s Traveler Meetings + Incentive Edition fla-keys.com Resorts Welcome Groups Experiences Highlight Meetings Indigenous s Seafood Lime Academy
Subtropical islands feature new and refreshed properties New and Renovated Florida s Resorts Welcome Groups By Laura Myers Many Florida s resorts offer unique, memorable settings for unforgettable events and programs. In the Florida s and West, it s all about finding the right fit for your group, said Jack Meier, group sales manager for the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. The s s Traveler Meetings + Incentive Edition Editor Andy Newman Managing Editor Carol Shaughnessy Senior Writer Laura Myers Copy Editor Buck Banks s Traveler is published by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, the official visitor marketing agency for the Florida s & West. Marketing Director: Stacey Mitchell; Sales Director: Jim De rel ; Groups Sales Manager: Jack Meier September 208 cover photo of Hawks Cay Resort on Duck near Marathon by Bob Care are a world away from a typical meeting experience at a mega-metro convention center. The private Ocean Club on North Largo has 30,000 total square Jack Meier feet of meeting space, including a 7,500-squarefoot ballroom for 500. Ocean includes Carysfort Kitchen for culinary events, two 8-hole golf courses, a full-featured 75- slip marina and Buccaneer Island to accommodate up to 400. meetingsatoceanreef.com. The 3-acre Baker s Cay Resort, a Curio Collection by Hilton, opens late fall in Largo as a 200- room resort with 7,000 square feet for meetings, a 4,000-squarefoot ballroom and over 20,000 square feet of additional spaces. bakerscayresort.com The 2-acre luxury inclusive PLAYA LARGO RESORT & SPA Playa Largo Resort & Spa in Largo has a lengthy bayfront beach and 40,000 square feet of meeting space. adults-only 35-unit Bungalows Largo opens in late fall. Bungalows average 800 square feet, and amenities include spa, two pools, three restaurants, Tiki-style boats and,000 feet of shoreline. BungalowsLargo.com The 4-acre, 78-room Playa Largo Resort & Spa has an 8,600-square-foot lawn, wedding gazebo and 4,760-square-foot ballroom for 360.The property has 0 bungalows, a three-bedroom beach house, spa, Kosher meals and 6,000-square-foot beach. playalargoresort.com In Islamorada, the 27-acre, 24- room oceanfront Cheeca Lodge & Spa has over 4,600 square feet of versatile By space Captain and luxury Ted spa. Lund Its ballroom has 2,00 square feet for parties of 20. Its,870-squarefoot ballroom has capacity for 00. cheeca.com The 25-acre Islander Resort, reopening late this year, offers cottage-style accommodations with screened lanais. The resort 2 fla-keys.com fla-keys.co.uk fla-keys.it fla-keys.de fla-keys.ie fla-keys.fr fla-keys.nl fla-keys.be fla-keys.cn s Traveler has a 6,000-square-foot lawn with oceanfront event space, a 2,760-square-foot ballroom and 4 oceanside villas. Nearby Islander side Townhomes offers 25 two-story two-bedroom units. islanderfloridakeys.com On Duck in the Middle s, 60-acre Hawks Cay Resort showcases a $50 million renovation of its 77-room main hotel as a Preferred Hotel Group Lifestyle Collection member. The property has 250 two- and three-bedroom villas, full-service marina, saltwater lagoon, spa and 20,000 square feet of oceanfront. New amenities include Sixty-One Prime restaurant, an adults-only area and expanded Tranquility Pool area with bar and grill. The ballroom hosts 480 banquet-style. Another ballroom can accommodate 450; each room hosts 400 classroom-style. The 208-seat restaurant has private space for 88. hawkscay.com The 25-room Faro Blanco Resort and Yacht Club, a Hyatt Place resort in Marathon, offers,820 square feet with three meeting rooms, plush lawns, marina walkway, Lighthouse Grill and fishing, watersports and sunset cruises. faroblancoresort.com The 24-acre, 99-unit Isla Bella Beach Resort, at mile marker 47 at Marathon s Seven Mile Bridge, is scheduled to open in early 209 with more than 20,000 square feet of function space, including a 3,800-square-foot Hibiscus Event Center and 6,000 square feet of outdoor space. Nearly a mile of shoreline includes an oceanfront event area. There s a marina and pool deck, a 