Writing about the Sunshine State for many years has taught me a few things, not the least of which is that many of Florida’s destinations have monikers with “coast” in their name.
Considering Florida has the longest coastline in the U.S.—more than 1,300 miles along both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf. Add to that bays, sounds, rivers and tidal waters and the number jumps to 8,436 miles of shoreline.
Florida offers much more than beautiful beaches for groups planning meetings and events, however. The state’s warm climate—an average of 230 to 250 sunny days every year—is a major draw. There are hotels to fit every need, including cozy boutique accommodations, upscale resorts and large convention hotels. Florida also features a variety of unique venues and convention centers, many of which can host large-scale tradeshows for tens of thousands.
Florida offers a wide range of dining options as well, from casual beach bars to world-class Michelin-starred restaurants. The state also features many attractions, including the untamed landscapes of the Everglades, beautiful botanical gardens, historic homes built by industry titans and ever-growing theme parks. With so much variety stretching from coast to coast, Florida stands out as an exceptional location for hosting meetings and events.
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Florida’s First Coast Meetings Options
Spanning from Amelia Island down through Jacksonville and St. Augustine is Florida’s First Coast. It serves as the initial, northernmost coastal entry point into the state.
Amelia Island is known for its deep history and long stretches of beautiful beaches. It also has a wide variety of hotel choices. The Hampton Inn and Suites Amelia Island-Historic Harbor Front, in the heart of Fernandina Beach, is nearby Centre Street with its beautiful, preserved Queen Anne and Victorian homes, many on the National Register of Historic Places. The Amelia Island Williams House, from 1856 and which sheltered people on the Underground Railroad, is one notable standout.
“Attendees are drawn to places that feel authentic, relaxed and manageable in scale,” said Paul Beirnes, vice president, Amelia Island CVB. “Amelia Island offers an upscale coastal environment with more than 100 independently owned restaurants and very few national chains, creating dining and networking experiences that feel distinctive rather than standardized. Planners tell us that this independent culinary scene, paired with the walkable historic downtown and oceanfront resorts, gives their programs a distinct flavor that attendees remember long after the meeting.”
[Related: Visiting a Palm Coast Favorite That Delivers for Meetings and Events]
Nearby is the luxurious, oceanfront Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, with 446 rooms and suites and more than 48,000 square feet of flexible conference space. The resort features a newly renovated spa, two pools, a golf course and multiple dining options.
St. Augustine, known as the Nation’s Oldest City—and site of Meetings Today’s November 8-11 Meetings Today LIVE! South event—is teaming with history, naturally.
Discover More About Our Meetings Today LIVE! South Event in St. Augustine!
Visitors must visit fortress Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and take a walk by Flagler College, once a hotel built by Henry Flagler that opened in 1888. St. Augustine’s diversity of hotels is wide and includes the beachfront property Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort. The Hotel Casa Monica, built in Moorish-style architecture in 1888, complete with rich tapestries and Moroccan frescoes adorning the walls, is a treasure in downtown St. Augustine.
Space Coast Meetings Options
Located on the Atlantic coast, the Space Coast stretches 72 miles, with Titusville in the north through Cocoa Beach and Melbourne to Sebastian in the south, encompassing most of Florida’s Brevard County.
Approximately 45 minutes east of Orlando International Airport and the attractions area, the Space Coast is home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex at Cape Canaveral and a memorable day trip or excursion for meetings. Groups can utilize the unique event space for meetings and events with backdrops such as the Space Shuttle Atlantis, Apollo/Saturn V Center and the Rocket Garden, and even get to chat with an astronaut. The Space Center venue accommodates various sizes of groups, from intimate gatherings to large receptions for up to 1,000 guests.
[Related: The Sunshine State's Latest and Greatest Hotels, Renovations]
Gold Coast Meetings Options
West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Miami make up the glamorous Gold Coast. In fact, it was industrialist Henry Flagler who developed Palm Beach and brought his wealthy northern friends to the sunny climes of the South. The Breakers Palm Beach hotel and resort, originally built by Flagler in 1896, recently completed a $12 million renovation across its 140-acre oceanfront property.
