< Previousended. A healthy, working environment coupled with a strategic boots-on-the- ground ally is the reason why ETHOS has seen success in other cities. Now, they are using the same model in Savan- nah, and are already experiencing a great response from local tourism experts. A CITY’S EVOLUTION Ryan Thompson, director of sales & marketing for The Alida, points out the evolution of tourism in Savannah over the last 20 years. “Having worked in the hospitality industry for 20 years, most of which have been in Savannah and the Low Country, I have seen the city’s transformation. From the addi- tion of several luxury properties to the emerging culinary scene, the overall offerings, and quality of those offerings, have increased tremendously.” Thompson says he has seen a shift in both the landscape and the clientele interested in Savannah. “We are seeing an increased demand from finance and insurance groups, and incentive pro- grams who carefully select the destina- tions they visit. Meeting planners for these companies are tasked with deliv- ering to their attendees a truly memo- rable, authentic and flawless experi- ence. With those high expectations, the demand for a partner like ETHOS exists, because they truly understand the needs of these clients.” Thompson’s experience with ETHOS is that they completely immerse themselves to develop relationships with local businesses to generate unforgettable experiences for visitors so they fall in love with Savannah and return for another taste in the future. He points out that ETHOS brings the experience, talent, creativity, knowledge and attention to detail to ensure that these visitors receive an authentic, world-class experience through every aspect of their time. Tressa Wright, Perry Lane Hotel director of sales & marketing, says ETHOS brings a much-needed level of expertise to Savannah. “It’s important to have a company experiential coor- dinator assigned to meeting and incen- tive groups, because they help align all of the various aspects to an event to ensure the décor, food, drinks and staff support the vision, story and brand.” ETHOS’ Savannah office, like other new office start ups during COVID-19, decided it would be best to ride out the storm during the pandemic before holding a grand opening. Having hoped to open in 2020, the launch at the JW Marriott demonstrated a further need of the VIP services of ETHOS. Fijol knew that he would want to be a part of the downtown community by virtue of a downtown office location. This is the heart of the walking city, where tourism registers its highest foot traffic. One of the details ETHOS consid- ers when designing event incentive packages for corporations is whether or not participants will have a car or be shuttled to and from the airport. Ride- sharing services are accustomed to transporting event attendees and locals who choose not to walk, although this compact city is eminently walkable, which makes for a unique offering from a group perspective. The walkability to off-site events and activities with- out requiring a vehicle, or the option to ferry across the Savannah River, helps make Savannah popular from a group perspective. Some local things to do include chasing down The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra in Forsythe Park, or taking a Savannah riverboat cruise on either the Georgia Queen or Savannah River Queen. Not only is the city a popular site for film production, but also the decadent food of Savannah is an attrac- tion in and of itself. However, the walk- ability of Savannah makes it a place that will combat all the caloric extravagance. Here, the senses will experience more than they can consume, even when food is not involved. Often rain can ruin beach and golf excursions, leaving a visitor with no other options for enter- tainment, but Savannah offers more indoor activities than can possibly be experienced in one event week. Antique shopping, military museums or taking in a show at the Lucas Theatre for the Arts are just a few rainy-day options. The impressive Savannah River is home to the Port of Savannah, and Photo by Adam Kuehl The Savannah Convention Center offers 330,000 sf of meeting space, which allows the city to handle larger events. 28 June/July 2022 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com Throughout the year, each one of our team members will be involved with [a] particular project in some capacity. MAURA O’DONNELL Business Development Expert ETHOS Event Collectivewatching ship traffic is both breathtak- ing and surreal for tourists and locals who are out enjoying the Savannah Historic River Street trail, where the JW Marriott is also connected to what is known as the Three Muses building. The Three Muses, which offers Euro- pean-inspired decor and art, stands as one of the most luxurious accommoda- tions in Savannah and connects to the Plant Riverside District. PLANNED GROWTH Notably, corporate and incen- tive groups registering more than 100 attendees have the Savannah Con- vention Center as an option. While medium to larger events could consider being scheduled at venues such as the Hyatt Regency Savannah or The Wes- tin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, the convention