4,000-square-foot spa, five pools and four F&B venues. islabellabeachresort.com Oceans Edge West Resort & Marina has 75 waterview suites and rooms of 382 to 575 square feet, six swimming pools and open-air restaurant. Its marina has wet and 52 dry slips. oceansedgekeywest.com The 00-room The Perry Hotel Artist s rendering of Isla Bella, a 99-unit resort set to open in early 209 in Marathon. West at Stock Island Marina Village accommodates small events for 65 at the,300-square-foot Matt s Stock Island Kitchen & Bar. A 700-square-foot balcony overlooks the pool and the s largest deepwater marina. perrykeywest.com In West, two Waldorf Astoria Resorts, Casa Marina West and The Reach West, have beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. Casa Marina, with 3 rooms and suites, offers the island s largest facility with,000 square feet of indoor event space and private beach. The Reach, with 50 rooms and suites, has West s only natural beach. A group attendant oversees itineraries, meals and group activities. casamarinaresort. com or reachresort.com West Marriott Beachside, with 29 one-, two- and threebedroom suites and 93 king rooms, offers a 5,673-square-foot ballroom and 0,000 square feet of meeting space with 2,500 square feet of beach and pool deck, and 6 boat slips. Up to 440 can sit down to dinner. beachsidekeywest.com West s 26-room DoubleTree by Hilton Grand Resort features 7,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. Its ballroom can seat 200 or 300 at a reception. keywestdoubletree.com In West the 262-room Southernmost Beach Resort has,400 square feet of meeting space, including a 565-square-foot boardroom and 900-square-foot conference room, three pools, two beaches, spa, fitness center, oceanfront restaurant, three bars and poolside entertainment. southernmostresorts.com West s 24 North Hotel offers,080 square feet of indoor meeting space to accommodate 45. A 2,05-square-foot lawn has outdoor space for,200. The 45-room hotel has a convenience store, pool and two F&B venues. 24northhotel.com Online academy aids travel pros A web-based video-learning platform provides travel professionals with the education necessary to become certified Florida s destination specialists. Lime Academy uses seven video-driven modules to educate participants on s properties, attractions and history. Each module is followed by an eight- to 0-question quiz in multiple-choice format. The process takes about 30 minutes and can be done either incrementally or in a single sitting. When the user has completed the entire e-learning series and passed all quizzes with a grade of 80 percent or better, an electronic certificate is issued. Lime Academy is offered on the s tourism council s official website at fla-keys.com/kla-mice. s Traveler fla-keys.com fla-keys.co.uk fla-keys.it fla-keys.de fla-keys.ie fla-keys.fr fla-keys.nl fla-keys.be fla-keys.cn 3
Rich experiences highlight meeting trends in s RON MODRA RON MODRA By Laura Myers Photos by Andy Newman Sunset s laid-back atmosphere offers a relaxing respite for attendees staying at the Margaritavile Resort & Marina or the island s cottages. The Florida s, with authentic indigenous experiences, healthy cuisine and relaxed activities for visitors, offer a rich 25-mile-long setting for meetings of virtually all types. The island chain s eco-attractions, offshore fishing and fascinating history provide engaging, interactive opportunities for enrichment and enjoyment. In Largo, Ocean Club s partnership with the Coral Restoration Foundation enables groups to contribute by taking either a snorkeling or scuba-diving trip to a coral nursery and helping to plant coral on the reef, said Michelle Simpson, executive director of sales. These team-building events allow groups to be a part of this nonprofit conservation organization while putting life back into the ocean. oceanreef.com Largo s Playa Largo Resort & Spa is targeting travel groups, executive board meetings and retreats, because of our resort s location and the caliber of service we offer, said Kelsey Pfleiderer, catering and sales manager. playalargoresort.com Planners booking Islamorada Resort Company s four properties Amara Cay Resort, La Siesta, Pelican