By Lisa Simundson
The news came like a ray of sunshine: another tourism record shattered in Florida.
According to figures released in November by VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official tourism marketing corporation, Florida saw record-breaking visitation numbers in the third quarter of 2024, with an estimated 34.6 million visitors traveling to the Sunshine State, a 1.8 percent increase over Q3 in 2023, making it the highest visitation on record for a third quarter.
And what’s good for tourism in Florida is good for meetings. With a continuous coastline stretching from the Atlantic around to the Gulf of Mexico for 1,350 miles and 20 international airports, plus dozens of regional and executive airports, getting to Florida and then to the water is a breeze, no matter where your group is heading.
Another way to get around the Sunshine State with ease is via Brightline, a high-speed rail seamlessly connecting travelers to top destinations and major events between Central and South Florida (with more destinations on the way). Priding itself on connecting “city pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive,” Brightline has been a game changer for convention-goers and VIPs who can hop on a train in Orlando, have a business lunch or meeting in Miami and make it back to Orlando before dinner. Look for the next stop in 2026—the city of Stuart, in Martin County.
“We are charting a new path for innovation and transportation, and people are responding as we knew they would,” says Brightline CEO Mike Reininger.
Growing, developing, changing, welcoming. Miami through the years has made a stunning transformation, from a seasonal getaway for snowbirds to an international hub for business and technology, manufacturing, trade and, as always, tourism—including group business.
Meetings live large in Greater Miami, from massive citywides taking over the streets of South Beach to miles of trade shows gathering in the Miami Beach Convention Center, which recently emerged from a $640-million renovation and has a Grand Hyatt headquarters hotel in the works.
“What I’m most pleased about is that the most recent conventions and meetings here all have exceeded expectations in terms of attendance,” says David Whitaker, President and CEO of the Greater Miami CVB. “It speaks volumes to the interest in the destination.”
Whitaker says that at the end of the CVB’s fiscal year in October, they’d confirmed 16 new conventions for the newly renovated convention center, on top of the 20 major conventions and trade shows meeting there annually.
“Most importantly, we were able to triple the number of leads generated for future bids,” he says. “We’ve seen an uptick in corporate, tech and international meetings.”
Keeping pace with Miami’s evolving meetings landscape are hotels and resorts catering to the market with major enhancements, including the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach, which celebrated its 70th birthday in December with the opening of the new Coastal Convention Center, spanning five stories with 45,000 sf of meeting and ballroom space.
Meanwhile, the boutique-style Hilton Cabana Miami Beach Resort, set in the Millionaire’s Row neighborhood of Mid-Beach Miami, just emerged from a multimillion-dollar renovation with transformed public spaces, refreshed guest rooms and a reimagined signature dining experience, the Allison Restaurant & Bar. The 231-room oceanfront property offers a 2,400-sf ballroom and outdoor terrace. Also in Mid-Beach, look for the former Confidante Miami Beach to open later this year as the Andaz Miami Beach—the brand’s first Florida property—with 25,000 sf of versatile meeting and event space plus three new dining concepts from the renowned Jose Andres Group.
Heading north to Sunny Isles Beach, the newly opened Sunny—formerly the Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort—is located steps from Miami’s historic Newport Fishing Pier and features 339 rooms, six meeting rooms, six dining spots and an Aveda spa.
Crossing the causeway to the mainland, Downtown Miami’s high-rise towers are ideal for groups who mean business but want the great dining and cultural amenities of a downtown location. Recently renovated, the JW Marriott Marquis Miami boasts 80,000 sf of reimagined meeting space, a refreshed corporate lounge and an Entertainment Complex with bowling and billiards.
Some come to play, some come to stay, but even if you’re here to meet, anyone visiting the Florida Keys gets a temporary reprieve from reality. Trailing for 125 miles off the coast of Florida, the Keys offer a of pause from the daily grind, opening a world of fishing, boating, diving and dining. That’s not to say the Keys don’t have their serious side. From Key Largo to Key West, there are resort-based conference facilities and event venues large and small.
“The Keys are an ideal island destination, typically for 15 to 100 attendees, and provide seamless opportunities to extend mid-week meetings for stays with family or friends,” says Kara Franker, President and CEO of Visit Florida Keys, the operations corporation for the Monroe County Tourist Development Council (TDC).