center offers 330,000 sf of meeting space. Situated alongside the Savannah River, just across from the historic district, the Savannah-Georgia Convention Center Authority has cast the vision to be the premier event destination for larger groups, deliver- ing exceptional service while creating memorable experiences. This mission, scheduled to be completed by 2024, will position the already-attractive convention center as the event venue of choice for large groups. The conven- tion center is doubling the square foot- age of the current footprint, as well as constructing a state-of-the-art aircraft hangar for VIP traffic. This expansion will be invaluable to Savannah as a whole; however, Fijol makes clear what he has noticed when he stated that larger events are not recently the most sought after following the lockdowns during the pandemic. Savannah, luckily, was able to continue operating with social distancing due to the amount of outdoor space avail- able in the 22 town squares with shade cover. Today, the nature-friendly city is still hosting events as the drive for spe- cialty experiences is stronger than ever. Trending currently is the desire for a more tailor-made experience geared toward an exclusive crowd of top pro- ducers and C-suite executives. ETHOS has a finger on the pulse of the post- COVID revitalization by use of artis- tic expression and strategic thinking. ETHOS experts are skilled at provid- ing appropriate options, then executing every detail with planners and vendors. The outdoorsy design of Savan- nah’s urban forest continues to pres- ent nature’s resplendent shelters of pleasant social distancing while reviv- ing humanity. ETHOS is known for delighting participants with something like the unpredictable Pink Lady, none other than one of the signature cock- tails of the iconic restaurant and plant- ers tavern The Olde Pink House. The creative team has studied reactions of anyone who has ever imbibed of her charm, and they like what they see. Spirited and vibrant, Savannah is a place that still offers coffee in fine china along with social graces. Savannah is a city of rooftops, a city of churches, a city of artists, a city of manners and a city of mixology, where holding hands, going on picnics, hearing quality jazz, visiting one of her 22 squares or making a visit to City Market is the perfect out- ing to inspire creativity. ETHOS places emphasis on using these attributes to curate unique and memorable experi- ences for groups in a city with ease of travel and logistics, while seeking out added value, availability and mobility of orchestrating weekday events. The only difficulty to be found in planning an event in Savannah is that time will always be too short, sights will be too many to conquer in one trip and the food will be more opulent than pre- viously thought possible. There are a couple of caveats to this terrible conun- drum of not being able to absorb the seemingly infinite amount of art, his- tory, beauty and cuisine: Meeting and incentive attendees will always leave wanting more of Savannah, and they will certainly leave better than before. This is exactly what ETHOS had hoped for — a perfect place to influence others while sending them home with an out- look primed to innovate the world. For this reason, ETHOS Event Collective is now a Savannah local, too. The belea- guered history of Savannah only served to make her want to be known. She is unforgettable and fair. A bright hope for the world on the heels of disparag- ing days. ETHOS knows Savannah, how to tell her stories, and is ready to make them known. C&IT Courtesy of Joe Fijol Off-site activities can include taking a Savannah riverboat cruise on either the Georgia Queen, pictured, or Savannah River Queen. TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | June/July 2022 29The Colorado Convention Center’s ‘Big Blue Bear’ peeks into the center’s lobby. DESTINATION // Colorado F rom the mountains to the prairies, and from tony ski resorts to laid-back dude ranches, when it comes to hosting meet- ings against a variety of backdrops, Colorado just about has it all. Throw in four distinct seasons, a central location in the center of the country and a roster of meeting hotels ranging from intimate to large-scale, and it’s no won- der the state is a favorite for corporate and incentive meeting planners. For Shelby Tate, senior director of global accounts for Lamont Associates, Colorado is an ideal match for an exec- utive retreat she is organizing this sum- mer for the engineering firm Garver. “The state offers so many truly amazing locations to experience while refresh- ing, reflecting and relaxing,” Tate says. “The group loves the weather, scenery and atmosphere.” Dara Arbuthnot, operations manager at Brownell Travel, worked with her cli- ent, a workman’s comp company based in the Southeast, on a winter incentive trip to Snowmass, Colorado and used the local CVB like an extension of their planning team. “Snowmass has the natural beauty, the outdoor activities; and it’s not just about skiing,” Arbuth- not says. “The food and restaurants are a very big draw, and, even though it’s domestic, it’s a totally different experi- ence than what the group is used