With its blend of rich history, vibrant culture, scenic waterfront, diverse culinary offerings, boutique shopping, and walkable neighborhoods, it’s no wonder that Alexandria, Virg., is a popular destination not only for leisure guests, but also meeting and event groups. Founded in 1749 and boasting the nation’s third oldest historic district, this charming port city combines a small-town feel with the amenities of a cosmopolitan city and has been recognized as a “Best Small City in the U.S.” by Condé Nast Traveler readers for the last six years. 

Situated along the Potomac River about five miles from Washington, D.C., Alexandria offers an inviting mix of accessibility, affordability, unique venues, and a vibrant local atmosphere, with cobblestone streets, well-preserved 18th and 19th century colonial architecture, and picturesque views – adding up to create a visually appealing and inspiring locale for small to mid-sized regional and national meetings. 

Besides unique cultural venues such as the waterfront Torpedo Factory Art Center, the city also hosts various festivals and events throughout the year and offers numerous outdoor amenities, including bike trails along the waterfront, scenic boat cruises, and The Mount Vernon Trail, with its scenic routes for walking, running, or biking that connects visitors to George Washington’s estate. 

Big picture: Celebrating its 275th anniversary in 2024, Alexandria is also favored for its walkable downtown, particularly the popular King Street Mile in Old Town, a mile-long stretch lined with more than 200 independent restaurants and boutiques, intimate historic museums, and new happenings at the waterfront. Groups can book team-building experiences on the tall ship Providence, evening events on the iconic Cherry Blossom boat, or popular Monuments by Night cruises. 

Deeper dive: Beyond Old Town, visitors can explore vibrant neighborhoods, trace George Washington and the Founding Fathers’ footsteps, follow the stories of Black Americans who shaped the history of Alexandria and the U.S., and join engaging customized tours and team-building activities that leverage the destination’s historical context.  

Where to meet: With more than 400 associations and numerous small think-tank companies headquartered in Alexandria, the city is also home to a diverse array of meetings venues, ranging from boutique hotels with waterfront views to full-service convention properties (23 hotels in all). Its variety of distinctive event spaces include historic settings and modern hotels, charming courtyards, rooftop venues, and unique venues with waterfront views – all customizable to fit an array of group sizes and event types. Added bonus: Hotels in Alexandria are typically 30% more affordable than those in Washington, D.C., making the city an attractive option for budget-conscious planners who don’t want to sacrifice quality, according to Visit Alexandria officials. 

Need to know for events: The city regularly plays host to association board meetings and annual meetings, corporate meetings within the pharmaceuticals market, and user conferences with under 300 attendees, Carla Bascope-Hebble, vice president of sales for Visit Alexandria told us. She added that planners will find a host of perks when hosting a meeting in Alexandria, including the opportunity for a boutique, customized experience with greater flexibility, a closer connection to the community, the ability to keep smaller groups motivated and engaged in intimate settings, and easier access to prime space for smaller meetings compared to large convention hotels. 

What they are saying: “We work with planners and third-party planners from the moment the RFP is sourced,” Bascope-Hebble said. “As a smaller destination, our goal is to provide concierge-level service from beginning to end. Destination sales managers collaborate on finding the best match (budget, location, amenities, etc.) and, once the program is booked, assist with ancillary connections to restaurants, transportation, experiences, speaker suggestions, show-your-badge programs, and marketing tools such as customized micro-websites.” 

Getting there: Alexandria is easily reachable via major transportation hubs, including Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), and is well-connected with five Metro stops linking to Northern Virginia and D.C., an Amtrak station, a complimentary King Street Mile trolley, and free public transportation via the DASH Bus. 

Recently, Corporate Event News Managing Editor Lisa Savas toured the city, hotels, and meeting venues with Bascope-Hebble. Here are several boutique and full-service hotel properties with plentiful meeting and conference spaces to consider when booking your next business event in Alexandria. 

Old Town Alexandria 

The Alexandrian Old Town Alexandria, Autograph Collection: Located in the heart of Old Town, this Marriott property features 241 guest rooms, including 11 suites; 7 meeting and event rooms spanning 9,285 square feet (capacity chart here); and one food and beverage outlet, King & Rye: Bar + Restaurant. 

