When it reopened in November after a $1 billion, two-year renovation, the Fontainebleau Miami Beach had added modern updates to its historic elegance. The 1,504-room property features two new towers, 11 restaurants and lounges, an oceanfront poolscape, and a 40,000-square-foot spa. “We are moving the resort into the future with a nod to its iconic past,” said Jeffrey Soffer, Fontainebleau Resorts' executive chairman. Offerings include a two-level, Richardson Sadeki-designed spa; La Cote, a beachfront restaurant; and 58 meeting rooms offering a total of 107,000 square feet of indoor event space. Situated on Collins Avenue and facing the Atlantic Ocean, Fontainebleau Miami Beach allows attendees to soak up the view from its more than 51,000 square feet of outdoor function space, which includes the 21,000-square-foot Ocean Lawn.

Venue News

Conference Centers

Norris Conference Center
Fort Worth, Texas

The News: Norris Conference Centers has brought conference facilities to downtown Fort Worth.

Specs: After renovation of the site on Houston Street, the 40,000-square-foot conference facility opened in October. The design includes six executive meeting rooms. One room will remain configured in theater seating. Groups of up to 300 guests can be accommodated.

Legacy Lodge & Conference Center
Lake Lanier Islands, Ga.

The News: The new property opened in August as part of the first phase of a 10-year, multimillion-dollar expansion at Lake Lanier Islands Resort.

Specs: The Conference Center at Legacy Lodge features 21,000 square feet of flexible, IACC-certified meeting space that will accommodate groups of up to 500. The center has 23 rooms that can be used for meetings, including three ballrooms and an executive boardroom. Legacy Lodge also features 221 guest rooms and suites.

Extra: Ballrooms offer complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access, audiovisual equipment, and sound and lighting capabilities.

Woodlands Resort & Conference Center
The Woodlands, Texas

The News: The conference center is undergoing a $50 million renovation.

Specs: Ten lodges will be converted to residential use and 158 guest rooms added along with a lazy river and a steakhouse. Once complete, the facility will have 380 guest rooms (reduced from 440) and more than 60,000 square feet of conference space.

Time Frame: The project is expected to be complete in late 2009.

Beachside Resort & Conference Center
Key West, Fla.

The News: This new five-star resort and conference center opened last fall.

Specs: With 222 guest rooms and suites, the resort has a total of 9,600 square feet of meeting space, including a 6,000-square-foot conference and meeting center with its own food-service kitchen. The Beachside Ballroom can seat up to 400 guests banquet-style.

Extra: Overlooks the Gulf of Mexico

Renaissance Conference Center
Detroit

The News: The conference center reopened in April after a major renovation that expanded its square footage and upgraded its technology.

Specs: The expanded, 22,000-square-foot facility features six meeting rooms. Also available on-site are catering facilities, two-way videoconference capabilities, high-speed Internet access, Wi-Fi capability, built-in projection screens, and concierge and shipping services.

The National Conference Center
Lansdowne, Va.

The News: The National Ballroom opened in 2008.

Specs: The ballroom accommodates up to 1,800 guests and is Northern Virginia's largest ballroom.

University Conference Center News

The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center
Auburn, Ala.

The News: After eight months of renovations, The Hotel at Auburn University unveiled its 236 new guest rooms in August.

Specs: All guest rooms feature plasma screen televisions, cordless phones, wireless Internet, microwaves, and refrigerators. The hotel also features 22,000 square feet of renovated meeting space, 15 function rooms, two formal ballrooms, and a specially equipped auditorium.

Extra: The hotel's Ariccia Trattoria & Bar features a lounge and espresso bar and has a private dining room for special events.

High Country Conference Center
Flagstaff, Ariz.

The News: The center opened in March.

Specs: More than 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting space; can accommodate up to 1,000 people. It is adjacent to the 158-room Drury Inn and Suites Flagstaff.

Extra: The conference center is owned by Northern Arizona University.

AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center
Austin, Texas

The News: The AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center at The University of Texas at Austin opened in August.

Specs: The facility offers 40,000 square feet of meeting space, a 300-seat tiered amphitheater, an 800-seat divisible ballroom, three 90-seat tiered classrooms, four 65-seat tiered classrooms, five conference rooms, and 12 breakout rooms. Also available on-site: 297 guest rooms and a variety of dining establishments.

Extra: The center is the only IACC-approved meeting facility in downtown Austin.