to.” And Sylvie Boulanger, event manager at Event Travel Manage- ment (ETM), says downtown Den- ver “checked all the boxes” for a 400-attendee conference she orga- nized last September. “It was a great city and location, with fabulous venues, which really made for a very success- ful event. I would re-create this again for any corporate meeting,” Boulanger says. “Denver also provides low-cost rail access directly from the airport to the host hotels and the Colorado Con- vention Center (CCC).” The icing on the cake for plan- ners this year: Colorado’s Meeting and Events Incentive provides pre-approved applicants with a 10% rebate up to $100,000 against the eligible hard costs of hosting meetings and events that take place through December 31, 2022. Many applications have been approved — including two at the $100,000 level — and millions of dollars are still available in the program. The online application and additional details are available at Destination Colorado’s website. DENVER Boulanger’s group used the CCC for its general session over two days, and she lauded the amount of space the center provided to allow for changing social dis- tancing guidelines and restrictions on the maximum number of attendees in place 30 June/July 2022 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.comduring the pandemic. “Colorado used a color-coded system that was very easy to follow and made it easy for the client and me to comprehend how to conduct the conference,” Boulanger says. “The great news was that we never had to consider changing venues because the general session and F&B space was so large that it would accommodate the meeting either way. This all put our minds at ease, so we didn’t consider relocating or reconsider- ing the event unless necessary.” The CCC provided the group every- thing needed on-site, so there was no need to go outside for options. “Cen- terplate offered delicious food, and was very easy to work with, and the CCC also provided complimentary, profes- sional signage so that the client did not have to buy additional banners and saved on their budget,” Boulanger says. Because downtown Denver was lim- ited on room availability at the time of the conference, the room block was divided between four hotels, all within walking distance of the CCC, Union Station and the Denver rail system. “I noticed a lot of locals in the area as well, so it’s not just for corporate attendees like you might find at other hotels,” Boulanger adds. “There is a unique boutique and neigh- borhood feel in each hotel, which made for a charming atmosphere.” Of the four properties, Boulanger called out The Rally Hotel, located in a new development, McGregor Square, next door to Coors Field. The 182- room hotel opened last year and fea- tures 21,000 sf of private event space, including a 17,000-sf outdoor plaza available for private events. The Rally’s in-building meeting and event space includes the 1,783-sf Wynkoop Ball- rooms. “The conference hosted a group dinner right at Coors Field, followed by The Broadmoor offers more than 315,000 sf of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. A Destination With Activities for All Seasons BY DAVID SWANSON olorado TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | June/July 2022 31a Rockies game,” Boulanger says. “The food, ambiance and the game made for a fun, interactive night out together, and everyone got to feel the vibe of being together once again.” The conference also had a night off where all attendees could make their own dinner plans, and Boulanger notes there were plenty of restaurants to choose from. “It’s a great area to be in, with lots to do within walking distance.” Early last fall, the CCC began con- struction on a 200,000-sf rooftop expan- sion, set to be completed in late 2023. The addition will include an 80,000-sf, col- umn-free ballroom — which will be the largest in Colorado — and will have new pre-function and networking spaces, cutting-edge technology improvements, and a rooftop outdoor terrace with sweeping panoramic views of both the city and Rocky Mountains, all seamlessly integrated with the existing building. Also early last fall, the Sheraton Den- ver Downtown Hotel unveiled its two- year, $80 million renovation as part of the Sheraton brand’s transformation of its guest experience. The new approach for Sheraton creates an intuitive and holistic experience with places to connect, be productive and be inspired. Long a familiar anchor to Denver’s iconic 16th Street Mall, the Sheraton Denver Downtown features a new arrival experience, 133,000 sf of renovated meeting space, 1,238 newly redesigned guest rooms and 138 suites, as well as new culinary and beverage offerings. SNOWMASS For her workman’s comp client, Arbuthnot says Snowmass was the pick for a winter incentive trip, a choice driven by the client’s attendees. One of four mountains that make up Aspen, Snowmass is home to some of the best ski and snowboard terrain in North America. The town has more than 70,000 sf of flexible conference facili- ties, and guests can be accommodated in one or more of the 32 lodges, the larg- est of which is the Viceroy Snowmass. The Viceroy Snowmass has 163 residen- tially appointed units, ranging