Caribe Royale Orlando is a fabulous place to experience the Orlando magic. Courtesy Photo

The breathtaking beaches, warm sunshine, electric urban venues and amazing amusement parks. Is there any question as to why meeting professionals gravitate to the Sunshine State for meetings and events? The answer is simple: being under the Florida sun just sounds like fun.

Jamie Nance agrees. As meeting planner and executive coordinator at Acorn Growth Companies in Oklahoma City, OK, she recently helped plan the company’s corporate retreat, with several corporate meetings and events at Trump International Beach Resort in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida.

Miami

Every year, Acorn Growth Companies holds its corporate retreat as a way to show its appreciation to its team and their spouses. The company’s CEO picks the destination and he chose Miami for this year’s retreat. In years past, the corporate group has traveled to Mexico; Scottsdale, AZ; and Las Vegas, Nevada.

For the Acorn Growth Companies, it was important to choose a hotel that had plenty of activities on site, multiple restaurants, a spa, as well as a variety of meeting rooms. Trump International Beach Resort offered that and more.

The company’s largest event was held in Trump International Beach Resort’s Ocean Ballroom, complete with a surf & turf buffet and open bar. “The event was in the evening, and we had entertainment coordinated by Destination S. Florida/USA,” said Nance. “The entertainment included dancers, a DJ and music. We also had a dance floor, which came in handy. During the event, we also had a slideshow in the background.”

To scout the scene, Nance came to Miami three months prior to their retreat to tour multiple properties before making their decision. The Trump International Beach Resort had everything they were looking for, plus they were able to beat every other hotel’s pricing. “The City of Miami was welcoming and gorgeous. You cannot beat the Florida weather in February!” Nance said.

From her meeting planning experience, Nance recommended corporate planners take the time to tour hotels and meet with each venue’s event staff to ensure that they are partnering with the right property for their event.

“Think about the main focus for your event’s attendees and keep that the center of your event,” she said.

Trump International Beach Resort. Courtesy Photo

Another location that is known for high-end accommodations is The Trump National Doral in Miami. The property is sought after for its four uniquely designed golf courses. The LIV Golf Miami Team Championship just moved there. The property has 100,000 of meeting space, including the 24,000 sf Donald J. Trump Grand Ballroom.

For decades, Greater Miami and Miami Beach have proven to be the perfect destinations for corporate meetings and events. Miami is a top-notch destination with easy accessibility thanks to Miami International Airport’s 400+ daily flights and ACI World Health Accreditation. Additionally, the destination boasts flexible meeting spaces, has many opportunities for exciting outdoor exploration and provides a diverse array of hotels for all budgets.

After a $620 million investment, the Miami Beach Convention Center now offers innovative, state-of-the-art spaces for exceptional conventions, meetings and events. It exudes Miami Beach’s vibrant energy and is surrounded by various accommodations. Additionally, a new Grand Hyatt Miami Beach Hotel & Convention Center is in development, offering resort-style amenities to attendees.

Not far away, the Miami Convention Center boasts three theater-style venues with 5,000 seats, along with 28,000 sf of exhibition and banquet space, complemented by 17 meeting rooms. The Miami Airport Convention Center also offers convenient meeting spaces and easy access to the Miami International Airport.

Orlando

According to Emily Dunn, senior campaigns and events specialist at SAS, a data analytics company based in Cary, NC, the global events team at SAS recently worked with Hello! DMC to orchestrate SAS Innovate, the company’s flagship, in-person analytics and AI event for business leaders, innovators and industry trailblazers in Orlando. This three-day event featured inspiring keynotes, breakout sessions and roundtable discussions on the latest trends and technologies driving business forward.

SAS Innovate was built around the business audience, including executives, decision makers, line of business managers and business professionals. The content that SAS shared at Innovate was high level and focused on how analytics and AI can be used to help businesses thrive in times of uncertainty.

The company had an international audience and all of its key industries were represented, including banking, life sciences, insurance, retail, healthcare and public sector. Accessibility was key to SAS in choosing Florida for this event for its proximity to the company’s headquarters in North Carolina and easy connections for attendees from all over the world.

