Hilton Head Island in South Carolina is readily known for its upscale resort communities, array of scenic settings and environmentally friendly regulations that make for a more sustainable meeting.
However, even those planners who have previously held an event on the island should take note, as $400 million in capital reinvestment is being used for resort and community renovations. That amount of money goes a long way on an island that is only 12 miles long and five miles wide.
“If you brought a group here, even five years ago, you’re going to have a completely different experience in the present day,” says Charlie Clark, vice president of communications with the Hilton Head Island Visitor and Convention Bureau. “Resorts here really understand that they always have to keep it fresh and new for visitors and groups meeting on the island.”
An Island Icon
Charles E. Fraser’s development of the Sea Pines Resort in 1956 is what steered Hilton Head on the path to becoming a major tourist draw. In 2015, the 5,000-acre resort is stronger than ever, with a number of new developments catering directly to the meetings community.
Construction on the $12 million Sea Pines Beach Club was completed in September 2014. The two-story, 25,000-square-foot facility provides views of the Atlantic Ocean and distant Tybee Island, and it houses a number of dining and retail options. The first floor includes Coast, a casual beach restaurant and oceanfront bar, while the second floor features the trendier Ocean Lounge area, serving custom cocktails, as well as the Atlantic Room, which offers 40-foot ceilings and 1,900 square feet of function space.
Harbour Town Golf Links at Sea Pines—home of the RBC Heritage PGA golf tournament, which follows the Masters each year—is arguably one of the top golf courses in the nation. So it’s only fitting that the course will receive a new 26,000-square-foot Harbour Town Golf Links Clubhouse that is set to open in April. The facility will also include a 2,200-square-foot banquet and event room.
The Plantation Golf Club is another recent meetings hot spot on the property. It features the Magnolia Room, a 1,900-square-foot meeting and event space, and 4,500 square feet of elevated porch space.
“If you were to do something at each of those venues on three different nights or days, you would feel like you’re at three completely different places,” Clark says.
The Harbour Town Conference Center also revamped its 4,600-square-foot Champions Ballroom, adding new furnishings, flooring, fixtures and window treatments. The ballroom can accommodate up to 600 for a reception. The entire venue offers over 10,000 square feet of space.
For groups seeking luxury, The Inn at Harbour Town is an upscale, 60-room boutique hotel adjacent to the conference center.
In total, Sea Pines Resort features 20,000 square feet of indoor space for meetings, conferences, banquets and other special events, alongside an abundance of fully customizable space for outdoor events.
Other Updates Around the Island
Hilton Head is known as a resort island for a reason and its modern properties provide ideal settings for all types of groups in the 500- to 2,000-person range.
“The island is a great place for groups to recharge, reconnect with colleagues, build relationships and do exactly what corporate and other meetings are intended to do,” Clark says. “It’s also a great location for before and after activities for attendees, and we have a strong return rate for groups.”
The 416-room Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa completed a $30 million top-to-bottom renovation of its facilities and 37,000 square feet of event space. The 13,200-square-foot Grand Ballroom is its largest meeting space, accommodating up to 1,600 for a reception.
The 513-room Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa recently completed a $14 million renovation, which included extensive upgrades to its guest rooms and suites. The property features 46,000 square feet of meeting space and 27 meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 2,000 attendees.
According to Clark, the 340-room Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island remains hot with groups after undergoing a $30 million renovation of its guest rooms and suites, offering 23,000 square feet of function space across six rooms, including the 10,000-square-foot Santee Ballroom.
“It sort of has this Miami meets coastal chic vibe,” Clark says of the Sonesta Resort. “It’s not that traditional Southern, but kind of a hip Southern.”
The 323-room Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort is continuing work on the second phase of a $17 million renovation, set for completion this spring, with upgrades already completed on its front entrance, lobby, meeting facilities, fitness center and Ocean Tides Spa. The resort offers over 20,000 square feet of event space.
Within the community, the Shelter Cove Towne Centre has seen continued development, including the launch of Poseidon Coastal Cuisine & Rooftop Bar in late 2014 for those attendees seeking the nightlife.
