Northwest Florida
2006 Brings New Tide For Gulf Beaches
Across the Florida panhandle’s sugar-white beaches and the Gulf of Mexico’s emerald green waters, hospitality industry officials from Pensacola to Panama City Beach agree that Northwest Florida is the perfect backdrop for meetings. And, destination officials said with the recent active hurricane seasons there are a lot of renovations and new developments to report, including beach renourishment projects and new meeting sites.
Pensacola
Pensacola offers much more than breathtaking, white sand beaches, said Stacy Hopper, marketing/communications manager for the Pensacola Bay Area Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB). "Days spent off the beach can be just as refreshing. From touring pre-Civil War fortresses and one of the largest aviation museums in the world to dropping a line off the longest fishing pier in the Gulf of Mexico and enjoying the opera or symphony, there is something to please everyone in the group."
There are lots of things happening in the Pensacola area right now, Hopper said. For instance, the Pensacola Regional Airport, the fastest growing airport between New Orleans and Jacksonville, Fla., saw 1.5 million passengers in 2004 and experienced a 40 percent passenger growth since 2001. This increase in passenger traffic has triggered an expansion and improvement project at the airport, Hopper said.
Currently, construction involves a 1,000-foot extension and resurfacing of the east/west runway, which reopened in October 2005. In the next two years, there will be a $27 million complete rehabilitation to the airport’s north/south runway. In addition, a $6 million terminal expansion and improvement plan is in the works.
Pensacola Beach recently underwent a beach renourishment project that has expanded the shoreline by pumping in new sand to replace 2.3 million cubic yards of sand washed away during Hurricane Ivan, Hopper said. "This new sand brought seashells of all sorts to our shore, creating a collector’s delight."
Sam’s Fun City amusement park recently opened Sam’s Fun City Hall, a 10,000-square-foot, multi-use entertainment complex with concert-styled seating for up to 1,500. Sam’s Surf City water park offers a wave pool, 15 water slides and a 1,200-foot long endless river.
Excitement in the Pensacola Bay area is also running high as properties expand and renovate, Hopper said.
The 212-room Pensacola Grand Hotel Crowne Plaza, located in downtown Pensacola, is undergoing renovations and is set to reopen in late 2006. The hotel’s lobby, meeting rooms, restaurant and lounge are housed in the restored historic L&N train depot, while a 15-story glass tower, attached to the train depot by a glass atrium, houses guest rooms. The hotel, which is within walking distance of the Pensacola Civic Center, features 10,000 square feet of meeting space.
The Pensacola Civic Center offers 12 meeting rooms, four prefunction areas, and more than 20,000 square feet of arena floor space. The center is available for trade shows, conventions, exhibits, lectures, seminars, banquets, award ceremonies and wedding receptions.
Highpointe Hotel Corporation has started the construction of its 120-room Courtyard by Marriott located in downtown Pensacola. The hotel will feature an indoor pool, a fitness center, a restaurant, a lounge, a meeting room accommodating up to 75, a business center, a boardroom and wireless capabilities with high-speed Internet access throughout. The hotel is scheduled to open in December.
A new hotel, the 85-room Hampton Inn and Suites behind University Mall, which opened in early 2005, features a two-story lobby, a fitness center, a small meeting room that can accommodate up to 40, an outdoor pool and a sundry shop.
By Car: Pensacola is accessible from the east and west via U.S. Interstate 10, while visitors from the north can travel I-65 to Ala. Hwy. 113 to U.S. Hwy. 29. Fort Walton Beach, Destin and the Beaches of South Walton are accessible via Florida highways 85, 189, 293 and 393 from the north and via I-10 and U.S. Hwy. 98 from the east/west. Panama City Beach is accessible from the north via I-10 and Florida highways 79, 231 and 331. From the west, visitors can reach the area via U.S. Hwy. 98, I-10 or Hwy. 79. By Air: Three airports serve the region: Pensacola Regional Airport, which offers 40 daily non-stop flights to major cities; Okaloosa Regional Airport in Fort Walton Beach, which services several major hubs in the Southeast and Cincinnati; and Panama City/Bay County International Airport, which provides daily commercial airline service throughout the region aboard a variety of carriers. |
The 117-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott Pensacola Beach has completely renovated both its north and south sides, said Stacey Kane, director of sales, reporting that the hotel is currently in the process of adding an outdoor tiki bar to go along with the outdoor LaCantina Lobby Bar, which should be completed this summer. The hotel offers 2,600 square feet of meeting space.
