< Previouswere very accommodating, willing to go above and beyond and were extremely responsive during the planning process.” Bukovac notes that since the pandemic she’s found the planning process can often be challenging because of many properties facing staffing shortages. “But this was a very dif- ferent experience, with the team on top of every little detail.” The group used the hotel space for a welcome recep- tion and the outside terrace for après ski. “It was fabulous,” she adds. “We thought the hotel was perfectly designed, so in our renting of furniture and floral arrangements, we leaned into the existing design. We wanted the open fires for s’mores, the rustic leather couches and the fur rugs of a ski cabin. This hotel was a great location for a planned ski and spa experience.” Bukovac says plan- ners considering Bachelor Gulch should be aware of a couple of things. “In ski season, Eagle County Regional Airport has a broader flight schedule (domestically) than in the off-season. The distance from Denver International Airport is about a 2.5-hour drive, which would take extra planning. And an additional thing to note,” she says, “is the jurisdic- tion between the hotel property and Vail Resorts and ski shops. All are different entities and have different roles, allowances, signage, etc. My suggestion would be to get more clarity early in the planning process.” The town of Aspen needs no introduction. Its repu- tation as an upscale yet approachable destination with a range of resorts and dining, and plenty of activities from indulgent spas to challenging hiking and biking, not to mention skiing, is well known. Among its top meeting resorts is Aspen Meadows, now part of Salamander Hotels & Resorts. It spreads across 40 acres along the Roaring Fork River, creating a sanctuary within Aspen. That’s where a leading tech company held its leadership seminar for a group of 25 in April. Like other companies, this one has made many changes as a result of the pandemic. “We’ve changed a ton,” says Patricia R., chief of staff for the company’s CMO. “We used to get on a plane much more often than we do today. Now we’re back to a hybrid mode, sometimes at the same time — face to face, virtual, all of it. We’re still not fully back to pre-pandemic registration levels, and I don’t think we ever will be. Our events are streamlined now and we’re navigating through that to see what makes sense for each situation.” She says Aspen appealed for many reasons. “Our pre- vious CMO started doing the meeting in Aspen and it’s become a tradition and legacy choice for us. There’s also Aspen’s history, as well as its unique relationship with the Aspen Institute.” Mountain towns can present travel challenges but that’s to be expected. “This time cold and weather conditions made it difficult to arrive on time, which can always be a factor when traveling to Aspen in the winter/spring,” Patricia says. The group chose Aspen Meadows Resort because of its connection to the Aspen Institute. “It’s a beautiful place to be. It allows for reflection. You just relax and feel very grounded when you’re there, and that’s one of the main rea- sons we continue to go back.” The resort’s spaces are a good fit. “Everything worked perfectly. We used a semi- nar room in the Koch Seminar Building, and then came to the resort’s central building (the Walter Isaa- cson Center) for all of our meals,” Patricia says. “The meals were amazing — breakfast and lunch in par- ticular — but we were sur- prised that the food served in the breaks wasn’t super healthy. We changed the offering after the first day, but I would advise plan- ners to pay attention to the options for breaks.” The resort has under- gone a refresh so groups who have met there previously should check it out. “The rooms at the resort have recently been redone, and they’re amazing. It’s a huge difference from previous years,” Patricia adds. Among the resort’s amenities is shuttle service within Aspen. “We use the shuttle a ton; it’s great. They’ll pick you up, and even after dinner, you can go and have a drink in town, like at the J Bar (at the Hotel Jerome) and the resort will have different times to pick you up. We used it a lot since it was cold this last visit.” And, of course, there’s ski- ing. “Some of our attendees came in early and skied,” Patricia notes, “which is a wonderful amenity for this location.” There’s always something to entice attendees back to Aspen, even if they’ve met there multiple times. For Patricia and her group this year, it was a museum. “One of the things we wanted more time for was visiting the museum, the newly opened Bayer Center. It’s right on the resort property.” She encourages those booking Aspen Meadows to include it in their program. “You should definitely make time for the museum and make the visit a part of your program. We went and we all wanted to be there longer but couldn’t because it wasn’t part of the program we’d set up in advance. “ Plains or mountains, urban or rural, large or small, Colo- rado has a perfect spot for every kind of meeting. C&IT Courtesy Photo The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch 50 June/July 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com we'll move mountains for you. eager to