WHAT'S NEW

One of the keys to Florida's amazing success as a meeting and incentive destination has been its convenient air access. It promises to get even better. Several airports around the state are undergoing expansions that will increase the number of flights and enhance shopping and dining options.

Tampa's highly rated international airport expanded in April with the opening of the $135 million Airside C terminal that serves Southwest, Spirit, and Independence airlines. Southwest Florida International Airport's new 800,000-square-foot Midfield Terminal Complex opened in September, replacing a 22-year-old facility. The number of passenger gates has increased from 17 to 28, and Southwest Airlines now offers service from the new terminal. The airport serves Fort Myers, Sanibel and Captiva islands, Marco Island, Naples, and other Southwest Florida destinations. And Key West International Airport is building a $24 million, 45,000-square-foot terminal that is slated to open in 2007.

Beyond the runways, 2005 saw an impressive number of high-end, luxury properties debut in Miami, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale. All of the major meeting-oriented resorts damaged by the hurricanes of 2004 have fully recovered, and visitor arrivals are strong.

In southwest Orlando, three miles from Universal Studios Florida, Veranda Park is a $500 million multi-use project that will open in phases through 2007 and include a 150-room luxury hotel. Meanwhile, Pointe Orlando, a shopping, dining, and entertainment complex across from the Orange County Convention Center, is undergoing a major redevelopment with an enhanced lineup of tenants.

An hour's drive east of Orlando, Daytona Beach's Ocean Walk Village is opening in phases through 2007. It includes the Ocean Center convention complex, which will triple in size by 2007 to 244,000 square feet.

Fort Lauderdale is undergoing a luxury hotel building surge that includes openings by St. Regis and W in the next 18 months. And downtown Tampa's redevelopment boom continues with a 360-suite Embassy Suites Hotel with 11,000 square feet of meeting space opposite the Tampa Convention Center, scheduled to open mid-2006. Tampa will also host the NFL's Super Bowl in 2009.

FACILITY UPDATE

THE WEST COAST

SARASOTA

• The RESORT AT LONGBOAT KEY CLUB recently completed an extensive $8 million renovation of its suites.

NAPLES

• In Bonita Springs, the 18-hole Raymond Floyd — designed Raptor Bay golf course recently opened at HYATT REGENCY COCONUT POINT.

• The 464-room REGISTRY RESORT & CLUB recently completed a $12 million expansion and enhancement program that brought total meeting space to 45,000 square feet.

TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG

• The 800-unit SADDLEBROOK RESORT in Tampa has completed a refurbishment of all rooms and suites and introduced a meeting venue that includes a 5,400-square-foot column-free tent that is sealed, climate-controlled, and surrounded by an 11,000-square-foot courtyard.

• The 380-unit SIRATA BEACH RESORT HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER on St. Pete Beach along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico has 15,000 square feet of meeting space, 13 meeting rooms, and a variety of exterior gardens and beachfront patios that are ideal for sunset receptions.

CENTRAL FLORIDA

GREATER ORLANDO

• The 1,921-room DISNEY'S CORONADO SPRINGS RESORT debuted its 86,000-square-foot Veracruz Exhibit Hall in April.

• Guest rooms at two venerable Walt Disney World Resort hotels, the 1,008-room CONTEMPORARY RESORT and 847-room POLYNESIAN RESORT, both built in 1971, are undergoing refurbishments with new furniture, flat-screen televisions, carpeting, lighting, bathroom fixtures, artwork, and designer bedding. Remodeling will be done in stages, so both hotels will remain open throughout the remodeling.

• The DOWNTOWN DISNEY AREA RESORT HOTELS, a consortium of seven hotels in Lake Buena Vista, launched a redesigned Web site (downtowndisneyhotels.com) featuring Flash technology, improved visuals and usability, and easier navigation. The hotels are the BEST WESTERN RESORT, HOLIDAY INN, DOUBLETREE GUEST SUITES, GROSVENOR RESORT, HILTON, HOTEL ROYAL PLAZA, and WYNDHAM PALACE RESORT & SPA, all on Hotel Plaza Boulevard.

• Adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center, the 1,334-room ROSEN CENTRE HOTEL, with 100,000 square feet of meeting space, recently completed a floor-to-ceiling overhaul of its on-site workout facility as part of a multimillion-dollar enhancement program that has taken place over the past year.

