No man is an island. Despite lightning-fast Internet connections, satellite videoconferencing and near-universal cell phone coverage—allowed now even on some airline flights—nothing can replace the in-person human dynamic. What better place to foster real group connections than an island, where every glimpse of the shoreline is a reminder that we have crossed the water and gathered together for a purpose?
Hilton Head Island is 55 square miles of shoe-shaped land off the coast of South Carolina between Savannah and Charleston. Developed as a resort destination starting in the 1950s by environmentalist Charles Fraser, the island has carefully maintained a balance between natural and man-made elements. Today, Hilton Head Island is a byword for upscale leisure tourism, eco-friendly planning and championship golf.
The island town’s meeting capacity tops out at 2,000 for citywide events, but its ethos truly fosters gatherings of 500 or fewer focused on relationship building, training, strategic planning and social connections.
"You have all the convenience of a wired and sophisticated destination, but you also have a community that has a allowed you to step back from the hustle-bustle of everyday life and connect in a very fruitful and collaborative way during your meeting," says Susan Thomas, vice president of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Visitor and Convention Bureau. "Hilton Head Island is a place where a meeting can be held both on the grid and off the grid."
Unsurprisingly, Hilton Head Island has drawn distinguished emigrants from all over the U.S. and the world with its mild weather, beaches, golf courses and pleasant lifestyle. Recently, the bureau has sought to leverage this intellectual and cultural capital in the meetings market.
"We’re looking to develop a go-to think-tank destination positioning for Hilton Head Island so people will think of us a great place to come for strategic positioning, collaborative board meetings, innovative thinking, creativity, relationship building," Thomas says. "There’s a talent pool that we’re looking to connect meeting attendees with. We can provide dynamic speakers and other resources for meetings very easily without having to fly someone in."
The bureau has also had great success with a new way to connect attendees with the Hilton Head Island community. In 2010, it kicked off a new turnkey corporate social responsibility program called Hilton Head Island Difference. Developed in concert with the United Way and local charity Community Foundation of the Low Country, the program pairs a visiting group with a worthy cause for socially valuable team-building opportunities.
Activities can be two hours, a half-day or a full-day and range from reseeding oyster beds in the Calibogue Sound and a river clean-up project in kayaks to building a rain garden. Ideal for groups from five to 500, the program can provide lunches, custom logo T-shirts and transportation. Response from planners has been enthusiastic.
"It’s been very popular with groups to incorporate into their itineraries as a chance to give back to the local communities they’re visiting," Thomas says. "It helps the groups meet their organizational goals for CSR and helps these charities in their missions. They take home an experience they’re not likely to forget."
Gated communities, including several resorts, cover about 70 percent of the island. These properties provide most of the island’s meeting space. The 5,000-acre Sea Pines Resort is home to Harbour Town and its iconic red- and white-striped lighthouse. The AAA Four Diamond-rated property offers 17,000 square feet of indoor meeting space. Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa boasts more than 30,000 square feet of meeting space and 412 guest rooms. Crowne Plaza Resort Hilton Head Island offers 20,000 square feet of event space and 340 guest rooms. Hilton Oceanfront Resort provides 15,000 square feet of indoor space and 10,000 square feet of open-air event area. The 2,000-acre Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort can welcome groups as large as 150 for events.
The nearby town of Bluffton, situated on bluffs overlooking the May River, is a good choice for interesting off-site meetings. Its antebellum history and famously delicious oysters are worth a visit, and the Inn at Palmetto Bluff offers a riverside ballroom large enough for 175 and a 48-person wine cellar perfect for tastings.
The 68-acre Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn welcomes the public to learn about the natural and cultural history of the Lowcountry. The property offers a historic plantation, guided walks and fascinating exhibits. There is a 4,000-squre-foot pavilion for events as well as other indoor and outdoor spaces.
Sailing is a popular and environmentally friendly way to explore the coast off Hilton Head Island and spot dolphins frolicking in their natural habitat. The 53-foot Pau Hana is a catamaran offering chartered sunset cruises for groups as large as 49. The faster, smaller Flying Circus catamaran can host six and features an on-deck trampoline. Both sail daily from Palmetto Bay Marina.
Outdoor adventures can take a turn for the delicious on fishing charters with Shelter Cove Marina Fishing Charters. Four different boats can take small groups—three to six—out to catch seasonal fish such as sea bass or king mackerel or even go crabbing on the Crabber J . Crab excursions are catch-and-release, but the crew tallies which participant captures the most blue crabs and declares a winner at the end of each excursion. Larger fishing parties are welcome on the 70-foot Captain Hook.
Golf is a can’t-miss group activity on the island. With 30 championship golf courses in the area, there are choices to satisfy all skill levels. Among the top public courses are at Sea Pines Resort’s Harbour Town Golf Links, designed by Pete Dye; the Robert Trent Jones-designed oceanfront course at Palmetto Dunes; and the Barony Course at Port Royal Golf Club.
Gullah (also called Geechee) culture has thrived on Hilton Head Island ever since freed slaves flocked there during the Civil War. This distinctive tradition, descended from West African culture, is possibly best experienced by visitors through its zesty cuisine. Roastfish & Cornbread is a restaurant offering authentic Gullah dishes and banquet space for 20.
Groups as large as 25 can also enjoy a guided walking tour along the Gullah Heritage Trail narrated by native Gullah guides. The two-hour tour weaves through Gullah villages, across a public beach and past plantation ruins.
In addition, the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina hosts events celebrating Gullah food and music throughout the year. The center is available for rental to groups as large as 349.
Although meetings on the island took a hit during recent years of belt-tightening, the industry is beginning to see a rebound.
"Thankfully, we have begun to see some growth in the short-term corporate and incentive groups shopping the island," says Larry Walker, general manager of Meeting Dynamics, the leading DMC based on the island. "Hilton Head was designed to accommodate this market segment, and all of the group recreation and dining venues will benefit from the return of these guests."
Hilton Head Island’s warm and personal touch is more universally appealing than ever as the bureau finds new ways for groups to connect with the island and with each other.
"Coming out of this recession, what we’re looking to do is to up the ante of the value-added proposition," Thomas says. "We live in a technically pervasive society and depend more and more on digital format, but we continue to yearn for human contact. I see Hilton Head Island’s future as being very bright because we can deliver on both of those areas."
Kelly Crumrin is a frequent contributor to
Meetings Focus South.