from stu- dios to four-bedroom with full kitchen. The property includes a total of 11,000 sf of meeting space, including a 5,600-sf Grand Ballroom offering alpine views. Arbuthnot says the Viceroy was selected for the event for several reasons: “It’s a new location for the group, and within walking distance into the village and all its amenities. The Viceroy’s room product was very important — there’s a fireplace in every room. It’s an all-king property, so it lends itself to couples, but families will be OK because they have pullout sofas. And they have a phenom- enal spa.” Arbuthnot adds, “It’s a ski-in, ski-out resort, and there’s a full outfit- ter right there. Four Mountain Sports is one of the local ski companies, and they had everything from lift tickets to rental equipment right there at the hotel.” For the non-skiers, dog sledding and snowmobiling could be facilitated, along with tickets for the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, which takes riders on an elevated track through the forest at speeds of up to 28 mph. Meals and other events were handled as a group. Arbuthnot applauds the members of the Viceroy team. “We had a lot of changes during the planning,” Arbuth- not says, mostly related to the pan- demic. “It felt like they were an exten- sion of our team and had all our best interests in mind, all the way through the event. The environment of travel that we’re in meant we asked a lot of questions. We had a lot of contact with both the destination and resort ahead of time, and that really helped.” Most of the attendees were origi- nating from secondary airports in the Southeast, necessitating connecting flights. “Everyone had at least one con- nection,” Arbuthnot says. “It might seem obvious, but in winter there can be weather delays, and if there are delays, there’s not a whole lot of airlift. We were tracking the weather, and on our depar- ture day, almost all flights got canceled. But we had a back-up plan ready, and bused them down to Denver, where they could overnight and fly out the next day.” BEAVER CREEK For an annual board meeting and vendor retreat, Dan Jablan, president- owner of Cherry Point Strategies, also chose one of Colorado’s mountain resorts for a getaway, this one taking place late last summer. “The Colorado Courtesy of Coors Field Meeting attendees in Denver can visit Coors Field and take in a Colorado Rockies Major League Baseball game. 32 June/July 2022 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com SO MANY WAYS TO MEET, ALL IN ONE MAGNIFICENT PLACE. SYLVIE BOULANGER Event Manager Event Travel Management (ETM) ... We never had to consider changing venues because the general session and F&B space was so large that it would accommodate the meeting either way. SO MANY WAYS TO MEET, ALL IN ONE MAGNIFICENT PLACE.mountains in the summer are an irre- sistible place to meet,” Jablan says. “The beauty of the trees and flowers, coupled with the seasonal weather cannot be beat. Every year, our group of small business owners meet at a Colorado resort location for a retreat and golf out- ing. We looked at many locations across the state, but in the final assessment, the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa was an easy choice for us. It’s centrally located, so all our members could eas- ily drive to the location, and for our out- of-town guests, the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek is only a 90-minute drive from the Denver International Airport.” Located just west of Vail, 110 miles from Denver, the 190-room hotel offers a state-of-the-art conference center and more than 20,000 sf of meeting space, much of it with floor-to-ceiling windows. Jablan notes that the resort’s meeting facilities and A/V were user friendly. “The meeting room was the perfect size, and the catering for the meeting was without question first class. We used multiple venues and needed signage, and the hotel was very accom- modating with our signage needs.” The gathering was originally scheduled to take place in summer 2020, but the pandemic caused Cherry Point to cancel. “I found the Park Hyatt very easy to work with in the process and rescheduling of our annual retreat,” Jablan says. “Although there were a lot of changes and complications, they rose to the occasion and helped us create a first- class event. The thing that most stood out to me was the hotel’s professional team. In particular, I would recognize our on-site meeting coordinator for her work on our event. She stayed through the night, well past when she was scheduled to go home. Her professionalism and work ethic helped make our event a huge success.” Jablan adds, “I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the golf pro at the Beaver Creek Country Club. His help organizing our 18 vendors and golfers was nothing short of miracle work. Based on his work, I cannot recommend the course enough. The Park Hyatt Beaver Creek delivered a great product for us at a cost that was reasonable for the high quality of their hotel.” COLORADO SPRINGS The event Tate is organizing for the engineering firm Garver is an executive retreat to be held at the 116-room Gar- den of the Gods Resort and Club. The Colorado Springs hotel, located