Old Town Alexandria pitches meetings beyond the ballroom

The Alexandrian Old Town Alexandria is positioning itself as a meeting venue near Washington, D.C. that pairs event space with dining, walkability and waterfront access. The move comes as planners put more weight on attendee experience, networking and destination appeal.

Why it matters: - Meeting planners are putting more emphasis on the full event experience, not just ballroom size and tech. - Amex GBT Meetings & Events found that 66% of meeting professionals expected budgets to rise in 2025. - The same forecast said planners with more funding were prioritizing on-site experience upgrades. - The report also identified content, venue and destination as the top three drivers of a memorable event. - Destinations that combine meeting space with restaurants, transportation and off-site activities have an advantage.

What happened: - The Alexandrian Old Town Alexandria, Autograph Collection is promoting Old Town Alexandria as a corporate meeting destination near Washington, D.C. - The hotel is at 480 King Street in Alexandria, Virginia. - The property is highlighting its access to the historic King Street corridor and the Potomac River waterfront. - The hotel says it gives planners a setting that connects meeting space with nearby dining, shopping and attractions.

The details: - Old Town Alexandria has more than 200 independent restaurants and boutiques, plus museums, waterfront attractions and links to the broader Washington metro area. - Visit Alexandria reported that traveler spending from visitors living more than 50 miles away reached $1 billion in calendar year 2024 for the first time. - Visit Alexandria said that spending rose 8% from the prior year. - That growth outpaced both Northern Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia. - Amex GBT’s 2025 forecast said 35% of internal meetings were expected to include social activities or networking. - Marriott says The Alexandrian has seven event rooms and 9,285 square feet of total event space. - Marriott says the largest room can host up to 250 guests. - Smaller rooms are available for board meetings, breakout sessions and private gatherings. - The hotel has 241 guest rooms, including nine suites. - On-site amenities include King & Rye, a Southern restaurant and whiskey bar, a fitness center, a business center, complimentary Wi-Fi for Marriott Bonvoy members who book directly and on-site parking. - The hotel is about 3.3 miles from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. - The Alexandrian is near the King Street Metro and Alexandria Amtrak stations.

Between the lines: - The pitch reflects a broader shift in meetings strategy toward destinations that can extend interaction beyond the formal agenda. - Old Town Alexandria is trying to compete with traditional business districts by offering a more walkable and experiential setting. - The combination of lodging, event space and neighborhood amenities may help planners build in networking without moving attendees far from the venue.

What’s next: - The Alexandrian is likely to market itself to organizations looking for meeting venues near Washington, D.C. that can support both structured sessions and informal gatherings. - Planners evaluating destinations for 2025 and beyond appear likely to continue favoring locations that can serve as both a meeting site and an attendee experience.

The bottom line: - Old Town Alexandria is betting that meetings are stronger when the destination itself helps do some of the work.