Keys TravelerMeetings + Incentive Edition Resorts Welcome Groups Experiences Highlight Meetings Indigenous Keys Seafood fla-keys.com Key Lime Academy PLAYA LARGO RESORT & SPA Subtropical islands feature new and refreshed properties has a 6,000-square-foot lawn New and Renovated Florida Keys Resorts Welcome Groups with oceanfront event space, a 2,760-square-foot ballroom and 114 oceanside villas. Nearby Islander Bayside Townhomes offers 25 two-story two-bedroom units. islanderfloridakeys.com On Duck Key in the Middle Keys, 60-acre Hawks Cay Resort showcases a $50 million renovation of its 177-room main hotel as a Preferred Hotel Group Lifestyle Artist’s rendering of Isla Bella, a 199-unit Collection member. The property resort set to open in early 2019 in Marathon. has 250 two- and three-bedroom villas, full-service marina, saltwater Key West at Stock Island Marina beach and pool deck, and 16 boat lagoon, spa and 20,000 square Village accommodates small events slips. Up to 440 can sit down to feet of oceanfront. New amenities for 65 at the 1,300-square-foot dinner. beachsidekeywest.com include Sixty-One Prime restaurant, Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen & Bar. A Key West’s 216-room DoubleTree an adults-only area and expanded 700-square-foot balcony overlooks by Hilton Grand Key Resort features Tranquility Pool area with bar and the pool and the Keys’ largest deep­ 7,000 square feet of indoor grill. The ballroom hosts 480 water marina. perrykeywest.com and outdoor meeting space. Its banquet-style. Another ballroom In Key West, two Waldorf Astoria ballroom can seat 200 or 300 at a can accommodate 450; each room Resorts, Casa Marina Key West reception. keywestdoubletree.com hosts 400 classroom-style. The and The Reach Key West, have In Key West the 262-room 208-seat restaurant has private beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. Southernmost Beach Resort has Playa Largo Resort & Spa in Key Largo has a lengthy space for 88. hawkscay.com Casa Marina, with 311 rooms and 1,400 square feet of meeting By Laura Myers bayfront beach and 40,000 square feet of meeting space. The 125-room Faro Blanco suites, offers the island’s largest space, including a 565-square-foot Resort and Yacht Club, a Hyatt facility with 11,000 square feet boardroom and 900-square-foot any Florida Keys resorts are a world away adults-only 135-unit Bungalows Key Place resort in Marathon, offers of indoor event space and private conference room, three pools, offer unique, memorable from a typical Largo opens in late fall. Bungalows 1,820 square feet with three beach. The Reach, with 150 rooms two beaches, spa, fitness center, Msettings for unforgettable meeting experience average 800 square feet, and meeting rooms, plush lawns, and suites, has Key West’s only oceanfront restaurant, three events and programs. at a mega-metro amenities include spa, two pools, marina walkway, Lighthouse Grill natural beach. A group attendant bars and poolside entertainment. “In the Florida Keys and Key convention center.” three restaurants, Tiki-style boats and fishing, watersports and sunset oversees itineraries, meals and southernmostresorts.com West, it’s all about finding the The private and 1,000 feet of shoreline. cruises. faroblancoresort.com group activities. casamarinaresort. Key West’s 24 North Hotel right fit for your group,” said Ocean Reef Club BungalowsKeyLargo.com The 24-acre, 199-unit Isla Bella com or reachresort.com offers 1,080 square feet of indoor Jack Meier, group sales manager on North Key The 14-acre, 178-room Playa Beach Resort, at mile marker 47 Key West Marriott Beachside, meeting space to accommodate for the Monroe County Tourist Largo has 30,000 Largo Resort & Spa has an at Marathon’s Seven Mile Bridge, with 129 one-, two- and three- 45. A 12,105-square-foot lawn Development Council. “The Keys total square Jack Meier 8,600-square-foot lawn, wedding is scheduled to open in early 2019 bedroom suites and 93 king rooms, has outdoor space for 1,200. The feet of meeting gazebo and 4,760-square-foot with more than 20,000 square offers a 5,673-square-foot ballroom 145-room hotel has a convenience space, including a 7,500-square­ ballroom for 360.The property has feet of function space, including a and 10,000 square feet of meeting store, pool and two F&B venues. Keys Traveler foot ballroom for 500. Ocean 10 bungalows, a three-bedroom 3,800-square-foot Hibiscus Event space with 2,500 square feet of 24northhotel.com Meetings + Incentive Edition Reef includes Carysfort Kitchen beach house, spa, Kosher meals Center and 16,000 square feet of Editor Andy Newman for culinary events, two 18-hole and 6,000-square-foot beach. outdoor space. Nearly a mile of Managing Editor golf courses, a full-featured 175­ playalargoresort.com shoreline includes an oceanfront Online academy aids travel pros Carol Shaughnessy slip marina and Buccaneer Island In Islamorada, the 27-acre, 214­ event area. There’s a marina and web-based video-learning platform