The staff at the Greater Richmond Convention Center is committed to providing excellent customer service to all planners, exhibitors, and attendees. Below are some frequently asked questions about the facility and planning an event.
For more information, please call (804) 783-7300.
Please direct all event inquiries to the Sales Department at (804) 783-7334 or submit a request for information.
If you need assistance with hotel accommodations, dining or attraction options, customized tours or planning itineraries, we’ll be happy to refer you to the appropriate account executive at Richmond Region Tourism.
To schedule a tour of the GRCC, please contact your Sales Manager or call 804-783-7334. Appointments for tours must be scheduled in advance. Tours are generally available Monday through Friday, 8:30am - 5:30pm, except during event activity within the facility.
Food and beverage services are provided exclusively by Aramark. Please contact the Sales Department at (804) 783-7303.
Aramark is the exclusive caterer for the Greater Richmond Convention Center. No outside food or beverage items are allowed in the GRCC without Aramark’s approval. All food must be purchased on-site through the Aramark Catering Sales Department. Special circumstances such as cultural weddings and ethnic events may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
PSAV is the GRCC's preferred audiovisual provider and the exclusive rigging provider. Please contact the PSAV Event Technology Department at (804) 783-7323.
Your initial contact at the GRCC will be a Sales Manager. Your Sales Manager will initially work with you on identifying meeting spaces, date availability, and issuing a contract. Once a contract has been executed and your event is definite on our calendar, you will be assigned an Event Manager.
An Event Manager will be assigned to you as your main liaison with GRCC staff and service providers. The primary responsibility of your Event Manager is to gather and communicate your event information to various in-house operating departments; make sure your event is in compliance with the facility’s rules and regulations; and help your event run safely and smoothly. Your Event Manager will be with you leading up to, during, and after the event to help make sure your event is a complete success.
Yes, your Event Manager will create scaled floor plans that show the layout of your meeting space. Some events held in the Exhibit Hall will require a floor plan that must be submitted for approval by building staff to the Richmond Fire Department.
Every event is different; your Event Manager will provide you with an itemized estimate based on your event’s specific needs. Some of the following charges may apply: electrical, audiovisual, catering, insurance, cleaning services, event staffing, internet, and/or equipment.
For more information, please visit the GRCC Labor, Services, Fees and Equipment Sheet.
The Greater Richmond Convention Center does not operate a shipping and receiving department. We will accept limited deliveries on a case-by-case basis. These shipments must be coordinated with your Event Manager. Additional fees may apply for receiving shipments. All convention, trade show, and consumer show shipping must be coordinated through the show’s decorator.
No, the GRCC does not have any contractual relationships with any unions. Show staff may load/unload and operate their own equipment and set-up/tear down their own booth equipment per regulations established by the show organizer.
Rigging at the GRCC is an exclusive service provided by PSAV. For more information, click here.
The GRCC has a limited number of small flatbed carts available on a first-come, first-served basis. Carts may be checked out from the main security base with a valid drivers’ license to be held while the cart is in use. Availability is not guaranteed. We encourage you to bring your own cart or check with your show decorator regarding these services.
A standard set-up of your room — configured as theater, classroom, rounds, or boardroom style — including tables, chairs, a podium, and two skirted tables for registration, are included in your license fee. Contact your Event or Sales Manager for details.
Yes. For more information, please contact the Sales Department at (804) 783-7334 or submit a request for information.
Click here to visit the Utilities page. For questions, please send an e-mail to utilityservices@greaterrichmondcc.com.
Electric is not included in your booth unless arranged by show management. You may order electric and utility services online here.
Yes. Please visit the GRCC Exhibitor Services Desk during load-in. Ordering electricity on-site is subject to floor rates; for advance rates, please order electricity online here at least 14 days before load-in.
The GRCC is the exclusive provider of utility services in the GRCC. Electrical, water, drain and compressed air services can be ordered here. You may bring an extension cord or power strip as long as it meets the standards of the building and does not pose a safety hazard. Click here to visit the Utilities page for more details.
Power normally is ready the first day of move-in for exhibitors with advance orders. Orders placed on-site will be connected on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Greater Richmond Convention Center does not operate a shipping and receiving department. All convention, trade show, and consumer show shipping must be coordinated through show management and/or the show's decorator.
The GRCC does not serve as the decorator for trade shows, conventions or consumer shows. Rental items for your booth should be secured through your show decorator as required by the show organizer. Please contact show management directly for more information.
Food and beverage sampling is permitted in the GRCC under certain conditions and with the approval of Aramark, the GRCC’s exclusive food and beverages service provider. Click here to view Aramark’s sampling policy. Contact an Aramark sales representative for details.
Aramark is the exclusive food and beverages servicer provider for the GRCC. No food or beverages are allowed into the facility without Aramark's approval. Click here for more information on the facility’s dining options or contact an Aramark sales representative to inquire about options for delivery of food and beverages to locations inside the GRCC.
The GRCC offers basic complimentary Wi-Fi in the public spaces of the convention center. The network is "GRCC_PUBLIC_FREE" and only requires a valid email address for access.
Wireless service in event spaces can be provided at the GRCC’s prevailing rates found here. The GRCC also offers dedicated bandwidth segments and wired services.
The GRCC also provides networking options through its Event Services Department. Please contact IT Manager Everette Lively at (804) 783-7320 or elively@greaterrichmondcc.com for more information.
Internet and telephone services can be ordered here.
