Year 2009
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Press Kit: Meetings
A Gem For Meetings
DESTIN • FORT WALTON BEACH • OKALOOSA ISLAND, Fla. -- Florida’s Emerald Coast -- famous for 24 miles of dazzling sugar white sands and brilliant emerald green waters -- is recognized as one of the South’s most attractive meeting places for all types of gatherings. From local and regional events to conferences of Fortune 500 companies, the southern sea towns of Destin • Fort Walton Beach • Okaloosa Island are a perfect setting for serious or fun meetings followed by relaxing on sun-bleached beaches and activities ranging from championship golf to sampling sumptuous seafood. Located on Okaloosa Island, the Emerald Coast Conference Center, a recent addition to the area’s breathtaking beauty, has given Destin • Fort Walton Beach • Okaloosa Island a meeting mecca with 35,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. The 70,000 total square foot conference center is within a short “flip-flop” stroll of the Gulf of Mexico and directly overlooks the Choctawhatchee Bay. A complement to the current lodging facilities with meeting space throughout South Okaloosa County, the Conference Center showcases 12 breakout meeting rooms ranging in size from 450 to 1,800 square feet including the 21,000 square foot Emerald Grand Ballroom. Architectural design allows for theater, banquet, classroom and reception hall style seating.
Technology needs are met through Wi-Fi, T-1 lines, satellite and ISDN video conferencing capabilities, LCD projection, surround sound speaker systems and plasma televisions, while each of the conference rooms, ballrooms and board rooms also feature the capability of STSN high-speed Internet access.
The Conference Center also features full in-house, award winning catering services and a convention services staff that works directly with meeting planners to ease stress and promote perfectly planned functions.
For ease of booking, the Emerald Coast Web site -- www.destin-fwb.com -- offers planners information “at-their-fingertips” on the conference center including fast facts, floor plans, pricing and capacity charts, center guidelines, event calendars and an online request for proposal.
Throughout the county, other meeting places include the 335-room Ramada Plaza Beach Resort -- boasting 14,000 square feet of space -- and the 233-room Holiday Inn of Destin. Also providing additional meeting capacities are the Four Points Hotel by Sheraton and Sundestin Beach Resort with an executive conference center. The Holiday Surf & Racquet Club recently renovated its meeting facilities to include 2,200 square feet, accommodating up to 150 people. Audio/visual equipment and catering is available, and organizations renting from the clubs may use the Surf Room free of charge. The Terrace conference center at the Pelican Beach Resort offers approximately 1,000 square feet of additional meeting space.
For meetings allowing free time, the southern sea towns of Destin • Fort Walton Beach • Okaloosa Island present simple pleasures such as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village,” spirited seaside celebrations, links of great championship golf and undeniably fresh seafood -- all embraced with an assuming charm.
The Emerald Coast is accessible by Okaloosa Regional Airport with 6 major airlines serving, and ground travel is made easy along primary feeders: U.S. Highway 98, State Highway 85, U.S. Interstate 10 and Highway 331.
Additional visitor information is available by calling the Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. at (800) 322-3319 or by visiting www.destin-fwb.com.