Meeting-goers delight in strolling on stylish Worth Avenue and cobblestone “vias” on the “Rodeo Drive of the East,” boasting boutiques such as Chanel and Gucci. Groups can dine al fresco at Henry’s Palm Beach or enjoy outdoor dining at Cafe Flora for pasta and steaks.
“The Palm Beaches continue to raise the bar with major new hotel and venue developments that expand the destination’s appeal for meeting and events. Across the destination, resorts and boutique hotels are enhancing guest rooms and common areas while expanding lifestyle, wellness and recreational experiences that can be seamlessly integrated into meeting agendas,” said Kelly Cavers, chief sales officer, Discover the Palm Beaches.
Miami’s meetings industry continues to evolve with new hotels and renovations all over the city. The famed Fontainebleau Miami Beach opened its Coastal Convention Center in 2024. In Aventura, the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa features extensive on-property venues spanning over 300 acres.
[Related: Miami and Fort Lauderdale Strive for the Meetings Limelight]
“Miami continues to evolve as a world-class meetings destination with significant new hotel openings, venue enhancements and infrastructure investments,” said Carol Motley, senior vice president of convention sales and services at the Greater Miami CVB.
The groundbreaking of the 800-room Grand Hyatt Miami Beach, directly connected to the Miami Beach Convention Center and targeted to open in fall 2027, marks a major milestone in strengthening the convention campus and long-term meetings capacity.
Meeting-goers will enjoy immersing themselves in Cuban culture in many areas of the city, particularly Calle Ocho. A trip to Versailles Restaurant, “The World’s Most Famous Cuban Restaurant,” for ropa vieja is a must.
Between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood, Curio Collection by Hilton has stunning rooms with terraces overlooking the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. Originally opened in 1958, The Diplomat has seen members of the Rat Pack, Jackie Gleeson and Judy Garland as guests.
It was raised, rebuilt and reopened in 2002 with 36 floors and 1,000 rooms and suites. With more than 209,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, the hotel can host memorable meetings, conventions and other events. Diplomat Prime, its premier steakhouse, is available for buyouts for up to 150. The Salon Dining Room can host 25 and The Wine Cellar Room can host 14.
The resort also boasts an infinity pool and two cascading waterfalls that tumble into a 240-foot lagoon pool, where groups can host elegant tropical pool parties.
[Related: Florida DMO Professionals Talk Meeting Trends]
Greater Fort Lauderdale, with 24 miles of golden sand beaches and more than 300 miles of navigable canals and waterways, is known as the “Venice of America,” so groups that come here should take advantage of the water.
From waterfront venues, beaches, culinary options and a growing arts scene, Fort Lauderdale continues to evolve. Planners today want destinations that help them create meaningful experiences for their attendees, said Stacy Ritter, president and CEO, Visit Lauderdale.
“What I consistently hear from meeting planners is that Greater Fort Lauderdale just makes things easy,” Ritter said. “The Broward County Convention Center offers a modern, walkable campus that works well for everything from large conventions to executive meetings, and the recent opening of the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel, which is connected directly to the convention center, has been a major addition that enhances the overall attendee experience.”
Historic venues like the 1920 Bonnet House Museum & Gardens can be used for group events with its luscious gardens, water features and natural foliage. It offers an idyllic setting for events for up to 400 people. Another venue, The Fort Lauderdale History Center, which includes the historic 1905 New River Inn, a former hotel, can be rented out for private events for 50-200 guests.
Paradise Coast Meetings Options
Naples and Marco Island are on the southwest coast of Florida, and meetings here are nothing short of luxurious.
Nestled along the sparkling Gulf Coast, Naples is renowned not only for its 30 miles of pristine beaches but also for its vibrant, upscale dining and shopping scene on Fifth Avenue South. Here, visitors won’t find the usual chain stores; instead, they’ll discover unique boutiques like Joseph Wendt Custom Clothiers and Marilyn’s, a boutique that welcomes groups after hours for exclusive VIP shopping events.
“We offer something increasingly rare; a setting that feels both exclusive and deeply authentic,” said Jay Tusa, tourism director, Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB. “Planners appreciate the ease of hosting in a destination that pairs Gulf-front luxury resorts with a walkable downtown, elevated dining and immediate access to Florida’s wild side through immersive nature experiences.”