According to Ken Strelzyk, general manager of the newly renovated 183-room Hilton Garden Inn on Pensacola Beach, Innisfree Hotels purchased the 182-room Hampton Inn hotel next door with plans to connect the two properties and drop the "Garden Inn" from the Hilton’s name to create the new Hilton Pensacola Beach. The new Hilton will offer 30,000 square feet of meeting space by 2007 (doubling the hotel’s current offerings), including a 9,800-square-foot ballroom. By mid-2008, meeting space will be increased to 60,000 square feet, Strelzyk said, adding that a twin story condo/hotel will also be constructed on property across the street and that the beach boardwalk will be expanded with a 46-slip marina.
Emerald Coast
The Northwest Florida communities of Destin, Fort Walton Beach and the Okaloosa Island area present 24 miles of beaches, world-renowned fishing, championship golf, tennis, seafood dining and outlet shopping, according to CVB officials, who said the area has been voted a top beach and family destination by Southern Living Magazine and USA Today 10 years in a row.
Getting to the beach destination is now easier thanks to the new $32 million, 110,000-square-foot terminal building at the Okaloosa Regional Airport, said Sherry Rushing, travel industry sales manager for the Emerald Coast CVB.
Mid- to large-sized groups comprise the majority of meeting functions held on the Emerald Coast, Rushing said, adding that military reunion groups and technical meetings are naturally attracted to the area due to the presence of Eglin Air Force Base, geographically the largest military installation in the world, in the Fort Walton Beach area.
The area’s largest meeting facility is the Emerald Coast Conference Center, which celebrated its third anniversary in April, Rushing said. Located on Okaloosa Island, the center features more than 35,000 square feet of flexible, column-free meeting space as well as state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment and services. The center also showcases 12 breakout meeting rooms ranging in size from 450 to 1,800 square feet, including the 21,500-square-foot Emerald Grand Ballroom. Architectural design allows for planners to arrange rooms in theater, banquet, classroom and reception hall setups.
Hotel options in the area include the Best Western Fort Walton Beachfront Hotel, which recently renovated its lobby to complement the hotel’s Art Deco-themed design, said Peggy Mahone, director of sales. The hotel also added high-speed Internet access and HBO to its list of amenities.
The 190-room Four Points by Sheraton Destin - Fort Walton Beach recently completed a renovation of 90 percent of its guest rooms that included new carpeting, décor, mahogany furniture and Four Points Four Comfort Beds. The next phase of the project will be a total remodeling of the property’s public areas, including a new business center, a gift shop, and additions and updates to the conference facilities, dining room and bar. "Our new rooms look fantastic, and we are looking forward to welcoming our guests in our tropically decorated main lobby," said Peggy Moravec, director of sales. The hotel features 2,436 square feet of meeting space.
The 335-room Ramada Plaza Beach Resort was recently awarded Ramada’s gold key status for the 16th consecutive year, said Joe Guidry, director of sales and marketing. The hotel also updated its sixth floor meeting rooms with new carpet, ceiling tiles and draperies. The tower building’s exterior was updated last year. The resort offers 14,000 square feet of meeting space.
Beaches Of South Walton
The Beaches of South Walton include the communities of Rosemary, Seacrest, Seagrove, Seaside, WaterColor, Grayton, Blue Mountain, Santa Rosa, Dune Allen, Sandestin, Miramar and Seascape, each of which offer white-sand beaches, art galleries, boutiques and an assortment of dining options.
"We are a growing meetings destination," said Pamela Watkins, senior sales manager at the Beaches of South Walton Tourist Development Council (TDC). "In addition to Sandestin’s new conference center, which allows the flexibility to accommodate meetings of up to 1,600, we have new properties. The Courtyard Sandestin and Residence Inn Sandestin are increasing the number of rooms for groups and business travelers."
The Beaches of South Walton also offer plenty of opportunities for planners to organize fun spousal programs, Watkins said. "In fact, our marketing research shows that an increasing percentage of visitors who came here on business are coming back with their families for leisure travel as well."
Keeping the beach in good shape for both leisure and business travelers is also a priority, she said. A beach renourishment project and construction on beach access points, such as the Miramar Beach access area, which was destroyed after Hurricane Dennis in 2005, are under way.