Though development in the Florida Keys proceeds at a slower pace than on the mainland, there’s a lot going on here.
After seeing an increase of more than 20 percent in airline seat capacity during Q1 of 2024, Key West International Airport has started construction on an expansion at Concourse A, with an overall project completion set for 2026.
On the hotel side, Key Largo’s 200-room Baker Resort—with more than 20,000 sf of meeting and event space—is revitalizing its outdoor rooftop garden to enhance the resort’s garden-to-table fare.
New at the Islamorada Resort Collection, the 214-room Three Waters Resort & Marina, a Tribute Portfolio Resort—Marriott Bonvoy’s first brand in the Keys—has brought the Collection’s room count to 379 and meeting space to 80,000 sf.
The Overseas Highway ends in Key West, where the legendary 311-room Casa Marina Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton has unveiled a new 5,000-sf event lawn and added to its existing 11,000 sf of indoor event space, including the newly enhanced Flagler’s Ballroom.
Just north of Greater Miami, Greater Fort Lauderdale also has big news about its convention center. With a major update and expansion of the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center under its belt, work on the remainder of the $1.3-billion improvement project continues, including the new eastside expansion with waterfront ballrooms, meetings rooms and kitchen facilities, a 6-acre outdoor waterfront plaza and an 801-room, five-story Omni headquarters hotel connected to the convention center and boasting 120,000 sf of its own meeting and event space. Full completion will increase the Convention Center’s size to 1.2 million sf and is expected later this year.
“Our big news is definitely the expansion of the convention center and the new Omni; we’re taking October bookings already,” says Eduardo Zuniga, Group Sales Team Leader at Visit Lauderdale. “We’re showing up more on the radar of meeting planners.”
Adding to that radar presence are major hotel projects including the rebirth of the legendary Pier Sixty-Six Resort, opening this January with 40,000 sf of versatile indoor and outdoor venues—one of Broward County’s largest resort spaces—and positioning the property as a cornerstone for business gatherings, conferences and upscale events.
The resort will boast 325 rooms and suites, a 15,000-sf spa, multi-level pools, 12 dining destinations and one of the largest superyacht marinas on the eastern seaboard. The rotating Pier Top Bar, perched on the 17th floor, offers the city’s only 360-degree panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, making it a unique draw for group outings.
“The Pier Sixty-Six was gutted and put back together to be one of the best meetings properties anywhere,” Zuniga says. “It draws a whole new level of clientele.”
West of the beaches and Downtown Fort Lauderdale is one of the area’s most distinctive landmarks—the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino with its 450-ft-high Guitar Hotel. This massive resort complex boats 1,271 luxury guestrooms, a Rock Spa & Salon; more than 20 F&B outlets; a 26,000-sf retail promenade; an expansive gaming floor and 120,000 sf of meeting and convention space.
Getting in and out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) will get a boost by mid-2026 when the new $404-million Terminal 5 opens. The first newbuild terminal in decades for FLL, Terminal 5 will add gate capacity at FLL that, together with other upcoming capital development projects (earmarked to provide more gates), will better position the airport to meet future aviation demand. Industry forecast models project FLL to grow from 35 million annual passengers today to nearly 52 million within 20 years.
One of the largest counties in the eastern U.S., stretching from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to Lake Okeechobee in the west, the Palm Beaches are known for the elegant resorts on the island of Palm Beach, but there are actually 39 cities and towns here, including West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Jupiter.
The region has seen significant growth in the MICE sector, with recent investments of nearly $1 billion including new hotels with meeting spaces, upgrades to existing spaces and a recent bid won for a second headquarters hotel to be located at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.
“We have so many things happening for meetings, including some new brands to the destination, like Delta Hotels,” says Cristina Segal, Marketing Manager: Meetings, Trade & International for Discover The Palm Beaches. “There are about 16 projects going on, adding more than 2,000 rooms. We’re adding so much more meeting space and amenities, including wellness. We’re welcoming the Eudemonia for the first time as well,” she adds, referring to the inaugural Eudemonia Health Summit, which took place in November in West Palm Beach.