experience a james beard award-winning restaurant? Visit Aurora’s dedicated team is here seven days a week to deliver the customized services you need to pull off a seamless event. But that’s just one of the reasons we’re one of Colorado’s premier convention, business, and leisure travel destinations. Let’s start talking today. visitaurora.com/meetings 720-484-8902we'll move mountains for you. eager to experience a james beard award-winning restaurant? Visit Aurora’s dedicated team is here seven days a week to deliver the customized services you need to pull off a seamless event. But that’s just one of the reasons we’re one of Colorado’s premier convention, business, and leisure travel destinations. Let’s start talking today. visitaurora.com/meetings 720-484-8902M eeting planners and vacationers alike are sold on Florida. The num- bers tell the story. The state, which reopened faster than most following the peak of the pandemic, can boast of a booming tourism infra- structure. Last year, a record 137.6 million visitors (domes- tic and international) came to Florida, an increase of 12.9% over the year before. More importantly, 2022 numbers were up about 5% overall since 2019, despite international visitor numbers still being down substantially from pre-pandemic arrivals. Visit Florida reports that room demand for meetings and conventions recovered dramatically last year, rising 76% from the previous year to 27.1 million while revenue more than doubled to $4.5 billion, representing higher revenue than was produced in 2019. Emerging Destinations While some of Florida’s major meeting destinations — Orlando, Miami and Tampa — earn the lion’s share of business, it’s worth shining a light on some of the secondary and emerg- ing locations that meeting planners like to call home. Con- sider Lee County and the greater Fort Myers area. Despite the considerable destruction wrought by Hurricane Ian last Sep- tember, it’s a destination Minnesota-based VerticalXchange, returned to multiple times during the winter of 2022-23. The company, which provides custom matchmaking appointment scheduling to enable one-on-one networking in such indus- tries as agriculture and housing, held five of these events with Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village. LeAnn Koenig Olson, vice president, operations for VerticalXchange, says the company was lucky to have a team member based in the area. She says the greater Fort Myers area has been a staple in the meeting rotation for VerticalXchange since 2014. “We found ourselves comparing Florida, Texas and Arizona loca- tions when picking our event location and decided upon Fort Myers because of The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village. The Westin provides the perfect size venue with the right type of rooms for our unique private meeting format.” VerticalXchange bases its site selection around properties offering specific room types; air accessibility and weather are additional considerations. “The Westin has a large quantity of one-bedroom suites, making it perfect for our breakout space needs. We make double use of the rooms as both meet- ing space and sleeping room, which really gives us more bang for our buck. Also, we’re not breaking up large ballrooms into small sections that are still too big for our breakout sessions. The resort’s size is large enough to accommodate our bigger group that is slightly over 200 but small enough that we are not overrun by other guests or other groups.” For planners seeking more traditional meeting spaces, the Westin Cape Coral Resort offers 29,910 sf of indoor meet- ing space, including the 12,250 sf Tarpon Point Ballroom, plus an open-air rooftop terrace and additional lawn space for groups. The 308-room resort, which occupies a 19-story Florida BY DAVID SWANSON The Sunshine State Offers Something For Everyone Brian Tietz Photography, Inc. / Courtesy of Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods Consider emerging destinations like Fort Myers when thinking about having a meeting or event in Florida. 52 June/July 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com DESTINATION REPORTtower, completed a $15 million renovation two years ago. Although only cosmetic damage was sustained at the resort during the Hurricane Ian last fall, hurricanes were still something that Koenig Olson said they were concerned about. “Given the hurricane at the end of September and our first program scheduled for November, there was a lot of high communication between us and the Westin’s leadership, dis- cussing construction, damage, operations, catering supplies and the reopening,” explains Koenig Olson. One thing we were especially concerned about was consistency of power, as the local grid was still being repaired, but the resort assured us that if the local grid was not stable, they would maintain large generators in order to guarantee power, but luckily the grid was stably restored, and we did not need to utilize back up power sources.” “Once it was safe,” she said she drove around, taking pic- tures, etc. so they had a better idea what to expect. “We also immediately checked in with our transportation provider to make sure their fleet and team were able to service our upcoming group,” she says, adding