It’s so pretty, it should be in a frame. Most people reach that conclusion about the landscape in Northwest Florida, where a group of first-time visitors can sound more like the audience at a game show, erupting in a chorus of oohs and aahs at each new vista—gleaming towns of sunwashed wood and cobblestones, quiet byways drenched in leafy shadows and, always, that incredible emerald water rushing to meet the snow-white sand.
It’s a splendid setting amid a peaceful ambience, but underneath its placid exterior, there is change brewing in Northwest Florida. There’s been a shift in gears from strictly leisure to the work-and-play mix of meetings and conventions, and with that change in emphasis have come scores of new resorts along with a major airport development on the horizon.
In addition, Florida Encounter—the state’s annual meeting planner trade show—came to Northwest Florida for the first time ever last October (see sidebar, page 26), so that planners could see for themselves that the area is well positioned to welcome groups.
“The size of the groups continues to grow as the facilities continue to grow,” says Jeff Davis, director of group sales and marketing for ABEC Resorts, which recently unveiled one of the area’s newest properties, The Palms of Destin Resort & Conference Center. “The destination is evolving.”
Panama City Beach
One area that has probably seen the greatest growth in the shortest time is Panama City Beach, which has 35 new resort and condominium projects either in construction or completed. At the dawn of 2008, the area’s inventory had grown to an all-time high of more than 28,000 rooms, with more than 38,000 projected by 2010.
“Since 2005, the growth of inventory has been staggering,” says Dan Rowe, the new CEO of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s causing us to re-think everything we do because we have to continue to promote the beach and build additional inventory, and explore new markets.”
Those new markets include meetings and conventions, and many of the new properties offer significant meeting space, including the Majestic Beach Towers, with 5,400 square feet of meeting space plus a 125-person amphitheater; the Boardwalk Beach Resort, home to a 20,000-square-foot beachfront convention center; and the Grand Panama Beach Resort, which will break ground this spring on a 25,000-square-foot conference facility due to open in 2009.
Then there’s the airport. With construction already under way, the new Panama City-Bay County International Airport is scheduled to open in late 2009, and Rowe is confident that major carriers will follow.
“The airlines will fly in, if they see the demand, and the demand in Northwest Florida is absolutely booming,” he says. “The larger planes will make it easier for corporate groups coming from Chicago and the Midwest or the New York/D.C. area.”
And what they’ll find once they arrive in this evolving destination are 27 miles of white-sand beaches, championship golf courses and an array of recreational activities, from sea kayaking and deep-sea fishing to bird watching.
Beaches of South Walton
Heading west from Panama City Beach, visitors cross an invisible line into Old Florida when they encounter the 14 communities comprising the Beaches of South Walton. Here, within a dreamscape of rolling white sand dunes and waving sea oats, development proceeds slowly and carefully, integrating into an environment whose land—40 percent of it, at least—is protected by the state.
Fitting right into this panorama is the new 80-unit Redfish Village, featuring scenic trails and wooden boardwalks through the dunes; and the future town of Alys Beach, which—like the other coastal communities here—will encourage pedestrian traffic by offering ample walking space through public parks, greens and plazas.
You may not see a “No Stress Allowed” sign here, but it’s definitely implied in places like Seaside, where brick streets are lined by white picket fences that surround cottages and inns pulling double duty as accommodations and cozy meeting venues.
Breakout sessions on the beach? No meeting room has a better view than the pristine settings found along 26 miles of coastline in the Beaches of South Walton.
“Everyone takes great pride in knowing that the Beaches of South Walton have undertaken significant measures to keep the beaches clean and healthy,” says Kriss Titus, executive director of the Walton County Tourist Development Council.
Emerald Coast
The southern seaside towns of Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island offer an enticing blend of serious meeting space and suntanned relaxation, with activities ranging from championship golf to prize-winning fishing and sightseeing cruises, or discovering just how brilliant emerald water looks when paired with gleaming white sands.
Make sure attendees have time for all of the above when they’re not gathering at the Emerald Coast Conference Center—offering 35,000 square feet of flexible meeting space—or one of many resorts with meeting facilities, including the Ramada Plaza Beach Resort, the Holiday Inn of Destin, the Four Points Hotel by Sheraton and the Holiday Surf & Racquet Club.
Coming in spring 2008 and set right across the street from the conference center is the 125-condo Waterscape, a ResortQuest property, one of many in Northwest Florida, including Sundestin Beach Resort and the new Tidewater in Panama City Beach.
“Leisure travel is our primary focus but meetings are the icing on the cake,” reports Joyce Danser, ResortQuest’s director of sales. “We definitely cater to that smaller group.”
Pensacola
Set in the western corner of Northwest Florida, Pensacola’s history goes well beyond Old Florida, back to Old Spain. Founded by Don Tristan de Luna in 1559 and ruled in subsequent years by Spain, France, England, the Confederacy, and the U.S., the “City of Five Flags” maintains a variety of museums, archaeological sites and landmarks that reveal its intriguing heritage.
Pensacola’s military history is fascinating as well, and can be explored at the National Museum of Naval Aviation, which is one of the three largest aviation museums in the world and provides Smithsonian-quality displays on topics ranging from gravity to aerodynamics. Just around the corner, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels practice thrilling aerial maneuvers from their home base in Pensacola.
And as a home base for meetings, the Crowne Plaza Pensacola Grand, the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Pensacola and the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front provide plenty of function space and amenities.
Tallahassee
Capital city of the Sunshine State, Tallahassee makes a natural fit for government and association meetings, while the SMERF market continues to dominate a facilities landscape that is unique in Northwest Florida because so many venues are historic in nature, from the Old Capitol Museum, circa 1902, to the Monticello Opera House, built in 1890 and featuring a downstairs reception hall and second-story theater with near-perfect acoustics.
Not historic enough for you? Try the 17th century Mission San Luis, offering a small meeting room in addition to nature trails and a reconstructed Spanish and Apalachee village.
“You can have a meeting in a great destination and a great attraction at the same time,” says Sharon Liggett, president and CEO of the Tallahassee CVB. “We have to be a little bit more creative because we don’t have the beach. I’ve been at meetings where I’ve literally never left the hotel. Here, you have to get out and about, and that’s nice.”
For More Info
Beaches of South Walton TDC 850.267.1216
www.beachesofsouthwalton.com
Emerald Coast CVB 850.651.7131
www.destin-fwb.com
Panama City Beach CVB 850.233.5070
www.thebeachloversbeach.com
Pensacola Bay Area CVB 850.434.1234
www.visitpensacola.com
Tallahassee Area CVB 850.413.9200
www.seetallahassee.com
