< PreviousPunta Gorda/Englewood Beach Known as a Florida hidden gem, Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach is a top destination nestled in The Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast. For planners looking to provide an event experience that offers all the best of Florida’s west coast with its outdoor and laid-back lifestyle — from beaches, shelling, golfing and fishing, this is an outdoor wonderland. Off the beaten path, Punta Gorda and Englewood Beach offer top experiences and amenities without the crowds. For planners looking to design an event or corporate retreat in Southwest Florida, with that small-town charm and exclusive resort set- ting on an island, this destination is a perfect fit. The Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center is located on the waterfront in historic Punta Gorda’s down- town district. It offers state-of-the-art facilities and friendly hospitality just steps from nearby hotels, dining options and attractions in a very walkable city. The area offers a variety of venues, including Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor, where business and luxury seam- lessly coexist. Orlando One of the most-visited destinations in the country, Orlando is Cvent’s 2024 top choice for meetings and con- ventions with world-class event spaces, almost 500 hotels with 120,000 guest rooms, a Michelin-recognized culinary scene, and endless entertainment and amusements. The award-winning Orange County Convention Center has a jaw- dropping 7 million sf of meeting and exhibit space. Michael Beaudoin, executive vice president of ALLPRO, a buying cooperative for independent paint store owners, has chosen Orlando’s Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel to host three of the company’s spring shows. Set at the headwaters of the Top: The Orange County Convention Center remains a top pick for its meeting space and easy access to hotel rooms and world class entertainment venues. Left: The 2024 ALLPRO Spring Show opening reception at Rosen Shingle Creek brought in a crowd. Courtesy of ALLPRO Courtesy Photo 60 June/July 2024 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com Triple The Oer & Triple The Options ! Ready to book your next spectacular event? We have every resource imaginable to make it extraordinary. Experience these three distinctive meeting properties and take advantage of these exclusive meeting enhancements: All guests enjoy full access to every amenity on property including Mandara Spa, six pools, 23 restaurants and lounges, including six signature restaurants, and special Disney benefits available exclusively for you! Let us show you why we are your award-winning meetings and events destination in Orlando. Contact us today to get started. 1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd., Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 | 407.934.4290 | swandolphin.com/meetings Complex total number of guest rooms 2,619 Complex total sq. ft. of meeting space 348,711 sq. . Complex total number of meeting rooms 99 Complex total number of meeting suites 149 Complex total number of restaurants & lounges 23 The view from the top of the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve Not valid with any other oer or promotion. Triple Bonvoy Points on qualified meeting spend. Meetings or events must be booked by December 31, 2024 and consumed by December 31, 2025. The oer is for newly contracted business only. VIP EPCOT® Fireworks Yacht Cruise is based on availability and food and beverage is at the hotel’s discretion. Board Meeting is based on availability and food and beverage is at the hotel’s discretion. Cruise and Board Meeting oer eligible for groups in excess of 500 total room nights. Other restrictions may apply. Contact us for complete oer details. Triple Marriott Bonvoy™ Points Complimentary Board Meeting for up to 12 guests for 2 nights ( includes accommodations, round-trip airport transfers, and food & beverage) VIP EPCOT® Fireworks Yacht Cruise for up to 12 guestsTriple The Oer & Triple The Options ! Ready to book your next spectacular event? We have every resource imaginable to make it extraordinary. Experience these three distinctive meeting properties and take advantage of these exclusive meeting enhancements: All guests enjoy full access to every amenity on property including Mandara Spa, six pools, 23 restaurants and lounges, including six signature restaurants, and special Disney benefits available exclusively for you! Let us show you why we are your award-winning meetings and events destination in Orlando. Contact us today to get started. 