FLORIDA.

NORTHWEST

Northwest Florida stretches from Pensacola, on the state's western border, east to Apalachicola. With more than 100 miles of gorgeous coastline, quiet fishing villages, and quaint historic districts, this region specializes in services and sites for small and mid-size meetings.

Located in the Panhandle of Florida between Pensacola and Tallahassee, Panama City Beach is a nice change of pace for those looking to mix business and pleasure, with more than 90,000 square feet of meeting space and nearly 30 miles of sugar-white sand. And Panama City Beach's coastline is more beautiful than ever following a $20 million beach enhancement project completed last year.

The area has several hotels and resorts just right for group business, including the Boardwalk Beach Resort, which offers 36,000 square feet of meeting space and the area's largest ballroom; Marriott Bay Point Resort, with 40,000 square feet; Edgewater Beach Resort, with 13,500 square feet; and Paradise Found Resorts, offering more than 1,300 square feet.

Named for its sparkling green waters, the Emerald Coast's cities of Destin and Fort Walton Beach offer a wide range of facilities for an executive retreat or sizeable meeting, and plans just got off the ground for a new conference center to accommodate even larger groups by 2004. The Ramada Plaza Beach Resort on Okaloosa Island has begun to upgrade its 335 guest rooms, and intends to add a new pool area and exercise facility. As of June 2000, the Days Inn & Suites will become a Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, with a new, seven-story, high-rise and 200 guest rooms. And when delegates are ready to dive into something other than work, the Emerald Coast features phenomenal snorkeling and scuba adventures.

Tucked away between Destin and Panama City, the Beaches of South Walton offer some of Florida's most beautiful beachfront meeting sites. More than 30,000 square feet of conference space is available at Sandestin Resort, the largest golf and tennis resort on the Gulf Coast. The nearby village of Seaside is becoming increasingly popular as a scenic site for small group getaways; event alternatives include a 2,000-square-foot town hall and large beach pavilions that dot the coastline.

Although the region specializes in unique services and facilities for small-group gatherings, the city of Pensacola offers larger venues ranging from its 22,000-square-foot civic center to the rustic Big Lagoon State Recreation Area, and more than 9,200 guest rooms.

Did you know[ldots]

The sparkling sand found on Panama City beaches comes from the quartz crystals washing down from the Appalachian Mountains. Across several centuries, millions and millions of sand grains have been bleached, ground, smoothed, and polished before finding their way to the Northwest Florida coast.

NORTH CENTRAL

Southern charm and hospitality greet visitors to this region, which extends from Gadsden and Wakulla Counties in the west to Alachua County in the east. It's here, in what's called "The Original Florida" and "The Nature Coast," that you find the capital city, Tallahassee. But instead of beaches and palm trees, the North Central area is better known for its lush, rolling landscape and hundreds of shimmering lakes and springs.

Sunshine State capital Tallahassee is both classic and contemporary, featuring more than 800 years of history and a commitment to the cutting edge with two state universities and impressive convention facilities totaling 350,000 square feet.

One of Florida's largest arenas, the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center, seats 14,000 and features 69,000 square feet of convention space, including a 40,000-squarefoot exhibition hall. The meeting and banquet facilities are currently getting a face-lift and plans for a Marriott Hotel on the premises are under way, with a groundbreaking scheduled for early fall.

Adjacent to the Civic Center is the Turnbull Conference Center, an executive-style facility operated by Florida State University. On the edge of the campus, just a few blocks from the capitol, the center caters to groups, with 36,000 square feet spanning 10 large meeting rooms, two computer training labs, an executive boardroom, 375-seat auditorium, and large dining room that accommodates up to 300. The Capital Cultural Center, home to the Odyssey Science Center and Tallahassee's Museum of Art, is a unique location for meetings, seminars, and receptions. And nothing beats the convenience of the Dale Mabry Conference Center at the Tallahassee Regional Airport, featuring more than 17,000 square feet of space and several breakout options with seven rooms that can hold from 5 to 500.