• At the ROSEN PLAZA HOTEL, an 800-room property with 60,000 square feet of meeting space situated next to the Orange County Convention Center and across from The Pointe shopping, dining, and entertainment complex, guests may use a TSA-approved remote skycap service that allows them to receive their online boarding passes and check their luggage directly from the hotel.

• Slated for completion in mid-2006 at the 510-room FLORIDA MALL HOTEL, formerly known as the Adam's Mark at Florida Mall, is a $23 million enhancement program that includes the addition of 20,000 square feet of meeting space.

• The 750-room HYATT REGENCY GRAND CYPRESS recently completed a new design for the skylight topping the 18-story hotel. The hotel lobby atrium, known for its scenic view, tropical landscaping, and collection of Oriental and contemporary American art, is now topped by a 14-foot, four-sided glass pyramid.

• The 750-room PORTOFINO BAY HOTEL AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO, A LOEWS HOTEL, recently completed a $5.5 million rooms renovation that included soft goods with colors “evocative of the sun and sea,” the addition of DVD players, and new artwork.

• Slated for a September 2006 debut at the 584-room RITZ-CARLTON, ORLANDO, is a new 14,135-square-foot ballroom.

• The 1,500-room SHINGLE CREEK RESORT, near the Orange County Convention Center, is due to open in late 2006 with 250,000 square feet of meeting space and 99 meeting rooms. Its 18-hole championship golf course is already open.

• The CARIBE ROYALE ORLANDO ALL-SUITE RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER, with 150,000 square feet of meeting space, has completed a $10 million refurbishment of its 1,218 one-bedroom suites and introduced a new fitness center.

KISSIMMEE

• The 1,406-room GAYLORD PALMS RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER has connected each of its guest rooms with the new Gaylord iConnect in-room computing system, which provides state-of-the-art communications and meeting management services — without the necessity of a laptop computer — for meeting planners and guests attending conferences at the resort's 400,000-square-foot convention center.

DAYTONA BEACH

• Daytona Beach's largest oceanfront resort has undergone a $20 million refurbishment and will reopen as the HILTON DAYTONA BEACH RESORT in January.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

• The 560-room BREAKERS, PALM BEACH opened its $15 million redesigned five-acre beachfront along its half-mile private beach.

• The 158-room JUPITER BEACH RESORT & SPA has undergone a multimillion dollar, hotelwide renovation and added a spa and fitness center.

SOUTH FLORIDA & THE KEYS

GREATER MIAMI

• The BILTMORE HOTEL recently unveiled a 12,000-square-foot spa on the hotel's 7th floor. Among the distinctive features are specialty treatment suites for groups.

• DON SHULA'S HOTEL & GOLF CLUB in Miami Lakes debuted its new Aveda Spa this summer.

• The 200-room HOLIDAY INN PORT OF MIAMI-DOWNTOWN completed a $3.5 million renovation of its rooms and public areas.

• Overlooking Biscayne Bay adjacent to the shops and restaurants at Bayside Marketplace, the 641-room Intercontinental HOTEL MIAMI has 65,000 square feet of meeting space with 27 meeting rooms.

• Marriott International has assumed management of the 692-room DORAL GOLF RESORT AND SPA and plans a $40 million enhancement.

• The Radisson Hotel Miami is now the SHERATON MIAMI MART HOTEL.

• The Royal Crowne Plaza Resort has become the MELIA ROYAL PALM RESORT.

• Sonesta International Hotels Corp. plans to develop a new luxury hotel on the beachfront site of the SONESTA BEACH RESORT in Key Biscayne. The 350-room resort is scheduled to open in 2008.

GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE

• The Bonaventure Resort & Spa has been renamed THE WYNDHAM RESORT & GOLDEN DOOR SPA. The 496-room property is undergoing a $90 million enhancement.

• The $30 million, 229-room HOLLYWOOD BEACH MARRIOTT opened this year.

• The 200-room HOLLYWOOD GRANDE CONDOMINIUM HOTEL & RESORT is slated to open in winter 2006.

• Scheduled for completion next summer on Fort Lauderdale Beach, the Q CLUB RESORT & RESIDENCES will be managed by Hilton and will have 333 rooms and a 2,700-square-foot ballroom.

