Charleston, South Carolina

Join us June 20-25, 2010 in Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston is resplendent. There's the blue of the Atlantic, the green of the fairways, the gleaming white of the bridge cables shining above the Cooper River, the healthy pink of she-crab soup, and the muted shades of yellow woven into every sweetgrass basket. Rainbow Row, Charleston green, Citadel blue. Even the people are colorful.

Nature's hues come alive in our parks and gardens, beckoning folks from afar, luring locals out of their homes. It's as though the dial has been turned, the focus adjusted, and the vibrant pallet becomes sharper and more expansive. Opportunities for basking in color are numerous in this lush belt known as the Lowcountry, and downtown Charleston's peninsula has been referred to as a city built inside a garden.

The Ashley River winds along the banks of Middleton Place, Drayton Hall, and Magnolia Plantation. These three jewels are nestled together along the picturesque Highway 61 corridor. Visitors are invited to stroll along Magnolia's Audubon Swamp Garden paths, learn about African American history at scenic Drayton Hall, and witness “the triumphant marriage between man and nature” at Middleton Place. Charles Towne Landing invites visitors to ramble through their many miles of paths and learn about the natural setting along the tidal marshes. Located in West Ashley, this facility is maintained by the National Parks Service and is open to the public year round. The vivid colors will beckon you outside. The colorful people will greet you there. And the memories made with this backdrop will be emblazoned for years to come. Charleston's color is unforgettable.

Accommodations

The Francis Marion Hotel
387 King Street | Charleston, SC 29403
Located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina, was the largest and grandest in the Carolinas when it opened in 1924. Named for General Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox" of the American Revolution, the Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston re-opened in 1996 after a $12 million National Trust award-winning restoration, and is once again Charleston's Grand Hotel. It is a non-smoking facility.*
Check out their website at www.francismarionhotel.com

This Year's Rates

The hotel will offer the following guaranteed room rates for June 2010:

$155.00 single/double

Room rates do not include state and local taxes.
A destination fee of $1 per room night will be applied to each guest folio and subject to sales tax.
These rates will apply 3 days before and 3 days after the official dates of the meeting, based on availability.

To make reservations for individual or multiple rooms by phone
call: 843-722-0600 or 1-877-756-2121.

Please request the group rate for Grants Management Systems or GMS. All reservations must be guaranteed and accompanied by a first night room deposit or guaranteed with a major credit card. A confirmation number can be attained.

YOU MUST HAVE YOUR HOTEL RESERVATIONS IN BY MAY 28, 2010 TO RECEIVE THE DESIGNATED RATES.

Reservation requests after the due date will be accepted on a space available basis at the group rate –
but there is no guarantee of availability. Please make reservations early!

Self parking and valet will be available at the hotel at the current prevailing rate. Check in is at 4 p.m./Check out is at noon.