Meeting News - March 9, 2009 - (Page 26)

Planners Guide to Florida continued from page 24 Q A What are Fort Lauderdale’s strengths for meetings? Disney Offers Options for Incentives on Tight Budgets Responding to the sour economic climate, Walt Disney World has rolled out several options for incentive planners on tight budgets. “What we are hearing increasingly from incentive planners is value for their dollar,” said Anne Hamilton, vice president of resort sales and service at Walt Disney World. Recently, she said, the Disney Institute has tweaked its program offerings to include workshops for incentive groups that offer a corporate social responsibility element that has a demonstrative value. As a team-building exercise, for instance, a group can produce a promotional video for its company, aided by Disney Institute media experts, and then donate the used video equipment to a charitable organization. Hamilton said more companies are using the Disney Rewards program for individual employees; Regardless of budget, we have something for every group. Also, every visitor has the same great year-round weather and the easily accessible Fort Lauderdale/ Hollywood International Airport, which is located only three miles from our convention center and five miles from many of our main meetings hotels. each incentive winner can get Disney gift certificates in any denomination for use during personal trips. Finally, she said, the Adventures by Disney program, which consists of Disney group travel to destinations both domestic and international, is being offered to planners, because individual incentive winners can be paired with other groups already put together for a trip. —Rowland Stiteler After all of the recent improvements, how do you expect Fort Lauderdale to keep changing? Q A South Beach’s Casa Casuarina Still Has That Versace Feel Dripping with elegance and the stylistic design touches of Gianni Versace, the Casa Casuarina on Ocean Drive in Miami’s South Beach—situated directly across from the Atlantic Ocean—is marketed as the perfect solution for groups seeking exclusivity. Last month, a financial services company entertained 200 top clients at a cocktail reception and dinner that featured a five-piece swing band, design elements by local artists and florists, and a food tasting with wine pairings hosted by highly acclaimed chefs. “We took advantage of the South Beach Food & Wine Festival, which was happening that weekend, and we were able to get several top chefs for our event,” said Elisa Brinkworth, a spokeswoman for Casa Casuarina, who helped coordinate the event. “The function took place in our courtyard and gardens area.” Built in 1930, the Mediterranean-style, three-story Casa Casuarina estate villa was purchased by world-renowned designer Gianni Versace in the early 1990s. He made substantial changes to the property, including the addition of a mosaic pool and garden area, which has proven to be an ideal venue for group functions. Following Versace’s tragic death, telecommunications industry executive Peter Loftin purchased the property in 2000, which is now a members-only private club and luxury boutique hotel. Its courtyard and pool area can accommodate up to 450 people for a reception and 300 for a sit-down dinner, while a rooftop area can host small receptions. In addition, the property has a gourmet restaurant, “1116 Ocean,” and a kitchen to service group events. The venue, which has lots of function flexibility and uses a variety of tents for outdoor functions, is available for buyouts, said Brinkworth. In addition, the 10 suites in the hotel (ranging in size from 600 to 1,000 sf) can be used as hospitality suites. “In 2007, when the Super Bowl was in Miami, various major corporations used the suites for small private receptions,” said Brinkworth. “We’re very creative in our use of space for events.” —Edward Schmidt, Jr. A new convention center headquarters hotel is in the planning stages, though no timeline has been set. Hilton was the winner in a competitive field of hoteliers seeking to build a 1,000-room anchor hotel for the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. It’s scheduled to be built on the northern edge of Port Everglades, adjacent to the convention center. What are your favorite offsite venues and activities? Cheeca Lodge Still Rebounding From Earlier Fire The 199-room Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada, in the Florida Keys, is closed for repairs and renovations, following a fire earlier this year that caused significant damage to the resort’s main building. No reopening date has been announced, according to owner and general manager Jeremy Johnson, in a letter posted on the hotel’s website. Built in the 1940s, the venerable property—which is set on 27 acres and features a 4,000-sf conference center, a nine-hole golf course, a private beach, and a 525-foot fishing pier—is a favorite of celebrity guests like golfer Jack Nicklaus, tennis champion Chris Evert, as well as former president George H.W. Bush. —ES Water is a defining element here, with a canal system, reminiscent of Venice, connecting downtown boutiques, galleries, and restaurants on stylish Las Olas Boulevard, which features museums, theaters, and nightspots— and it lines the Riverwalk arts and entertainment district. —Interview by Edward Schmidt, Jr. Q A 26 MeetingNews March 9, 2009 www.meetingnews.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - March 9, 2009

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