Cove and Postcard Inn in Islamorada strive to create memories. No more of the cookie-cutter classroomstyle meetings. They want specialty menus, customized meeting packages, intimate dining, things that can make their attendees experiences memorable, said Mark Calbo, area director of sales. islamoradaresortcollection.com At Islamorada s Islander Resort, we see a lot of smaller groups. They do a combined trip of a meeting and incentive activities, said Karly Campbell, director of sales. islanderfloridakeys.com At nearby Cheeca Lodge, dining requests include current foodie trends of Asian noodle bowls and poké dishes. Team building activities with wine, beer and spirits tastings are included in activities such as paintand-sip classes or museum nights with a local artist. Creating these types of experiences allows us the opportunity to make a meeting or event truly destination-specific, and infuse some authentic Islamorada and Florida s flavor, said Rhonda Whitfield, Cheeca s director of sales and marketing. cheeca.com Marathon s Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club, a Hyatt Place Resort known for its signature landmark lighthouse built in the 950s, offers yacht excursions. You can choose a private charter boat to host a board meeting on the beautiful waters of the s, said Ashley Keeney, area director of sales and marketing. faroblancoresort.com Marriott West Beachside offers about 0,000 square feet of meeting space with a 5,675-square-foot 4 fla-keys.com fla-keys.co.uk fla-keys.it fla-keys.de fla-keys.ie fla-keys.fr fla-keys.nl fla-keys.be fla-keys.cn s Traveler ballroom in West. Having the largest ballroom in West, we enjoy good demand year-round, said Alan Beaubien, Beachside s director of sales and marketing. beachsidekeywest.com At Casa Marina, a Waldorf Astoria Resort with 22,600 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, groups are quickly immersed in the West lifestyle with teambuilding and breakout activities from sand sculpting workshops to sunset cruises and snorkel tours, said Andrew Rosuck, director of sales and marketing. casamarinaresort. com or reachresort.com The Margaritaville Resort & Marina can stage receptions for groups up to 80 in its Paradise Cottage at Sunset Cottages on a private island just 500 yards offshore, accessible via an eight-minute boat ride. Indigenous culinary offerings include a whole fish grouper taco carving station. The whole island is a unique experience for active guests seeking relaxation or for a welcome reception, said Jackie Herbst, Margaritaville s director of group sales. Margaritaville features 6,000 square feet of meeting space. margaritavillekeywestresort.com Islamorada s Cheeca Lodge is situated on the Atlantic Ocean. Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club in Marathon features three meeting rooms, two boardroom suites and outdoor space. s Traveler fla-keys.com fla-keys.co.uk fla-keys.it fla-keys.de fla-keys.ie fla-keys.fr fla-keys.nl fla-keys.be fla-keys.cn 5
ANDY NEWMAN (2) Paddleboard yoga is a great group activity in the s. Group activities help build Group team activities bonding, build trust team bonding, trust Planners of meetings, incentive events and corporate retreats typically seek unique experiences that connect them to a destination. Relaxing offshore activities and bucket-list adventures are what the Florida s are all about. A fishing charter, for example, in waters off the s is an adventure made all the more memorable by catches such as sailfish, tarpon or yellowtail snapper. A group hunt for the best lime pie is sure to satisfy all taste buds. Nearly every s dining venue serves a creative version of this rich signature dessert. For active groups, kayaking, swimming with dolphins and other experiential activities can be booked around the s. Among them: Largo Bike and Adventure Tours offers afternoon Bike and Beer tours for up to 2 in the Upper s with a 0-mile trek from Tavernier to Islamorada. Participants can enjoy three stops for beer and a van ride back. In Islamorada, another tour visits historic venues, locations from the hit Netflix drama Bloodline, a Tiki bar and two craft breweries. keylargobike.com At Florida s Aquarium