1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd., Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 | 407.934.4290 | swandolphin.com/meetings Complex total number of guest rooms 2,619 Complex total sq. ft. of meeting space 348,711 sq. . Complex total number of meeting rooms 99 Complex total number of meeting suites 149 Complex total number of restaurants & lounges 23 The view from the top of the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve Not valid with any other oer or promotion. Triple Bonvoy Points on qualified meeting spend. Meetings or events must be booked by December 31, 2024 and consumed by December 31, 2025. The oer is for newly contracted business only. VIP EPCOT® Fireworks Yacht Cruise is based on availability and food and beverage is at the hotel’s discretion. Board Meeting is based on availability and food and beverage is at the hotel’s discretion. Cruise and Board Meeting oer eligible for groups in excess of 500 total room nights. Other restrictions may apply. Contact us for complete oer details. Triple Marriott Bonvoy™ Points Complimentary Board Meeting for up to 12 guests for 2 nights ( includes accommodations, round-trip airport transfers, and food & beverage) VIP EPCOT® Fireworks Yacht Cruise for up to 12 guestsEverglades, Rosen Shingle Creek has 1,501 rooms and suites set on 255 acres. The resort has its own golf course, and the 95,000 sf Gatlin Ballroom is one of the nation’s largest col- umn-free ballrooms. “What I appreciate most about Shingle Creek is that it’s engineered for corporate events,” says Beaudoin. “What I mean by that is, if you went to another property in Orlando, you’d be competing with people’s vacations, people going out for fun. Whereas when you go to Shingle Creek, you have all the amenities of those other proper- ties, but Shingle Creek is geared and structured for corporations. It’s very easy to get things done, to commu- nicate with them effectively. Their service, their everything is just top- notch. It’s like hitting the easy button when you put things on there.” If you ever wondered why Walt Disney chose Orlando for a loca- tion to build his namesake resort in the 1960s, he envisioned this to be the most visited destination in the United States, and he was right. Dis- ney didn’t just create a theme park but terrific venues where people could stay, and as event planners know, they are an important part of the theme park experience. Located between Epcot and Hollywood Studios, with the Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom parks nearby, is one of the more iconic hotels in the Florida resort area: Walt Disney World Swan. The elegant and sophisticated hotel is also next to the Disney BoardWalk, where planners and attendees can explore Disney’s best shopping, dining and entertainment options. Walt Disney World Swan is not easy to miss. The two 56-foot tall swans on top of the building are a giveaway. Aside its luxurious accommodations, spa, pools and dining areas, the resort is renowned for expensive meeting facilities. Together with the Walt Disney World Dolphin and Walt Dis- ney World Swan Reserve, the complex offers over 348,000 sf of meeting space, with 99 meeting rooms, executive board- rooms, 110,500 sf of contiguous con- vention and exhibit space, outdoor function areas, three business cen- ters and exclusive group Disney Benefits. Just steps from Walt Disney World is Disney Springs, an amazing hub of unique boutiques, one- of-a-kind eateries and jaw-dropping entertain- ment. A skybridge pro- vides direct access to Hil- ton Orlando Buena Vista Palace, an official Walt Disney World hotel, which offers newly renovated guest rooms and suites, from which attendees can experience views of Disney Springs or nightly fireworks from most rooms. Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace also offers 120,000 ft of vibrant and versatile meeting and event spaces, creative catering and special access to Disney Benefits and a professional meet- ings team that can make your event dream come true. For a summer tropical escape, Caribe Royale Orlando is offering Photos courtesy of Marriott Their service, their everything is just top-notch. It’s like hitting the easy button when you put things on there. MICHAEL BEAUDOIN Executive Vice President ALLPRO In the heart of Orlando, planners will find the Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin (left) and the Swan Reserve (right), which offer 348,000 sf of meeting space and outstanding service in a magical location. 62 June/July 2024 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com D oting service without hesitation. Making the exceptional look easy. For Orlando icon Rosen Shingle Creek, these ideas come second nature. This independently owned convention hotel is in the business of making meetings that break the mold and deliver results in ways other hotels could never dream of. To see that sort of intrinsic talent firsthand, explore the hotel at RosenShingleCreek.com/Meetings or call 407.996.4890.D oting service without hesitation. Making the exceptional look easy. For Orlando icon Rosen Shingle Creek, these ideas come second nature. This independently owned convention hotel is in the business of making meetings that break the mold and deliver results in ways other hotels could never dream of. To see that sort of intrinsic talent firsthand, explore the hotel at RosenShingleCreek.com/Meetings or call 407.996.4890.the most unforgettable summer adven- turous, with 15 percent off their best available rate and a daily $25 dining credit for stays of 2+ nights. Designed with the Orlando Magic dream in mind, Caribe Royale Orlando offers a new