Photo by Oglebay .
Photo by The Greenbrier .
“ Charleston is just an hour ’ s drive from the newest national park , the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve , featuring whitewater rafting , canopy tours , mountain climbing and biking .”
Another example is Oglebay in Wheeling , which offers four golf courses , an aerial challenge course , fishing , paddle boats , a climbing wall , Segway tours , horseback riding , hiking trails , biking trails and paved walking paths .
“ We are central to the East Coast , and our terrain provides areas that are not drastically affected by inclement weather ,” says Herb Faulkenberry , vice president of sales and marketing for Oglebay .
Not only does the state offer the ideal weather conditions for any occasion , but it also appeals to anyone looking to host a meeting in a unique setting . The perfect combination of urban and rural — from lush green backdrops overlooking quiet rivers in the New River / Greenbrier Valley area to lively city energy right outside your window in Mountaineer Country — the Mountain State has it all .
“ West Virginia , as a state , has a variety of potential settings that offer meeting planners a wide spectrum of venues , with locations ranging from historic to corporate . Most provide the necessary amenities that meeting planners are seeking ,” says Faulkenberry .
Also , if you ’ re looking for luxury without the hefty price tag , West Virginia is just the place .
“ West Virginia is a great meeting destination for the tristate area . Conveniently nestled in the beautiful mountains with exclusive amenities , an event or conference in West Virginia would be more cost-effective than our surrounding metro states ,” says Dennison . “ The budgetary benefits of hosting meetings and events in West Virginia compared to secondary or even tertiary markets in the same neighboring states is often a major factor for decision makers .”
According to Ratcliff , food and beverage costs in West Virginia have been up to 80 % lower than large metro areas like Nashville , Detroit and Chicago .
Another , often overlooked , highlight of the state is its proximity to major surrounding cities .
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