Arkansas
- The local airport commission voted to rename Little Rock Airport Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, pending approval from the FAA. The decision was made to honor the couple’s numerous accomplishments and ties to the state, where Bill served as governor before being elected President. The airport’s identification code will not change. For more information, visit www.fly-lit.com.
Florida
- The new Honey Lake Plantation Resort & Spa in Greenville is easily accessible to groups from the Southeast, and the wooded lakefront location allows for privacy for board meetings and corporate retreats. The property was purchased by multimillionaire software developer Bob Williamson and underwent a $40 million reinvigoration. A ballroom, banquet room, executive boardroom and outdoor pavilion round out the 21,000 square feet of meeting space. Honey Lake can accommodate 500 daytime attendees and 80 overnight guests in luxury guest rooms. Outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing allow groups to take advantage of the 4,700 acres of nature, and a smokehouse on the property will prepare the day’s catch for dinner. For more information, call 850.948.9911 or visit www.honeylakeplantation.com.
- Crestline Hotels & Resorts announced the completion of an $8 million redesign of the Singer Island Oceanfront Resort in Palm Beaches, aimed at preparing the resort to better serve the upscale leisure and meetings markets. All 222 guest rooms were remodeled with new spa-style bathrooms. With newly renovated meeting rooms and the addition of the oceanfront Mizzen Room, the resort can accommodate 100 to 250 event guests. For more information, call 561.848.3888 or visit at www.hilton.com.
- The former Sheraton Safari Hotel and Suites in Orlando is now the Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort. The property underwent a $25 million renovation, revamping all 490 guest rooms and adding the new Top of the Palms spa and Zest restaurant. The 6,000-square-foot Royal Palm Ballroom, part of the resort’s 13,000 square feet of meeting space, was modernized. Transportation to Walt Disney World theme parks is complimentary. For more information, visit www.sheratonlakebuenavistaresort.com.
Georgia
- JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead’s $12 million renovation modernized the property’s guest rooms, restaurant and concierge lounge. It also added 2,300 square feet of meeting space to the existing 21 meeting rooms, which include a 9,000-square-foot ballroom. Buckhead is a bustling, upscale dining, nightlife and shopping district. For more information, call 404.262.3344 or visit www.jwmarriottbuckhead.com.
- Opening in late 2012, the Augusta Trade, Exhibit and Event Center (TEE) will be connected to the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center, about 150 miles east of Atlanta. With 38,000 square feet of new meeting space, the TEE Center will significantly increase local event capacity and complement the city’s 6,000 hotel rooms. The TEE Center is available for booking, with events scheduled for January 2013. For more information, visit www.augustateecenter.com.
Louisiana
- The French Quarter’s Bourbon Orleans Hotel unveiled a $17 million makeover. Upgrades were made to both the interior and exterior of the hotel, including improvements to its 218 guest rooms and 28 balcony suites. Function rooms provide space for up to 300 attendees and an outdoor courtyard seats 180. For more information, call 504.523.2222 or visit www.bourbonorleans.com.