PLENARY Fort Lauderdale

let attendees drink in every ounce of the resort’s ocean views. The Harbor Beach Marriott is also part of the Lauderdale Convention Collection, a program launched earlier this year by the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB that gives planners access to six upscale convention hotels — all within a mile and a half of the BCCC. Created to appeal to citywide groups of up to 2,700 rooms, the program includes discounts and perks such as compli- mentary receptions and meeting space.

Of course, a visit to Fort Lauderdale isn’t complete without a watery diversion or two, and our trip was no exception. We had a whole host of recreational options to choose from — catamaran trips, deep-sea fishing, and water-taxi tours, to name a few. I opted for the water-taxi tour, narrated by an in-the-know local who dished on the celebrity homes and yachts lining the canals and waterways. We ended our trip with an evening aboard the Floridian Princess, one of

the area’s newest luxury charter yachts. The three-hour sunset cruise was leisurely enough to enjoy the views — as well as keep any stomach- flipping seasickness at bay. Equipped with the latest in audiovisual and catering capabilities, the four-level craft can accommodate events from product launches to 400-person banquet dinners. n

— Jennifer N. Dienst

FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.sunny.org and www.ftlauderdalecc.com

www.pcma.org