OMING OFFAYEAR INWHICH IT HELPED host two of America’s biggest events— the Super Bowl and the NFLPro Bowl—
Greater Fort Lauderdale is in high gear, ready to welcome groups of all sizes and requirements. Accessibility, diversity,and value define Greater
Fort Lauderdale.The Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is serviced by 26 air- lines with nearly 340 flights per day, includingnew service on Virgin America from Los Angeles and San Francisco,and on JetBlue from San Francisco. A conveniently located, state-of-the-art, award- winning convention center is ideally situated on the majestic IntracoastalWaterway, only three miles from FLL. Greater Fort Lauderdale’s hotel product —
more than 610 hotels, resorts,and SuperiorSmall Lodging properties—is ideal for meetings large and small, with everything from airport hotels to five-star brands. New and improved choices keep coming: Fort Lauderdale’s beachfront hotel transforma- tion continues with the launch of thenew“Laud- erdale Luxe Collection” (www.sunny.org/ luxe), which includes 13 destination properties that all have four-star, four-diamond rankings, full- service restaurants, and on-premises spa or dedicated/contracted spa services. Collection members includeTheAtlantic Hotel;Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa; Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort; Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina;Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six Resort&Spa;Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center&Spa;Lago Mar Resort&Club;The Pillars atNewRiver Sound;The Ritz-Carlton,Fort Lauderdale;Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino;W Fort Lauderdale; TheWestin Beach Resort, Fort Lauderdale; and TheWestin Diplomat Resort & Spa. The Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel (www.sheratonhotels.com/fortlauderdale), formerly the SheratonYankee Clipper, reopened in January after a $30-million renovation and revival.The hotel is also introducing a new Sher- aton Core Fitness Center, and major upgrades are under way for the property’s 7,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and 5,600 square feet of outdoor event space.
86 pcma convene March 2010
Balmy Beach DestinationWelcomes Fresh Supply of Meeting Hotels
As part of a $50-million renovation, the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa (www. marriottharborbeach) debuted a new ocean- front ballroom in January.The 10,000-square-foot facility is large enough to accommodate nearly
1,000 people theater-style and more than 450 people classroom-style.A wall made entirely of glass serves as a virtual window to the ocean and to the resort’s private beach. Last year the Sheraton Yankee Trader Hotel underwent a dramatic,multimillion-dollar trans- formation; it has since reopened as TheWestin Beach Resort, Fort Lauderdale (www.star woodhotels.com). The property offers more than 32,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including a 10,000-square-foot ballroom, for groups of up to 900 people, and the Sunrise Terrace, with more than 6,300 square feet of space and inspiring Atlantic Ocean views. The $205-millionWFort Lauderdale (www. whotels.com/fortlauderdale)—a member of StarwoodHotels&Resorts’ prestigious Luxury Col- lection—opened this past year. Situated on a 4.5- acre site,the property offers dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the IntracoastalWaterway. There are a wealth of new hotels conveniently located near the airport, Port Everglades,and the Broward County Convention Center (BCCC), including the 157-room Fairfield Inn & Suites
WATER,WATER EVERYWHERE:
With 300-plus miles
of inland waterways and nearly 50,000 registered yachts, Greater Fort Laud- erdale offers end- less opportunities for a meeting or reception on the
deep blue seas (left). With an average temperature of 77
degrees year-round, evening receptions
poolside overlooking Greater Fort Laud-
erdale’s beaches are the perfect way to start or end a con- ference (right).