Meanwhile, accommodation options in the area are growing. In the town of Rosemary Beach on Scenic Highway 30-A, the Five-Star Hotel Saba is taking shape, according to hotel officials. The boutique hotel is scheduled to open in the fall and include 56 guest rooms and suites, a restaurant and bar, a conference center, a business center, a fitness center, an outdoor pool and underground parking.
Eight miles east of Destin is Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, where meeting facilities include the Baytowne Conference Center. The conference center offers groups of up to 1,600 attendees more than 65,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including the Magnolia Ballroom, the largest ballroom in Northwest Florida. The resort’s meeting facilities also include the 12,600-square-foot Linkside Center Exhibit Hall; 24 breakout rooms plus two ballrooms and four board rooms; 3,000 square feet of flexible meeting space on the gulf; a grand lawn for outdoor functions; two business centers; and an oversized pool deck suitable for casual outdoor receptions.
Luau, a two-tower condominium building, will add 243 suites to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in the spring, bringing the resort’s total accommodations to 1,700. In addition, the 175-room Bayside Inn is undergoing a $4.2 million renovation that will include the guest rooms, suites and public spaces. "We have not been this excited about a development at Sandestin since we opened our Baytowne Conference Center," said Mike Speicher, vice president of sales and marketing. "This renovation is important for us to continue to meet and exceed our group attendees’ expectations."
Two new Marriott-branded hotels are scheduled to open at one of Sandestin’s off-resort locations this year. The Residence Inn Sandestin will include 120 guest rooms with separate living and sleeping areas and kitchenettes. The Courtyard Sandestin will feature 174 guest rooms and more than 2,000 square feet of meeting space.
The 600-room Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa’s group business has increased each year that the hotel has been in operation, said Jim Miller, vice president of sales and marketing. "Today, the Hilton Sandestin offers a superlative meeting experience to more than 600 group meetings a year." The resort is continuing its renovation efforts that have been under way for more than a year, Miller said. "Completed renovations have included luxurious upgrades in guest suites, a newly refurbished pool deck and lobby area, as well as new treatment rooms and facilities in the hotel’s renowned spa, salon and fitness center." In 2005, the resort underwent a $6 million renovation project that added the new Barefoots Beachside Bar and Grill, refreshed beachfront areas, and upgraded guest rooms with the "The Bed By Hilton."
Meeting and banquet facilities at the Hilton can accommodate up to 1,200 and include a 108-seat theater, 18 breakout rooms, an executive boardroom, a 4,300-square-foot exhibit area, a state-of-the-art audio/visual and lighting system, full-service banquet facilities, and two outdoor pool decks.
Sterling Resorts, a resort vacation rental management and real estate company based in Destin, recently hired Isabel Rosado as the special events and meeting coordinator for its company-owned resorts in Destin and Panama City Beach. "[Rosado’s] event planning experience will help us reach more groups looking to hold their executive retreat, small meeting, wedding or other social event at an intimate beachfront location," said Jim Olin, Sterling’s CEO. Sterling Shores and Sterling Sands in Destin, and Sterling Beach and Sterling Reef in Panama City Beach can accommodate small indoor and outdoor events for up to 100 people.
Another resort vacation rental management firm in the area is ResortQuest Vacation Home Network. The company operates overnight accommodations throughout the Northwest Florida area and offers meeting space at Tops’l Beach and Racquet Club in Sandestin. The resort’s Centre Court Conference can seat up to 350, reception style.
In Seagrove Beach, the 60-room WaterColor Inn and Resort, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, features 4,000 square feet of meeting space in a boardroom and six breakout rooms (both indoor and outdoor space is available). Groups of up to 150 can be accommodated in a theater-styled setup, while 102 can be hosted for a banquet. Planners can organize a variety of group-oriented and teambuilding activities such as the Adventure Challenge, beach bonfires, a scavenger hunt, a survivor event and a sandcastle contest. New on board at the resort is Stephen Hilliard, managing director, said Director of Sales Frank Sandro.
Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach is also undergoing changes to make it even more appealing to groups, said Jayna Leach, director of sales and marketing for the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. "The classic beach town that has entertained generations of travelers is in the midst of a revitalizing trend. Panama City Beach is undergoing an abundance of growth and development that is sure to please its most loyal visitors."
The St. Joe Company has allotted 4,000 acres of land for the construction of a replacement airport facility for Panama City-Bay County that is due to open in 2008. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines has begun daily jet service between Orlando and Panama City for flights arriving into Panama City Bay County International Airport.