Encounters in Marathon, groups can swim with and feed fishes while learning about the s marine ecosystem. Groups up to 2 can explore the facility s 200,000-gallon saltwater aquarium. Private tours and events are offered for up to 25. floridakeysaquariumencounters.com Serenity Eco Therapy, throughout the Florida s, combines gentle meditation, yoga and Pilates with stand-up paddleboarding techniques. A two-hour experience helps to relieve stress. serenityecoguide.com Haunted West offers an Infamous Hauntings Ghost Tour, a walk for up to 20, featuring locations that include the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum with human and feline ghosts. Visit hauntedkeywest.com Crafting sand sculptures at West s Casa Marina or The Reach, both Waldorf Astoria resorts, is another way to build competitive team spirit or bonding. Just Sand and Water offers beach workshops for six to 50. justsandandwater.com West Food Tours for groups of six to 2 offers a three-hour,.7-mile experience. Participants stop approximately every four blocks to taste conch fritters, fish tacos, lime pie and other samplings. keywestfoodtours.com s feature fresh indigenous seafood The Florida s offer both casually funky and sophisticated dining for groups, with many menus highlighted by delectable sustainable seafood freshly caught from the Atlantic Ocean or scooped out of Florida. s chefs are known for artfully creative preparations that blend indigenous seafood with tropical ingredients. Companies booking a s meeting or retreat are likely to be focused on social responsibility, renewal and sustainability. s cuisine may be organically enhanced with fresh lime, mango, avocado, papaya and coconut, while fish gracing a table was likely unloaded just hours earlier onto a local dock. Sweet stone crab claws, served with drawn butter or chilled with mustard sauce, are a renewable resource. Fishermen harvest only the claws, returning crabs to the sea where the claws regenerate. An event s menu might include yellowtail, hog or mutton snapper, hogfish, grouper or mahi-mahi. Meeting participants might especially enjoy a team-building catch-and-cook fishing event, with fish they catch served grilled, broiled, blackened, baked or fried. West pink shrimp light, flavorful and generally sweeter than other crustaceans are bountiful. Spiny clawless Florida lobsters, served steamed or broiled with drawn butter, are another favorite. s restaurants often use limes to flavor seafood dishes and sauces, and no meal is complete without the island chain s renowned lime pie. Fresh seafood from the Florida s. International Game Fish Association (2) Unconventional s venues make meetings memorable In the Florida s, meetings can be hosted at offbeat, unconventional venues: a oneof-a-kind marine attraction, the home of a literary legend or even the vacation residence of a former president. At Bud N Mary s Fishing Marina in Islamorada, a steel building, that once was an in-and-out storage facility for boats, is being repurposed to provide 5,000 square feet for events. Behind that,,300 square feet of oceanfront decking is decorated with funky s nautical and sportfishing gear. An on-site kitchen and chefs are to provide dining options. budnmarys.com Robbie s Marina is a popular Islamorada waterfront hub, nestled among coconut trees on Florida with eclectic outdoor vendors. Planners can charter fishing trips for groups. The on-site old sstyle Hungry Tarpon Restaurant cooks up the catch for a fresh fish meal. Participants can even feed resident tarpon. robbies.com Theater of the Sea in Islamorada offers dolphin and sea lion shows for up to 200 for private evening events. Customized options include a private tour of marine life exhibits, photographs with parrots or a choreography of dolphin behaviors set to music. theaterofthesea.com Dolphin Research Center on Grassy near Marathon offers group activities at the nonprofit facility that s home to bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions. Private tours, research sessions or interactive dolphin experiences can be booked. Planners can reserve the center for private group events for up to 200. A director of guest services helps to plan visits