Just 13 miles outside of town, the newly renovated Wakulla Springs Lodge and Conference Center is a tranquil alternative for small retreats. Other stylish, small-meeting spots include the Brokaw-McDougall House, a restored downtown antebellum home; Helen Lind Garden, a sculpture park in the heart of the historic district; and Bradfordville Hunt Club, an authentic 1900-era farmhouse surrounded by oaks and pines.

Last year, the Tallahassee Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, together with the Tallahassee Sports Council and the Leon County Tourist Development Council, opened a full-service, downtown information center, making it even easier for visitors to enjoy and explore the capital region.

Heading east, Alachua County offers several small towns surrounding the county seat of Gainesville, where the University of Florida offers many choices for meetings and events. The massive Stephen C. O'Connell Center can seat 12,000; the Martin Luther King Center offers 18,000 square feet of meeting space; and the Historic Thomas Center, considered the cultural heart of the city, offers five meeting rooms in a beautifully restored Mediterranean Revival-style house, which also serves as an art gallery and historical museum.

There's lots of history to be had nearby. Micanopy, just south of Gainesville, is the oldest inland town in Florida, and the perfect destination for a pre- or post-function retreat. Other nearby towns include Hawthorne, whose 400 lakes earned it renown as the "Heart of Freshwater Fishing"; and the once-rowdy railroad town of High Springs now boasts a different kind of wildlife along the Santa Fe River, inviting birdwatchers and fishermen to take in its natural beauty.

Did you know[ldots]

"Tallahassee" was named by Creek and Seminole Indians for the words "talwa," meaning town, and "ahassee," meaning old.

NORTHEAST

Northeast Florida's meeting facilities are constantly expanding to meet the increasing demand for the area's mix of history and happenings. Known as "Florida's First Coast," the region offers a collection of popular destinations from Amelia Island south to St. Augustine.

The Northeast corner's Amelia Island offers a refreshing change of pace and excellent meeting options with several resorts and oceanfront villas from which to choose. The island's historic B&Bs also offer creative alternatives for small-group gatherings.

For sizeable groups, the 679-room Amelia Island Plantation complex offers luxury accommodations, as well as versatile function space and some of the best golf around. The largest of Amelia Island Plantation's many meeting venues are the Executive Conference Centers, just steps via a covered walk from the 249-room Amelia Inn. Perfect for larger groups and those requiring multiple meeting rooms, the complex features a pre-function area for registration and breaks and a variety of facilities with more than 49,000 square feet of meeting space. Nearby, the Ritz-Carlton, overlooking the Atlantic, offers 449 guest rooms and 35,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 13,348-square-foot ballroom, the largest in Northeast Florida.

Thirty miles down the road, the city of Jacksonville's vibrant downtown, cultural attractions, and natural splendor have transformed it into a popular meeting destination. The River City features more than 13,000 hotel rooms and event sites to suit any need, The largest is the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center: Once a regional railway station, it has a natural capacity for crowds, and its 265,000 square feet of space includes a 78,500-square-foot exhibit hall, 10,000-square-foot ballroom, and 22 meeting rooms. The Skyway Express, an airborne monorail system, links it to hotels, entertainment facilities, and other convention locations, making it easy for delegates to get around.

Versatility's the key in this city, where a $30 million redevelopment of the Times-Union Center created three performing arts halls that convert to multipurpose meeting space, 22,000 square feet in all. And the refurbished Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum easily transforms from ice rink to exhibit hall, with two 12,000-foot concourses with combined capacity of 150 8' x 10' booths. The coliseum is located along the beautiful St. Johns River, in the heart of the Jacksonville Sports Complex and within a short distance of the city's theater, restaurant, and entertainment district.

When the Adam's Mark Hotel opens on downtown's Northbank in 2001, it will be Northeast Florida's largest convention hotel. It will feature 966 deluxe guest rooms and suites, as well as 110,000 square feet of meeting, banquet, and exhibit space. Plans also include a spectacular 28,000-square-foot ballroom, accommodating 4,300 theater-style or 2,500 banquet-style, as well as 21 breakout rooms, and a 100-booth exhibit area.

