Insurance Conference Planner: South Florida

Byline: Ed Schmidt Jr.

WHAT'S NEW

Last year, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport reported the best year in its history, welcoming more than 17 million visitors. Fort Lauderdale has created a new image for itself. After a 10-year plan to convert to an upscale beach destination, Fort Lauderdale has left its college spring break reputation behind.

Among upscale happenings are the $50 million redevelopment of the Galleria at Fort Lauderdale shopping complex; the arrival of Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2, which will winter at Port Everglades; and the creation of ArtsPark, set to open next spring, which will house an art gallery, classrooms, and an amphitheater.

In Miami, there's nonstop growth. More than 900,000 delegates met in Miami in 2003, and more than 8,000 hotel rooms have been added to Greater Miami since 2001. Slated to open late this year is the $255 million Performing Arts Center, which will include a ballet/opera house, a concert hall, and an outdoor plaza of the arts. The new center will be the focal point of a new performing arts district.

Palm Beach County's airline passenger numbers are up as well. The convention and visitors bureau speculates that the Palm Beach County Convention Center, which celebrated its grand opening in January, has contributed to the increase. Set on 19 acres in central Palm Beach County in the city of West Palm Beach, the two-level, 350,000-square-foot complex features a 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 25,000-square-foot ballroom, and 23,000 square feet of breakout space divisible into 23 rooms. Across the street is the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and CityPlace, a $600 million, mixed-use complex.

On Florida's west coast, Naples has seen recent boutique hotel openings and several new golf courses. Slated to open in 2005 is a new 28-gate terminal at Southwest Florida International Airport that will replace the 17-gate terminal complex that opened in 1963.

In the Florida Keys, major meeting properties such as Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada, Hawk's Cay Resort on Duck Key, and the Pier House Resort & Caribbean Spa in Key West have completed extensive enhancements.

FACILITY UPDATE

PALM BEACH COUNTY

The 569-room Breakers in Palm Beach debuted its new family entertainment center. The resort is also redesigning its Breakers West golf course, expected to be complete by year's end.

In the past 24 months, the 1,041-room Boca Raton Resort & Club, with 146,000 square feet of meeting space including landscaped gardens and lawns for outdoor functions, has opened a new two-story golf clubhouse, the 8-story, 112-unit waterfront Yacht Club and the 50,000 square-foot Spa Palazzo.

The 210-room Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach completed a $2.5 million guest room refurbishment.

The Sheraton Oceanfront Resort was renamed Crowne Plaza Oceanfront North Palm Beach after a $5 million renovation.

The 339-room PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens completed a $12 million renovation.

a[bar] The 395-room Turnberry Isle Resort & Club has been reflagged The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club.

GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE

The 24-story, 278-room Costa Dorada Resort & Residences, with 12,000 square feet of meeting space, is slated to open this summer.

Starwood's Luxury Collection is developing The Atlantic, a 123-suite hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard slated to open this summer.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino opened this spring with 500 guest rooms, 100,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, a 130,000-square-foot casino, and a European-style spa.

The 169-room St. Regis Resort, Spa and Residences, scheduled for completion in May 2005, will offer 22,000 square feet of meeting space.

After a major renovation, the 338-room Hilton Fort Lauderdale Airport was rebranded the Wyndham Fort Lauderdale Airport.

The 224-room Radisson Resort Coral Springs was renovated and rebranded the Coral Springs Marriott Hotel, Golf Club and Convention Center.

GREATER MIAMI

Slated to open in late 2005 is Canyon Ranch Living, a 7-acre oceanfront property featuring 151 condo-hotel suites and the Canyon Ranch Spa.

The 308-room Conrad Miami, with 15,000 square feet of meeting space, opened in March in the financial district.

Planned to coincide with the Fontainebleau Hilton Resort's 50th anniversary, the 36-story Fontainebleau II condominium-hotel opens in December.

In Miami's financial district, the 221-room Four Seasons Hotel Miami opened in 2003 with 14,210 square feet of meeting space and a spa.

The 115-room Ritz-Carlton, Coconut Grove, with 15,000 square feet of meeting space, debuted last year.

Opened late last year, The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach is an 11-story, 375-room oceanfront property with 20,000 square feet of meeting space.

The former Renaissance Miami Biscayne Bay Hotel, in Miami's new performing arts district, with 43,000 square feet of meeting space, has been reflagged the Radisson Hotel Miami.

The new 11-floor, 236-room South Beach Marriott on Ocean Drive offers an art-deco motif and features three meeting rooms.

The 390-room Trump International Sonesta Beach Resort, a $110 million project in Sunny Isles, opened last year.

Also in Sunny Isles, Rosemont Hotels and Resorts' ultra luxury, 96-suite beachfront property, Aqualina, is expected to open in December.

FLORIDA KEYS

The recently debuted Doubletree Grand Key Resort in Key West offers 7,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and several outdoor venues.

Hawk's Cay Resort on Duck Key, featuring a 177-room inn, 295 villas, and a conference center, finished a $50 million upgrade and expansion that included new meeting space.

NAPLES

The 100-suite Bellasera Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel, opened downtown.

The 727-room Marco Island Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa, with 60,000 square feet of meeting space, debuted a 24,000 square-foot spa.

ASK THE CVB

Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (954) 765-4466; www.sunny.org Total Hotel Tax: 11%

Florida Keys & Key West CVB (800) Ask-Keys www.fla-keys.com Total Hotel Tax: 11%

Greater Miami CVB (305) 539-3000 www.miamiandbeaches.com Total Hotel Tax: 13%

Greater Naples, Marco Island and The Everglades CVB (800) 688-3600 www.classicFlorida.com Total Hotel Tax: 9%

Palm Beach County CVB (561) 233-3000 www.palmbeachfl.com Total Hotel Tax: 10%

Phantom Planner

For groups meeting in the Naples area who want a Key West experience, Cap Air airline offers four flights daily from Fort Myers to Key West at the Southwest Florida International Airport.

Palm Beach County is pricey during its high season; however, during value season (mid-April to mid-December), many hotels reduce rates, shopping discounts are offered at various outlets, and free outdoor performances and festivals are staged throughout the county.

Florida's tropical storm and hurricane season is between August and November, so check weather information services for inclement weather patterns prior to a meeting or incentive during that time frame.

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau has its own in-house hotel reservation service, which is free for groups using at least 600 rooms in a minimum of two hotels.

Historian Paul George, PhD, of the Historical Museum of Southern Florida (305/375-1492 or www.historical-museum.org) conducts tours of Little Havana in Miami, which is brimming with restaurants and shops.

Special Venues

PALM BEACH COUNTY

The Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida's largest art museum, can seat 250 people for a reception in its courtyard. (561) 832-5196; www.norton.org

Ragtops Motorcars in West Palm Beach introduced Station at Ragtops, a former gas station turned upscale diner. Vintage cars serve as dining booths. The facility can host up to 80 people for special events. (561) 655-2836; www.ragtopsmotorcars.com

The National Croquet Center complex in Palm Beach can host sit-down parties for 200 on the first floor of the clubhouse; a second-floor museum can host up to 223. (561) 478-2300; www.croquetNational.com

FLORIDA KEYS

The Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key West features original furnishings and can host 42 people for a reception or 12 for dinner. (305) 294-9911. www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.com