Area hotels are also on board with wellness practices, including the new Amrit Ocean Resort, which observes the five pillars of wellness—mindfulness, nutrition, fitness, relaxation and sleep—that inspire all areas of the property, including the four-floor spa, the 155 wellness-inspired guestrooms, the five dining concepts and the more than 10,000 sf of meeting and event space.
The iconic Boca Raton just debuted a reimagined Beach Club with three private pools, luxury cabanas, new dining experiences and valet service. Resort upgrades include new restaurants, cocktail lounge and cafe, a new fitness facility, dynamic oceanside event spaces and a transformation of guestrooms and suites overlooking a half-mile stretch of private beach. Beach Club’s reimagination marks the second phase of The Boca Raton’s overall $375 million transformation.
Delta Hotels West Palm Beach has debuted as Delta Hotels by Marriott’s first full-service property in South Florida, featuring 199 rooms and 6,000 sf of versatile event space. The property also boasts convenient business “huddles,” which are strategically placed workspaces near the lobby that are conducive to productivity. The hotel provides a complimentary airport shuttle service, and the rooms include ample space for both work and lounging as well as complimentary WiFi and bottled water.
North of West Palm Beach, beautiful Singer Island checks in with the new Singer Oceanfront Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton, offering 223 rooms and suites, multiple onsite dining concepts, a beachfront pavilion and more than 10,000 sf of event space.
Heading north from Palm Beach County, you reach Martin County, set on Florida’s Treasure Coast—so named for the gold doubloons that used to wash ashore (and sometimes still do!) following a shipwreck of a Spanish galleon on its way back to Europe with riches from the New World.
Encompassing the communities of Stuart, Jensen Beach, Indiantown, Jupiter Island, Hobe Sound and Hutchinson Island, among others, Martin County serves up more than 22 miles of uncrowded beaches and more than 100,000 acres of parks and conservation land, plus the most bio-diverse lagoon ecosystem in the Northern hemisphere, the St. Lucie Inlet. Visit discovermartin.com for more on Explore Natural Martin ecotourism initiatives.
Filled with things to do and see—including great dining and plenty of golf—plus a range of hotels serving meetings, this under-the-radar paradise is all within two hours or less driving time of four international airports, in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Orlando. In addition, Brightline has chosen Stuart as the site for its next intercity passenger rail station; the Stuart station is scheduled for the second half of 2026.
For both meetings and incentives, Martin County has many ways to create the ideal group getaway. Inspired by the colors of the coast, the Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa in Jensen Beach, part of the Opal Collection, offers 178 rooms including a range of oceanfront suites with unobstructed views of the Atlantic. Meetings are hosted in more than 8,000 sf of event space while restaurants showcase modern coastal dining.
At the recently renovated Marriott Hutchinson Island Beach Resort, Golf & Marina, groups enjoy an authentic Florida beach experience with 200 acres of lush grounds, curated events and an array of active amenities provided by an 18-hole executive golf course, six pickleball courts, three pools, direct beach access and a private marina. The resort’s 30,000 sf of indoor and outdoor function spaces include 21 event rooms, beachfront spaces and top-tier catering.
Follow the sands north to Daytona Beach, where the newly opened Renaissance by Marriott Daytona Beach Oceanfront offers modern hotel accommodations with private balconies, a high-end seafood restaurant, state-of-the art design, an infinity pool and an oceanfront ballroom with amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Other recent arrivals include the 456-room Daytona Grande oceanfront luxury resort boasting 12,000 sf of event space.
The 200-room Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach recently completed a multimillion renovation with a focus on the popular pool deck, refreshed guestrooms and youth club, and revamped memorabilia throughout the retreat.
If your group has the need for speed, ONE DAYTONA, the world-class dining and entertainment complex across from Daytona International Speedway, has two properties: the 105-room Fairfield Inn & Suites Daytona Beach Speedway/Airport and The DAYTONA, an exclusive four-diamond 144-room Marriott Autograph Collection hotel.
With offshore islands and pristine beaches lining the coast down to Everglades City, inland waterways so remote that kayakers create the day’s only waves, and picture-perfect city-centers ranging from laid-back Marco Island to dazzling downtown Naples, this sunny corner of the state more than lives up to its reputation as a premier destination for meetings and incentives.