“Florida offers so many options for attendees to extend their business travel into personal vacations,” Dunn said. “We know ‘bleisure’ is a trend in the industry. Attendees no longer want to travel solely for work, they want to integrate fun into that time too. Orlando is a great destination to accomplish that with all the theme parks and golf courses nearby.”

Orlando has long been considered the number one meetings destination and most visited destination in the U.S. Its prime location, state-of-the art convention center, new luxury resorts, Michelin-recognized dining and world-class attractions are some of the main reasons.

One of the most anticipated new hotels in the city, Conrad Orlando, is set to open the end of the year. It will have more than 65,000 sf of space for corporate meetings and events. It will also be part of the 1,100-acre Evermore Orlando Resort, which offers an array of stay experiences from single homes to villas, flats and hotel guest rooms. Attendees can take advantage of the amenities in both locations, including several dining locations, a tropical beach, a lagoon and an aquatic adventure area.

For corporate meeting planners looking to uncover a Floridian escape where the sun is warm and the welcomes are even warmer, The Caribe Royale Orlando is another great choice. The resort completed a $125 million renovation, including a new lobby with an expansive skylight and a new 50,000 sf grand ballroom. The property now has 220,000 sf of total meeting space.

For a luxury experience that includes a breathtaking golf and spa resort surrounded by the Walt Disney World Resort, sophisticated meetings await at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. It unveiled a new ballroom, which offers expansive pre-function space as well as an inviting covered outdoor patio — the ideal space to enjoy Orlando’s beautiful weather, while getting down to business.

Fort Myers

Fort Myers’ islands, year-round warm weather and white-sand beaches make for a great corporate meeting destination that attracts the maximum attendance to corporate meetings and events.

The city has embraced this year with a spirit of appreciation and tenacity as Fort Myers’ islands, beaches and neighborhoods remain strong in the region’s recovery from last year’s Hurricane Ian, which had far-reaching effects on its barrier island communities.

Many of the inland and waterfront areas were less affected by the storm. In fact, most businesses in downtown Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs and other neighborhoods are up and running, including the majority of the largest meeting hotels and resorts. Attractions, restaurants, parks and most of the beaches have reopened.

This makes the Fort Myers area a great draw for the popular blended travel opportunities. Meeting attendees want to make the most of their time when they travel, whether it be adding a leisure weekend onto their business trip or enjoying unique local experiences during the evenings after the meetings have concluded.

Gina Zappa, corporate meeting planner at Direct Travel, in Centennial, CO, recently planned a regional corporate meeting and team building event for the company in Bonita Springs, at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort, with 45 attendees staying onsite at the property.

“Southwest Florida is the perfect destination for our internal meetings, for a number of reasons. There are plenty of airlines offering short, convenient, non-stop flight service from the cities where most of our attendees fly from,” Zappa said. “Our event is always well attended, since it is in a beautiful area with perfect weather. The attendees are happy to depart the Midwest for a warm, sunny destination. Additionally, we wanted to continue to support the region, after the destruction from Hurricane Ian.”

Direct Travel is in the process of planning its third repeat corporate trip there at the end of this year. In partnership with the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, Zappa has stayed on top of the reconstruction efforts, so she knows what venues are open for off-site events, restaurant recommendations and attendee engagement.

“The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort is beautiful and continues to meet our meeting and event needs,” she said.

What’s more, a lot of meeting planners try to incorporate a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project into their agenda. Since the hurricane, volunteer opportunities around beach cleanup and restoration are very popular among
corporate meeting attendees.

Tampa Bay

Whether meeting attendees are outdoor adventure seekers, foodies, theme park junkies or sports enthusiasts, one of Florida’s most exciting destinations — Tampa Bay — has something for attendees of all ages.

Located in the heart of the city, the Tampa International Airport (TPA) is within close proximity to the downtown area and nearby attractions. TPA provides a significant quantity of non-stop flights to Tampa and they are very affordable. Recently, TPA underwent a major expansion of its main terminal and added a new rental-car facility. Phase two of its expansion includes new curbside express lanes, an atrium, a new pedestrian bridge and a 170-acre commercial development with two new hotels, all of which streamlines the travel process for meeting and event attendees.

