Keys TravelerMeetings + Incentive Edition Resorts Welcome Groups Experiences Highlight Meetings Key Lime Academy Indigenous Keys Seafood fla-keys.com PLAYA LARGO RESORT & SPA BILL HANSEN CATERING Subtropical islands feature new and refreshed properties The resort features 177 guest rooms and 225 two- and three- bedroom villas, a full-service Florida Keys resorts welcome groups marina, multiple restaurants and swimming pools, a saltwater lagoon and a spa. Visit hawkscay.com. The 216-room Marriott Key West Beachside offers a 5,673-square- foot ballroom, Key West’s largest, and nearly 10,000 square feet of meeting space. Upgrades are underway with new air walls and carpeting. A new 12-slip dock can accommodate boats up to a maximum 40-foot length. Guest water taxis run from the new dock to downtown Key West. The property offers seven breakout rooms and six event rooms. Visit beachsidekeywest.com. Key West’s 216-room DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Grand Key recently underwent a $7.5 million renovation. It offers 7,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor Paya Largo Resort & Spa in Key Largo has a lengthy meeting space. The ballroom bayfront beach and 40,000 square feet of meeting space. can seat 200 or accommodate up to 300 for a reception. Visit nternational, national and regional Jack Meier, group The private Ocean Reef Club, doubletree3hilton.com. resort brands have established sales manager for at Key Largo’s northernmost tip, Iroots throughout the Florida Keys, the Florida Keys & has 30,000 total square feet of Key Lime Academy aids offering memorable settings for Key West tourism indoor meeting space and a new one-of-a-kind events and programs. council. “With Carysfort Hall, with a 5,688-square- travel professionals “The Florida Keys & Key West our wide array foot ballroom and five additional web-based video-learning offer an experience that’s a world of properties, it’s meeting rooms for up to 500 platform provides travel away from a typical meeting simply finding the attendees. The club also expanded A professionals with the educa- experience at a mega-metro right fit for your its state-of-the-art Cooking School tion necessary to become certified convention center,” said group.” at Carysfort Kitchen for culinary Florida Keys destination specialists. In Key Largo, Jack Meier events and classes. Key Lime Academy uses seven the eagerly awaited 14-acre, 144- Planners can choose from 300 video-driven modules to educate Keys Traveler room luxury Playa Largo Resort & accommodations that include participants on Keys properties, at- Meetings + Incentive Edition Spa — the first new-build resort in villas and homes. Ocean Reef also tractions and history. Each module Editor is followed by an eight- to 10-ques- A group dines beachside at Largo, which caters to small meetings and retreats. Andy Newman the Upper Keys in 21 years — has features two 18-hole golf courses, Managing Editor opened as the 100th addition to a lagoon beach that accommodates tion quiz presented in multiple- Carol Shaughnessy Autograph Collection Hotels. up to 400 and a 175-slip marina. choice format. Key Largo Retreat Property Opens Senior Writer Playa Largo offers more than Visit MeetingsAtOceanReef.com. The process takes about 30 min- argo, a private sanctuary, has opened in Key Largo for corporate Laura Myers 40,000 total square feet of meeting On Duck Key in the Middle Keys, utes and can be done either incre- meeting or incentive groups. The gated resort, which can Copy Editor space, three gourmet restaurants, the 60-acreBy Captain Hawks Cay Ted Resort, Lund mentally or in a single sitting. When accommodate up to 15 single guests or 30 in doubles, is nestled Buck Banks L “Keys Traveler” is published by the a 6,000-square-foot ballroom, a AAA Four Diamond Award and the user has completed the entire amid mahogany, palm and buttonwood trees and indigenous orchids. A Monroe County Tourist Development a pool with a 1,200-square-foot Preferred Hotel Group Lifestyle e-learning series and passed all private pier can accommodate up to 100. Council, the official visitor marketing deck, 10 secluded bungalows, a Collection member, has 20,000 quizzes with a grade of 80 percent Its 5,000-square-foot The Lodge offers function space and agency for the Florida Keys & Key West. Director: Harold Wheeler; Sales three-bedroom beach house with square feet of oceanfront meeting or better an electronic certificate is accommodations, along with six 800-square-foot bungalows. Director: Stacey Mitchell; Groups Sales private pool, a full-service spa and space including refurbished space issued. Custom meals are by Bill Hansen Catering, whose past clients include Manager: Jack Meier a 6,000-square-foot beach. Kosher for up to 600. The new dockside Key Lime Academy is offered on presidents and celebrities. Activity offerings include paddleboarding and Cover photo of Hawks Cay Resort & Marina on groups can be accommodated. 