that most of these attend- ees coming for the meetings were from the Midwest and deal with tornados. “We felt really fortunate that our first programs after the storm were people from the agriculture industry, because out of any of the industries we operate, agriculture is the most impacted by weather pat- terns. These attendees have a natural curiosity and awareness of weather patterns and epi- sodes, and we knew they would be under- standing of minor inconveniences and aes- thetics that were not finished.” Koenig Olson adds: “A lot of the staff at The Westin have been there for many years and that makes going back like visit- ing family. We transitioned to a new confer- ence services manager this year, but they did their homework, learned our programs and took care of all our needs. They understand our program flow and anticipate possible situations that could disrupt that flow — the housekeeping manager adheres to a strict cleaning schedule and makes sure their team does not interfere with the breakouts in guest rooms.” The resort also worked hard to get outdoor spaces back in shape for the November event. “It’s a main attraction for the resort. A sunset dinner overlooking the marina sure beats the four walls of a ballroom.” Jacksonville Melissa DeLeon, president of MTI Events, also needed a specific type of hotel for her client, the Minneapolis-based Tennant Company, manufacturer or industrial and commer- cial cleaning equipment. For its annual sales meeting DeLeon says the com- pany requires a fairly large footprint for its equipment as well as meeting space and breakout rooms. “We do a cost analysis for the client, comparing various locations based on a com- bination of availability, budget and the func- tionality of the hotel,” explains DeLeon, who says she’s been working with Tennant for 25 years. “At the end of the day, the thing that seems to make the difference is the loading dock, so I’ve learned to tell the sales person during Courtesy of LeAnn Koenig Olson Courtesy Photo Vertical Xchange found the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village perfect for their private meeting format. South Walton’s white sand beaches are a top attraction in Florida’s Panhandle. TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | June/July 2023 53 Visit Florida reports that room demand for meetings and conventions recovered dramatically last year.the site visit that we need to start there. We’re unique. Every hotel can say, ‘We can get your cars in,’ but I’m not bringing cars in — we’re bringing in street cleaners, and we have to work with fire marshals for approval. If I can’t get the equip- ment into the hotel, there’s no reason to even continue the site inspection.” After comparing various locations, the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront wound up securing the event, which drew 325 attendees to Florida in February this year. “It met all of Tennant’s requirements,” says DeLeon. “They tend to alternate the geographic location east and west, and it was time for the east coast. Coming out of Covid and with everything going on, Florida was very appealing. They wanted to be able to go outside in February, and it’s almost guaranteed you’re not going to have a weather issue in Florida then.” Attendees were coming in from across the U.S., Canada, Central and South America, so air access was also a factor, and DeLeon notes that airfares were a little higher than normal. “But that’s in line with every destina- tion right now. The fact that Southwest flies to Jacksonville helps hugely in terms of keeping down cost. The airport is great, it’s easy to meet your people and get them to the hotel.” DeLeon worked with closely with Visit Jacksonville. “We don’t always use the CVBs,” explains DeLeon. “Some are a help, some aren’t; Jacksonville was a huge help. They did some banners outside the hotel along the riverfront.” The CVB also helped identify a nonprofit partner to work with. “My client’s motto is to leave a city better than the way they found it, and we worked with Hunger Fight, a local nonprofit that donates meals and books to underprivileged children. Some cities cannot handle 300 people doing something like this. But it was one of the best activities of this type we’ve ever done. Hunger Fight was quick, they were organized, it was motivating, and there was very little hands-on setup by the hotel, my staff or the client. They came to the hotel, set everything up, showed a great video and organized a competition with our sales team. It was fun, fast and furious.” DeLeon is also effusive about the crew working at the 951-room Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. The hotel features 116,000 sf of meeting space including the 27,984 sf Grand Ballroom and 20,000-sf of outdoor deck space over- looking the St. John’s River. “We chose it because of the func- tion space, and the load-in,” notes DeLeon. “They also said we could own the hotel, and most hotels will not allow you to brand it — not without a buyout or a massive financial com- mitment. The Hyatt was very willing to work with us. Also, I strive to match my group size to the hotel — I don’t want to fight over ballroom space, and even though there was another group in house, they were completely set away from us.” “So many hotels are understaffed, struggling,” adds DeLeon. “But from the front desk to housekeeping to ban- quets everyone at the Hyatt Regency pitched in. No one said, ‘that’s not my department.’ It didn’t matter if you were a steward — the GM was down to see us every day, the Kinko’s guy helped with banquets. There was such an incredible syn- ergy there, so it was a feel-good all around.” Courtesy Photo The main ballroom at Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor 54 June/July 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com Create your memorable meeting experience at Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace. As an Official Walt Disney World ® Hotel, attendees enjoy magical perks, in addition to our incredible location that is connected via Skybridge to Disney Springs ® , featuring over 150 shopping, dining and entertainment options. With 120,000 sq. ft. of newly redesigned meeting and event space, combined with our award-winning catering & events team, your next meeting or event will stand out above the rest. SPECIAL TEAM BUILDING EVENT OFFER & GET 5X HILTON HONORS POINTS MEETINGS AWAIT Memorable Offer applicable to meetings contracted by December 31, 2023 and actualized between 2023 and 2024. Applicable to new bookings only. Offer is not retroactive on previously contracted business. Minimum of ten (10) rooms on peak required to qualify. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. Some restrictions apply. 1900 E. Buena Vista Drive Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 | www.buenavistapalace.com (407) 827-2727 | mcobu-salesadm@hilton.com They wanted to be able to go outside in February, and it’s almost guaranteed you’re not going to have a weather issue in Florida then. MELISSA D E LEON President, MTI EventsCreate your memorable meeting experience at Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace. As an Official Walt Disney World ® Hotel, attendees enjoy magical perks, in addition to our incredible location that is connected via Skybridge to Disney Springs ® , featuring over 150 shopping, dining and entertainment options. With 120,000 sq. ft. of newly redesigned meeting and event space, combined with our award-winning catering & events team, your next meeting or event will stand out above the rest. SPECIAL TEAM BUILDING EVENT OFFER & GET 5X HILTON HONORS POINTS MEETINGS AWAIT Memorable Offer applicable to meetings contracted by December 31, 2023 and actualized between 2023 and 2024. Applicable to new bookings only. Offer is not retroactive on previously contracted business. Minimum of ten (10) rooms on peak required to qualify. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. Some restrictions apply. 1900 E. Buena Vista Drive Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 | www.buenavistapalace.com (407) 827-2727 | mcobu-salesadm@hilton.comChoosing a growing destination Florida is even growing new destinations for the MICE sector. Punta Gorda, located just north of Fort Myers, will see the opening this fall of Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor. In addition to 785 guest rooms, a 25,000-sf food hall, includ- ing seven restaurants, and an 18-hole golf course exclusive to hotel guests, the property will offer 60,000 sf of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space overlooking the harbor. The project lured Violand Man- agement Associates to sign a three-year contract to hold 300-attendee business planning retreats at the resort start- ing late this year. “Being on the Gulf Coast is our preferred locale, but we had never considered Punta Gorda,” says Karen Tuersley, Violand’s director of administration. “Our attendees look forward to a warm location. They also want to have lots of activities to choose from during their downtime. There’s no better place than Florida when look- ing for nice weather in November, and it also offers the most options for outdoor activities, especially when staying some- where near water.” Tuersley adds that one of the biggest advantages of Punta Gorda is its proximity to multiple airports. Punta Gorda Airport, served by Allegiant from air- ports in the northeast, is about 6 miles from the resort; Southwest Florida International and Sarasota Bradenton International are each less than 60 miles away. Tuersley continues: “Sunseeker Resort is a huge change, literally and figuratively, from the resorts we have contracted with in the past. At first, I thought it would be too big of a change and that our group would feel like a little fish in a very large pond. But the sales staff went out of their way to assure us this wouldn’t be the case, and to suggest ways they could help our group to not become lost in the vastness of the resort — things like offering a drink special for our group at a designated location each day, with signage posted in our meeting room. From a variety of room types to the vast array of dining options to fitness and leisure activities, it was very easy to see our attendees finding something they would enjoy doing, either on property or in close proximity.” Tuersley says Violand’s events are hands-on business plan- ning retreats (workshops) where each company attending is working on a business plan for