Florida 2015 - (Page 8)

F One setting during the year-long event will be the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, which just completed a $58 million renovation and expansion, including the new Huizenga Pavilion (accommodating 200 for a reception), with ﬂoor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the New River. For added excitement, planners can arrange for their groups to arrive by boat. There are numerous hotel projects in the works, according to Christine Roberts, CMP, HMCC, vice president, convention sales and services, Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB. "The economy is strong once again and we have a lot of renovations and re-brandings, as well as new properties." A popular group choice, the 998-room Westin Diplomat Resort, with 200,000 sf of meeting space, was acquired by Thayer Lodging Group and was rebranded as the Diplomat Resort & Spa Hollywood, Curio Collection by Hilton. There are plans for a signiﬁcant enhancement with a price tag of $100 million. Pelican Grand Beach Resort will complete a $5 million expansion of its meeting space in March, including two ballrooms. Hilton is investing more than $34 million into the ﬁrst Conrad resort in North America, the 290-room beachfront Conrad Fort Lauderdale Resort and Residences. The 24-story oceanfront property will include a spa, pool and meeting space, and is expected to open later this year. Planners are awaiting the new $147 million, 349-room Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, opening this summer. It promises several ﬁrsts for the Margaritaville brand, according to General Manager Cate Farmer: the ﬁrst ﬁne dining steak and seafood restaurant, bringing the number of restaurants up to seven; three pools, more than at any of the other resorts; and a 42 | prevue magazine 35-53_Florida.indd 42 double FlowRider, which, she says, "is getting a lot of attention from meeting planners. It re-creates the surﬁng experience, with two chambers for competing against each other." Farmer describes Margaritaville as the "quintessential islandwater-Floridian experience," and says having everything right on property when people are done with their meetings is a big plus. The resort will have 23,000 sf of interior space, as well as outdoor function areas. One popular local group activity that combines corporate social responsibility with getting out onto the beach is an outing to John U. Lloyd Beach, where groups work, hands in sand, to remove non-native plants such as Brazilian pepper and Australian pine. "It's a way to combine getting out on the beach with helping to protect our most valuable resources-the sand and sea," says Roberts. CENTRAL FLORIDA ORLANDO What many people don't realize is that Orlando is not just about the theme parks, or the area surrounding the convention center. This is a city with six distinct dining and entertainment "districts," allowing the chance for groups to have a different experience with each visit. Planners are always looking for after-hours options for groups based at the convention center-and there are many exciting, new ones, according to Fred Shea, senior vice president of convention sales and services at Visit Orlando. At The Pointe, new hot spots include RA Sushi and Minus 5 Ice Bar. I-Drive 360, a new entertainment complex centered around the 400-foot Orlando Eye on International Drive, will begin opening in segments this spring FloridaMeetings.com 1/8/15 4:34 PM F F Above (clockwise from top left):: Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, Four Seasons Orlando demo kitchen, Daytona International Speedway Club Experiences P a http://www.FloridaMeetings.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Florida 2015

Planner’s Pick: New Orleans
Fresh Meets: Hilton
Bureau Buzz: Raleigh
Good Business: Monaco
Sea Shores: Royal Caribbean International
The Era of Personalization
CONVENTION CENTERS INNOVATE
CORPORATE RETREATS
ONLY IN FLORIDA
On Location: Barcelo Bavaro
SOUTH KOREA
DUBAI
On Location: Caesars Entertainment
On Location: Grand Geneva
On Location: Guadalajara

Florida 2015