that can include an on-site picnic. dolphins.org In West, groups can hold events at the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, a Spanish colonial villa where famed author Groups can hold events at the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum in West, where the famed author lived and wrote in the 930s. and Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote some of his most famous works in the 930s. The grounds are available for up to 00 people. Private house tours can be arranged as part of the event. hemingwayhome.com West s Harry S. Truman Little White House Museum, Florida s only presidential museum, is a unique function venue. The late United States president spent more than six months at this tropical retreat during his 945-953 administration. The grounds can accommodate groups as large as 400 people, while smaller groups can utilize the president s own dining room, living room and south porch for dinners. Private museum tours can be included. trumanlittlewhitehouse.com The Studios of West, housed in a deco-style former Scottish Rite Masonic Center, offers a 200-seat, 2,75-square-foot professional theater, contemporary art gallery, nine studios and two classrooms. Meeting venues NICK DOLL include the theater, classrooms that measure about 600 square feet each, and a,500-square-foot gallery for receptions. tskw.org New eco-tours travel off the beaten path T our operator Up The s Eco- Tours, offers private tours exploring Florida s eco-attractions for groups of six to 3 participants in 5-passenger vans. Up to 26 can be accommodated in two vans with advance booking. Certified international tour director Kim Stamps designed the journeys to share the history, culture, wildlife and unique ecology of the Florida s. A roundtrip Full-Day Adventure tour departs West and travels to Grassy. Passengers can search for wildlife such as the tiny deer at the Deer Refuge. Other stops include Bahia Honda and Dolphin Research Center or Florida s Aquarium Encounters in Marathon. Swimming with dolphins or snorkeling at the aquarium can be included. Voluntour excursions include a volunteer activity and viewing deer and wildlife at the Lower s Blue Hole. UpThes.com 6 fla-keys.com fla-keys.co.uk fla-keys.it fla-keys.de fla-keys.ie fla-keys.fr fla-keys.nl fla-keys.be fla-keys.cn s Traveler s Traveler fla-keys.com fla-keys.co.uk fla-keys.it fla-keys.de fla-keys.ie fla-keys.fr fla-keys.nl fla-keys.be fla-keys.cn 7
0 SOUTHERNMOST POINT KEY WEST, FL 5 0 5 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 Insta 60 65 70 75 Anne s Beach 80 85 90 95 00 0 05 Traveling Tips to the Florida s Loggerhead Alexander s Florida s Fort Jefferson Garden Hospital Bush Dry Tortugas Park 70 miles west of West, and 37 miles west of the Marquesas s Cottrell Western West Sand Fleming Ft. Taylor Rock Dredger s Eastern Cayman Salvor Middle West Golf Course and CC Joe s Tug Western Sambos Vandenberg East Gulf of Mexico Big Coppitt Eastern Sambos Neustra Señora de Atocha Gulf of Mexico Stock U.S. Naval Geiger Island Air Station West Boca Chica Intl. Airport Pelican Marquesas s Great White Heron Wildlife Refuge Boca Grande West Wildlife Refuge Maryland s Big Torch American Adolphus Busch Sr. Barracuda Woman Cottrell Man Big Pine Newfound Harbor Coral Heads Looe Preserve Archer Crawfish Mule Middle Torch No Name Sugarloaf Refuge Cudjoe Little 20 Saddlebunch Torch Coupon Summerland Bight s Ramrod Newfound Harbor s Lower Sugarloaf Florida s Deer Hawk Channel Big Pine s West Ohio Bahia Honda North West Cape Old Seven Mile Bridge Shark Point Middle Cape Canal Pigeon Ponce De Leon Shark River Island Middle Cape Cape Sable Knight s West Turtle The Seven Boot Snake Coffins Mile Patch Bridge Delta Herman s Hole East Thunderbolt Washerwoman Sombrero Samantha s Seven Mile Bridge Artificial Lake Ingraham Oyster East Cape Florida s East Cape Canal Marathon Long Point Florida s Marathon Intl. Airport Vaca Flagler s Barge Bear Lake Deer Whitewater Flamingo Grassy Curry Hammock Bradley 9336 Florida Duck East Turtle Conch Snake Bight Joe Kemp Layton Two Humps Pahayokee Overlook Mahogany Hammock Long Madeira Middle Lake Garfield Monroe Lake Bight Porpoise Rankin Santini Madeira