the coming year. “Because a business plan requires conversations about sensitive topics like budgeting and staffing, it’s important for each company to sit at their own individual table,” explains Tuersley. “This requirement means that our groups take up more space than a traditional meeting. Not all venues will accommodate our needs, as more square footage normally means higher F&B minimums, but Sunseeker was willing to work with us to reach an agreement that was beneficial for us both.” “From the outset, the staff at Sunseeker made me feel like they truly wanted to develop a partnership with our com- pany,” adds Tuersley. “During my onsite hard-hat tour, there were directors, an executive director and even a VP who par- ticipated. They were welcoming, warm, and friendly and went out of their way to earn our business and convince me of their desire to establish an ongoing rela- tionship. The core values of their company — integrity, excellence and teamwork — closely match our own, attributes they truly seem to emulate.” Orlando Still, tried and true destina- tions continue to keep Florida front-of-mind for meeting plan- ners — none more so than Orlando, which hosted 74 million visitors in 2022 and remains America’s No. 1 meeting and convention city. “Florida, and central Florida in par- ticular, is an ideal location due to its ease of access from a wide range of locations, both domestic and international,” says Marc Farrugia, chief administrative officer for Sun Communities, a developer of manufactured home communities and RV resorts. “Flor- ida is a safe destination that has a booming housing market, offers rich cultural diver- sity and provides rich culinary experiences. Orlando has incredible options for shopping, whether it be great deals at any of Orlando’s several outlet malls, high-end shopping at traditional malls, or locating unique souvenirs from theme parks and resorts.” Farrugia notes that Orlando is a hospi- tality-focused city, an important consideration for meeting planners. “They live and breathe hospitality, they have the infrastructure to support transportation logistics for large groups, and they are incredibly well-equipped to host events of all types. There is no shortage of entertainment venues, unique dining experiences, themed resorts, high-end resorts, etc. Orlando literally has something for everyone.” For a 750-attendee leadership conference held recently, Sun Communities chose the Universal Orlando Resort as host. “We have established a great relationship with the teams at Universal Orlando Resort and really enjoy the partnership. We work well together and having repeat events at this venue has made execution of our event more efficient. We’ve saved some expense, and the overall quality of our event increases each year because of the manner in which we can improve on prior years’ experiences,” says Farrugia, who adds that Loews Sapphire Falls is one of the best conference hotels/venues Sun Communities has ever used. Their Elevate Leadership Conference was just held there. “At the top of the list is the Elevate 2023 recently took place at Universal Orlando’s Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. 56 June/July 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com MEET OFF THE Beaten Path Discover waterside charm, world-class amenities and easy access on Florida’s Southwest Gulf Coast. Superb hotel and venue off erings will soon include the new Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor, opening in October 2023. Learn more at PureFloridaMeetings.com. 22-PGEB-0707 Corporate and Incentive Travel Magazine Print.indd 15/25/23 6:33 PM MEET OFF THE Beaten Path Discover waterside charm, world-class amenities and easy access on Florida’s Southwest Gulf Coast. Superb hotel and venue off erings will soon include the new Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor, opening in October 2023. Learn more at PureFloridaMeetings.com.quality of service offered by the staff and the cleanliness of the property. Whether it be a smooth check-in experience with the front desk team, friendly catering staff supporting our meeting, or pleasant housekeeping staff, Loews Sapphire Falls shines above their competition from a service perspective.” Farrugia notes that the meeting facilities at Loews Sap- phire Falls Resort are well situated, easy to navigate, support the latest meeting technology, and offer reliable, high-speed internet. “Their event management staff is second to none,” adds Farrugia. “With more rigging points than most venues, we’re able to execute an event that leverages large-scale LED walls to create visually stunning general sessions. Through their partnership with on-site partner Encore, they can assist clients with bringing their vision to reality with amaz- ing lighting effects, immersive sound, HD graphics, etc. The department heads consistently check-in with meeting plan- ners to ensure client events are executed without hiccups. Farrugia continues: “Loews Sapphire Falls Resort also offers wonderful dining options that are sure to appeal to all. Banquet menus feature locally-sourced ingredients and are designed by chefs with extensive culinary experience. They do a fabulous job of accommodating dietary restrictions and are