CONVENTIONS COMEBACK: Conference facilities expand to accommodate rise in bookings.

• Author: Saylor, Teri

Meetings and conventions in North Carolina are on the rise as the limitations of the pandemic fade into the rearview mirror.

The business community is eager for business as usual, said Rich Phaneuf, CEO of Association Executives of North Carolina, a Raleigh-based organization representing the state's trade association leaders and meeting planners.

"If anything, over the past 12 months we've experienced a flooded market of association executives wanting to get out and meet in person," Phaneuf said.

To handle the increasing business in the state's major conference cities, expansion is the name of the game. Winston-Salem and Charlotte have already enhanced their convention centers, and Raleigh is eyeing a major expansion.

In Asheville, a new Embassy Suites is coming online next year, providing a modern contrast to three new hotels that celebrate the city's storied history. Asheville is embracing the romance of the past with the prohibition-themed Flat Iron Hotel, Zelda Dearest, an ode to Asheville's literary history, and the Radical, which breathes new life into a historic manufacturing building in the River Arts District.

All are expected to open this fall, says Michael Kryzanek, vice president of business development at Explore Asheville.

The pandemic restrictions that forced people to flock to the great outdoors have yielded new opportunities for conference and leisure travelers alike, and Asheville is keeping the momentum going with guided hikes, foraging adventures, river paddles and biking excursions.

"Local farms are expanding into agritourism, offering farm tours, tastings and opportunities to enjoy our renowned food scene on an organic level," Kryzanek says.

The Charlotte Convention Center's $127-million expansion in 2020 means more conference-goers can meet in the Queen City and explore all the greater area has to offer, says Bill McMillan, senior director of sales for the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.

"Charlotte is busier than ever, and we are receiving leads far above our usual pace," McMillan adds.

When conference attendees are ready to take a break from meetings at the Charlotte Convention Center, they can board the light rail and visit other areas of the city, like South End, a walkable district offering restaurants, bars and shopping, along with offices.

In some major meeting venues, sales teams are still juggling meeting space for clients re-booking conferences that were postponed during the pandemic. That trend is...