Northstar Meetings Group is proud to present the winners of our inaugural Stella Awards, which recognize organizations worldwide that deliver the greatest possible service to meetings and events professionals. The awards celebrate critical aspects of the event experience across 18 categories among six regions, including food and beverage, professionalism of staff, technology innovations, green initiatives and more.
We will feature a weekly showcase of 2017 Stella Award winners from each category. This week we showcase the Best Conference Center. Below is just a sampling of the Best Conference Center winners that stood out to the expert panel of judges overseen by the editors of Northstar Meetings Group's leading brands, Meetings & Conventions and Successful Meetings. Finalists in each category were determined by industry professionals during an open voting period; you can view all winners and finalists here.
As we congratulate and celebrate our 2017 winners, nominations have opened for the 2018 Stella Awards. We invite you to nominate deserving industry suppliers to be considered for next year's honors. Stay tuned for open voting in the coming months.
Best Conference Center
Conference centers bring groups together in a professional environment that is dedicated to promoting teamwork. Built in with all of the modern technological amenities and customizable spaces to suit a wide variety of group needs, conference centers remain a popular choice for their convenience and diverse functionality. Look to these Stella Award-winning venues for an outstanding assortment of dedicated meeting spaces, package pricing options, upscale F&B and superb service, all under one roof.
The National Conference Center
Best Conference Center (Northeast)
Since opening in 1974, The National Conference Center (pictured) in Leesburg, Va., continues to lead the way in innovation. Located 14 miles from Dulles International Airport, the 1.25 million-square-foot facility houses North Virginia's largest ballroom (16,552 square feet) as well as 250 classrooms and 917 guest rooms clustered into dedicated living-and-learning pods.
Keep Memory Alive Event Center
Best Conference Center (Far West)
Designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, the show-stopping Keep Memory Alive Event Center in Las Vegas is a 9,200-square-foot blank canvas that can be transformed into an infinite variety of ways for any type of clientele. Featuring 199 windows -- no two the same shape or size -- the center is a pinnacle of true imagination and fine design. With accommodations for 450 seated, 700 standing or 1,500-plus standing with the inclusion of the breezeway, every event is one-of-a-kind.