Likewise, the Tampa Convention Center, in its beautiful waterfront location, showcases natural light, a stacked center design providing the ease of navigating the 600,000 sf of meeting and convention facility. The Tampa Convention Center is expanding the meeting space with its $38 million capital improvement plan. This innovative renovation project plans to improve customer service, increase efficiency and cost savings. Scheduled to be completed later this year, the addition will include renovated meeting rooms and new waterfront meeting rooms.

St. Pete/Clearwater

Located in the Tampa Bay area, St. Pete/Clearwater is home to more than 35 miles of white sand, award-winning beaches, warm Gulf waters and a world-class arts scene, alive with possibilities for off-site events and incentives.

The cities have boasted an influx of new mid-to-high end and luxury properties over the recent years, offering unparalleled hotel/resort options, Gulf-to-grill cafes, eclectic nightlife and unique beach communities — something for every corporate meeting attendee.

The Palm Beaches

Sun. Sand. Sea. The beautiful Palm Beaches is the perfect place to go and experience the top beaches in South Florida. From boating and other water sports, to high-end restaurants and art museums, there is plenty to explore off-site.

The Palm Beach Convention Center is a hub for events of all kinds, set right near Rosemary Square, a shopping and dining destination, which features 350,000 sf of meeting space. Large events can fit easily within their 100,000 sf exhibit hall. They also boast a 22,000 sf ballroom and 21,000 sf of flexible breakout space, which can be divided into 19 rooms.

There are 1,200 guest rooms within walking distance of The Palm Beach Convention Center, including at the AAA Four-Diamond Hilton West Palm Beach, which is attached to it. The hotel has an additional 29,000 sf of space available and it is currently undergoing a $25 million renovation with refreshed guest rooms, enhanced dining, a reimagined pool deck, a new lobby bar and more.

Last year, PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, underwent a $100 million resort-wide renovation, including luxurious accommodations, all-new restaurants, legendary golf, world-class fitness facilities, a renowned spa, exceptional activities and attractions, and a distinctive selection of venues — including an array of outdoor options.

PGA National Resort and Spa offers a variety of event spaces ranging in size from 180 sf to almost 10,000 sf. With that variety and flexibility, they can accommodate groups from 10 to almost 1,200, depending on the company’s preferred layout and setup.

For a fun, group activity, the new Luxury Catamaran Cruise, hosted by Visit Palm Beach, is an unforgettable open ocean cruise — perfect for a sunset cruise, sightseeing, snorkeling or fishing.  For attendees looking for a fun and educational activity on the property, they can sign up for an interactive beekeeping experience, led by PGA National Resort’s beekeeper. Following the experience, attendees can see the honey in action throughout the resort in treatments at The Spa, and in drinks and culinary creations at the resort’s celebrity chef-helmed restaurants.

Jacksonville

Known as the “River City by the Sea,” Jacksonville offers a bit of everything at some of the most affordable prices in the state. Whether planners are looking for an unforgettable meeting experience at a boutique venue on their white-sand beaches or a large convention space amid world-class museums, Jacksonville offers different options. From unique dining destinations to a variety of nightlife, it is easy to meet for bleisure in this dynamic city.

Traveling to Jacksonville is convenient, whether flying or driving. Jacksonville International Airport offers non-stop flights to more than 30 cities, and two major highways intersect there: I-10 and I-95.

The city features more than 18,000 guest rooms for attendees and plenty of offsite venues. Large meetings may find a home at the renovated Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, which features 78,000 sf of meeting space, which can be broken into two separate halls.

Naturally, meeting and event planners love Florida for its warm, sunny weather. The beaches, views and sites. The celebrity chef-helmed restaurants, amusement parks and award-winning venues with a flawless level of personal service create unforgettable memories for meeting and event planners and their attendees alike. But at the end of the day, planners want one thing: to engage and inspire their attendees. And the best place to be is under the Florida sun. C&IT