Smaller groups will find the same level of sophistication offered by the area's larger convention sites. The award-winning Omni Jacksonville Hotel has function space for up to 650, and across the river, what was the Jacksonville Hotel on the Riverwalk is now the Jacksonville Hilton and Towers following a $17 million renovation, with 13,000 square feet dedicated to meetings.

New things are happening in America's oldest city, St. Augustine, located south of Jacksonville in St. John's County Growing World Golf Village showcases golf's rich heritage and popularity in a world-class resort setting. It features the World Golf Hall of Fame, as well as the 300-room World Golf Village Resort Hotel and St. Johns County Convention Center operated by Marriott, the Vistana World Golf Village Resort, and plenty of upscale shopping, dining, and, of course, golf. The Slammer and The Squire, an 18-hole championship course, will be joined this fall by The King and The Bear, the first course co-designed by golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

Following a two-year, $17 million restoration, the Casa Monica Hotel has been returned to its original medieval splendor. Established in 1888, the hotel has long been a desirable destination for kings and presidents, artists and authors, philosophers, thinkers, and, of course, association executives. Its 137 rooms, grand Spanish-style lobby and lounge, and more than 5,000 square feet of meeting space make it an excellent location for executive board meetings and small group gatherings. Your meeting-goers will undoubtedly want to extend their stay to enjoy historic St. Augustine's fine collection of museums, boutiques, and restaurants.

Did you know [ldots]

One million tons of shrimp are caught off the coast of Amelia Island each year.

CENTRAL WEST

Encompassing the southern portion of Florida's Nature Coast, as well as the popular vacation destinations of Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Sarasota, the Central West region of Florida offers a vast array of cultural, historical, natural, and recreational riches, as well as distinctive backdrops for meetings of any size.

With the opening of a new convention hotel, planned expansion of the convention center, and a growing downtown, Tampa is experiencing a boom in business travel and bookings. In response to the new 717-room Tampa Marriott Waterside, which offers more than 50,000 square feet of flexible meeting and banquet space and a 6,000-square-foot spa, the adjacent 600,000-square-foot Tampa Convention Center is doubling its number of breakout rooms to 44.

Also on the heels of the Marriott opening, Channelside at Garrison Seaport Center will open with 230,000 square feet of shopping, dining, and entertainment space just blocks up the waterfront from the 20,000-seat Ice Palace arena, Florida Aquarium, convention center, and new hotel. Meanwhile, another entertainment complex is taking shape: By June 2000, Tampa's Latin Quarter will become even livelier with Centro Ybor, featuring restaurants, retail and a 200,000-square-foot social club. The city has exciting plans to link all these new developments and the historic Ybor City with a trolley system that will be up and running in time for Tampa's third Super Bowl in 2001.

Many area accommodations are also being revitalized and refurbished. As delegates and meeting planners return home with rave reviews of the 287-room Radisson Riverwalk's $5 million face-lift in 1998 and the Hyatt Regency Tampa's recent $10 million renovation of its 518 rooms and public areas, other Tampa hotels that have announced major renovation plans include

* Saddlebrook Resort, which began an $8 million expansion to include an 18,000-square-foot exhibit pavilion and four new hospitality rooms; and

* Wyndam Hotels and Resorts, which plans to renovate Tampa properties on Harbour Island and in the Westshore business district.

Across Tampa Bay are St. Petersburg and Clearwater, together known as Florida's Beach. The area has welcomed visitors since the early 1900s, and this era is relived in much of the architecture and local attractions. St. Peters-burg/Clearwater's resort hotels routinely handle big conventions, and offer everything from indoor amphitheaters to full event capabilities right on the beach. The five largest halls--the Bayfront Center, the Harborview Center, Ruth Eckerd Hall, The Coliseum, and Tropicana Field--combine to offer more than 227,000 square feet of convention space. But the area is also home to a number of more intimate settings and unique cultural facilities that open up exciting options for meeting planners, among them The Salvador Dali Museum, Florida International Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, and a variety of cruise lines for special events.