Waterfront dining is abundant here, and groups are welcome at The Boathouse on Naples Bay and Kelly’s Fish House Dining Room, which opened in 1953.
For a unique event venue, there’s Naples Depot Museum, set in the restored Seaboard Air Line Railway passenger station with exhibits showing Naples’ progress through the years.
Just south of Naples, Marco Island is a blend of upscale hotels and the island’s pristine natural landscapes. Marco Island is known for kayaking through its winding mangrove tunnels or fishing in tranquil waters. For those interested in history and culture, the Marco Island Historical Museum features the legendary Key Marco Cat, a wooden pre-Columbian figure estimated to be between 500 to 1,500 years old.
Lee Island Coast Meetings Options
Lee County, a tropical destination with more than 50 miles of white-sand beaches, including Sanibel Island, Captiva Island and Fort Myers Beach, is having its day in the sunshine, said Natalie Duran, director of sales, Fort Myers Islands, Beaches & Neighborhoods.
“We have a lot going on. Notably, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa completed a multimillion-dollar renovation of its meeting and event spaces in late 2025,” she said. “The Crowne Plaza Fort Myers Gulf Coast also finalized a $7 million renovation, and South Seas Island Resort has reopened with new enhancements, including the Beach House restaurant and Captiva Landing waterpark.”
One fun waterfront dining experience is the Bonita Fish Company, originally built in 1926 as a fish packing house. Today, it blends history with a lively, coastal-inspired atmosphere where locals and visitors alike can feel right at home. With roughly 250 indoor and outdoor seats, daily live music and waterfront views of Matanzas Pass, it’s a great spot for groups looking for fresh Gulf seafood.
One of the most interesting places to visit in Fort Myers are the neighboring Edison and Ford Winter Estates, where visitors can peer into the totally intact laboratory where Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone worked together to develop synthetic rubber for use in making tires. Small groups of up to 30 can take over the Caretakers Cottage, or there’s the Ford Lawn, overlooking Caloosahatchee River, for groups of up to 500.
Situated on Charlotte Harbor and about 30 minutes north of Fort Myers is Punta Gorda, a charming historic town on Florida’s Southwest Gulf Coast. Punta Gorda features a 2.5-mile Harborwalk, a Visual Arts Center and Fishermen’s Village for dining and shopping. Known for its Old Florida charm, it offers rich history at the Military Heritage Museum and scenic, eco-friendly boating or biking adventures. The Visual Arts Center features free exhibits while the Sea Grape Gallery and Artisan Atelier showcase local artists. The Punta Gorda Symphony and Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens offer unmatched cultural experiences.
Kayaking through mangrove forests at the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center is a peaceful way to take in some local nature.
Only 2.3 miles from Punta Gorda and across the Peace River US 41 Tamiami Trail bridge lies the waterfront Sunseeker Resort Florida Gulf Coast. The Sunseeker has made major enhancements to the hotel, including a new full-service menu at Half Cracked Tiki Shack. Meeting groups can take advantage of Sunsuite Villas, a premium option featuring private check-in, exclusive lounge access, personalized concierge services and private balconies. Plans are under way for a meeting space expansion, offering more than 100,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
Sun Coast Meetings Options
The Sun Coast of Florida is a region along the Gulf in the west-central and southwestern part of the state, primarily comprised of Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay and Clearwater.
Sarasota, also known as the “Cultural Coast,” gets the nickname due to its dense concentration of artists, museums, galleries and performing arts venues. Here, groups can take advantage of institutions like the spectacular John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art, otherwise known as “The Ringling,” the official art museum of the state of Florida. Event venues here feature the Museum of Art Courtyard, the historic Ca’ d’Zan Mansion on Sarasota Bay, the Bolger Campiello, Bayfront Gardens and, of course, the Circus Museum. Events of up to 400 can be accommodated.
[Related: Clearwater, Tampa and St. Pete Beach Offer Groups Sun, Sand and Stellar Service]
Last October, the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium debuted its landmark 146,000-square-foot facility in Sarasota: Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote Sea). This state-of-the-art hub advances critical marine research, provides hands-on STEM education and serves as a vital center for the rescue and rehabilitation of local sea life. The facility also serves as a premier venue for private events, featuring three immersive marine life galleries, the 10,000-square-foot Exploration Hall and a 4,000-square-foot event lawn featuring native landscaping.
