Flip your Florida meeting expectations
When you arrive at the expanded Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) for your site inspection, leave your expectations at the gate. I flew into this growing corner of Northeastern Florida from Miami and discovered a very different way of life—easier, greener more like the traditional South (they serve their iced tea sweetened unless you ask) and with deep roots going back to when the city was the hub for making movies before Hollywood, California lured producers to orange orchards on the other coast.
As the largest city by land mass in the country (874 square miles) and the largest urban park system (more than 80,000 acres), Jax offers a kaleidoscope of experiences with more on the way. There is a feeling that after almost 200 years, the city named after the seventh president of the United States is just coming into its own by focusing on development along the St. Johns River and in the growing sports complex.
Meet & Stay
The central home base to share JAX with attendees is Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, the largest convention center space in the city (116,000 sq. ft. and 951 guest rooms) blocks from downtown with access to the water taxi, 24-hour market, two restaurants and a rooftop pool and gym. The conference room patios with views of the river will have everyone smiling in the Florida sun.
Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center sits proudly on the Emerald Trail, a beautifully converted train depot that retains the grandeur of a gilded age. The vintage boardroom and meeting space was a high-ceilinged surprise.
In the developing Jacksonville sports complex, (Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp MiLB Baseball, Jacksonville Armada MLS Next Pro Soccer, Jacksonville Icemen ECJL Hockey, Jacksonville Axemen USARL Rugby, Jacksonville 95ers TBL Baseball) the city is investing in EverBank and Daily’s Place/Flex Field where improvements are opening up meeting spaces and adding a shade covering for special events and possibly another Super Bowl in the home of the Jaguars.
Many of the spaces are hidden gems, including industrial-chic The Glass Factory and indoor-outdoor event space at Jacksonville Main Library Meeting Space and Conference Center. Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens reveals the rich history of a city built of logistics that has become a medical tourism destination due to the presence of Mayo Clinic in Florida.
More history is alive and restored at Florida Theatre, one of the last motion picture palaces in the country dating back to 1929 and lovingly cared for.
It wouldn’t be a visit to Jax without getting our toes in the sand at the beaches. One Ocean Resort (212,946 sq. ft. and 193 guest rooms on the water) is the luxurious way to retreat with beach chairs, firepits and a world-class spa with a view.
Eat This
In addition to an Ale Trail, a Black Heritage Trail and a Mayport Shrimp Trail, Jacksonville offers a Coffee & Donuts Trail with prizes for visiting 48 unique shops in the city? I did my best to hit as many as possible in 24 hours with an assist from the fun docent-led Go Tuk’n rides and found them all sweet in their own way.
This article appears in the September 2024 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
