Meet and Sleep
In the Wilmington area, the average number of rooms per hotel is around 200. “And there are a number of other hotels with conference spaces,” said Bittmann.
One of them is Clayton Hall, owned by the University of Delaware. This college building with Georgian-inspired architecture has 40,000 square feet of meeting space with conference rooms and classrooms, a theater-style auditorium, a ballroom and an open lobby that is frequently used for events. The Courtyard by Marriott Newark has 126 sleeping rooms and is steps away from Clayton Hall.
Another meeting and hotel option is the DoubleTree Hilton, which is located in an area of downtown Wilmington known as the Legal District, where there are numerous law firms, courthouses and financial institutions. This hotel has 219 rooms and offers 20,000 square feet of meeting space, nearly half of it contained in the Grand Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 1,000 people.
There is also the Crowne Plaza Wilmington North, located in the northern suburb of Claymont, with 13,000 square feet dedicated to meetings and events. The largest ballroom can handle a crowd of 700.
Another prominent hotel in Wilmington is the Hotel du Pont, an elegant 102-year-old establishment named after the famous American family that founded the industrial giant Dupont Chemical. The hotel has 30,000 square feet of flexible meeting space for up to 400 people. It operates separate conference and executive conference centers, and its elegant ballrooms are spectacular yet functional showpieces.
In-Town Entertainment
Wilmington has plenty of places for fun after the meetings of the day are concluded. One area to which delegates flock is the Theater District.
“We have the Playhouse on Rodney Square inside the Hotel du Pont,” said Bittmann. “It presents Broadway-type shows, stand-up comedy and has new musical performances every year.”
There’s also the Grand Opera House, a 1,208-seat theater for the performing arts and World Café Live, inside the refurbished Queen Theater. The latter has two distinct musical venues: one upstairs, the other downstairs. Add to that the Delaware Theater Company and Opera Delaware, one of the oldest opera companies in the United States.
“All of this action takes place on Market Street or within blocks of there, so there is a robust scene of things that are going on,” Bittmann said.
The du Pont Environmental Education Center is located inside a rare urban wildlife refuge. This natural place is where the city, the marsh and the river all conjoin. The center is free and open year-round.
The beauty of the Brandywine region has inspired countless artists to create works of art from paintings to crafts. Visitors can see great art from around the region at the Delaware Art Museum, the Brandywine River Museum and the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts.
Horse racing fans visit Delaware Park Racetrack and Casino in Wilmington. Racing is held in spring, summer and fall. The casino has many of the most popular games of chance players enjoy and is open seven days a week. Groups are encouraged to come and enjoy a day or night of fun.
“We also have quite a few restaurants and bars in downtown Wilmington, in the riverfront area, and in downtown Newark near the University of Delaware,” said Bittmann.
Brandywine Valley Delights
America has never had kings or queens, but there have been several families in history that have all but labeled themselves American aristocracy. One of them is the du Pont family of Wilmington, at one time among the richest families in the country. Generations of family members built expansive, gorgeous country estates that are visited today by millions of travelers. The properties feature beautiful mansions, botanical gardens, world-class art and sculptures, and museums.
Three of the du Pont family mansions and gardens in the Brandywine Valley stand as must-see museums: Hagley, Winterthur and Nemours. All provide a glimpse into a long-lost world of splendor.
Many meeting attendees make time after their work to tour this region of immense natural beauty along the Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway. Residents zealously preserve the properties along the narrow, winding country roads, many hugging rivers and creeks. Tulip and fruit trees, oaks, wildflowers and meadows line the roadsides. There is hardly a billboard in sight. Delaware Routes 100 and 52 are highly recommended for chateau country views. Another car trip to take is along Delaware Route 9, known as the Coastal Heritage Byway, which traverses the coastal marshland.
Grapes and Hops
Right at Wilmington’s back door are two prominent wine trails that are part of the Vintage Atlantic Wine Region. One is the Brandywine Wine Trail with many wineries nestled in the beautiful countryside, and the other is Two Bridges Wine Trail.
Visitors shouldn’t forget that the Wilmington area is also known for beer-making. Breweries like Dogfish Head, Victory, Twin Lakes and Troegs are popular places that visitors can tour and then sip a fresh brew.
Wilmington, Delaware
Location:
Northern Delaware
Access:
Philadelphia International Airport, Amtrak, Interstate 95
Major Meeting Spaces:
Chase Center on the Riverfront, Clayton Hall, Hotel du Pont
Hotel Rooms:
6,015
Offsite Venues:
Hagley Museum and Library, Delaware Park Racetrack and Casino, Deerfield Golf Club, World Café Live
Contact Info:
302-295-2213
www.visitwilmingtonde.com