The St. Petersburg/Clearwater area has more than 30,000 guest rooms, and several major hotel developments are generating attention, including The Adam's Mark Clearwater Beach Resort, which is in the midst of a major renovation of its 207 guest rooms and lobby, to be completed by this summer. A multimillion dollar reinvestment has transformed one of the region's best meeting hotels: The Sheraton Sand Key recently remodeled all 24,000 square feet of conference space, and is ready to accommodate groups up to 1,200.

Farther south is Sarasota, known as Florida's "Cultural Coast" for its long tradition of world-class visual and performing arts. The downtown cultural district boasts the Sarasota Opera House, theaters, nightclubs, restaurants, and galleries. Meanwhile, Ritz-Canton just broke ground for a new property just down from the Hyatt Sarasota, the city's largest meeting hotel. The Hyatt plans to renovate its ballroom and 15,000 square feet of meeting space this summer, following a complete overhaul of its 309 guest rooms and suites.

For something a little out of the ordinary, Bradenton's Longboat Key is home to the area's premier resort, the Longboat Key Club, with elegant conference facilities for 5 or 150 and 232 newly renovated suites. The nearby Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites can handle slightly larger groups, with a ballroom to hold 200 classroom-style or 400 for a reception. (Consider serving some of the tasty seafood for which the area is known.)

Did you know[ldots]

The Tampa Bay region holds the record for the longest run of consecutive sunny days in the United States--768 in a row.

CENTRAL

Home to what may be the most famous mouse on the planet, as well as the largest sand pine forest in the world, Central Florida is a thrilling combination of modern man-made attractions and centuries-old natural beauty.

Orlando is at the center of Florida's convention activity, and not just because of geography. One of the premier destinations in the world, the city offers more than 3 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space, 98,000 hotel rooms, 3,800 restaurants, and a dazzling array of things to see and do. Theme parks such as Universal Studios and SeaWorld offer planners more than just a day of fun and adventure, with discounts for convention delegates and a variety of spaces just right for private receptions and events.

Orlando boasts several large convention centers. The Orange County Convention Center is ranked third in the United States for exhibit space, with more than 1.1 million square feet and plans to almost double in size by 2003. The Tupperware Convention Center and Orlando Expo Centre have more than 45,000 square feet and 65,000 square feet, respectively.

The Peabody Orlando--conveniently located across from the Orange County Convention Center--has a new look following last year's makeover, which included the complete redecoration of its 891 guest rooms and suites and new carpet in all public areas. Also a short walk from the Convention Center, you'll find the 1,334-room Omni Rosen Hotel and the Clarion Plaza, which recently finished a $5 million upgrade to its 810 guest rooms. Wyndam Palace Resort and Spa began a $30 million renovation on its 1,014-room hotel, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2001.

The Portofino Bay Hotel, a Loews property, brought a little of the Mediterranean to Universal Studios when it opened its 750-room property in September 1999. The first of three on-site hotels at Universal, it offers 42,000 square feet of meeting space, eight restaurants and lounges, a 10,600-square-foot health spa, and full-service business center. Later this year, the 650-room Hard Rock Hotel is expected to open, followed by the 1,000-room Royal Pacific Resort in 2001.

In other hotel news, the Caribe Royal offers planners more meeting space than ever following an expansion to more than 50,000 square feet, half of which is a dedicated exhibit area and the rest conveniently divided into breakouts and boardrooms. Its reception building alone has 10,000 square feet of meeting space, including a versatile 6,400-square-foot ballroom.

Planners can't resist Walt Disney World, which offers more than 600,000 square feet of modern meeting space throughout several resort areas. And in the spirit of the outstanding service it's known for, Disney recently added an array of new attractions, entertainment, and event venues to make your meeting unique, including

* Fantasmic! laser light show, which takes place in a new state-of-the-art, 7,000-seat amphitheater. The flexibility of the facility allows for everything from reserved group seating to a complete show buy-out. And with a private viewing area just for groups, Fantasmic! becomes a backdrop for smaller events.

* Exclusive venues in and around Epcot, Disney's discovery park, including a brand new group facility in the heart of World Showcase. The Epcot Festivities Pavilion features 30,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, which can accommodate up to 2,500 for sit-down events and up to 2,800 for receptions.

