What's New in Greater Fort Lauderdale
Outstanding Air Access & Value
 A view of Greater Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Intl. Airport |
Travelers arrive and depart the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL) with a sunny disposition, thanks to a welcoming atmosphere designed to make group travel simple and less stressful. There's tropical music at baggage claim, free wireless Internet access in all terminals and red-jacketed, smiling Airport Ambassadors ready and willing to help.
Offering non-stop service to more than 55 U.S. cities and direct international service to Canada, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, Latin and South America, this passenger-friendly airport is located just two miles from the Broward County Convention Center and Port Everglades, and just five minutes from the hotels and resorts on Fort Lauderdale's beautiful beaches. Meeting professionals rave about the excellent air accessibility and quick drives to meeting locations, crediting these as major draws for holding meetings in Greater Fort Lauderdale.
Value is also one of our claims to fame. In addition to coverage with major legacy air carriers like Delta, American and US Airways, more than 55% of our air traffic is provided by "value carriers" like JetBlue, Southwest and AirTran. With lower ticket costs and lower per-passenger seat expenses, this means big savings for group travelers.
With a great atmosphere, convenient location and big values, FLL has been noted as one of the country's fastest-growing airports, ranking 19th in the U.S. and 54th worldwide in terms of passenger volume in 2009. And, air travel has continued to grow in 2010 over 2009, up almost 10%, putting Fort Lauderdale in the top five in terms of nationwide growth and No. 1 in Florida.
Visit sunny.org/visitors/airport for more information on getting your meeting attendees or convention delegates to Fort Lauderdale.
Meetings with a View
 A view from the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Pier Top Lounge |
Meeting professionals know that the right setting is a key element in inspiring attendees and attracting exhibitors and delegates. In Greater Fort Lauderdale, ideal meeting and event settings with inspirational views are everywhere you look. Your group might choose an oceanfront view of our clean, sparkling Blue Wave-certified beaches from hotels and resorts along Fort Lauderdale Beach; a view of Port Everglades and the world's largest cruise ship from the Broward County Convention Center; or an idyllic yacht harbor vista, just across the street from the Center at Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina.
For panoramic views, an event at the Pier Top Ballroom – the "timeless crown" at the top of the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six Resort & Spa – never fails to impress. The rotating ballroom reveals stunning views of the Atlantic, Intracoastal Waterway and moonlit sky as the floor slowly circulates every 66 minutes.
A view of manicured championship greens and pristine lakes can be enjoyed at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa and Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center & Spa. When it comes to lush landscaping, the view from the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens' historic, art-filled estate and 35 acres of tropical gardens is hard to beat. Acres of waterfalls and tropical gardens are home to thousands of brilliantly hued butterflies, hummingbirds, fish and even an insectarium at Butterfly World. At Flamingo Gardens, Wray Botanical Collection, exotic and native plants plus more than 70 species of native birds live harmoniously while elegant Caribbean flamingos steal the show.
From any viewpoint, inspirational settings incorporating the sea, the sky and Florida's spectacular nature are the norm for Greater Fort Lauderdale meetings and events. Contact the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau for more information and assistance with Meetings With a View.
Reconnect in a Culturally Diverse Setting
 Reconnecting with all cultures |
Greater Fort Lauderdale extends a standing invitation for family, old friends, new friends, military buddies and schoolmates looking to reconnect. A diverse array of options appeal to all cultures and budgets, and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau provides tips on planning a reunion and an opportunity to order personalized T-shirts for your clan.
Groups can catch up and reminisce in a natural oasis at John U. Lloyd Beach State Park in Dania Beach. Boating, surf-fishing, canoeing, kayaking, shore diving and snorkeling on a coral reef provide fun for all ages. Take your pick from 19 regional parks that offer shelters, gazebos, outdoor amphitheaters and community centers available for picnics and celebrations from 20 to 400.
Take advantage of great rates on guest rooms at hotels and resort properties – find Sunsational Savings at sunny.org/meetings/deals. Be sure to let the hotel know if your group requires 10 rooms or more, since you may qualify for special rates.
For something different and undoubtedly memorable, plan your reunion around a special event or festival that celebrates your group's heritage or shared interest. Check out the year-round schedule of Fort Lauderdale events, including multicultural events. Or research the family tree at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center. The area's museums, restaurants and sports facilities (such as the Central Broward Regional Park Cricket Stadium) represent African American, Caribbean, Hispanic, Asian, Seminole heritage and more.
The fun never stops in Greater Fort Lauderdale. For the wagering type in your group, don't forget to add thoroughbred horse racing at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino; Las Vegas-style casino gambling at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Hollywood; the fast-paced excitement of Dania Jai-Alai and much more to your Greater Fort Lauderdale reunion itinerary.
