St. Pete/Clearwater
Hotels and beaches in abundance
By Eming Piansay
“St. Pete/Clearwater has welcomed a number of new high-end hotels to the destination with ample options for event space, as well as upgrades and renovations to some of the area’s favorite accommodations, all while still maintaining the intimacy of America’s beaches. There’s an abundance of offerings in St. Pete/Clearwater for meeting planners, along with a dedicated services team available throughout a group’s time in the destination. Make MeetStPeteClearwater.com the first stop on your next planning agenda.”
– Jason Latimer, Director, Public Relations at Visit St. Pete/Clearwater
5 Reasons Meeting Profs Love It
Florida Botanical Gardens contain 120 acres of tropical flowers, cactus, a butterfly garden and 60 acre of land reserved for Florida native plants.
Until Dec. 16, guests can join a free, 5-mile St. Pete Black History Bike Tour ride around the city to learn about local minority culture through the decades. Aided by photos, facts and stories, attendees can get an in-depth view of the impact of racism and segregation in the area.
Read More: Florida: Miami and The Florida Keys
Till Dec. 13, The Dali Museum will be featuring art and meditation practices. Sessions include artwork from featured exhibits as a way to reach “dynamic stillness of the mind.”
The Body Electric Yoga Company will be returning to Green Bench Crewing Co. for morning yoga every third Sunday till Sept. 25, 2024.
On Dec. 9, the annual Clearwater Yacht Club Holiday Parade will be visible from waterfront restaurants and hotels. The parade of boats will start from the north of the Mandalay Channel Bridge and head north. Participating boats will be judged and prizes will be awarded.
Resort First
The Palm Beaches, located along Florida’s southeast coast, is known as America’s First Resort Destination from the time Henry Flagler discovered its pristine sun-kissed sands and warm Gulfstream waters. Stretching along 47 miles of the Atlantic Ocean, The Palm Beaches is a diverse and vibrant destination comprised of 39 cities and towns, each with its own distinct character, natural beauty, and welcoming community. “The iconic destination is home to top-rated and historic resorts, first-class cultural events, and elevated Between-The-Sessions meeting experiences that engage and inspire attendees,” said Kelly Cavers, Chief Sales Officer, The Palm Beaches.
The destination’s iconic meeting properties include five-star The Breakers, a 538-room resort with 80,000 sq. ft. of meeting space inspired by the Villa Medici in Rome.
Read More: Europe in Southern California
Eau Palm Beach Resort and Spa, a five-star resort, located beside the backdrop of Florida’s gold coast offers oceanfront luxury with breathtaking views from seven acres of private beach front. Eau Palm Peach offers 30,000 sq. ft. of event space, 10 meeting rooms and 309 guest rooms.
The Boca Raton Cloister offers a mixture of modern and a taste of a classical design from its 1926 founding. Guests have access to a pool, as well as ocean swimming on the private beach. The Boca Raton offers Water Taxis to get from Harborside to Beachside. The Boca Raton has 200,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, 74 meeting rooms and 901 guest rooms.
Palm Beach County Convention Center and Hilton West Palm Beach are nestled in the heart of the Downtown West Palm Beach Convention, Arts and Entertainment District, offering over 400,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 400 rooms, in a connected package only steps of dining, shopping, entertainment and the Intracoastal Waterway. The Boca Raton Museum of Art offers a wide range of art for all ages.
5 Fantastic Places to Meet
TradeWinds Island Resorts on St. Pete Beach
One destination, two resorts, 40 beachfront acres, 9 pools, a three-story waterslide, a floating ocean water park and a 33,500-gallon aquarium await. Island Grand Beach Resort and Rumfish Beach Resort are located on the top-ranked U.S. beach.
70,000 sq. ft. of event space, 24 meeting rooms, and 734 guest rooms.
Sunseeker Resort, Charlotte Harbor
Guests can hit the greens at the new Aileron Golf Club 18-hole golf course. The resort also has an adult-only rooftop bar and Lorelei Spa featuring marine body treatments.
60,000 sq. ft. of event space, 16 meeting rooms, and 785 guest rooms.
Guests have immediate access to the clear blue Gulf water of St. Pete Beach. This Mediterranean-style retreat also features boat slips, electric car charging and a rooftop bar.
11,232 sq. ft. of meeting space, 3 meeting rooms, 72 guest rooms and 3 suites.
Need to get around quick? This completely renovated iconic property offers complimentary bicycle rentals. But if the beachside is more your speed they also provide beach chair, cabana and umbrella rentals. Bringing the kids? Guests have the option of utilizing the hotel’s babysitting services.
38,000 sq. ft. of event space, 22 meeting rooms and 277 guest rooms.
Overlooking the white sands of St. Pete Beach, Sirata St. Pete Beach offers guest several exciting activities such as parasailing, dolphin and sunset cruises, as well as paddleboarding and kayaks. The hotel also hosts weekly bonfires at the fire pit.
30,000 sq. ft. of event space, 9 event rooms and 382 guest rooms.
This article appears in the December 2023 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