208-seat Angler & Ale restaurant the Keys tourism council official kayaking in the 15-foot-deep Coral Lagoon, as well as sailing, nature tours Duck Key near Marathon by Andy Newman Visit playalargoresort.com. offers private group space for 88. website at fla-keys.com. and dolphin swims. Visit largoresort.com. 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 laidback atmosphere offers a relaxing respite for attendees staying at the Westin Key West Resort & Marina or the island’s cottages. he Florida Keys, with authentic indigenous themed mystery theater dinners, scavenger hunts or lighthouse built in the 1950s, offers yacht excursions. whole fish grouper taco carving station. experiences, healthy cuisine and relaxed activities other custom events,” Petersen said. “You can choose a private charter boat to host a “The whole island is a unique experience for Tfor visitors, offer a rich 125-mile-long setting Planners booking Islamorada Resort Company’s four board meeting on the beautiful waters of the Keys,” active guests seeking relaxation or for a welcome for meetings of virtually all types. The island chain’s properties — Amara Cay Resort, La Siesta, Pelican said Corinne Dean, director of sales and marketing. reception,” said Jackie Herbst, Westin Key West’s eco-attractions, offshore fishing and fascinating Cove and Postcard Inn in Islamorada — strive to create Marriott Key West Beachside offers about 10,000 director of group sales. history provide engaging, interactive opportunities for memories. square feet of meeting space with a 5,675-square- The Westin features some 6,000 square feet of enrichment and enjoyment. “No more of the cookie-cutter classroom-style foot ballroom on the 2-by-4-mile island of Key West. meeting space at its harborfront location. In Key Largo, Ocean Reef Club’s partnership with meetings. They want specialty menus, customized “Having the largest ballroom in Key West, the Coral Restoration Foundation enables groups “to meeting packages, intimate dining, things that can we enjoy good demand year-round,” said Alan contribute by taking either a snorkeling or scuba-diving make their attendees’ experiences memorable,” said Beaubien, Beachside’s director of sales and trip to a coral nursery and helping to plant coral on the Anne Walston, area director of sales. marketing. reef,” said Michelle Simpson, director of sales. “These At Islamorada’s Islander Resort, A Guy Harvey At Casa Marina, a Waldorf Astoria Resort team-building events allow groups to be a part of this Outpost, “we see a lot of smaller groups. They do a with 22,600 square feet of indoor and nonprofit conservation organization while putting life combined trip of a meeting and incentive activities,” outdoor meeting space, groups are “quickly back into the ocean.” said Karly Campbell, director of sales. immersed in the Key West lifestyle with team- Key Largo’s new Playa Largo Resort & Spa is At nearby Cheeca Lodge, dining requests include building and breakout activities from sand targeting travel groups, executive board meetings current foodie trends of Asian noodle bowls and poké sculpting workshops to sunset cruises and and retreats, “because of our resort’s location and dishes. Teambuilding activities with wine, beer, rum and snorkel tours,” said Andrew Rosuck, director the caliber of service we offer,” said Elizabeth Diaz, liquor tastings are included in activities such as paint- of sales and marketing. Guests are greeted director of catering and events. and-sip classes or museum nights with a local artist. with sunglass fittings or cigar rollers during Privacy is often requested for small retreats, said “Creating these types of experiences allows us welcome receptions. Tammy Petersen, president of Chicago-based Retreats the opportunity to make a meeting or event truly The Westin Key West Resort & Marina can Unlimited. Largo, a new private destination retreat in destination-specific, and infuse some authentic stage receptions for groups up to 100 in its Key Largo, is in its portfolio. Islamorada and Florida Keys flavor,” said Rhonda Paradise Cottage at Sunset Key Cottages, “Our partnership with Largo enables us to bring Whitfield, Cheeca’s director of sales and marketing. a private island just 500 yards offshore, unique offerings to our guests such as yoga retreats, Marathon’s Faro Blanco Resort and Yacht Club, a accessible via an eight-minute boat ride. Faro Blanco Resort & Marina in Marathon features three meeting wellness retreats, special corporate packages with Hyatt Place Resort known for its signature landmark Indigenous culinary offerings include a rooms, two boardroom suites and extensive outdoor event space.