• The $135 million, 166-room ST. REGIS RESORT FORT LAUDERDALE will debut in mid-2006 with 14,000 square feet of meeting space and a 17,000-square-foot spa.

• The $220 million, 346-room W FORT LAUDERDALE AND RESIDENCES, a member of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Luxury Collection, is slated to open in late 2006.

FLORIDA KEYS

• The 200-unit OCEAN REEF CLUB in Key Largo has opened an 11,000-square-foot meeting complex.

• The 201-room CHEECA LODGE & SPA in Islamorada has added new amenities including an outdoor tiki bar and luxury cabanas with plasma-screen televisions and ceiling fans.

NORTHERN FLORIDA & THE PANHANDLE

JACKSONVILLE

• The 508-room SAWGRASS MARRIOTT RESORT & BEACH CLUB, site of the PGA Tour's The Players Championship in March, recently completed an enhancement program that included a new 20,000-square-foot spa and additional meeting facilities, bringing its total to 56,000 square feet.

ST. AUGUSTINE

• Guests at the 300-room RENAISSANCE RESORT AT WORLD GOLF VILLAGE, which has 86,000 square feet of meeting space, have access to the new PGA Tour Spa Laterra that opened recently, as well as the PGA Tour Academy.

PANAMA CITY

• The 356-room BAY POINT MARRIOTT RESORT debuted the only Jack Nicklaus — designed golf course in northwest Florida. The new, high-profile layout replaces the Lagoon Legend course.

ATTRACTION ACTION

ORLANDO

• New at WALT DISNEY WORLD are Soarin', a simulated hang-gliding experience at EPCOT, and Cinderellabration, a new musical spectacular at Magic Kingdom Park. Slated to open in early 2006 at Disney's Animal Kingdom is Expedition EVEREST, a high-speed train adventure.

• Set for a mid-2006 opening at Festival Bay Mall at International Drive is RON JON SURF PARK, the world's first wave-pool facility built specifically for surfing and bodyboarding.

• WONDERWORKS has added several space and flight exhibits to its high-tech control room. Visitors can explore a life-size replica of a Mercury space capsule and pose for photos in an astronaut space suit. New shuttle landers allow guests to use hand-eye coordination to “land” the space shuttle Discovery. In addition, three wide-screen televisions let visitors experience the thrill of flying F-14 and F-18 fighter jets.

MIAMI

• The MIAMI SEAQUARIUM, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, has completed a $3 million renovation.

TITUSVILLE

• Scheduled for an early 2007 opening at KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITOR COMPLEX is a space shuttle simulation called The Shuttle Launch Experience. The 44,000-square-foot, $60 million attraction will be the most technologically advanced exhibit ever created at the complex. It will recreate the sensations of blasting into Earth's orbit.

ASK THE CVB

VISIT FLORIDA
(850) 488-5607
www.visitflorida.org

BEACHES OF SOUTH WALTON
(800) 822-6877
www.beachesofsouthwalton.com
Total Hotel Tax: 10%

DAYTONA BEACH AREA CONVENTION &VISITORS BUREAU
(800) 544-0415
www.daytonabeachcvb.org
Total Hotel Tax: 11.5%

EMERALD COAST CVB
(800) 322-3319; (850) 651-7131
www.destin-fwb.com
Total Hotel Tax: 10%

FLORIDA KEYS & KEY WEST CVB
(800) Ask-keys
www.fla-keys.com
Total Hotel Tax: 11%

GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE CVB
(954) 765-4466
www.sunny.org
Total Hotel Tax: 11%

GREATER MIAMI CVB
(305) 539-3000
www.gmcvb.com
Total Hotel Tax: 13%

GREATER NAPLES, MARCO ISLAND AND THE EVERGLADES CVB
(239) 225-1013
www.paradisecoast.com
Total Hotel Tax: 9%

JACKSONVILLE & THE BEACHES CVB
(904) 798-9111, ext. 26
www.visitjacksonville.com
Total Hotel Tax: 12%

KISSIMMEE-ST. CLOUD CVB
(407) 847-5000
www.floridakiss.com
Total Hotel Tax: 12%

LEE ISLAND COAST VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU
(800) 237-6444; (239) 338-3500
www.leeislandcoast.com
Total Hotel Tax: 9%

ORLANDO/ORANGE COUNTY CVB
(407) 363-5872
www.orlandoinfo.com/meetings
Total Hotel Tax: 11.5%

