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Convention Center Prepping for LEED® Certification
A green goal in Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County.
The SMG-managed Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center is showing its commitment to green meetings with an ambitious goal: to become a Silver LEED-EB (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design – Existing Building) Certified building by Summer 2011. To achieve this prestigious international designation, the Center has implemented both interior and exterior sustainable programs as outlined by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Achieving Silver LEED status requires meeting a comprehensive set of strict criteria. The Center has been busy complying with programs for sustainable recycling, energy and water conservation, and environmentally friendly operations and food and beverage programs. The efforts will ensure that meetings and conventions held here will truly be "green" gatherings.
"Going green is a lifestyle change, not a fad diet," said SMG Regional General Manager Mark Gatley. "It's a complete lifestyle makeover that involves the way we work and the countless decisions we make at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center every day, from energy and water efficiency and recycling to landscaping with native and adaptive plants, the products we purchase and more. The Broward County Board of County Commissioners and Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau continue to support our efforts every step of the way."
"Experiencing this vision become a reality as our Convention Center moves closer to LEED certification is even more exciting than I thought it could be," said Nicki Grossman, President/CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention & Visitors Bureau. "We are positioning ourselves as a 'LEEDer' among convention centers with a truly state-of-the-art facility in a fantastic destination."
With 600,000 square feet of space to cover, this project is no easy task. For example, the recycling effort goes beyond just setting out bins. All materials left behind after conventions – including wood pallets, carpet and packing materials – are recycled. Unused pre-consumer meals are donated to local food banks. A new high-volume organic waste decomposition system "digests" organic food waste. Up to 200 pounds of food waste per hour is processed into potable water, reducing food waste by 90%.
Other efforts include installing water-saving devices in all restrooms, upgrading the building's air cooling systems and a retrofit of all of the lighting to newer, more energy-efficient technology, that will also add significant improvement to the exhibit halls and other areas of the building. The Center has also purchased Renewable Energy Certificates that have a similar impact to not driving 21,145,089 miles or planting more than 85,000 mature trees over a two-year period, making the Center "100% carbon neutral." Exterior efforts include landscaping with indigenous plants that don't require much water. A new high-efficiency irrigation system has cut water usage by 50%.
"The project started on a small scale as Center employees implemented sustainable practices," said Jerry Braud, Director of Operations at the Convention Center. "We decided to formalize the process and called in Julia Johnson, LEED AP+ of Sustainable Options, LLC, Green Building Consultants to bring the plan forward."
The LEED project officially kicked-off in April 2009 and has been unfolding behind the scenes with no disruption to meetings or conventions. The project poses bigger challenges for an existing building than for new construction, which incorporates standards from the ground up. In addition to the capital projects already on the books, approximately $2 million dollars have been invested in this project so far.
Meeting professionals holding programs at the center have offered encouragement regarding the project.
Low Bed Tax Adds Real Value
Meeting professionals can save big – Lauderdale-style.
Style. Substance. AND Savings. Not only can meeting professionals find great year-end rates and winter values at Fort Lauderdale's impressive portfolio of meeting properties, but they can also take advantage of one of the lowest guest room taxes in the country.
In August, the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) Foundation released a report citing Fort Lauderdale as having the lowest general sales taxes and discriminatory travel taxes among U.S. central cities. This annual study focused on the top 50 U.S. travel destinations and was based on hotels, car rental and meal taxes.
When sourcing a meeting in a lot of destinations, many planners have been pleased to secure a great room rate, only to be disappointed with a high bed tax and other fees having a negative impact on attendees' overall expenses. This is definitely not the case in Greater Fort Lauderdale, as the NBTA report shows. This meeting-friendly city offers budget-stretching hotel meeting deals, plus an accessible airport featuring value carriers such as JetBlue, Southwest and Spirit, traditional carriers and a drive just minutes to area hotels. The value that you can get for your meeting in Greater Fort Lauderdale is as clear as the sparkling waters of Fort Lauderdale's beaches.
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau meetings team would love to hear from you and tell you more about why Greater Fort Lauderdale is a smart and stylish choice for your next meeting.
Fort Lauderdale Celebrates 100th Birthday in 2011
The city celebrates its past, present and future with a year of exciting events.
Big plans are in place for the City of Fort Lauderdale's Centennial Celebration. Although the city's official birthday is not until March 2011, festivities will begin in late 2010 with a "Light Up the Beach" event in November, the unveiling of the official centennial poster on December 9 and the 39th Annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade on December 11.
