Hilton Head
Surrounded By Water & Filled With Event Space
By Christy Clark From the sandy dunes of the Atlantic beaches to the Spanish moss-draped live oak trees, Hilton Head Island, S.C., offers a tropical landscape with resort meeting options. “The temperate year round climate, the exceptional natural beauty, the golf courses, the diverse accommodations, along with outdoor activities that cater to all tastes, is why we think we’re the best place to host meetings,” said Jack Reed, director of sales and marketing for the
Hilton Head Island Visitor and Convention Bureau.
Reed said another reason the island is ideal for groups is the variety of meeting and lodging options. “We have accommodations from the very affordable to the upscale luxury. There is something for all price points and interests. We have seven major resorts either right on or right next to the island—from the 500-room Marriott to the 50-room Inn at Palmetto Bluff. We have more than 6,000 condos and villas that are perfect for attendees who want to bring their families with them.”
The longest operating of the island’s resort properties, the Hilton Head Island Marriott Beach and Golf Resort, has completed a $22 million makeover, adding a 6,400-square-foot spa and a newly improved fitness center, according to resort officials. Bathrooms in all 512 guest rooms received new vanities, and common areas have been restructured to provide views of the island’s oceanfront. The Marriott boasts 45,000 square feet of flexible meeting spaces, including one of the largest meeting rooms on the East Coast.
Groups visiting Hilton Head, S.C., will want to visit the Harbour Town Marina and Lighthouse. The lighthouse offers a museum, shopping and a view of the island. |
The Inn at Palmetto Bluff is nestled on 20,000 acres in the heart of the historic Lowcountry of South Carolina. Located on a former plantation, the inn is one of the area’s newest resorts, having been completed in 2004, said Cindy O’Gorman, director of sales and marketing. The inn’s River House offers a 2,000-square-foot multifunctional ballroom that accommodates up to 140 people, two boardrooms that can seat 12 to 14, and the wine cellar, a space that can host up to 50 people. “We cater to high-end, luxury meetings,” O’Gorman said.
The
Crowne Plaza Hilton Head Island Beach Resort is situated on Shipyard Plantation and has recently invested $2 million to revamp the property’s fitness areas, refurbish the guest room furniture and carpet the resort’s ballroom, said Joe Kramer, director of marketing. “In 2006, we finished the year ranked number one in guest satisfaction among Crowne Plaza resorts. We have high-speed Internet access, a 24-hour fitness center, 27 holes of golf, 16 tennis courts and a nearby spa.” The resort has 20,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 7,000-square-foot covered oceanfront pavilion and the oceanfront Shipyard Beach House that offers 4,000 square feet of event space.
A refreshed meeting space will greet groups at the Hilton Oceanfront Resort, which offers 25,000 square feet of function space, including the 10,000-square-foot, open-air oceanfront Shorehouse, according to resort officials. On-site catering and banquet services and a fully equipped business center are available.
The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort and Spa unveiled its $5 million spa expansion this summer. This 412-room resort is the first in the Continental United States to feature the Starwood Spa Collection’s Heavenly Spa brand, sure to be a popular draw for meeting attendees, said Ellen Lam, marketing coordinator. The resort offers 28,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and includes a 13,200-square-foot ballroom.
Perhaps the resort most associated with Hilton Head Island is the Sea Pines Resort: The Inn at Harbour Town with its signature candy cane striped lighthouse and famed Harbour Town Golf Links. “We have 500 rooms, which include villas and homes,” said Jason Heath, director of sales and marketing. “We have 20,000 square feet of meeting space contained within three venues. The Inn at Harbour Town and the Harbour Town Conference Center have 6,500 square feet of executive meeting space with nine different room configurations and a complete business center.”
Key Info · Sales Tax: 7 percent
· Hotel Tax: 5 percent
· Transportation: The basic cab fare is $5-$10, plus $2 per mile. |
For smaller meetings and those attendees who would like to have a little more “leg room,” the Park Lane Hotel and Suites is the only all-suite property on the island. “We have 156 suites, all with a full kitchen,” said Melissa Adkins, director of sales. “We have 1,600 square feet of meeting space that can hold up to 120 attendees. We also offer high-speed wireless Internet access throughout the property, and our meeting space underwent a complete renovation in May.”
Meeting planners looking for a different style of accommodations should consider the Harbour Town Resorts and Yacht Club. “We are a little different in that we have 120 villas and homes that range from one to five bedrooms,” said Audrey Snell, director of sales. “We do a lot of corporate teambuilding retreats, and our guests like to be able to feel like they are at home. Our meeting space is at the nearby Yacht Club and has 2,200 square feet as well as well as an upstairs area that is 2,500 square feet. This venue has a stunning view of the yacht basin and the Calibogue Sound beyond.”