* The launch of the Disney Wonder, the second ship from Disney Cruise Line, which gives groups the combined benefit of fine function facilities and the Disney experience. For the ultimate business meeting break, land/sea packages include port of call at Castaway Cay, Disney's own private island paradise with sandy beaches and party pavilions.

Towns just minutes from Orlando-area attractions provide additional meeting space in spectacular settings. Kissimmee-St. Cloud is generating lots of excitement with the development of the Opryland Hotel, well on its way to a grand opening in February 2002. In addition to classic Floridian architecture and design, the $400 million property will offer 1,400 guest rooms and 400,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, including a 178,000-square-foot exhibition hall, the largest in-hotel facility in Florida. The ballroom and meeting areas will accommodate groups from 15 to 5,000, with more than 61 breakout rooms and flexible function space, creating tremendous opportunities for conferences large and small.

Other notable additions to the area include a new Osceola County Agricultural and Business Center set to open in 2002, featuring a 10,000-seat arena, more than 100,000 square feet of exhibition space, and several meeting rooms. And the full-service Eco-Resort and Conference Center at Lake Kissimmee will open this year, with access to some of Florida's most incredible wilderness experiences. The complex will include 122 lodges and a conference facility for up to 300 people.

Did you know[ldots]

The small town of Lakeland outside Orlando is home to the world's largest group of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, including the only planetarium Wright ever designed. The collection can be found on the campus of Florida Southern College.

CENTRAL EAST

This region's reputation as a meeting hot spot is growing as fast as the cars zip that around Daytona's famous speedway Easy access, beautiful beaches, and a variety of venues make this part of Florida popular among groups of all sizes.

The Daytona Beach area continues to serve the convention crowd with exciting expansions and redevelopment projects designed with business travelers and tourists in mind. Ocean Walk Village, a $200-million beachside project scheduled for completion in spring 2001, continues to evolve into the regions premier attraction. Adventure Landing marks the first phase of the project, and the water park and entertainment center has event and meeting space for groups up to 5,000. Coming soon, the Ocean Walk Resort will include a 5,000-square-foot conference facility in addition to its beachfront luxury hotel condominium complex and golf training center.

Also a partner in the Ocean Walk project, the Ocean Center Convention and Entertainment Complex has plans to more than double its exhibition space to 140,000 total square feet to accommodate larger conventions and trade shows. Next door to the center is the Peabody Auditorium, which can seat up to 2,500 for general assembly. Its spacious 4,000-square-foot lobby and 2,400-square-foot social hall are great for receptions or post-performance parties.

For more unusual and innovative meeting spaces in downtown Daytona, consider the Palms Gallery, with its eclectic mix of artists studios and 14,000 square feet of available meeting space, or SMT Downtown's theater complex, available to groups of 40-1,100 for theme parties, productions, and memorable receptions.

Local hotels undergoing renovations include the Adam's Mark Daytona Beach Resort, which is adding 310 rooms and 35,000 square feet of meeting space, including an 18,000-square-foot ballroom. When the expansion is complete in January 2001, the Adam's Mark will have more than doubled guest-room capacity and brought its total meeting space to 60,000 square feet.

Along the impressive stretch of coastline known as Florida's Space Coast, which includes the cities of Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Titusville, unspoiled nature preserves exist in perfect harmony with the space-age attractions of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Port Canaveral, and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame--with new attractions being added all the time. With 8,300 guest rooms, the area's latest hotel enhancements include 84 new suites at The Radisson Resort at the Port in Cape Canaveral, and a $1 million room refurbishment at the Best Western Space Shuttle Inn.

But the Space Shuttle isn't the only thing in the area that is out of this world: Florida's Space Coast happens to also be home to some of the most wonderful wildlife around, making it a desirable destination for thrill-seeking meeting-goers of another kind, From bald eagles and manatees to alligators and egrets, the region is home to more endangered and rare species of animals than anywhere else in the United States. Scout out sanctuary on Merritt Island or Turkey Creek--the stunning surroundings make for a great day trip or team-building adventure.

