The big news in Florida is downtown. Cities are booming with new entertainment, restaurants, and shopping, while construction near the convention centers is at an all-time high.

In Orlando, a $1.1 billion downtown sports-and-arts venue plan was recently approved by city and county leaders. It includes a $480 million special-events center that will serve as home to the NBA's Orlando Magic and a $425 million performing arts center. Both are slated for completion in 2010.

On Orlando's International Drive, Pointe Orlando, a shopping and dining complex one block from the Orange County Convention Center, is in the final stages of an extensive redevelopment project.

In downtown Tampa, three new museums — Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa Museum of Art, and Children's Museum of Tampa — are slated to open by 2009. In addition, TECO Line Streetcar System with its current terminus at the Embassy Suites Downtown-Convention Center has been extended with a new stop at the Hyatt Regency Tampa in downtown.

Miami saw the debut last year of a performing arts center as well as the expansion of the Miami Seaquarium.

The historic Clematis District in West Palm Beach is becoming an evening entertainment haven for groups, with the introduction of more than 20 new restaurants this year. The long-awaited convention center hotel is on its way with the approval of a $100 million-plus plan to build an upscale, 400-room, 25-story hotel to open in 2010. The property will be connected via walkway to the convention center.

In Panama City on the Gulf of Mexico, a new international airport with a 100,000-square-foot terminal is in the planning stages, expected to open by early 2010.

Tampa/St. Petersburg

Scheduled to open in 2009 in downtown St. Petersburg is the $100 million, 28-story Grand Bohemian Hotel & Residences, with 260 guest rooms and 16,000 square feet of meeting space.

The 323-room InterContinental Tampa opened in August in the Westshore district. The hotel offers 21,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.

Clearwater

The recently opened 253-room Sandpearl Resort is the first new beachfront resort in the Clearwater area in 25 years. It features 25,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space.

Lee Island Coast

Naples

Scheduled to open in February is the Naples Bay Resort, part of a mixed-use downtown development. A member of the Benchmark Hospitality International portfolio, Naples Bay will feature 85 hotel rooms, 108 two- and three-bedroom cottages, and 3,150 square feet of meeting space.

Central Florida

Greater Orlando

Scheduled to debut late summer 2009 is the 1,400-room Hilton Orlando Hotel at Orange County Convention Center, an 18-story hotel that will feature 130,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel will link to the convention center.

Expected to open in summer 2009 at Bonnet Creek next to the Walt Disney World Resort is a 1,000-room Hilton hotel and a 500-room Waldorf=Astoria hotel. The development will encompass 145,000 square feet of meeting space.

In October, the Orlando World Center Marriott celebrated the grand opening of its 105,000-square-foot Cypress Ballroom.

Planned for an early 2009 debut is the 400-room Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Hotel and Spa Bonnet Creek Resort. Adjacent to the Walt Disney World Resort, it will offer conference space to accommodate up to 300 attendees.

Kissimmee

Ginn Reunion Resort opened Reunion Grande — a new 11-story, luxury condo-hotel in the 2,300-acre resort community — earlier this year with 82 suites and 15,000 square feet of meeting space.

The 444-room Holiday Inn Main Gate East completed a $10 million renovation in September. It has more than 4,000 square feet of meeting space.

The 922-room Orlando Sun Resort and Convention Center by Lexington, formerly the Hyatt Orlando, recently opened with meeting space including a 13,550-square-foot ballroom, a 20,000-square-foot exhibit hall, and 22 meeting rooms.

South Florida The Keys

Greater Miami

The 156-room Crowne Plaza Miami Kendall, with 5,000 square feet of meeting space, opened this past summer.

The 349-room Eden Roc Renaissance Beach Resort and Spa is undergoing a major renovation that will add a new 11,500-square-foot pillarless banquet room. Phase II will open in late 2008.

The Fontainebleau Miami Beach is scheduled to complete a $1 billion expansion/renovation in mid-2008. The popular Vegas nightclub, PURE, will debut here.

The oceanfront, 17-story Regent Bal Harbour is slated to open in January with 124 guest rooms and a 3,700 square-foot conference center.