next to the Garden of the Gods National Land- mark, celebrated its 70th anniversary last year. “The resort’s scenic views and easy access to the city are a definite plus,” Tate says. “But the location also allows our group to feel secluded and safe while enjoying activities. Com- mercial airlift into Colorado Springs is easy, but the availability of multiple private aircraft options also played a key role in the choice.” Tate continues: “It had been a while since I visited, and I appreciated Visit Colorado Springs providing all the latest updates on the destination, venues and surrounding areas. There have been no unexpected challenges in the planning process. When you choose a city that is known for hospitality and culture, you cannot go wrong. The location and quality of our chosen venue compared to other cities offered significant return on investment and unmatched options for the activities we wanted to pursue.” Replete with a full-service spa and 27-hole championship golf course, Gar- den of the Gods Resort has seven flex- ible function rooms, measuring a total of more than 12,000 sf, along with cus- tomizable outdoor space consisting of six terraces and lawn areas, measuring more than 10,000 sf. “The meeting space is flexible and offers a uniquely special space for guests to enjoy such lovely views while meeting,” Tate says. “We are working through all of the options at present, but we’ll have a few outdoor activities, such as hiking, and we fully intend to maximize our access to activi- ties in the Colorado Springs area. There is so much to choose from — breweries, restaurants, outdoor activities, shops.” Another group drawn to Colorado Springs was the property management software provider LCS. Brittany Christerson, COO and conference coordinator, says the company’s event rotates to a different U.S. destination each year. “We want to easily accommodate our customers from all 50 states and provide a fresh experience to returning attendees,” Christerson says. “Colorado was our top choice for November 2021 — we’d never held our User Conference there, and we have a Courtesy of Brittany Christerson Brittany Christerson, COO at software company LCS, says The Broadmoor was ideal for their event. 34 June/July 2022 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com BRITTANY CHRISTERSON COO/Conference Coordinator LCS We were very surprised when our end result was the largest conference attendance to-date.dense customer base across the state. Colorado Springs is easily accessible in terms of travel, and is full of gorgeous scenery and memorable activities we could market to our attendees, such as skiing, Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, Seven Falls, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum — the list goes on.” Christerson notes that initially the company hesitated using the iconic resort The Broadmoor for its event. “The resort is absolutely stunning, a major draw and tourist attraction,” Christerson says. “But we’re a soft- ware company, and we tend to choose locations that feel ‘techy’ and modern. However, once you’re inside the hotel, it only took about 2 seconds to realize that you’re in one of the most incredible places imaginable. We loved the regal feel, the architecture and the unbeliev- able surrounding scenery. The hotel’s history was so riveting that we included it in a scavenger hunt during our Open- ing Reception.” Christerson continues: “When finalizing a location for our conference, we always ask ourselves, if I were attending this event, could I see myself spending five days at this resort? And the answer was a resounding, ‘Yes!’ Our conference is jam-packed with educational sessions and networking events. We liked the thought of pro- viding a relaxing, vacation-like expe- rience for attendees to unwind after a full day of taking in new ... knowledge and industry trends. The pictures of the hotel alone helped us attract a record- breaking number of attendees.” After the pandemic canceled LCS’s 2020 event, Christerson says the com- pany reduced attendance expectations. “In 2019, we were at approximately 950 attendees,” Christerson says. “We were seeing about a 50% reduction in atten- dance from other trade-show related events in our industry. When we first started planning for 2021, our goal was to hit 800 attendees, which we con- sidered a ‘stretch’ goal. We were very surprised when our end result was the largest conference attendance to-date — 1,019 attendees. I think people were ready to get out and experience some sense of normalcy.” A new asset for The Broadmoor is Bartolin Hall, which was completed in 2020 just as the world was shutting down. The venue has 125,000 sf of flex- ible event space, including 93,500 sf of true exhibit space designed specifically for trade shows. Bartolin Hall features polished concrete floors, 32 breakout rooms, 25-foot-high, black-piped ceil- ings and direct connection to the resort’s 60,000-sf ballroom. The introduction of the venue brings the total function space of The Broadmoor to more than 315,000 sf. “Bartolin Hall is spacious and modern,” Christerson says. “We debated whether to use this space for the actual exhibit hall and decided instead to use it