Palm Beach County
For Attendees Who Want 'The Best Of Everything'
Palm Beach County, Fla., offers "the best of everything," or so says its slogan. Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) President/CEO Jorge Pesquera admits it's an ambitious claim, but it's one he stands behind because, well, he believes it.
The upscale resort destination situated along the Atlantic Ocean in South Florida has historically been a favorite of wealthy vacationers with its 47 miles of beach, renowned resorts, world-class shopping and dining opportunities, and 160 golf courses. Yet, Pesquera is quick to point out the destination's accessibility and affordability for meetings. "We offer a full spectrum of lodging experiences," he said. "Along with our range of hotel properties, we offer a five-year-old convention center, our pride and joy, along with many great off-site venues. And, we have a tradition of hospitality unsurpassed anywhere in the country, thanks to Henry Flagler. He created the original resort community on Palm Beach Island, and we continue that tradition now."
Pesquera added that from Jupiter in the north to Boca Raton in the south, the county offers "clusters of culture." Opportunities to experience culture include the Norton Museum of Art, the Boca Raton Museum of Art and the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts.
With new properties cropping up throughout the county, particularly in West Palm Beach, and millions of dollars being spent on renovations to existing properties, Pesquera has reason for optimism and has channeled that positive energy into action. The CVB recently made the decision to establish satellite offices in key markets such as Atlanta, Washington and Newport, R.I., to better promote the county as a business and leisure destination.
As the county continues to position itself for the future, its 200 hotels and 16,000 guest rooms keep evolving and growing in number. According to Pesquera, one of the county's newest properties is the $200 million Resort at Singer Island. Part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Luxury Collection, the resort opened in 2007 with 239 guest rooms, a wedding gazebo, three restaurants, an 8,500-square-foot wellness retreat and spa, a lap pool with private cabanas, a lagoon-styled family pool, and 4,000 square feet of meeting space.
"A number of new projects, including a Hawthorne Suites, are in the pipeline for West Palm Beach as well," Pesquera said. "And major renovations, including a $100 million complete refurbishment at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach, have recently been completed or are in progress."
The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach is in the process of completing the $100 million transformation where, among the changes, the property is set to add 24 oceanfront guest rooms by this fall, bringing the total to 310 rooms, according to Director of Sales Johely Jackson, who also explained that more than 4,000 square feet of meeting space was added earlier this year, bringing the total amount of space to 20,000 square feet, and a new 41,000-square-foot spa is under way with an opening set for early 2009.
City leaders recently approved the planned construction of a 400-room Westin hotel that will be connected to the Palm Beach County Convention Center by an enclosed walkway, according to CVB officials. The hotel is slated to break ground in late 2008 with a completion date set for early 2010.
Downtown/Convention Center
The Palm Beach County Convention Center offers 350,000 square feet of meeting space and 21 meeting rooms, according to Pesquera, who explained that the center, which opened five years ago, is one of the primary reasons the county is evolving into a meetings destination. Currently, the center is implementing green initiatives.
The nearby South Florida Expo Center hosts consumer shows throughout the year on its 130 acres and offers two 30,000-square-foot buildings and one 50,000-square-foot building. "The advantage to this property is it's an empty canvas," said Shawn Krauel, expo service manager.
The 352-room West Palm Beach Marriott is near the convention center and features 13 meeting rooms and 18,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel underwent a complete renovation in 2004 when it became a Marriott property. Last August, the property opened a state-of-the-art Kosher kitchen, said Sales Coordinator Kelly Epstein. An outdoor area with a large tent is a favorite for brunches, receptions and buffets, Epstein said. "Our meeting guests love our food."
In March, the 175-room Doubletree Hotel West Palm Beach Airport, formerly a Radisson, completed a $5 million renovation and conversion project that "has reinvigorated the hotel's guest rooms, 2,400 square feet of meeting space, dining facilities and much more," said Diane Gray, hotel general manager. "Not only will our guests now receive rewards with one of the best travel reward programs in the industry, they will also be warmly welcomed with the delicious, fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie that is distinctively Doubletree."
The Hilton Palm Beach Airport is located in West Palm Beach and offers 245 guest rooms and 12,000 square feet of meetings space, according to James Hansen, director of sales and marketing. "The hotel is adding a new mini-executive conference center next door to the property, which is set to open during the first quarter of 2009," he said.
Coming off the heels of a $30 million renovation in late 2005, the 219-room Crowne Plaza West Palm Beach is having an "exceptional year with excellent occupancy," said Manny O'Neill, general manager. The property offers 21,000 square feet of meeting space. "What sets us apart is that we go out of our way to listen to the needs of our planners."
Palm Beach Island
The Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach has a new 11,000-square-foot spa that will open late this summer, according to Kerry Shorr, public relations manager. The 210-room resort features 14 meeting rooms and 22,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. Groups enjoy the Herb Garden, where the resort's chef chooses fresh herbs daily, for receptions, Shorr said. "We also have a new young chef at the resort who is creative and well traveled."
