Meeting professionals flock to Florida for many reasons, but the No. 1 draw is often the weather, which allows for stunning outdoor events. Picture an event with the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean, breathtaking sunsets over the Gulf or St. Johns River.
Here are some out-of-the-box ideas for your next group event that take full advantage of the sun in the Sunshine State.
World Equestrian Center, Ocala
At a recent Kentucky Derby-themed soirée at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, considered horse country in Florida, attendees adhered to a dress code of seersucker suits and flowing cocktail dresses complemented by fedoras and fascinators.
The center recreated the Kentucky Derby on The Outdoor Terrace. Guests enjoyed the official Derby drink, the mint julep, while observing the thoroughbreds’ parade in the Grand Outdoor Arena below.
For those without hats, an array of elaborate Panama hats and fascinators were available on loan. The evening featured gourmet shrimp skewers and fried chicken and biscuits. The cigar roller demonstrated his craft and gave out stogies to whomever wanted to indulge. The open-air atmosphere provided a quintessential Florida experience, available throughout the year.
“The Terrace at The Equestrian Hotel, part of the sprawling 2,000-acre WEC Resort, offers an unrivaled event setting, combining luxury with a stunning view of the WEC Grand Arena,” said Sarah Thacker, senior director of sales for the property. “Event planners love the versatility of this space, whether for an elegant reception, a corporate gathering or an intimate celebration overlooking the stunning grounds. With world-class catering, exceptional service and seamless access to the hotel’s four-star accommodations, this venue creates an unforgettable experience for guests. It’s a perfect blend of sophistication, atmosphere and distinction that makes any event truly extraordinary.
[Related: The Unique Allure of Florida's Panhandle for Meetings]
Leu Gardens, Orlando
In 1858, pioneer settler David Mizell developed the land that is now Leu Gardens, an oasis in downtown Orlando. Cultivated for citrus and camellia plants, the gardens were passed through several owners. In 1936, Harry P. Leu, a successful businessman, purchased the land with his wife Mary Jane and transformed the estate into a lush, tropical and subtropical garden. The Leus donated the 50-acre property and their home to the city and today groups can meander through acres of beautiful, cultivated gardens with over 40 diverse plant collections from around the world.
Several areas of the gardens are available as special event venues, including The Butterfly Garden, The East Trellis, The Landing, The Rose Garden and South Gazebo.
Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg
Overlooking the expansive Tampa Bay, the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg is known for works by Georgia O’Keeffe, Claude Monet and Auguste Rodin. It also provides an array of scenic and versatile spaces for group functions. These include the Sculpture Garden, a 2,640-square-foot sanctuary for up to 100 guests, and the Membership Garden, a Spanish-style garden with rich foliage surrounded by columns and arched loggias with a vaulted ceiling for up to 140 guests.
[Read more meeting and event news in Florida]
Plus: Poolside Venues
JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa
At this resort, Surf House Bar & Grill recently hosted a Magic Miami Night party overlooking the unique Tidal Cove Waterpark. This sprawling five-acre venue boasts a gravity-defying raft ride, a freefall loop, a meandering lazy river and the infamous FlowRider Triple—a wave-making machine that simulates surfing and bodyboarding without the sharks (the largest such FlowRider experience between the U.S. and Canada)!
Guests were given fedoras to set the Miami mood as they arrived. Features included a mojito bar and the Cafecito for a sweet café Cubano. A cigar roller showcased the art of crafting the perfect smoke.
Chefs prepared dishes such as Michelada Florida pink shrimp cocktails, herb-grilled crostini bruschetta with fresh lemon ricotta and mascarpone and citrus-poached spiny tail lobster.
On another evening, a private group hosted a wellness event featuring tailored oxygen-bar stations, a salt scrub-making station and chair massages hosted by the award-winning âme Spa & Wellness Collective throughout Tidal Cove, with floating yoga in the pool and acoustic guitar music live from Tidal Cove’s performance stage.
“Groups can take over the entire Tidal Cove Waterpark for a unique events program called Water Park After Dark, or just Surf House Bar & Grill, which has been enhanced with an AI-operated retractable canopy (that opens and closes based on sunlight and weather), chic outdoor furniture and whirring ceiling fans for warm nights. It has a great vibe and can accommodate up to 80 guests,” said Alice Land, director of sales and marketing for the JW Marriott Turnberry Resort & Spa. “Groups have hired surfers and professional FlowBoarders to perform tricks on the FlowRider for a spectacular show. It’s almost as fun to watch the action below as it is to participate.”
After dark, groups can take over the whole park, including the Oasis pool—the waterpark’s “hidden” VIP adults-only pool offering luxurious cabanas surrounding the private pool.
“You can make it whatever you want,” Land said. “We work with Ethos Event Collective, a company that has hired ‘mermaids’ and synchronized swimmers for the pool, live graffiti artists, and we’ve even hosted silent discos and Zumba sessions around the pool.”
Rosen Hotels & Resorts
Rosen reigns supreme in Orlando with a combined 740,000 square feet of meeting space within three award-winning convention hotels. Soirees around the pools at all the hotels are a must for groups that want to take advantage of pleasant Florida evenings.
The crown jewel, Rosen Shingle Creek, not only hosts unforgettable outdoor events at Emma’s Creekside Farm, but this AAA Four-Diamond hotel can host up to 7,000 people outdoors using its Cabana pool area and its outdoor terrace measuring an eye-popping 45,900 square feet. The Family Pool and the Lap Pool are also available for smaller events.
Rosen Centre’s outdoor event patio uses all 21,500 square feet to make outdoor functions really pop. The patio area catches the eye surrounding an Olympic-size tropical pool and the crisp, blue water has an inviting allure.
Nearby is Harry’s Poolside Bar & Grill, an indoor/outdoor escape featuring Caribbean-Cuban fusion cuisine like grilled chimichurri steak and mojito salmon. Harry’s is also a prime location for events, especially when you take advantage of the adjacent pool decks and pool balcony designed to entertain up to 2,300 reception-style.
The Rosen Plaza Hotel features a unique indoor/outdoor event experience in 3NINE, the hotel’s exclusive entertainment event venue. 3NINE allows guests to enjoy corporate events with privacy while feasting on delicious food from the ’39 Poolside Bar & Grill.
Signature events can include DJ’s customized video screens and live music. Rosen Plaza’s culinary team creates personalized banquet menus for both large groups and intimate gatherings.
Rosen Plaza utilizes 11,098 square feet of outdoor space where up to 1,000 guests can be accommodated poolside and on the upper deck.
The Hemingway Home and Museum
For a real treat, host a pool party around the in-ground swimming pool where Nobel Prize-winner Ernest Hemingway used to take dips in Key West at The Hemingway Home and Museum. The property is surrounded by lush gardens, famed six-toed cats and the infamous pool.
While pools are not an anomaly today in Florida, back in 1930s Key West it was considered an extraordinary luxury for a residential home. Hemingway paid $20,000 for it in 1938 (about $400,000 in today’s dollars)—a mind-boggling sum. It was also an architectural feat: Workers had to dig out solid coral to put it in.
An event around the pool, which is lighted, offers a beautiful topical backdrop for an evening cocktail reception for up to 100.
Read more from the 2025 edition of Meetings Today Florida.