St. Pete Beach is home to the legendary, historic and beautiful 277-room The Don CeSar—affectionately known as “The Pink Palace.” Its castle-like presence on the shoreline has been wowing guests since 1928. The Don’s storied past includes a stint as a convalescent center for returning WWII airmen after being acquired by the U.S. Army in 1942. Following the war, The Don CeSar narrowly escaped demolition in the early 1970s and, thanks to passionate preservation, it has been lovingly restored to its Jazz Age grandeur.
In February, a ribbon cutting celebrated the opening of the 7,400-square-foot Royal Ballroom, an impressive venue for galas and corporate events.
Becky Check, senior manager of sales administration, Pursuit Boats, held a meeting in downtown St. Pete at the 354-room Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, which also has a marina where the company could showcase their new yachts.
“St. Pete is a fabulous place,” she said. “So many of our attendees come in early or extend their stay. The St. Pete Pier is a draw with its restaurants and rooftop Pier Teaki overlooking the Tampa Bay, as well as Beach Drive with all its great shops and restaurants.”
St. Pete and Clearwater boast 35 miles of sugar-white sand and such temperate waters you can swim in the Gulf all year.
Located steps from the sand, the 343-room Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach offers sweeping views of the ocean and Clearwater Beach. Kathy Sadler, project manager for Nova Southeastern University, held an event at the Wyndham using much of the hotel’s 22,000 square feet. Her favorite space, she said, was the Pelican Terrace overlooking the beach.
“It was a lovely corner space, particularly at sunset,” she said.
Nearby the hotel is the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where groups can enjoy the Jacobson Ballroom for up to 300 seated guests or the Atlantis Auditorium for up to 125 for cocktails.
Tampa, the largest city in the area, is known to handle large conventions—87 in 2025, drawing more than 280,000 attendees. The waterfront Tampa Convention Center features 600,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space.
Seattle-based KnowBe4 started off 2026 with a global meeting in January at JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. Sara Aiello, KnowBe4 vice president of corporate marketing, said the three-day event buzzed with energy, with the hotel offering the perfect backdrop for inspiring executive keynotes, lively breakout sessions and some memorable activities. Highlights included an epic dance party that had everyone on their feet and a high-energy fun run on the Tampa Riverwalk.
“The blend of meetings and after-hours events made it a kickoff to remember,” Aiello said.
Emerald Coast Meetings Options
Northwest Florida’s claim to fame is its emerald-green waters and sugar-white sands on beaches running from Pensacola to Panama City. This 100-mile stretch of Gulf Coast also includes the cities of Fort Walton Beach and Destin.
Along with some of the most stunning beaches in the country, the Emerald Coast is an interesting change of pace from Florida’s eastern metropolitan areas. Meeting and event organizers looking for a unique venue may find it here. Panama City Beach has eclectic activities for all sizes of groups.
One of the most happening places in the area is Pier Park, with 900,000 square feet of shopping and dining in local eateries such as Angry Tuna Seafood Company and Pompano Joe’s (also in Destin).
[Related: Discovering Outdoor Opportunities for Groups in the Florida Panhandle]
For nature lovers, Panama City Beach’s famed Shell Island is a seven-mile barrier island between the Gulf and St. Andrews Bay that guests arrive to via the Shell Island Shuttle water transport. The beaches are pristine and undeveloped, inhabited by diverse wildlife such as deer, ghost crabs and sea turtles that can be seen in their natural habitat.
Panama City Beach created a new artificial reef fishing and diving site, Black Pearl, a 97-foot steel ship movie prop for the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise now offering more than 50 dive sites, further cementing Panama City Beach’s reputation as the “Wreck-Diving Capital of the South.”
South Walton County also has stunning beaches, with vast nature preserves containing more than 200 miles of trails.
In nearby DeFuniak Springs, you’ll see Old Florida at its best with more than 200 historic homes, many surrounding Lake DeFuniak, the town’s centerpiece. Restaurants such as the Inn & Grape Italian Kitchen and shops like the 1954 Fisher’s Pharmacy are worth a look.