The Breakers Palm Beach completed a $15 million transformation to the property's beachfront pool area in 2006, a project that is part of a 15-year, $250 million revitalization to the property. Public Relations Manager Ann Margo Peart said the beachfront project created expansive pool decks, three whirlpool spas, beach cabanas, a gazebo and a new restaurant, The Ocean Grill. The 560-room resort offers 45,000 square feet of meeting space.
Key Info · Sales Tax: 6 percent
· Hotel Tax: 4 percent
· Transportation: Public transportation is available through Palm Tran, a bus system that runs seven days a week to 3,500 stops throughout the county from Jupiter south to Boca Raton at $1.25 per ride. |
The Ocean Club Beach Resort is currently closed while it concludes a $15 million renovation in the coming months, according to officials with Ceebraid-Signal Corporation, which purchased the former Hilton property in 2005. The 134-room resort features 5,000 square feet of meeting space.
Additionally, the Four-Diamond Colony Hotel Palm Beach features 3,500 square feet of meeting space and 92 guest rooms.
North End
The 339-room PGA National Resort and Spa in North Palm Beach was purchased in 2006 and since then $40 million has been spent renovating the property, according to James Gelfand, vice president of sales and marketing, adding that among the new features the property now offers a two-story pavilion with 5,000 square feet of event space. "We're back," he said. "We have a legacy built on golf, but we have so much to offer in the way of amenities. We feel we can turn a classic into a contemporary resort known for so much more." The property features 339 guest rooms and 42,000 square feet of meeting space. A new 3,000-square-foot ballroom is currently under construction.
The 279-room Palm Beach Gardens Marriott is in the process of upgrading all of its guest rooms, according to Elena Peroulakis, director of sales and marketing. New soft goods, flat-screen TVs and lighting have been installed in half of the guest rooms, while the other half will be complete in the fall. The property features 10 meeting rooms and 10,000 square feet of meeting space, as well as a new business center and a fitness center.
The 280-room Doubletree Hotel Palm Beach Gardens, which recently completed an $11 million renovation throughout, broke ground in May on Florida's first LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), PURE-designated (allergy friendly) conference center that is being built to the standards of International Association of Conference Centers, according to Thayer Lodging Group CEO Leland Pillsbury. The center is planned to have 15,500 square feet of meeting space when open in 2009. The hotel currently offers 10,000 square feet of meeting space.
The Embassy Suites Palm Beach Gardens features 160 guest rooms and 6,000 square feet of meeting space, said Stacy Lee, director of sales and marketing. "This year, the hotel will update all of the guest room furniture with such amenities as flat-screen TVs."
The 159-room Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa, located in Jupiter, offers nine meeting rooms and 12,000 square feet of meeting space. The resort opened a new spa and completed a multimillion-dollar renovation in 2005, according to Diane D'Amico, director of sales and marketing.
Additionally, the Hilton Singer Island Oceanfront Resort offers 223 guest rooms and 2,700 square feet of meeting space.
South End
Situated on 356 acres, the Boca Raton Resort and Club recently completed a renovation of the Boca Beach Club and is set to open a new pool area with three redesigned swimming pools and an oceanfront bar by the first of the year, according Carole Boucard, director of sales, who added that this fall the property will open a new sushi bar. The Pool Oasis hotel's guest rooms, lobby and interiors are scheduled to reopen in 2009. The 1,043-room resort offers 146,000 square feet of meeting space that is split among the resort property. "Our convention space is very convenient with centers on each end of the property," Boucard said.
The 263-room Embassy Suites Hotel Boca Raton recently added meeting space and renovated eight boardrooms, the business center and the fitness center, according to Jennifer Graham, director of sales, who added that guest rooms now have flat-screen TVs. The hotel now has 15 meeting rooms and 15,000 square feet of meeting space. "Our value-added aspects are really working in our favor with the economy slowing down," Graham said, adding that the amphitheater-styled meeting rooms are a popular feature with groups.
The Renaissance Boca Raton Hotel recently renovated its 189 guest rooms and 15,000 square feet of meeting space, according to Director of Sales and Marketing Cindy Rosen. "Our space, including our breakout rooms is very convenient and accessible," Rosen said, adding that the property hosts mainly local and regional corporate and association meetings, has a boutique hotel feel, and offers a resort pool pavilion. "And attendees like the fact that all 14 meeting rooms are located on one level," she said.
The Delray Beach Marriott, which features 268 guest rooms and suites and 14 meeting rooms totaling 15,000 square feet of meeting space, recently opened the N Regan Spa, according to hotel officials. Additional recreational amenities include an on-site pool and direct access to Delray Beach.
Additionally, the 256-room Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center offers 13,000 square feet of meeting space.