Hotel Heron: Formerly known as the George Mason Hotel that was built in 1926, this upscale boutique hotel opened in June 2024 and is managed by Aparium Hotel Group. It offers 134 guest rooms and suites; 5 meeting event spaces totaling just under 8,000 square feet (capacity chart here), and 3 food and beverage outlets: KILN restaurant, Francis Hall bar, and Good Fortune rooftop bar. 

Hotel Indigo Old Town Alexandria: Located off King Street and steps from the Robinson Landing development with its various dining options, Alexandria’s signature waterfront hotel offers 120 guest rooms and suites, 2 meeting rooms amounting to 753 square feet of space, and two food and beverage outlets: Hummingbird Bar + Kitchen: Bar + Restaurant, and Grab and Go Marketplace: Quick Serve. More about its meetings and events offerings here. Fun fact: During the hotel’s construction, crews unearthed a 50-foot ship that archaeologists believe was abandoned in the late 18th century. 

Westin Alexandria Old Town: As the city’s second largest conference hotel, the Westin Alexandria offers meeting space on one floor overlooking the Carlyle neighborhood and with views of Alexandria’s iconic George Washington Masonic Memorial. The contemporary property features 319 guestrooms, including 12 executive suites; 12,136 square feet of meeting space divided between 14 rooms that can accommodate meetings of 10-350 (capacity chart here); and the Trademark Drink And Eat: Bar + Restaurant. 

Old Town North  

Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria: This business- and leisure-friendly hotel recently underwent a major remodel of its guest rooms and public spaces, with furnishings, décor, and amenities upgraded throughout the property. It offers 247 guest rooms and suites, 8,230 square feet of meeting and conference space consisting of six rooms that can accommodate 10-200 (capacity chart here), and CITRUS & SAGE: Bar + Restaurant. 

Hotel AKA Alexandria: Opened in 2024 and custom-designed by architect Piero Lissoni, this “elevated urban” hotel features 180 guestrooms and 15 specialty suites, more than 14,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event spaces that include a 2,200-sq.-ft. ballroom capable of hosting up to 250 guests, a 900-sq.-ft. pre-function area, and a natural light-filled executive boardroom with a private outdoor patio (capacity chart here), as well as two food and beverage outlets: A.LOUNGE+BAR: Bar + Restaurant and A.CAFE+BAKERY.  

West End 

Hilton Alexandria Mark Center: Located in the city’s vibrant, rapidly growing West End neighborhood approximately 5 miles from Old Town and 8 miles from downtown Washington, D.C., this contemporary hotel property has earned bragging rights as Alexandria’s largest conference hotel. The hotel offers approximately 350 guest rooms, 55,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor event spaces, including a 10,200-square-foot ballroom (capacity chart here), and three restaurants: Finn & Porter, VINO Lobby bar, and a Sushi Bar. 

Unique Meeting Spaces 

ALX Community Atrium and ALX Above: Situated in Old Town, this unique multi-use building offers light-filled coworking spaces, a café, fitness studios, a rooftop terrace featuring incredible views of Alexandria’s skyline, and an almost 15,000-square-foot penthouse conference center. Equipped with the latest AV and wireless technology, the modern venue offers eight flexible meeting spaces that can accommodate 5-300 (capacity chart here). 

Mary M. Gates Learning Center at United Way: This LEED-certified, multi-functional building offers a 150-seat auditorium with video conferencing capabilities, river-view meeting rooms, video broadcast rooms, lounge and “de-stressing” areas, a business center and complimentary internet service. Able to accommodate groups of 5-150, all meeting rooms are equipped with a presenter laptop, hard-wired internet, whiteboard, flip chart easel, and LCD projectors (capacity chart and imagery here.). 

The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon: Supporting scholarly research, fostering new scholarship, providing a platform for educational outreach, and serving as a center for leadership training, conferences, and gatherings inspired by George Washington’s example, the Presidential Library at Mount Vernon is also part of The Leadership Collection at Alexandria, an exclusive collection of three nationally recognized executive leadership and teambuilding opportunities: George Washington Leadership Institute at Mount Vernon, McChrystal Group, and Building Momentum.

Offering customizable programs for senior executive development and strategic thinking inspired by George Washington’s leadership principles, all Leadership Institute programming is held in the library’s 45,000-square-foot high-tech conference venue, which can host lectures, conferences, and other gatherings for up to 200.  

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