The Centennial Celebration will focus on Fort Lauderdale's history since incorporation 100 years ago. Events will continue throughout 2011, highlighted by a day-long outdoor birthday bash on March 27 and the special unveiling of a state historical marker commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Fort Lauderdale Beach wade-in, a historic moment in civil rights history. Smaller citywide events will be ongoing, all culminating in a New Year's Eve 2011 extravaganza. Meeting professionals can make their groups feel part of the celebration by adding to the agenda local speakers who present interesting aspects of Fort Lauderdale history.
In downtown's Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District, The Fort Lauderdale History Center pays homage to the city's roots, from pioneers to present-day. The fascinating evolution from Tequesta Indian village to the vibrant modern city known as "The Venice of America" is an interesting journey, especially since this area originally known as New River Settlement was barely developed until the 20th century. The name Fort Lauderdale was not used until the Second Seminole War from 1835-1842, when it was the site of U.S. military forts.
Las Olas Boulevard – famous for its exciting dining, nightlife, art galleries and boutiques – played a major role in the history of Fort Lauderdale. It began as the main access route to the city's renowned beaches in 1917 (fittingly, Las Olas is Spanish for "the waves"). In the heart of Las Olas, the elegant, iconic Riverside Hotel dates back to 1936, making it the city's oldest hotel.
Fort Lauderdale has come a long way in the last 100 years. Within this metamorphosis, creating a premier destination for meetings and conventions has definitely been part of the vision. Groups will find a highly accessible airport that offers 339 flights a day to 59 domestic and 38 international cities. Planners can stretch the transportation budget with a variety of value carriers that service Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, as well as save on airport transportation – the airport is only three miles from the 600,000-square-foot Broward County Convention Center, major hotels and Port Everglades.
Meeting hotels abound, and the evolution continues as premier hotels and resorts are added to the beachfront inventory. Contact the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau meetings team to find out more about the Centennial Celebration and what's new in Greater Fort Lauderdale.
Winter Buzz: Vatican Splendors & More
Winter is anything but sleepy in event-filled Fort Lauderdale.
Chosen as one of only three U.S. locations for this international exhibition, Greater Fort Lauderdale will host Vatican Splendors: Art & Faith at Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale. Opening January 29, 2011, the exhibition features more than 200 works of art and religious and historical artifacts, many of which have never been seen in North America. Spanning 2,000 years and sorted by era, the collection includes masterpieces by Michelangelo, Bernini and other masters from the 15th century. The exhibition has achieved record-setting success in international locations and will be on display until May 8, 2011. Group tickets are available, and the museum also offers distinctive meeting and event venues that are available for a unique off-site event.
Greater Fort Lauderdale is known as the Boating Capital of the World, so it's only appropriate that the 39th Annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade be part of the winter festivities. On December 11, thousands of boats, ships and even kayaks will be festooned with bright holiday lights for a 12-mile sail from the waterways of downtown Fort Lauderdale to Pompano Beach. USA Today named this event one of the "Top 20 Parades in the World," and it attracts about a million spectators. The theme of this year's parade is "Dancing Through the Decades," and it officially kicks off Fort Lauderdale's Centennial Celebration.
For a change of pace, groups can step back into medieval times at the Florida Renaissance Festival on weekends from February 12 through March 13, plus President's Day, February 21. Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach is the setting for this annual event where knights of old battle, feasting is the thing and more than 100 merchants and artisans peddle their wares.
Contact the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau for more information on these events.
Fort Lauderdale Meetings Properties: A Snapshot
A round-up of meeting-worthy properties reveals some exciting new options.
Greater Fort Lauderdale boasts 33,000 guest rooms throughout the destination. Of this total, 10,000 guest rooms are found at hotels and resorts ideal for meetings and conventions. The past few years have brought an influx of new properties and renovations that have transformed the destination and added to the already impressive collection along Fort Lauderdale Beach and in the destination.
In 2010, the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel, previously the Sheraton Yankee Clipper, emerged from a comprehensive restoration, and the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa debuted a new 10,000-square-foot oceanfront ballroom and a rejuvenated main lobby. In 2009, W Fort Lauderdale – the largest W and only beachfront property in the chain – arrived on A1A and The Westin Beach Resort & Spa, Fort Lauderdale opened its doors for meetings with a brand new 30,000-square-foot conference center.
Be first to experience hospitality the way it should be – debuting B OCEAN FORT LAUDERDALE December 2010. The flagship of the innovative B Hotels & Resorts, the hotel sets a new standard in hospitality through combining unique elements from life-style brands with the ability to personalize and customize their individual experience – thus creating a brand of Self-Expression Hospitality. This approachable brand and new hotel boasts 240 guest rooms and suites – all with unobstructed panoramic ocean views, free WiFi throughout the entire property including guest rooms, signature sushi restaurant, full-service B'stro, Spa Suite, Infinite pool with private cabanas, fitness center and more. Convenient location to the central business district, Port Everglades and airport. And of course the invigorating sounds of the Atlantic are just across the street.