Please contact IT Manager Everette Lively at (804) 783-7320 or elively@greaterrichmondcc.com for more information.
Loading can be done from either the Exhibit Hall or Ballroom Loading Docks, depending on the location of your event. In order to accommodate all vendors, loading and unloading of personal vehicles is limited to 15 minutes and other regulations as instituted by show management. For certain shows, an alternate loading zone may be utilized. Please contact your show manager for more details.
Once your vehicle has been unloaded, you should park it in an area lot or deck. See Directions and Parking for more details. In some instances, parking in the Exhibit Hall Loading Dock is permitted for a fee; please visit the GRCC Exhibitor Services Desk for more information.
The GRCC has two gated loading docks: one in the Exhibit Hall Pavilion and one in the Ballroom Pavilion. The Exhibit Hall Loading Dock has 16 loading bays with lights and two ramps. The Ballroom Loading Dock has four covered loading bays. For freight restrictions, scheduling, and move in/move out procedures, please contact the show manager.
See Directions and Parking for directions to the Exhibit Hall & Ballroom Loading Docks.
See Floor Plans for more details.
The GRCC operates a 410-space parking deck connected directly to the facility at the corner of 3rd Street and Marshall Street.
A 1,000-space parking deck owned by the City of Richmond at the corner of Fifth Street and Marshall Street is connected directly to the GRCC and the Richmond Marriott. Several other public parking facilities and on-street parking are located within walking distance.
Visit the Directions and Parking page for more details.
City of Richmond emergency service personnel may be hired through your Event Manager and may be required in some cases. Please contact your Event Manager to discuss your event staffing and security needs.
A professional in-house security team provides 24-hour general facility coverage of the GRCC. In-house security is not responsible for goods and property within event spaces. Licensee is responsible for contracting for event staff and security, through your Event Manager, for the event areas from the time of initial occupancy until completion of move-out.
Show organizers are encouraged to consider a police presence at events. For more details, visit Safety and Security or contact your Event Manager.
The GRCC has a “Walker’s Paradise” score of 96/100. In the heart of downtown Richmond, the GRCC is within walking distance to nationally recognized restaurants, major hotels and boutique accommodations, performing arts, cultural centers, and unique shops.
Visit our Sponsors page for information on local restaurant options.
The Richmond Marriott and Hilton Richmond Downtown are located adjacent to the GRCC on Broad Street. Other nearby accommodations include the Jefferson Hotel, Quirk Hotel, Linden Row Inn, Omni Richmond, Crowne Plaza, Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn, Homewood Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, Holiday Inn Express, the Berkeley Hotel, and the Commonwealth.
Yes, there are several bike racks located around the GRCC. Bikes are not permitted inside the GRCC.
The Richmond International Airport is less than 10 miles from the GRCC, about a 15-minute car ride.
Other airports include the following:
Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, 59 miles to the east
Charlottesville/Albemarle Airport, 69 miles to the west
Norfolk International Airport, 81 miles to the east
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, 93 miles to the north near downtown Washington, D.C.
Dulles International Airport, 97 miles to the north adjacent to the Washington, D.C., metro area
The GRCC is located adjacent to Broad Street, which is on the Greater Richmond Transit bus route.
The GRTC Pulse is a high-capacity rapid transit system that serves a 7.6 mile route along Broad Street and Main Street, from Rocketts Landing in the City of Richmond to Willow Lawn in Henrico County. Two Pulse stops serve the GRCC: eastbound at 5th and Broad Streets, and westbound at 3rd and Broad Streets.
The Richmond region is also served by two Amtrak train stations: Main Street Station located in downtown Richmond and Staples Mill Station, a 14-minute car ride away.
Several area taxi companies as well as Uber and Lyft operate 24 hours a day.
Richmond features a popular bike share program with stations near the convention center.
Weapons are prohibited in the licensed areas of the GRCC in most cases. Some exceptions include firearms carried by law enforcement in the performance of their duties, and items displayed as part of an exhibit. Open carry and concealed carry of firearms are permitted in public spaces as provided for under Virginia law. See the Event Handbook for more information.
The VCU Health Lactation Lounge is located on Level 1 of the Ballroom Building near Meeting Room B15c. The GRCC is the only convention center in the Commonwealth of Virginia to offer a permanent lactation lounge for guests. The lounge is sponsored by VCU Health as part of its commitment to supporting mothers who want to breastfeed their babies.
Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis; they may not be taken out of the building. Visitors will be asked to leave an ID at the security desk while using the wheelchair. Please inquire at the main entrance at the corner of 3rd Street and Marshall Street, or ask a staff member upon arrival.
ATMs are available in several locations throughout the facility and are marked on the floorplans.
In general, animals are not permitted inside the GRCC except for the following instances:
All sanitary needs for animals are the responsibility of the handler, and the animal must remain in the control of the handler at all times
For more information on these and other circumstances, see the Event Handbook or contact your event manager.
Yes, the Greater Richmond Convention Center is a certified Virginia Green facility. Single-stream recycling containers are available to all attendees in the public spaces. If additional recycling methods are requested, we can work with you to explore available options. Visit our Green Initiatives page for more information.
For most events at the GRCC, the follwing entrances will be open prior to and during events:
Other entrance doors will be open based on event location and activity.
Events with advance ticket sales are handled exclusively by show management. On-site ticket sales are typically managed by the GRCC and a box office is set near the event entrance.
Please check our calendar of events for show-specific information.