Did you know[ldots]

The Space Shuttle weighs 6.2 million pounds.

SOUTHWEST

Southwest Florida is part pampered island resort, part rustic refuge, and all about options when it comes to planning your next meeting. From Port Charlotte to Fort Myers, Naples and beyond, there is plenty for meeting-goers to see, do, and enjoy.

Southwest Florida's Lee Island Coast is made up of distinct areas, each with its own character. In Fort Myers, meeting planners will find convention facilities that accommodate from 400 to 8,000 people. The Fort Myers Harborside Convention Complex, with four separate buildings, offers 50,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 2,990-seat theater and 300-seat conference rooms. Slightly larger at 63,000 square feet of total exhibit space, the Lee Civic Center can accommodate up to 5,000 theater-style.

Some of the best-known resorts can be found on Sanibel and Captiva Islands, which offer breathtaking views of sand, sea, and sky. The new 107-room boutique Inn at Sanibel Harbour brings the total number of accommodations at Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa to 417 guest rooms, suites, and condominium units. The resort recently completed construction of 23,000 square feet of additional meeting space, connected by a skybridge to the property's original 22,000 square feet of function space, for a total of 45,000 square feet on one level. The new structure includes a 10,000-square-foot ballroom and 19,000-square-foot pool deck for private outdoor functions.

Captiva's South Seas Resort is also preparing to welcome visitors with extensive renovations. Meeting-goers will enjoy upgrades to many of the 330-acre resort's 600 accommodations, and benefit from refurbishments to more than 27,000 square feet of conference facilities and a new 5,000-square-foot pavilion.

The Lee Island Coast has 20,000 hotel, motel, and condominium accommodations in all, while Naples and its neighboring communities of Immokalee and Golden Gate offer more than 5,000 guest rooms ranging from quaint inns to world-class resorts. Meanwhile, tucked amid the Ten Thousand Islands, Marco Island provides the perfect executive escape, with three resorts offering more than 3,000 guest rooms.

Links lovers might like to know that Southwest Florida features more than 95 golf courses. In fact, the Naples area is known as the "Golf Capital of the World" for the more than 53 private and public courses that line its landscape.

Getting to this part of the Gulf coast is easy. Air travelers can choose from three airports in the region: Charlotte County and Naples offer small airports, while the region's largest is the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers. Located along Florida's southwestern-most coast, the Lee Island Coast area is within a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Miami or Tampa, and just a bit more than three hours from Orlando.

Did you know[ldots]

It was on Captiva Island that Anne Morrow Lindbergh, wife of the famous aviator, wrote her best-selling memoir, A Gift From the Sea.

SOUTH EAST

From Palm Beach to South Beach, there are more than enough things to keep meeting-goers deliriously and delightfully entertained. Add the mystery of the Everglades and the majesty of the Florida Keys, and you'll find Southeast Florida a meeting place unlike any other.

Palm Beach County's slogan "The Best of Everything" really rings true when considering the area as a convention destination, Here, planners will find more than 200 hotels, offering in excess of 15,000 guest rooms. The area's unique meeting sites range from the 85,000-square-foot South Florida Entertainment Center and the 27,600-square-foot West Palm Beach Auditorium to the 1,000-seat outdoor amphitheater at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and the 700-passenger Viking Princess cruise ship. In addition, some of the area's premier luxury resorts are able to host events for up to 2,000 people.

The many good reasons to meet in the Palm Beach area will get even better next year, when the county breaks ground on a new $70 million, 300,000-square-foot convention center. Though no completion date has been confirmed, one thing is certain: The new facility will only add to the county's popularity among meeting planners, who have helped develop the space plans for its 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall and 25,000-square-foot ballroom.

A variety of Palm Beach County hotels have recently completed or are currently planning massive, multimillion dollar renovation and expansion projects. These range from the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach and Boca Raton Resort & Club to well-known chain affiliates Marriott, Embassy Suites, and Days Inn.