for our meals. The space was a little ways from the rest of the ballrooms, so we were concerned that if we put our vendors in this area, we would struggle to push traffic down to their booths. Having meals in this space worked out perfectly because people will always find where the food is being served. We used the private meeting rooms behind Bartolin Hall as reserved spaces for our sales staff and VIP customers.” Christerson notes that, because they utilized all four of the resort’s large ballroom spaces, the confer- ence was very spread out. “It was very important that we were able to utilize 100% of the conference space for our event, which The Broadmoor was able to accommodate,” Christerson says. “But we did have a few attendees who struggled with the walk back and forth in between sessions. If you utilize the entire conference space, make sure you plan enough time in between breakout ses- sions and network- ing events for your staff and attendees to catch their breath. The Broadmoor staff was extremely accom- modating when we needed help, but all the walking back and forth across a very large blueprint tired my staff.” Clear and con- cise signage is a must at The Broadmoor, she adds. Christerson says the entire staff at The Broadmoor was excellent, but particularly points out the A/V team: “The use of The Broadmoor’s A/V and technical equipment was critical to the success of our conference. We are software developers, and we have thousands of customers that depend on us to run their business every single day. It was critical that we not only had stable internet for the conference, but advanced A/V equipment that would allow us to demo our software and all the new features introduced at the event. Overall, we were very happy with the result and with the Broadmoor’s A/V team, who helped us through pro- duction while we were on-site.” “The entire staff at The Broadmoor were overly accommodating and helped us with anything we needed,” Christer- son says. “Everyone just seemed genu- inely happy, even if you were just pass- ing someone in the morning on the way to the convention space.” C&IT Courtesy of Brittany Christerson Christerson says The Broadmoor is “stunning” and “one of the most incredible places imaginable.” TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | June/July 2022 35Santa Rosa Beach / Courtesy of Visit South Walton DESTINATION // F rom the stunning beaches of Miami to the never-ending amusement options in Orlando, to the island experiences of Amelia Island, Florida offers a wealth of options for meetings and events of every kind. South Walton Located along a 26-mile stretch of sugar-white sand beaches and turquoise water on Northwest Florida’s Gulf of Mexico coast, South Walton has wel- comed generations of visitors seeking an upscale and relaxing place to unwind. Imagine planning a meeting steps away from beautiful, award-winning beaches and surrounded by gourmet dining, boutique shopping and 207 holes of championship golf. “Now, imagine that meeting is in a modern facility with pre- mium accommodations and exceptional service,” says Karen Morris, CMP, direc- tor of sales, Walton County Tourism Department/Visit South Walton. As Morris points out, each year meeting planners travel to South Walton’s 16 unique beach neighbor- hoods, which boast more than 15,000 guest rooms and 155,000 sf of meet- ing space — ideal for everything from a 20-person executive retreat to a 1,500-person convention. Thanks to four state parks, the 15,000-acre Point Washington State Forest, 15 rare coastal dune lakes and easy access to the Gulf of Mexico along the area’s stunning beaches, there are plenty of outdoor activities for attend- ees to enjoy in South Walton. What’s new in South Walton? Hotel Effie Sandestin, located at Sandes- tin Golf and Beach Resort, opened its doors early last year, and features the only rooftop pool with lounge and event space on the Emerald Coast. In addition, this luxury hotel features 250 guest rooms with hand-selected furnishings and sophisticated décor. “A bright and airy meeting space, chef- curated dining and a luxury spa, as well as coastal charm, Southern elegance and exquisite details are sure to leave a lasting impression on your attend- ees,” Morris says. Daytona Beach With new properties and new experiences, plus affordability and accessibility, Daytona Beach is a des- tination that exceeds all expectations for hosting events and conventions. With more than 12,000 guest rooms and 300,000 sf of meeting space in hotels located both on and off the beach, Daytona Beach checks all the boxes in providing a first-class expe- rience. From large meeting spaces, anchored by the premier Ocean Cen- ter convention complex, to flexible and creative venues such as Daytona International Speedway, there’s a space and a place for any group. “Attendees can quickly go from the boardrooms and ballrooms to the beach So Many Amazing Attractions and Adventures Florida BY MAURA KELLER 36 June/July 2022 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com— especially when they’re gathering at the Ocean Center, the fifth-largest convention center in Florida,” says Linda McMahon, director of group sales at the Daytona Beach area