In other transportation news, Hathaway Bridge has been undergoing an $86 million renovation to handle more traffic with greater efficiency and safety. The Thomas Drive Flyover will connect the Hathaway Bridge to Thomas Drive, Front Beach Road and U.S. Hwy. 98. The project is scheduled for completion this year. Hwy. 79 to the West Bay Bridge, one of the most well-used gateways to Panama City Beach, has has been four-laned. Hwy. 98 was recently renovated to accommodate four lanes of traffic from Panama City to Destin.
Panama City Beach resorts are also making news. Edgewater Beach Resort, which offers 550 units, recently completed a $1 million refreshment of meeting space and pool facilities, enhanced the 11,000-square-foot Polynesian-styled lagoon pool with 45,000 square feet of new pavers lining the deck, and upgraded the Palapa Beach Club Restaurant. Also new is a Starbucks Coffee shop, a wedding gazebo and hidden surround sound on the pool deck, said Gary Griggs, vice president of sales and marketing.
At the Marriott Bay Point Resort, The Spa opened last September and offers a luxurious relaxed setting featuring premier spa services with a uniquely personal touch, said Director of Marketing Trish Claussen. Currently in the midst of a multimillion-dollar renovation that began in the fall of 2004, the resort’s development is expected to continue throughout 2006 and 2007.
The 1,100-unit Boardwalk Beach Resort recently announced the grand opening of the 23-story Boardwalk Central, a 254-unit condominium tower that is the first of four to be developed at the resort over the next several years. "We will also begin the total renovation of the hotel rooms, meeting rooms and common areas in August," said Annie Holcombe, director of business development. The boardwalk to the resort’s 35,000-square-foot convention center complex connects the new tower.
The 329-unit Majestic Beach Towers opened in July 2005 and boasts more than 660 feet of beachfront on the Gulf of Mexico. The complex, which offers up to four-bedroom accommodations, offers an amphitheater and a movie theater that can accommodate up to 125 as well as event space for up to 600 attendees.
Know Before You Go
Beach safety is a top priority all along Northwest Florida, including the Beaches of South Walton, where "Seemore the Safety Crab" has become the water safety mascot. Seemore’s "job" is to help educate residents and visitors about the flag warning system at the beach and the current water conditions.
Beaches of South Walton aims to reach residents and guests through brochures and posters distributed throughout retail locations, restaurants and accommodations. Seemore encourages visitors to "Know Before You Go." Visit www.seemoresafetycrab.com for more information.
Dining Out In Northwest Florida
- Amore: This Pizzeria recently opened to rave reviews. Located at Gulf Place in Santa Rosa Beach, the menu includes specialty pizzas, salads and sandwiches. Guests can dine inside or out on the patio, which overlooks the amphitheater and the Artists at Gulf Place Colony.
- Osaka Sushi Rocks: Now open in Sandestin’s Village of Baytowne Wharf, this full-service sushi bar offers authentic Japanese cuisine and a range of Japanese beers, sakes and sake cocktails. Specialties include rolls and teriyaki stir-fry dishes. Guests can enjoy the outdoor deck that extends over the lagoon for water views during lunch or dinner.
- Graffiti’s and The Funky Blues Shack: Set to open soon in the Village of Baytowne Wharf, this resturaunt and live blues club venue, will serve dinner nightly along with a limited late-night menu to accompany the entertainment.
Explore
- Thanks to an abundance of natural, historical and artificial reefs, Panama City Beach is known for its diving. Here are a few of the historic wrecks in the area that visitors can dive:
- A 441-foot World War II liberty ship;
- Chippewa, a 220-foot tug;
- SS Tarpon, a 160-foot coastal freighter;
- Chickasaw, a 100-foot tug;
- Grey Ghost, a 110-foot tug; and
- Empire Mica, a 465-foot freighter considered one of the most famous wrecks in the Gulf.
Event Spaces
Pensacola
Clarion Suites Resort and Convention Center features 86 guest rooms and 4,500 square feet of meeting space.
Destin
Holiday Inn on the Beach features 233 guest rooms and 2,400 square feet of meeting space.
The Pelican Beach Resorts and Conference Center features 435 guest rooms and 5,500 square feet of meeting space.
Sandestin
SunDestin Beach and Meeting Resort features more than 250 condominium units as well as a 2,000-square-foot ballroom.
