Prevue March/April 2013 - (Page 70)

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel has been Below: The private beach at ‘Tween Waters Inn and Day Spa provides opportunities for group activities and relaxation. Bottom: The marina at Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa houses a private yacht. Right: For golfers, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel boast an endless selection of courses created by legends. providing a nurturing environment for creativity, team building and inspiration for centuries, and the destination continues to motivate with its perpetual sunshine, natural beauty and convenient accessibility. The Calusa Indians were the ﬁrst to discover the area’s charms centuries ago, inspired by miles of coastline and subtropical forests. By the turn of the 20th century, inventors Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone found that Fort Myers in the winter was the ideal muse to fuel creative innovations. Today, the area provides the perfect team environment for spring training for two Major League Baseball teams, the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins. Meeting professionals and their clients will ﬁnd inspiration all year ‘round in this remarkable place on Florida’s Gulf Coast. As the gateway to Southwest Florida, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel has emerged as a meetings and incentives planner’s choice destination with easy airlift to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), outstanding meeting and convention facilities, a wonderful array of accommodations, and endless recreational options, all adaptable to host any size group. This is far more than a renowned vacation destination, it’s a spoton convergence of assets and attractions that lends itself to creating an unforgettable meetings or incentives experience. “Our destination is one that inspires creativity and innovation and generates memorable and unique experiences for meeting attendees,” says Tamara Pigott, executive director of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB). Accommodations take advantage of the rich beach and island environment where places for groups to stay and meet are as plentiful as they are diverse. Planners will ﬁnd more than 12,000 committable hotel rooms and meetings square footage that ranges from 600 to 73,000 sf. ISLAND RETREATS South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island, about 35 miles from Fort Myers, is a destination in and of itself. Quietly nestled within a secluded, unspoiled refuge along shell-laden shores, the expansive, plantation-style village embraces its tranquil surroundings. Spread over 330 acres, opportunity abounds for a private escape that captures an island charm to provide a setting that, through its serenity, yields productivity. The resort boasts more than 31,000 sf of revitalized, ﬂexible event space that can host groups ranging from 10 to 500 attendees. Add a recent $140 million renovation and 465 newly enhanced accommodations including luxury villas and private homes, and this incomparable property provides a captivating retreat. Abundant outdoor venues with views of the Gulf of Mexico, Pine Island Sound and South Seas Island Resort’s own Yacht Harbour create picturesque daytime or nighttime backdrops for group receptions, lunches and dinners. For golfers in the group, the Chip Powell designed Executive Golf Course, which was named one of the Top Five Short Courses in the world by PGA of America and the nearby 18-hole championship Dunes Golf Club on Sanibel Island offers challenging afternoons on the links. On site is Steve Colgate’s Offshore Sailing School, the No. 1 ranked sailing school in the U.S., where a fun day on the water also features a team-building component. “South Seas Island Resort is a place that, because of its very nature, leads As the gateway to Southwest Florida, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel has emerged as a meetings and incentives planner’s choice destination center stage

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue March/April 2013

Planner's Pick: Miami
Fresh Meets: Renaissance Hotels
Bureau Buzz: Austin
Good Business: Washington, DC
Sea Shores: Cruising Sweden
Feelin' Good About Incentives
Special Section: California
On Location: JW Marriott Desert Springs
Caribbean & The Bahamas
On Location: U.S. Virgin Islands
On Location: Aruba
On Location: Omni Amelia Island
The South: Best of Golf & Spa
On Location: Fairmont Scottsdale
On Location: W Singapore
Austria
Ireland
On Location: Mexico City
On Location: Starwood Los Cabos
On Location: Universal Orlando
On Location: Villas of Grand Cypress, Orlando
Check Out: Alpina Gstaad, Switzerland
Club Med

Prevue March/April 2013