CVB. “This world-class venue serves as the area’s convention, entertainment and sports complex just 400 feet from the Atlantic Ocean.” The venue features more than 200,000 sf of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space. It is con- veniently located close to major hotels and popular restaurants, and is just 10 minutes from Daytona Beach Inter- national Airport. No matter where you meet in the Daytona Beach area, you’re always within minutes of adventures. “Attend- ees can walk along 23 miles of white- sand beaches, experience high- speed thrills at Daytona Inter- national Speedway or revel at one of our many famous annual festivals,” McMahon says. Other experiences include climb- ing 203 steps to the top of the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, Flor- ida’s tallest, for a spectacular 360-degree views of the Atlan- tic Ocean, going off-shore for exciting deep-sea fishing, or relaxing while sunset cruising in inland waterways. Many hotels are within walking distance of the Ocean Center, including the new Day- tona Grande Resort — a 27-story, 456-room oceanfront property with Daytona’s only infinity pool, and the 744-room Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, which recently completed a $25 million renovation. Daytona continues to evolve by investing more than $2 billion in ren- ovations and construction — which includes new beachfront hotel devel- opments and major upgrades to attrac- tions and restaurants. McMahon says that among many projects on the hori- zon, planners and attendees can look forward to a new four-star oceanfront hotel — the Renaissance by Marriott Daytona Beach Oceanfront, which is slated to open next year. The Max Beach Resort, which is now booking for summer, will offer spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom, residence- style suites, with an array of lifestyle features and amenities. Other conference hotels include the Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach, which has 200 rooms and offers 20,000 sf of meeting space, and The Daytona, Autograph Collection, located at ONE DAYTONA — the dining, shopping and entertainment destination across from the recently renovated Daytona Inter- national Speedway. Marjaneh Majarwitz, CMP, QAS, president of MarjaNet Inc., recently orchestrated an annual conference in Daytona Beach. The event was held at The Shores Resort & Spa, with overflow at Hard Rock Hotel Daytona. “There are a variety of properties for all types of clients/budgets in Daytona, with ample amenities and attractions — such as the beach, speedway, sightseeing — and ease of access when traveling to and from,” Majarwitz says. “Florida’s weather, beaches, resort amenities and hospitality is what brings guests not only nationwide, but also from all over the world. This is the state that is best known for its attractions, hotels and excursions, and Daytona Beach should always be on a planner’s radar.” Orlando Orlando has shown tremendous growth in the last few years, offer- ing even more reasons for planners to host their next event in the city. In fact, Orlando offers more than 480 hotels and resorts, including more than 150 convention hotel properties featur- ing more than 5.8 million sf of event space, in addition to the area’s award- winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC). “Our destination’s dining scene has also evolved, boasting more than 6,000 restaurants, with new offerings from award-winning local restaurateurs and celebrity chef-driven concepts,” says Casandra Matej, presi- dent and CEO, Visit Orlando. “This year, for the first time, MICHELIN will release a Florida Guide that will include Orlando.” Of course, when it comes to enter- tainment, Orlando is second to none. The destination continues to unveil theme-park expan- sions, thrilling new attractions beyond the parks and a world- class performing arts center. “Our walkable convention dis- trict continues to grow with new thrilling attractions ideal for evening entertainment, as well as access to more than 75 restau- rants, within a 2-mile radius, for a variety of casual and fine din- ing options,” Matej says. Hanna Mantel, meeting planner at Tangerine Meet- ings & Events, has organized a number of events in Orlando, including a national sales meet- ing and an executive retreat — both at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resorts. “I’ve been planning meet- ings and events in Orlando for nearly 25 years now, and this property by far has the best, most consistent staff I’ve ever worked with. They make an effort to get to know you, understand your objectives and find a way to strategi- cally partner with you to manage an incredible event,” Mantel says. When there is as much tough com- petition as there is in Orlando because of the number of hotels, rooms, con- vention and meeting spaces, it is very important to find a hotel that fits. “They will all offer rooms; they’ll all say their meeting space is the best. But who wants to be your partner? Who is vested Courtesy of Visit Tampa Bay Tampa’s walkability is a popular reason many planners choose the city to host their meetings. TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | June/July 2022 37Next >