[ON LOCATION] PALOMA VILLAVERDE DE RICO
Prevue headed to Ocala, Florida, last month for the annual Florida Encounter trade show, which brings meeting professionals and media to the Sunshine State for one-on-one-appointments with Florida suppliers. Choosing Ocala for this year’s event was a way for VISIT FLORIDA to showcase the state’s varied tourism offerings beyond its flagship destinations. While in Ocala, we got a taste of what attendees can expect, from its equestrian offerings to those magnificent springs…and kayaking in a canyon (yes, in Florida!).
One of the top places for hosting meetings and events in Ocala is the World Equestrian Center (WEC), the largest equestrian complex in the U.S., with two exposition centers totaling over 250,000 sf of indoor space—this is where Florida Encounter’s daytime meetings and appointments took place. At WEC, groups will also find two boutiquey properties—the 390-room Riding Academy Hotel and the 248-room Equestrian Hotel. The latter property features a stunning lobby with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and artwork that pays homage to the equestrian life, exquisite furnishings, spacious guestrooms, a patisserie, a fine dining restaurant, a lively gastro pub, a retro toy shop, a fab spa, plus other offerings.
Embracing the surroundings, Florida Encounter kicked off with a glamorous Derby Day-themed event at the WEC’s 128,000-sf Grand Outdoor Arena, which sits adjacent to the four-diamond Equestrian Hotel. Fun highlights were the two Clydesdales horses that trotted around the arena, all the colorful hats and fascinators, the cigar station and the array of F&B options.
To welcome even more groups to its 2,000-acre property, WEC is building the 180,000-sf, 4-story Event Center adjacent to the Riding Academy Hotel. Set to open later this year, it will offer over 80,000 sf of traditional meeting space and bring four additional dining concepts to the property, including two rooftop restaurants and bars. Features include grand and junior ballrooms, meeting rooms, pre-function space, banquet space, covered balconies, an expansive outdoor event lawn and a pavilion.
Groups will want to embrace the destination’s natural wonders. A great first stop for teambuilding is The Canyons Zip Line and Adventure Park, one of Florida’s most unique attractions because it’s located in an old limestone quarry, originally used back in the 1910s and 1920s for mining purposes. Now groups will find two canyons and four lakes, with Florida’s highest, fastest and longest zipline tours. For groups looking for a more peaceful adventure, we recommend a guided scenic kayak tour that meanders through Big Cliff Canyon on Lost Spring Lake, paddling around cliff walls. And of course, there are also horseback riding tour options.
Another must-visit is the area’s famous Silver Springs State Park, considered Florida’s first attraction due to its famed glass-bottom boat tours, whose invention harks back to the late-1870s. Today, visitors to the park can take strolls along picturesque nature trails, go kayaking, canoeing or paddleboarding. Planners should make time for groups to take one of the glass-bottom boat tours with views of the underwater life and the many springs that feed the Silver River.
Florida is known for its charming historic centers and Ocala’s downtown is no exception, with groups having the option of taking a historic walking tour where they’ll find out why Ocala is dubbed the “Brick City.” For group gatherings, Downtown Ocala’s Bank Street Patio Bar & Grill is a trendy option with indoor and outdoor spaces. For a small group dinner, the stylish Ivy House restaurant serves homemade Southern cooking with a flair.
ocalamarion.com/meetings-events