In Miramar Beach, the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, set on 2,400 acres, is a premier meetings destination for corporate and association groups with access to more than 85,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and lovely outdoor venues facing the marina. Group programs include beach-based team challenges, sandcastle-building competitions and marina-front bonfire networking events. The resort offers more than 1,600 total guest-room options, ranging from condos and villas to hotel rooms such as at the 250-room Hotel Effie Sandestin.
Ocala/Marion County Meetings Options
Still a bit of a hidden gem among meeting planners, Ocala is well known by equestrians. Ocala/Marion County, in fact, is known as the “Horse Capital of the World.” Many riders stay, and compete, at the World Equestrian Center.
The new Equestrian Manor spans more than 300,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, and together the venue combines hotels, restaurants and retail tack (and other) shops. Downtown Ocala has seen a lot of development with new restaurants, shops and art and cultural sites opening.
The 56-room Hotel Marion, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, is a fully restored and renovated 1927 seven-story building in downtown Ocala on the National Register of Historic Places projected to open at the end of the year.
The city’s 700-seat Reilly Arts Center is a hub for theater and live music and home of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, both unique venues for groups and events.
Orlando Meetings Options
“Meeting professionals return to Orlando because each visit offers a unique attendee experience due to the wide variety of venues, accommodations, activities, dining and entertainment found in our destination,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO, Visit Orlando. “One year, planners can leverage our world-famous theme parks for a large-group park buyout, and the next you can build an entire program in and around our neighborhoods and districts such as Downtown Orlando and nearby Winter Park.”
Even with so much already available, Orlando consistently introduces new group options, ensuring there’s always something fresh for meeting planners to utilize for their groups. In fact, the Orange County Convention Center is kicking off construction on the Grand Concourse Expansion this year and is expected to wrap up in 2029. This expansion will add 44,000 square feet of meeting space and a massive 100,000-square-foot ballroom.
[Related: How Orlando Wowed the Largest North American Veterinary Convention]
“The outstanding service and warm hospitality delivered at every stage by Visit Orlando and our community partners, from initial planning support to the event’s execution, encourages planners to return to Orlando for future meetings and gatherings,” Matej said.
[Related: Lisa Messina on the Latest Orlando Happenings for Meetings and Events]
The Florida Keys and Key West Meetings Options
The Florida Keys is a collection of islands spanning from Key Largo in the north, through Marathon and Islamorada mid-way, and ending at the southernmost point in the U.S., Key West. While none of the areas are made for large conventions, the Florida Keys make ideal hosts for smaller, more intimate meetings and events.
“Our sweet spot is incentives and executive board meetings, typically up to about 80 rooms,” said Ed Simon, executive vice president and chief sales officer, Visit Florida Keys & Key West. “That’s where properties like Little Palm Island Resort really shine. There, groups can completely take it over, providing a private and exclusive feeling.”
[Related: The Florida Keys Are a Bucket-List Destination for Meeting Groups]
In Key Largo, Baker’s Cay Resort, a Curio Collection by Hilton property, offers a remarkable setting for meetings. Baker’s Cay features meeting space for up to 400 in a lush tropical setting on 15 acres on Florida Bay. The facility has 12 meeting rooms, with the largest venue being Ben’s Garden Grand Lawn, which has nearly 7,000 square feet of space.
Little Palm Island, “America’s Only Private Island Resort,” is the ultimate escape where small groups of up to 60, such as board members, can completely take over the island. After arriving by water transportation, groups can explore the facility, which offers onsite spa facilities and The Dining Room and Palapa Bar tiki bar.
We end our roadtrip in Key West, the Southernmost point in the continental U.S. Key West’s reputation as a laid-back lifestyle destination is a solid choice for those wanting to put the hustle and bustle of busy life away for a while. Visitors can enjoy the come-as-you-are Key West vibe with a stroll along Duval Street and the pier at sunset.
Notable hotels in Key West are The Marker, just three blocks from Duval Street, and Casa Marina Key West, with more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space.
For a memorable dining experience, consider Blue Heaven, located in the Bahama Village area in downtown Key West. Al fresco dining features excellent Caribbean cuisine and its infamous mile-high Key Lime Pie.