SITE Makes a Splash in Fort Lauderdale
 A view from the new Ocean Terrace at Harbor Beach Marriott Harbor |
Greater Fort Lauderdale recently welcomed a group of incentive suppliers and planners to their sunny shores to "unfurl their sails" at the SITE (Society of Incentive & Travel Executives) Summer Splash. The event was held at the new W Fort Lauderdale.
Participants enjoyed an all-day educational program featuring keynote speaker Peter Yesawich, Y Partnership Chairman and Chief Executive, and presentations by Fay Beauchine, President of SITE International Foundation and President of Carlson Marketing Worldwide – Engagement and Events; Richard Weinstein, Trustee, Incentive Research Foundation; and Brenda Anderson, CEO of SITE Global.
Rounding out the knowledge-filled day, participants soaked up a fascinating 360-degree panel discussion about The Value of Incentives, representing perspectives from an award trip-earner, an incentive buyer from Bacardi USA Inc., Maritz Travel, meeting and travel planners from BCD Meetings & Incentives, and representatives of Universal Hotels.
Not to miss this opportunity to explore the area, planners were invited by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau to participate in an exciting Destination Preview in the days prior to and after the SITE event. The Destination Preview focused on many of the destination's incentive award travel-worthy properties and activities. On the agenda were admiring Atlantic Ocean views from the new Ocean View Terrace at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, and watching yachts sail along the Intracoastal Waterway from the brand-new Aizia Restaurant at The Westin Diplomat Landing. Planners also boarded the Emerald Princess at Port Everglades for a special tour featuring a show. They left with great ideas, experiences and new friends.
The Allure of "The Glades"
 The mysterious Everglades |
The Florida Everglades is a place of mystery and history. This unique ecosystem is home to exotic wildlife, the Seminole Indian tribe, and recently, the new A&E television show "The Glades." Greater Fort Lauderdale was chosen as the film site for this crime drama when it's not being shot on location in the Everglades.
Nikki Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, said she hopes "The Glades" can become Broward County's signature show, the same way "Burn Notice" captures Miami and South Beach.
Groups can easily have their own Glades experience just a 20-minute drive from Greater Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. They can glide through the swamp on an airboat (or trekthrough on a swamp buggy) and discover Florida panthers, wild boars, assorted reptiles and, of course, alligators.
Attendees can be introduced to the rich history and culture of the Seminole Tribe at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum in the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation. Exhibits and artifacts tell the story of Seminole life in the Everglades, and the film "We Seminoles" describes the tribe's struggle to remain in Florida. Groups can take a nature walk to a living village, and meetings and events can be held in on-site facilities.
Featured Planner, Howard Wise
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Woodland Hills, CA
Meeting planner and California native Howard Wise has been planning meetings and incentives for six years, with 20 years of experience in the travel industry. Los Angeles-based Creative Travel Planners handles up to 10 programs per year, including corporate meetings and association and incentive programs.
In January of this year, Howard brought a group of 100 young physicians to the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort for an educational program. "This group was here in 2008, 2009, 2010 and will be back in 2011," Wise said. "With most attendees coming from cold weather climates, they really enjoy the warm January temperatures in Fort Lauderdale."
What makes Fort Lauderdale and the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort so attractive is the user-friendly airport and the extremely quick transport from the airport to beach hotels, only a 15-minute drive. The hotel location is also a hit with attendees – with a very limited bit of free time after meetings, they can walk across the street to Fort Lauderdale Beach or to over 45 dining and entertainment options within walking distance along A1A.
"Going back each year makes the program run so much smoother, since I am running the program without any on-site assistance and need to depend on the Hilton staff to act as my team, which they do superbly," Wise said. "Event Services Manager Tiffany McEllin, who has recently received a well-deserved promotion to Sales Manager, knows our program and always provides stellar service. And during our January meeting, Banquet Captain Milan Veinovic was invaluable to our successful program. With no on-site staff of my own, the efficient design of the Hilton allows me to run the meeting easily. The guest-room product is very nice and enables our attendees to share accommodations comfortably with a kitchenette and bathroom privacy. I've found even in high season hotel group rates have been reasonable."
When it comes to events, Wise tries to keep his attendees outside whenever possible. Outdoor lunches and poolside receptions around the Hilton's 6th-floor pool overlooking pristine Atlantic beaches were built into the agenda, while a sandcastle-sculpture teambuilding event on Fort Lauderdale Beach brought out the group's competitive side as beachgoers cheered them on.
Like many meeting professionals, Wise does not get a chance to leave the hotel very often while running a program, so he decided to attend the July SITE (Society of Incentive & Travel Executives) Summer Seminar and stay for the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB's Destination Preview. "The SITE Seminar was very informative, and we're especially proud that Creative Travel Planners vice president Gabriel Haigazian is the current SITE Southern California president-elect," Wise said. "Participating in the Destination Preview was a great way to see other Fort Lauderdale hotels and the numerous meeting and incentive options in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area."