The 250-room Sole on the Ocean in Sunny Isles Beach, with 5,000 square feet of meeting space, opened in October.

Greater Fort Lauderdale

In Pompano Beach, the 303-suite Fairmont Pompano Beach Resort is scheduled for completion in 2011.

The 373-room Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort opened earlier this year.

The new 501-room Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center & Spa in Weston (formerly the Bonaventure Resort & Conference Center) has put the finishing touches on a $100 million renovation, featuring a conference center with 100,000 square feet of meeting space.

The 166-room, $240 million St. Regis Resort, Fort Lauderdale opened in May on Fort Lauderdale Beach with 24,000 square feet of meeting space.

Scheduled for completion late 2008 are two new Donald Trump condo hotel developments. Construction has begun on Trump International Hotel & Tower Fort Lauderdale, a 24-story building with 301 suites. The Trump Las Olas Beach Resort will have 95 units.

Slated to open early next year is the $205 million, 346-room W Hotel, offering 15,000 square feet of meeting space.

The Keys

The 350-unit Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo has two championship golf courses, a 175-slip marina, a private beach, 12 restaurants and lounges, and 30,000 square feet of meeting space. Popular teambuilding programs for groups include human foosball, an eco-challenge, and a construct-a-craft regatta.

Northern Florida

Panama City Beach

Carillon Beach Resort & Spa opened recently. It includes the 70-unit Carillon Beach Inn and is situated in the walkable village of Carillon Beach, which has meeting space for small groups.

Trip Tips!

• The Miami Dragon Boat Club offers a cultural teambuilding experience through the 2,000-year-old sport of dragon boat racing for groups of 20 to 200.

• Some of Florida's best private golf courses are accessible to guests and groups that stay there. Properties with meeting space and play privileges include the Ginn Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast (new Tom Fazio-designed The Conservatory); Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando (Bay Hill); and Watercolor Inn near Panama City Beach (Greg Norman's Shark's Tooth and Tom Fazio's Camp Creek Golf Club).

Ask the CVB

Visit Florida
(850) 488-5607
www.visitflorida.org

Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
(800) 544-0415
www.daytonabeachcvb.org

Florida Keys & Key West CVB
(800) Ask-keys
www.fla-keys.com

Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB
(954) 765-4466
www.sunny.org

Kissimmee CVB
(407) 847-5000
www.floridakiss.com

Greater Miami CVB
(305) 539-3000, (800) 933-8448
www.MiamiandBeaches.com

Orlando/Orange County CVB
(407) 363-5872
www.orlandoinfo.com/meetings

Palm Beach County CVB
(561) 233-3000
www.palmbeachfl.com

St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area CVB
(877) 352-3224; (727) 464-7200
www.floridasbeach.com

Beaches of South Walton
(800) 822-6877
www.beachesofsouthwalton.com

Tampa Bay & Company
(813) 223-1111
www.visittampabay.com

Special Venues

Aquasino, Miami's only luxury gaming yacht, accommodates up to 500 passengers with 228 square feet of space. Rooms on all three decks suit a variety of meetings, all with a view of the Miami skyline. Gaming options include blackjack, poker, baccarat, and more. www.aquasinosouthbeach.com

Sailing from Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is the new Grand I Sea Ray, a 52-foot yacht with full onboard catering. The vessel, cruising the waters of Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake in the Magic Kingdom area, can be booked for excursions for up to 18 passengers. www.DisneyMeetings.com

In Kissimmee, the Osceola Heritage Park has the 11,000-seat indoor Silver Spurs Arena for large-scale entertainment events and the 89,500-square-foot Exhibition Building that can accommodate trade shows, banquets, seminars, and other events. www.ohpark.com

The Florida Aquarium in Tampa can accommodate 3,000 guests for a reception in its exhibit spaces. A multilevel outdoor pavilion with a stage offers prime views of the waterfront. www.flaquarium.org

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, on a 66-acre site on Sarasota Bay, includes a waterfront mansion, circus museum, art museum, and the 250-seat Asolo Theater, which is available for events. The complex has six rooms that can accommodate receptions for 2,500 and banquets for up to 1,000. www.ringling.org