Hotel Facts
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia
Size: 62 guest rooms
Meeting Space: More than 6,500 square feet
Access: Five miles from the Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport and less than 20 miles from the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport
Contact Info:
855-231-7240
colonialwilliamsburghotels.com
There’s a sense of regency at the Williamsburg Inn.
Located just across the street from the world’s largest living-history museum — Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia — this stately inn was brought to life by America’s first “royal” family shortly after preservation work began on Virginia’s colonial capitol. John D. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller dreamed of creating a “magnificent hostelry” for anyone traveling to visit the historic streets of Colonial Williamsburg, and when the hotel opened in 1937, it did just that. The inn’s regal Neoclassical architecture and notable Southern sensibility created a cozy yet luxurious experience for its earliest guests, and it has continued to retain that legacy of hospitality well into the present.
Today, the Williamsburg Inn offers 62 exquisite guest rooms and suites that have played host to political dignitaries, celebrated artists, movie stars and more over the years, including Winston Churchill, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Emperor Hirohito, Salvador Dali, Shirley Temple and Betty White. The most notable guest earned her own namesake suite after her two visits, in 1957, and in 2007 to celebrate the 400th anniversary settlement at Jamestown; Queen Elizabeth II’s likeness can be found in the menagerie of photographs adorning the walls of the elegant and dignified Queen’s Suite. Two other themed suites are available for booking, the Rockefeller Suite and the Churchill Suite; a wide range of other accommodations include superior suites warmed with working fireplaces and spacious suites with adorning parlors for entertaining.
The inn is great for gatherings. A 2017 renovation expanded event and meeting spaces throughout the property. Four indoor meeting spaces are equipped to accommodate meeting groups with variable room arrangements and sizes, and an outdoor social terrace provides a welcome extension for gathering al fresco or for offering guests the space to stroll through the landscaped gardens and view its gorgeous new water feature. Meeting guests have access to 24-hour room service and Wi-Fi. They can spend free time enjoying a round of lawn bowling, mingling in the courtyards and gardens or exploring this historic and scenic slice of American history.
Meeting Spaces
The Williamsburg Inn’s four meeting rooms range in size from intimate boardrooms to elegant ballrooms. The Regency Room is the crown jewel of the Williamsburg event venues. It features an outdoor terrace overlooking the golf course as well as a built-in dance floor for up to 250 guests. The relaxed yet luxurious Goodwin Room, for up to 85 guests, is located nearest the dining facilities at the inn, and the Perry Shaw Hepburn Room provides an intimate space for gathering or dining in private for up to 15 guests. The impressive and elegant East Lounge, for up to 170 guests, allows for indoor and outdoor options, since it includes access to the Queen’s Terrace and the surrounding lawn.
Catering
The on-site catering team at the Williamsburg Inn executes a range of menus and packages. Breakfast often begins with freshly brewed Royal Cup coffee served with fresh cream and rock candy swizzle sticks and is accompanied by hot and cold dishes, either buffet style, plated or grab-and-go style. Brunch is a can’t-miss experience at the inn: Build-your-own bloody mary or mimosa bars set the stage for elaborate spreads of delicious pastries and brunch delicacies. Specialty breaks and afternoon tea packages are available for the afternoon, and the Working Lunch option is popular among business guests. Dinner remains the main event, with elaborate displays, chef-tended stations or formal plated dinners leading the way to sweet treats or customizable craft cocktails and cigars.
Extras
Add-on packages offered by the inn allow meeting planners to set up a cigar-rolling station or bring an authentic fife-and-drum corps to their receptions. The on-site meeting planners can also arrange exclusive experiences for groups that include competing in their own Colonial Olympics, taking part in a military drill or even learning how to fire a flintlock musket. Teambuilding experiences take place at Colonial Williamsburg and inside the surrounding area, where groups can tackle a ropes course together or take part in the build-a-bike competition that donates back to a local children’s charity.
Before and After
Guests of the Williamsburg Inn have access to the award-winning Spa of Williamsburg, as well as the fitness center and the indoor and outdoor pools. Active groups can take advantage of the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club, which has 45 walkable holes, and the Williamsburg Inn Tennis Club, where the eight courts are just steps from the historic area. All guests of the inn receive two complimentary length-of-stay tickets to Colonial Williamsburg, giving groups the option to tour the historic grounds between meetings or before and after events. Guests also have access to the Colonial Williamsburg Arboretum, the only Level 2 Certified Arboretum in Virginia.