Not since the land boom of the 1920s has an area of Florida seen such development as Broward County Two billion dollars have been pumped into infrastructure improvements in Greater Fort Lauderdale, including a $334 million expansion and renovation of the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport to double its capacity to accommodate 18 million more passengers per year by the end of 2001.

And that's just the beginning: $30 million is being spent to expand the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center by 230,000 square feet, topping 500,000 square feet of total meeting and exhibit space. And with dozens of cruise ships docked near the Convention Center, meeting planners will find unique opportunities for themed events and spouse programs, as well.

Greater Fort Lauderdale offers more than 28,000 hotel rooms, including nearly 10,000 specifically suited for meeting and convention business. Among them, Hollywood's new $600 million Diplomat Resort Country Club & Spa, which has begun to reopen in phases after the original structure was demolished. One of the most exciting and talked about hospitality projects ever implemented in South Florida, this beachfront hotel and adjacent 209,000-square-foot conference center features a 53,000-square-foot great hall and two floors of flexible meeting space.

In other accommodations news, construction of a $72 million, 500-room, 330,000-square-foot convention hotel is set to begin this year, as is the development of the 23-story, 270-room Castillo Grand, which will offer 22,000 square feet of meeting space, including an exquisite 12,000-square-foot ballroom with Atlantic views. Marriott, Hilton, and Embassy Suites all plan new properties in the next couple of years, as well.

Talk about exciting: Greater Miami's meeting facilities match its popular social scene when it comes to diversity and style. From the Miami Beach Convention Center, one of the country's largest with more than one million square feet of functional space, to wild party settings like Monkey Jungle, the area is home to all things hip, hot, and happening.

Among the latest expansions, renovations, and service improvements in Greater Miami and the Beaches' hotels and attractions:

* Marriott just broke ground in downtown Miami for a new $60 million, 21-story hotel and meeting center, with 300 guest rooms and more than 18,000 square feet of meeting facilities including a 10,000-square-foot ballroom and 24-hour, full-service business center, to be completed by mid-2000.

* Miccosukee Resort & Convention Center, adjacent to the Indian Gaming complex in the Everglades, just opened its $50 million, 302room hotel, which offers more than 46,000 square feet of meeting space.

* The $64 million Royal Palm Crowne Plaza Resort is opening this spring, with 422 guest rooms in two, 15-story, oceanfront buildings within walking distance of the Miami Beach Convention Center.

* The Coral Gables Biltmore Hotel's new Conference Center of the Americas, opening this spring, has 40,000 square feet of space, with two amphitheaters and a grand ballroom.

And when it comes to recreation, meeting-goers delight in the options-battling marlin with rod and reel, strolling Miami's historic Art Deco District, windsurfing, alligator spotting, or symphony-going among them.

Unlock the secret to recharging and revitalizing your executive team in the Florida Keys, a string of islands just south of Miami that's just the place to get well-deserved R&R, Guaranteed to inspire thinking as clear as the water, the five areas of Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key, and Key West each offer unique gathering spots and getaways (the subtropical setting worked for Ernest Hemingway, who wrote some of his most famous novels here).

Bed-and-breakfasts and boutique hotels are a natural choice, but the area also caters to groups with a variety of venues that can accommodate most mid-size meetings. Consider the new 461-room Wyndam Casa Marina Resort and Beach House (formerly the Marriott Casa Marina Resort and Marriott Beach), about to undergo an $8.5 million renovation to the public spaces, guest rooms, and meeting areas. Located on the largest private beach in Key West, the property offers more than 15,000 square feet o function space, including three ballrooms, eight breakouts, and an ocean-view terrace.

As an added feature, meeting-goers can enjoy Key West's latest transportation innovation: small, colorful electric cars that are quiet, quick, and an environmentally friendly alternative to regular rental cars or scooters-not to mention fun to drive.

Did you know[ldots]

The first 25 meeting planners who book a convention at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center will be awarded an all-expense paid cruise and conference package including signage, press and promotional materials, planning assistance with off-site events and excursions, VIP passes to local attractions badges, banners, and more. To be eligible meetings and/or convention contracts must be signed by Dec. 31, 2000. Contact the CVB for other eligibility requirements.