Executive decisions: destinations statewide are adding amenities and space to attract travelers for business now and leisure later.

• Author: Lea, Amanda
• Position: SPONSORE SECTION: DESTINATIONS

The Umstead Hotel in Cary stands on wooded property that includes a 3-acre lake. Guests enjoy the natural surroundings while on the quarter-mile walking and jogging trail. The five-star hotel shares its name with a nearby park that is named after the states 63rd governor, William Umstead, who served in the early 1950s.

There are 150 guest rooms, including 27 suites. Herons, its signature restaurant, serves food that's sourced from local farms and expertly prepared by Executive Chef Steven Greene, a James Beard Foundation 2016 Best Chef in the Southeast semifinalist, and his staff. The in-house art collection changes with the season, and it includes works by glass sculptor Dale Chihuly and Lynn Boggess, whose paintings are inspired by nature. Guests are encouraged to take a self-guided tour. There's a full-service spa, too. Its Emerald treatment starts with a dry brushing and a soak in warm water that's infused with mineral salts and herbs. A Swedish massage follows, then the 90 minutes of relaxation finishes with a glass of detoxifying juice.

It's no surprise that these amenities and serene setting make the Umstead popular with its guests. The hotel's 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space and proximity to Interstate 40 might make it less surprising that many of them are executives visiting the Triangle for business meetings and events.

Business travel is a unique market. Executives want comfortable places to stay, such as when on vacation, but need lodging that's equipped with high-speed internet, meeting space and other traditional office features. They want the perfect mix of home-away-from-home and office-away-from-office. Venues, hotels and convention and visitor bureaus statewide are creating that balance in unique ways, attracting business travelers while giving them reasons to return later for vacation.

Andrew Schmidt is Greenville-Pitt County Convention and Visitors Bureau's executive director. He and his staff take a proactive approach to attracting business travel. They host luncheons for meeting planners, for example, which include a meal prepared by a local caterer and a 30-minute pitch of why their upcoming events should be scheduled in the county. "We want to make sure to educate travelers about the amenities that Greenville and Pitt County have to offert' he says. "Marketing the amenities and cultural opportunities corporate travelers can have during their stay can translate to a leisure visit at a later time."

The Visit North Carolina 365 State Tourism Conference will be held at...