“Meeting planners will find a warm welcome here,” says Lisa Chamberlain, Group Sales Manager for Naples Marco Island Everglades CVB. “Best known for our white-sand beaches, luxury amenities and outstanding hospitality, the destination also offers a wide array of activities for relaxation, teambuilding and opportunities to extend your stay after your conference. A fishing excursion in Ten Thousand Islands or playing a round of golf where the pros play is the perfect ending to a productive meeting.”
In September, Naples celebrated the opening of the highly anticipated Great Wolf Lodge—marking the 21st location of the popular water park resort chain and the first one in Florida. The property features a 90,000-sf indoor water park, a 60,000-sf Great Wolf Adventure Park and 500 suites. Located on the eastern edge of Collier County next to the Paradise Coast Sports Complex, Great Wolf also offers 5,400 sf of ballroom space.
Making its debut last fall, the 160-room Perry Hotel Naples offers a modern industrial design and local touches complemented by distinctive F&B venues, ground-level and rooftop pools, a seventh-floor, open-air rooftop bar and a 75-seat restaurant with panoramic views. The hotel faces the Cocohatchee River with direct channel access to the Gulf of Mexico and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park. The hotel offers room blocks for corporate retreats, teambuilding and workshops.
Visitors to Fort Myers and its islands and beaches are always up to something, whether up to their ankles in shells on Sanibel Island or up to their shoulders in the warm crystal waters of the Gulf. With town centers ranging from Estero and Fort Myers Beach to Cape Coral and historic Downtown Fort Myers, groups will find plenty of places to walk and explore while discovering attractions like the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, set on the Caloosahatchee River downtown and welcoming corporate events and tours.
Set in the Downtown River District, the Banyan Hotel Fort Myers, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is within two blocks of the 30,000-sf Caloosa Sound Convention Center.
Next door to the convention center, you’ll find Luminary Hotel & Co., offers meeting space for up to 3,000 attendees, with restaurants, shopping and entertainment within walking distance.
Other meeting properties include the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa with 45,000 sf of event space on the Gulf of Mexico; while corporate and incentive groups alike will love the new Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach, home to flexible meeting areas including the Compass Rose Ballroom and the Sunset Terrace.
For a trip back to old-time Florida, try the newly reopened Gasparilla Inn on Boca Grande, where days are spent breezing around by bike or golf cart to see lighthouses and the historic downtown area. The Inn’s facilities and services can handle meetings of up to 300 attendees and provide AV equipment and Internet access throughout the resort, even at poolside. A conference department can help you plan teambuilding and incentive programs, strategic meetings and management retreats.
Fort Myers’ neighbor to the north, Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach is anchored by charming hometown cities that exemplify the small town/big nature mix prevalent in Southwest Florida, with scores of outdoor activities, including paddling nearly 200 miles of Charlotte Harbor Blueway Trails, taking a swamp buggy tour through the wilderness and teeing off on more than 20 golf courses.
“One of the best things we offer is getting you away from the hustle-bustle of a busy city and its distractions,” says Sean Doherty, tourism director for the Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach VCB. “We’re quieter and off the beaten path, but there are still so many things to do. It’s the best of both worlds.”
Downtown Punta Gorda makes a nice landing spot for meetings, as the 44,000-sf Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center offers panoramic views of the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor, with restaurants, bars, hotels and the charms of Punta Gorda’s historic district within walking distance.
But the one thing that was a game-changer for meeting in this bucolic area of Southwest Florida was the December 2023 opening of the Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor with 785 rooms and suites and 60,000 sf of state-of-the-art meeting spaces including the Great Egret Ballroom and multiple boardrooms and breakouts.
“Once Sunseeker was built, it really allowed us to go after everyone and everything,” Doherty says.
Doherty says Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach has unique flexibility with its resort- and conference center-based event space, especially when it comes to the many sports groups that descend every year.
“The U.S. Sports Congress visited last week and they used different venues in Punta Gorda,” he says. “Also, Fishermen’s Village is just down the road and they have 2-bedroom condo units set just above the shops.”
Doherty says properties in the pipeline include the Boca Grande Peninsula Resort & Marina in Placida, which will sit on 15 acres once home to the Fishery—part of the area’s fishing industry from the 1940s to the ’80s—and will feature 155 rooms and 4,000 sf of meeting space, along with restaurants and a marina.