provides travel professionals with Senior Writer to accommodate up to 400. room oceanfront Cheeca Lodge & pool deck, a 4,000-square-foot spa, the education necessary to become certified Florida Keys destination Laura Myers meetingsatoceanreef.com. Spa has over 4,600 square feet of five pools and four F&B venues. specialists. Copy Editor A Buck Banks The 13-acre Baker’s Cay Resort, versatileBy spaceCaptain and luxury Ted spa. Lund Its islabellabeachresort.com Key Lime Academy uses seven video-driven modules to educate “Keys Traveler” is published by the Monroe a Curio Collection by Hilton, opens ballroom has 2,100 square feet for Oceans Edge Key West Resort participants on Keys properties, attractions and history. Each module is County Tourist Development Council, the late fall in Key Largo as a 200­ parties of 120. Its 1,870-square­ & Marina has 175 waterview followed by an eight- to 10-question quiz in multiple-choice format. official visitor marketing agency for the Florida Keys & Key West. Marketing room resort with 17,000 square foot ballroom has capacity for 100. suites and rooms of 382 to 575 The process takes about 30 minutes and can be done either Director: Stacey Mitchell; Sales Director: feet for meetings, a 4,000-square­ cheeca.com square feet, six swimming pools incrementally or in a single sitting. When the user has completed the entire Jim De Keyrel ; Groups Sales Manager: foot ballroom and over 20,000 The 25-acre Islander Resort, and open-air restaurant. Its marina e-learning series and passed all quizzes with a grade of 80 percent or Jack Meier square feet of additional spaces. reopening late this year, offers has 111 wet and 52 dry slips. better, an electronic certificate is issued. September 2018 cover photo of Hawks Cay bakerscayresort.com cottage-style accommodations oceansedgekeywest.com Resort on Duck Key near Marathon by Bob Care Key Lime Academy is offered on the Keys tourism council’s official The 12-acre “luxury inclusive” with screened lanais. The resort The 100-room The Perry Hotel website at fla-keys.com/kla-mice. 2 fla-keys.com • fla-keys.co.uk • fla-keys.it • fla-keys.de • fla-keys.ie • fla-keys.fr • fla-keys.nl • fla-keys.be • fla-keys.cn Keys Traveler Keys Traveler fla-keys.com • fla-keys.co.uk • fla-keys.it • fla-keys.de • fla-keys.ie • fla-keys.fr • fla-keys.nl • fla-keys.be • fla-keys.cn 3 RON MODRA RON MODRA Rich experiences highlight meeting trends in Keys By Laura Myers Photos by Andy Newman Sunset Key’s laid-back atmosphere offers a relaxing respite for attendees staying at the Margaritavile Resort & Marina or the island’s cottages. he Florida Keys, with authentic indigenous things that can make their attendees’ experiences ballroom in Key West. experiences, healthy cuisine and relaxed activities memorable,” said Mark Calbo, area director of sales. “Having the largest ballroom in Key West, Tfor visitors, offer a rich 125-mile-long setting islamoradaresortcollection.com we enjoy good demand year-round,” said Alan for meetings of virtually all types. The island chain’s At Islamorada’s Islander Resort, “we see a lot of Beaubien, Beachside’s director of sales and eco-attractions, offshore fishing and fascinating smaller groups. They do a combined trip of a meeting marketing. beachsidekeywest.com history provide engaging, interactive opportunities for and incentive activities,” said Karly Campbell, director At Casa Marina, a Waldorf Astoria Resort enrichment and enjoyment. of sales. islanderfloridakeys.com with 22,600 square feet of indoor and In Key Largo, Ocean Reef Club’s partnership with At nearby Cheeca Lodge, dining requests include outdoor meeting space, groups are “quickly the Coral Restoration Foundation enables groups “to current foodie trends of Asian noodle bowls and poké immersed in the Key West lifestyle with team- contribute by taking either a snorkeling or scuba-diving dishes. Team building activities with wine, beer and building and breakout activities from sand trip to a coral nursery and helping to plant coral on spirits tastings are included in activities such as paint- sculpting workshops to sunset cruises and Islamorada’s Cheeca Lodge is situated on the Atlantic Ocean. the reef,” said Michelle Simpson, executive director of and-sip classes or museum nights with a local artist. snorkel tours,” said Andrew Rosuck, director sales. “These team-building events allow groups to be “Creating these types of experiences allows us of sales and marketing. casamarinaresort. a part of this nonprofit conservation organization while the opportunity to make a meeting or event truly com or reachresort.com putting life back into the ocean.” oceanreef.com destination-specific, and infuse some authentic The Margaritaville Resort & Marina can stage Key Largo’s Playa Largo Resort & Spa is targeting Islamorada and Florida Keys flavor,” said Rhonda receptions for groups up to 80 in its Paradise travel groups, executive board meetings and retreats, Whitfield, Cheeca’s director of sales and marketing.