Virginia Green Convention & Conference Centers

To become a Virginia Green Convention or Conference Center, click on one of the links below and fill out the application:
   click here for a MS Word version of the application
   click here for an Adobe PDF version of the application

Old Dairy Community Center, Warm Springs

Water's Edge Marina Meeting Facility, Dublin

The National Conference Center, Landsdowne

Cedar Crest Conference Center, Green Bay

The Inn at Virginia Tech & Skelton Conference Center, Blacksburg

Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center, Glen Allen

Holiday Inn Select Kroger Conference Center, Richmond

Virginia Beach Convention Center

Convention Centers are often the centerpiece of a region’s tourism efforts, and they have the opportunity to lead the way for Virginia Green activities in their region.

Conference centers do business with a wide range of customers for a wide range of events. Even if an event is not focused on an environmental theme, there are individuals who care about the environment in every group. In addition, corporations and other organizations are increasingly developing environmental policies and statements of “corporate responsibility” that apply to everything they do, including expenditures on conferences.

What does it take to be a Virginia Green Convention or Conference Center? At a minimum, facilities must commit to:

• Provide Recycling: All convention and conference centers must provide for recycling at their events. Aluminum can and plastic bottle recycling are a must. Recycling of steel cans, cardboard, office paper, and composting of waste foods are encouraged as well.
• Minimize the use of disposable food service products: Convention and conference centers are required to minimize the use of disposable food service products and maximize the use of food service products that are recylable or compostable in the food service area. When disposable food service items are used, conference centers are encouraged to use products that are made from bio-based or renewable resources, and to provide for the collection / recycling/ composting of food service items disposed of on the premises. 
• Water Efficiency: Convention and conference centers must have a plan for conserving and using water efficiently. This plan should begin with tracking water usage and consider water-savings faucets and fixtures and an effective landscape watering plan.
• Energy Conservation: Convention and conference centers must have a plan in place to reduce overall energy consumption. The plan should consider replacing lighting and equipment with energy-efficient alternatives such as compact-fluorescent lighting, LED Exit signs, lighting sensors, efficient heating and cooling, and ENERGY STAR kitchen appliances and computers.
• Support Green Conferences & Events: Convention and conference centers must offer a "green" or "environmentally-friendly" package for conferences, conventions, meetings, and other events.  At a minimum, centers should be able to provide recycling at events and willing to work with "environmentally-aware" customers on other techniques to reduce wastes.  For ideas on Green Events, please see the fact-sheet on Environmentally-Responsible Conferences, Meeting, and Events.  

Participating convention and conference centers:

Blue Ridge Highlands

Central Virginia

• Bear Creek Meeting Hall, Bear Creek State Park, Cumberland  
• Cedar Crest Conference Center at Twin Lakes State Park, Green Bay
• Crowne Plaza Richmond West, Richmond
• Doubletree Richmond Airport, Sandston
• Executive Meeting Center at Embassy Suites, Richmond 
• Greater Richmond Convention Center 
• Heritage Center & Swift Creek Hall at Pocohontas State Park, Chesterfield
• Holiday Inn Select Kroger Conference Center, Richmond   
• Kirkley Hotel Conference Center, Lynchburg
• Koger Conference Center, Richmond
• Longwood University, Farmville
• Sheraton Richmond West Hotel, Richmond 
• Sponsors Executive Residence Center, Charlottesville
• UVA Zehmer Hall Conference Center, Charlottesville  
• Virginia Commonwealth University Student Centers, Richmond
• The Jefferson Hotel, Richmond
• The Westin, Richmond 
• Wintergreen Resort, Wintergreen 
• Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center, Glen Allen     

Chesapeake Bay

• Murphy Hall at Westmoreland State Park, Montross   

Eastern Shore

• The Marine Science Consortium, Wallops Island
• YMCA Silver Beach Conference and Retreat Center, Jamesville

Heart of Appalachia

• Cove Ridge Center at Natural Tunnel State Park, Duffield

Northern Virginia

• Airlie Conference Center, Warrenton
• Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center, Frederick
• Hyatt Regency Reston
• Jepson Alumni Executive Center, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg
• Lansdowne Resort & Conference Center, Lansdowne
• Monaco Hotel Conference Center, Alexandria
• Morrison House Conference Center, Alexandria
• The National Conference Center, Lansdowne 
• Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner, McLean
• Stafford Campus, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg 
• Stevenson Ridge, Spotsylvania

Shenandoah Valley

• Hampton Inn & Conference Center, Winchester
• Highlands Conference Center at Douthat State Park, Millboro 
• Holiday Inn Conference Center at Blue Ridge Shadows Resort, Front Royal  
• Massanetta Springs Camp & Conference Center, Harrisonburg 
• Mountain Valley Meeting Center, Harrisonburg
• Old Dairy Community Center, Warm Springs  
• Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center, Staunton
• VMI Center for Leadership & Ethics at Marshall Hall, Lexington 

Southern Virginia

• Spencer-Penn Centre, Spencer 
• Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing, Newcastle 

Tidewater/Hampton Roads

• Chesapeake Conference Center  
• Founders Inn & Spa, Virginia Beach
• Great Wolf Lodge, Williamsburg
• Hampton Roads Convention Center
• Kingsmill Resort, Williamsburg 
• Renaissance Portsmouth  
• Virginia Beach Convention Center
• Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront

Virginia Green is a partnership program supported by