And if you're looking for space for a larger convention, Greater Fort Lauderdale has an impressive Convention Collection comprised of just under 3500 rooms all within two miles of the 600,000-square-foot Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center and just five minutes from Greater Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. Among the first-class properties making up the Collection, the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six Resort & Spa, Embassy Suites Fort Lauderdale and Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Port Everglades Hotel are great options for headquarters hotels – just ½ mile from the Center. Just five minutes north on Fort Lauderdale Beach, boutique property Atlantic Hotel, the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, the Lago Mar Resort and Club and The Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale line famed Atlantic Shores. Nearby properties include the Riverside Hotel on Las Olas Boulevard and Gallery One – A Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel, which overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway.
Hollywood...Florida that is, offers a star-studded cast of meeting properties and off-site entertainment and venues, including the oceanfront Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, where more than 1,000 guest rooms and 216,500 square feet of meeting space are found, with the area's largest ballroom at 50,000 square feet. Either the Hollywood Beach Marriott or Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach are a great fit for smaller groups looking for oceanfront or IntraCoastal accommodations in this area, and the five-year-old Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Hollywood offers accommodations, meeting space, a Las Vegas-style casino and Seminole Paradise, an entertainment, dining and retail complex attached to the hotel complete with a 5,000-seat arena. This historic area offers everything from a vibrant downtown district with a renowned Arts and Culture Center, and a two-mile Beach Broadwalk, named one of America's Best Beach Boardwalks by Travel & Leisure in 2010.
Stylish suburban settings are available at the Hilton Deerfield Beach and the Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Plantation Hotel, with conference centers and golf also on-site at the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center & Spa in Weston and the Coral Springs Marriott Hotel, Golf Club & Convention Center.
From Superior Small Lodgings to Lauderdale Luxe, the choices are many – and sure to fit any group or budget. If you're looking for some valuable meeting deals, check them out for your next meeting or conference.
Featured Planner: Maria Rosa-Madruga, CMP, CMM
Senior Group Manager of Corporate Events, Ingram Micro
Santa Ana, California
Twenty-six years ago, before meeting planners became an asset to the corporate world, Maria was asked to plan a themed reception and trade show for 25 vendors and 75 customers for Ingram Micro. Today, Maria is the company's Senior Group Manager of Corporate Events and leads a team of meeting professionals based in Santa Ana, California; Buffalo, New York and Toronto. Responsible for approximately 800 meetings per year, her programs range from small one-day meetings to conferences up to 800, both domestically and on a global scale.
In May 2009, Maria was looking for the ideal setting for a program for 400 with very specific dates and location criteria. The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida had the dates, rooms and space available. Since then, the program has returned to "The Diplomat" in 2010 and rebooked for 2011 due to the exemplary meeting experience.
"From the moment you enter the driveway and the hotel doors swing open to the airy lobby, with sophisticated décor and a view of the ocean, the Westin is very impressive," Maria said. "The property is well laid-out and the conference center meeting space is conducive to meetings of various sizes, but what's attractive about it is that it's connected to the hotel, is open and elegant just like the hotel, with lots of windows, built-in registration counters and nice carpet, unlike many other conference centers."
"Guest rooms are inviting and well-appointed and an ocean view adds a special ambience for attendees. The added amenities of the Westin Diplomat Golf Resort also enabled us to offer our attendees spa services and championship golf on their own time."
Maria praised the hotel staff for their professionalism. "National Sales Manager Stuart Evans was very attentive and involved in the contract process and was committed to creating a win-win situation for both of us," Maria said. "Conference Service Manager Gabrielle Wellner really understands what it takes to make a meeting successful and does not miss a detail. She is very helpful and forthcoming in making creative suggestions and was instrumental in helping us with food and beverage theming and to make the meeting experience different from the year prior."
Maria's agenda did not include outdoor event settings, although the hotel offers great opportunities for poolside events overlooking the beach. Instead, she held a dine-around. Next year, she plans to take the group to downtown Hollywood, a quaint setting with many restaurants to choose from.
The Westin Diplomat has been very well-received by Maria's attendees. Apart from the property itself, accessibility and ease of travel were big factors in the group's return. The hotel is easy to reach by air and just a quick drive from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, which is modern and rich in amenities. When the group holds its 2011 meeting at the Westin Diplomat, it will be the first time the company has ever held a program in the same location three years in a row.
Maria would love to explore more of Fort Lauderdale, but like most meeting professionals, she always seems to be busy running the program at the hotel. Maybe next year!