PALM BEACH COUNTY CVB
(561) 233-3000
www.palmbeachfl.com
Total Hotel Tax: 10%

PANAMA CITY BEACH CVB
(800) PCBEACH; (850) 257-1225
www.800pcbeach.com
Total Hotel Tax: 10.5%

PENSACOLA CVB
(850) 434-1234
www.visitpensacola.com
Total Hotel Tax: 11.5%

SARASOTA CVB
(941) 955-0991
www.sarasotafl.org
Total Hotel Tax: 10%

ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER AREA CVB
(877) 352-3224; (727) 464-7200
www.floridasbeach.com
Total Hotel Tax: 11%

TAMPA BAY CVB
(813) 223-1111
www.visittampabay.com
Total Hotel Tax: 12%

PHANTOM PLANNER

• TransFloridian motor coach service offers transfers from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando to Key West. Amenities include on-board attendants, meal and beverage service, wireless Internet connections, and in-seat power ports for laptop computers and cell-phone chargers. www.transfloridian.com

• Walt Disney World's new Disney's Magical Express service offers a complimentary airport shuttle and luggage delivery to guests of all Disney-owned hotels. Guests check their bags at their hometown airport, bypass baggage claim upon arrival in Orlando, and board special Disney-themed luxury motor coaches to the Walt Disney World Resort.

• Naples Water & Land Tours offers guided Segway tours through downtown Old Naples, Cambier Park, and the shops at Tin City. Groups from 15 to 40 can be accommodated with 48 hours' notice. www.naplestours.com

• For groups that want to get in touch with their spiritual selves, the Palms South Beach Hotel in Miami has introduced two breakouts that foster relaxation through an aroma-therapy session and a 30-minute yoga session. www.thepalmshotel.com

Special Venues

• THE WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME at WORLD GOLF VILLAGE near ST. AUGUSTINE offers a variety of intriguing venues for group events, including Shell Hall, which can handle receptions for up to 200 amid the portraits and awards dedicated to the Hall's 90 members, and the 300-seat IMAX theater, which is available for private screenings. www.wgv.com

• At DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS in ORLANDO, Lights, Motors, Action — a high-energy stunt show with cars, motorcycles, and jet skis careering across an enormous Mediterranean village set — is available nightly for private group events. The 5,000-seat theater can handle new product launches, conference sessions, and awards presentations. The themed stage can accommodate 850 guests for a sit-down dinner and up to 1,025 guests for a reception. www.disneymeetings.com

• The $23 million FORD AMPHITHEATER at TAMPA'S Florida State Fairgrounds, which opened last year, is a state-of-the-art outdoor concert and special events facility with 9,000 permanent seats and festival lawn seating for 10,100. www.tampabayamp.com

• Located next to Biscayne Bay, the lavish DEERING ESTATE AT CUTLER in MIAMI serves as a small conference center and is able to hold indoor and outdoor special events. The estate's emphasis is on the environment, botany, history, fine arts, antiques, rare books, and wines. The ballroom accommodates 150 for a reception and 100 seated. Meeting rooms accommodate groups of up to 30 people. www.deeringestate.org

Celebrity Chefs

Although it has always been known for its theme attractions, beaches, and golf courses, Florida is making a name for itself in the culinary world, as some of the finest chefs have opened restaurants across the state.

In Miami, the strip along Collins Avenue between 16th and 18th streets features Emeril Lagasse's restaurant at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin fame at the Raleigh Hotel, and David Bouley of Bouley and Danube in New York at the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach. Rising star and Food Network regular Michelle Bernstein is the chef at Azul at the Mandarin Oriental, Miami, which was recently awarded the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award, and Norman Van Aken is the guiding force behind Norman's in Coral Gables and Mundo at Merrick Park.

Orlando is also home to an A-list of internationally acclaimed chefs. Lagasse has two restaurants, Emeril's at Universal's CityWalk, and Tchoup Chop, his newest venture at Universal's Royal Pacific Resort. Van Aken has a version of his south Florida Norman's restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Lakes Resort. Chef Wolfgang Puck has the Wolfgang Puck Café at Downtown Disney West Side. Chef Melissa Kelly heads up Primo at the JW Marriott Orlando, and Chef Roy Yamaguchi, known for his innovative Hawaiian fusion cuisine, has Roy's on Sand Lake Road.