collection of spacious suites and villas. And for planners who like to dream big, the resort’s meeting room space spans over 240,000 sf to elevate their meeting experience. The Palm Beaches The Palm Beaches proudly pro- claims itself as America’s first resort destination and Florida’s Golf and Cultural Capital. It has over 218 hotels and resorts, 3,200 restau- rants, 150 world-class golf courses, 47 miles of Atlantic Ocean coast- line and two walkable downtown meeting districts. Aside from its natural beauty, such as the Intracoastal Waterway, the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee, which allow for premier outdoor activi- ties and memorable experiences, plus the capability to prioritize mental and physical well-being, this destination offers a robust and diverse group of com- munity partners. The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County provides arts and culture experiences from more than 200 cultural institutions and the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission connects planners to local production companies and turnkey AV solutions to make hybrid events easy, too. Robin Prakash, associate vice president at The Palm Beaches — Palm Beach County’s tourist informa- tion center — loves talking about the region’s storied history and culture. Standard Oil founder Henry Flagler — who also started the Florida East Coast Railway — put Palm Beach on the tour- ist map in 1894, and his Royal Poinci- ana Hotel, now called The Breakers, has set the standard for luxury. In the 1960s, socialite Lilly Pulitzer put Palm Beach on the fashion map when school pal and First Lady Jackie Kennedy was photographed wearing her friend’s col- orful shift dresses. “What a great story,” says Prakash. “We’ve got a strong European and Caribbean culture. Lilly’s story just brings the colors or diversity of the people who live here; it just brings it all together.” The Palm Beaches has recently undergone nearly $1 billion in invest- ments, including new developments such as Amrit Ocean Resort, a haven for wellness enthu- siasts, and enhancements at renowned properties such as The Breakers and The Singer Oceanfront Resort, a Curio Col- lection by Hilton. Steven Diekhoff is a director of customer operations for GE Health- care. He’s looking forward to upcoming training sessions at The Singer, which recently underwent a multimillion- dollar renovation and rebrand. “We’ve been hosting events there for the last 10 years under the previ- ous name, which was the Hilton Singer 64 June/July 2024 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com You can’t beat the location, and you can’t beat the flexibility of the team that we work with there. STEVEN DIEKHOFF Director of Customer Operations, GE Healthcare Left: The Caribe Royale in Orlando, FL, features a main pool with a 75 ft. waterslide and towering waterfalls perfect for beating the heat. Right: The Florida Sports Coast is home to some of the best golf courses in the Sunshine State.Island Oceanfront Resort,” says Diek- hoff. “You can’t beat the location, and you can’t beat the flexibility of the team that we work with there.” This classic beach resort is a relaxed retreat only 30 minutes away from Worth Avenue on Palm Beach Island, where you can find shopping, dining, and cultural activities. There have also been major devel- opments at CityPlace, a shopping, dining and entertainment hub in West Palm Beach near the down- town convention district. The Palm Beach County Convention Center (PBCCC) offers over 350,000 sf of meeting space, floor-to-ceiling win- dows and a connected hotel with 400 rooms. PBCCC is within one mile’s walking distance to Clematis Street, more than 1,200 guestrooms at six hotels and a plethora of dining options near the Intracoastal Waterway. Getting to The Palm Beaches is a breeze. From major international air- ports with over 2,000 flights daily, high-speed rail via Brightline Trains, Tri-Rail service and highways, groups will enjoy exploring this world- renowned community famous for its beauty, quality of life and small-town character. While Palm Beach Inter- national Airport in the heart of West Palm Beach is the closest option, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Miami International Airport (MIA) are just 30 minutes and one hour away, respectively. Florida’s Sports Coast Located in Pasco County north of Tampa, Florida’s Sports Coast includes the communities of Holiday, Odessa, Port Richey, Trinity, and Wesley Cha- pel, and is a mecca for planners look- ing to please outdoor enthusiasts seek- ing sporting adventures. This year, it played host to the 42nd Annual NACBA Invitational Basketball Tournament, with 65 teams registered and over 1,000 attendees. In Wesley Chapel, Saddlebrook Resort embarked on an extensive ren- ovation project this summer, upgrad- ing their 95,000 sf of meeting spaces. Guest rooms and suites, the resort’s pool, lobby and Arnold Palmer- designed golf courses are also being given a fresh look. The first phase of this impressive renovation is set to be completed by fall, with other projects going into next year. With so much to offer, from