laser-focused on ensuring guest expectations for quality food are met and exceeded.” Following their event, Farrugia says the company surveyed attendees and found the highest satisfaction levels with a conference across all venues used in prior years. The A.W. Chesterton Company, a multi-industry manu- facturer of sealing solutions, industrial lubricants and more, holds a North American sales meeting every two years, alternating between east and west coast destinations. For its 380-attendee event at the beginning of the year, A.W. Ches- terton chose Orlando, using the 1,012-room Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace located just inside Walt Disney World and across the street from Disney Springs. “We chose the hotel for a few reasons,” says Ellen Corm- ier, the company’s sales and marketing support manager. “The rate was right and the location was perfect for all those coming from around the U.S. and Canada. And, as a major airport, Orlando made travel easy for all attendees — it’s very easy to fly in to at low fares.” “The meeting space at the Hilton was recently renovated, and perfect for our group,” adds Cormier. “Feedback on the hotel was overwhelmingly positive. There were plenty of sleeping rooms also renovated within the last few years, and the food was excellent with lots of variety to choose from.” With the hotel’s two ballrooms, both measuring more than 21,000 sf, new, dedicated registration counters are available in the foyer. “We were able to secure our meeting supplies with no worries of having to move them at the end of each day. Our meeting planner and his staff were very attentive; we could not have asked for a better team. They were always a step ahead of me, knowing I would inquire about a meet- ing need. During the months leading up to the meeting, we would meet by phone, online and in person, which helped lessen the worry that I was missing something about our big event. They’ve got it all covered.” One area of concern Cormier raises is pricing. “We were caught off with the price of meeting WiFi and related needs — lighting, rigging, etc.,” says Cormier. “The meeting was a success, but we were not aware of the high cost of these necessary items. Ask questions; make sure all details and pricing, no matter how small, are laid out in the con- tract.” Otherwise, Cormier says the director of sales and meeting planners were both responsive. “We can only speak positively about this team. It’s a great location for our attendees to go out on their own on evenings that we did not have a planned event, and a great location near the Disney World theme parks. Many attendees brought their families and stayed additional days to enjoy the parks.” As the longest standing corporate group to hold its largest and most important event, Ger- man-based SAP has a unique bond with Orlando, with 20 years of year-over-year success. “Over time, we’ve been able to secure unique conditions to support critically important programmatic components that allow us to bring SAP to life for full attendee brand immersion,” explains Ste- fanie S. Goffredo, category manager, Events & Sponsorships. “Events are an exceptionally powerful tool for any entity to invest in for desired results, and we recognize, value and appreciate all the ways that our Orlando partnership is evi- dent.” How big is the global entity’s annual SAP Sapphire? The 2023 event took place recently and drew 10,000 attendees. For the last two years, the company did a buy-out of Universal Stu- dios for its celebration evening, this year bringing in Grammy- winning R&B superstar Usher. Goffredo says SAP is already eagerly talking about next year’s event. Courtesy Photos Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace Event Lawn and its Sabal Ballroom 58 June/July 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com MISW. WARMRECEPTION Combining sophisticated amenities with relaxed Southern vibes, South Walton is ideal for gatherings of any size. We’re home to more than 150,000 square feet of diverse meeting space, plus a wide range of accommodations from boutique hotels to full-scale resorts. Unique beach neighborhoods offer personalized experiences for each group – enjoy abundant outdoor activities, award-winning restaurants, a thriving arts scene or simply some down time on the sugar-white sand. MIRAMAR BEACH • SEASCAPE • SANDESTIN • DUNE ALLEN • GULF PLACE • SANTA ROSA BEACH • BLUE MOUNTAIN BEACH GRAYTON BEACH • WATERCOLOR • SEASIDE • SEAGROVE • WATERSOUND • SEACREST • ALYS BEACH • ROSEMARY BEACH • INLET BEACHMISW. WARMRECEPTION Combining sophisticated amenities with relaxed Southern vibes, South Walton is ideal for gatherings of any size. We’re home to more than 150,000 square feet of diverse meeting space, plus a wide range of accommodations from boutique hotels to full-scale resorts. Unique beach neighborhoods offer personalized experiences for each group – enjoy abundant outdoor activities, award-winning restaurants, a thriving arts scene or simply some down time on the sugar-white sand. MIRAMAR BEACH • SEASCAPE • SANDESTIN • DUNE ALLEN • GULF PLACE • SANTA ROSA BEACH • BLUE MOUNTAIN BEACH GRAYTON BEACH • WATERCOLOR • SEASIDE • SEAGROVE • WATERSOUND • SEACREST • ALYS BEACH • ROSEMARY BEACH • INLET BEACHNext >