Terrapin Point Bight Bight Shark Terrapin Point Mosquito Crocodile Point Madeira Umbrella Point Point Point Big Rankin Samphire s Long Sisal Pond Fiesta Sweet Pond Nine Mile Pond Tennessee Everglades Park Seven Palm Lake Islamorada Lignumvitae Shell Indian Lower Matecumbe Florida s Long Teatable Alligator 9336 Windley Eagle Tavernier Windley Fossil Geological Hen and Upper Chickens Matecumbe Eagle Alligator Davis Cove Deer Plantation Point Atlantic Ocean To Florida Turnpike to Miami, other parts of Florida and the USA Trout Cove Crocker Davis Long Cross Shell Largo Buttonwood Rodriguez Plantation Pickles Conch 905 Blackwater Crocodile Lake Wildlife Refuge Barnes White Banks Molasses 905 John Pennekamp Coral Duane North Largo French Bibb Hawk Channel Carysfort Point Mary Grecian Rocks North Christ of the Abyss Benwood Card Dagney Johnson Largo Hammock Botanical Spiegel Grove fla-keys.com Florida s Elbow City of Washington The 25-mile-long Florida s island chain is linked to mainland Florida by U.S. Highway, the Overseas Highway. Visitors can fly into Miami International Airport (MIA) or Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and from there can reach the s by airport shuttle bus or rental car. Travelers can reach Largo, the gateway to the s, in about an hour from Miami or an hour and 45 minutes from Fort Lauderdale. Air Service to the Florida s For an up-to-date roster of commercial airlines and on-demand charter operators serving West International and Florida s Marathon International Airports, go to fla-keys.com/gettinghere/#air. Driving Directions From Miami International Airport (MIA), take LeJeune Road south to 836 West. Take the Florida Turnpike (State Road 9) south toward West. The Turnpike ends at U.S. in Florida City. Follow U.S. south about 22 miles to Largo and you are now in the Florida s. From Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL), exit the airport and follow the signs for I 595 West. Take 595 to the Florida Turnpike and follow the signs for the Florida s. From farther north, take the Florida Turnpike south to just below Fort Lauderdale, where Exit 4 joins the southern portion of the Turnpike that ends at U.S. in Florida City. Follow U.S. south into the Florida s. From Florida s west coast, take I 75 (Alligator Alley) east to the Miami exit, and south to the Turnpike Extension. Driving Data to s/ Largo FROM S KM HOURS Miami 50 80 Fort Myers 200 320 4 Tampa 300 480 6 Orlando 280 450 5.25 Distance from Miami REGION S KM MARKER Largo 50 80 07 90 Islamorada 76 22 89 66 Marathon 78 65 45 Lower s 28 205 45 4 West 59 254 4 0 Via Bus Bus/shuttle connections from MIA and FLL to the Florida s allow traveling to the s without renting a car. Via Boat Ferry connections from Fort Myers or Marco Island to West are offered via the West Express. Voyages take approximately 3.5 hours. Extensive details on getting to the Florida s & West are available at: fla-keys.com/gettinghere.cfm @floridakeysandkeywest @thefloridakeys youtube.com/floridastv keysvoices.com @thefloridakeys Weather/Climate Wherever you are right now, chances are the weather is better in the Florida s. That s true even on a summer day. The hottest it s ever been in West is 97 F (36 C), and that was in 880. At the peak of summer, the average high air temperature is about 89 F (32 C). The s are devoid of superhighways or urban sprawl to absorb and radiate the sun s heat. And the subtropical islands are cooled by sea breezes. In the winter, the s are typically the warmest region in the continental U.S. There has never been a frost in West, according to the U.S. Weather Service. Below are the average monthly air temperatures for the past 30 years, according to the West weather office. Temperatures in blue shades are Fahrenheit and those in light red are Celsius. Help and More Information If you re traveling in the s and need any help, call the toll-free Visitors Assistance line at -800-77-KEYS. It s staffed 24 hours a day. To contact visitor offices in the s, call -800-FLA-KEYS. The s website at fla-keys.com has a live chat feature with visitor information specialists available during regular U.S. weekday business hours to aid travelers in vacation planning.