unique world-class event venues, beach resorts, amusement parks, warm and sunny climate, a vibrant culinary scene and nautical recreation; attractions such as Walt Disney World, the Kennedy Space Center, and Miami Beach, which draws tens of millions of travelers annually, planners and attendees can only find success in the Sunshine State. Sunshine, sunshine sunshine! It’s not called the “Sunshine State” for nothing. C&IT Do You Have wHat iT Takes? # mEeTinGchAmp Show your attendees you really are the best leader on Florida’s Sports Coast. BEcome a lEgEnDary lEaDer flsportscoast.com TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | June/July 2024 65CORNELIOUSDAVIES EMERICK WILLIAMS WOOD GOODWIN SEABORNALBRIGHT ORWIGBASS ON THE MOVE // 66 June/July 2024 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com Visit San Antonio has added Mario Bass and Tyler Orwig to its leadership team. Bass, who has over 25 years in the indus- try and has worked for the company for more than five years in various roles, most recently as chief operating officer, will take on a newly formed position as executive vice president and chief strategy officer. Orwig, the new senior vice president of sales, has been in the industry for 25 years. Before working with Visit San Antonio for more than a decade, Orwig spent 15 years working with Hyatt Hotels. JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert has hired Clark Albright as director of sales & marketing. This industry veteran has more than four decades of experience working with various Marriott properties through the years, including LAX Mar- riott, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, Newport Beach Marriott, Irvine Marriott, Westin LAX and JW Marriott Las Vegas. InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk has appointed industry veteran Stacy Seaborn as director of sales & marketing. Before this role, she worked with Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, working her way up from director of catering and conference services to her latest position as director of sales and marketing. She has more than 30 years of experience in the industry. The Broadmoor has appointed Janell Davies as their director of insurance & incentive sales. Before this position, she worked with Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples as senior market sales executive, group. She worked with the Fontainebleau Miami Beach for 15 years and has more than 25 years of experience overall. The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua has hired Marcus Cornelious as their director of sales and marketing. Prior to this role, he worked in a similar role with The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. In addition, he worked with the Sheraton Grand Chicago; The Gwen, A Luxury Collection Hotel; W Union Square and elsewhere. TPG Hotels & Resorts has added new employees to its sales team. Nathan Wood was appointed as director of sales and market- ing at Intercontinental Kansas City. Wood has worked in the industry for more than 25 years and has worked at properties such as the Branson Convention Center, John Q Hammons Hotels and Starwood Hotels, as well as Hilton KCI and Atrium Hospitality. Katie Emerick was hired as director of sales at Renaissance Waterford Oklahoma City Hotel. Emerick has more than 15 years of experience, most recently working with Transformation Hospitality Solution. She also has worked with Aimbridge Hospitality and Plaza Resort and Spa. The Sea Pines Resort has appointed Mark Goodwin as their director of sales and marketing. He joined the resort in 2011, working in various roles, most recently as director of sales, cater- ing and conference services. He also has worked with Crowne Plaza Hilton Head Island Beach Resort, Heritage Golf Group, Hilton Oceanfront Resort & Spa and Hilton Savannah DeSoto. Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana in Bossier City has hired Jamie Williams as their new director of sales. The property will open early next year. This industry veteran has more than 25 years of experience. Most recently, she worked at Golden Nugget Lake Charles Hotel and Casino, and elsewhere. C&ITWhen you partner with Disney for your meeting or event, you get access to best-in-class planners, industry-leading technology, world-class culinary experts and unforgettable entertainment. But, most importantly, you’ll get Disney’s legendary creativity, storytelling and attention to detail. When you use our imagination, you will transform your meeting into something incredible only found at Disney. Use Our Imagination. Visit us at disneymeetingsandevents.comFollowing a $200M modernization, Memphis’ Renasant Convention Center is open and ready to host your group for boutique, affordable meetings featuring flexible space, natural light and Mississippi River views . . . all in the legendary home of blues, soul and rock ‘n’ roll. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE EXHIBITOR MAGAZINE, 2021–2023 BEST CONVENTION CENTER SMART MEETINGS, 2022–2023 BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE & ON-SITE SUPPORT EXHIBITOR MAGAZINE, 2022Next >