee service and more.

To reserve your dates or to get more information on the RAM Center, please call us at 989-821-6200 or via e-mail at buchingerm@michigan.gov. We would be happy to send you an information packet and a compact disk to view for yourself. Better yet, you are invited to stop by for an impromptu visit or arrange a tour. We are conveniently located at 104 Conservation Drive, Roscommon, MI 48653, in central northern Michigan, 1.5 miles east of US 27 and five miles west of I-75.

We give you that personal touch that will have you re-booking for your next conference before you leave.

High-speed wireless internet available!