South Florida Accommodations—From East to West

Finding accommodations for groups is no easy task. Florida alone has thousands of resorts scattered throughout both east and west coasts. With that in mind, Connect recently had the opportunity to visit Fort Myers, Naples and Miami to discover lodging options that tailor to the MICE industry. Here, we’ve rounded up the top-of-the-line accommodations for meetings, conferences, conventions and retreats along Florida’s beautiful southern coastline.

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa Featuring a private beach, waterpark and luxurious spa, this is the largest hotel meeting facility in Bonita Springs. Location: Bonita Springs Meeting space: 83,000 square feet Rooms: 454 Sanibel Harbor Marriott Resort & Spa As the largest meeting space hotel in Fort Myers, it also overlooks the beautiful Sanibel Island. Location: Fort Myers Meeting Space: 45,000 square feet Rooms: 347 South Seas Island Resort Located on Captiva Island, the resort is a secluded oasis with ample meeting space and 2.5 miles of private beach. Ideal for retreats. Location: Captiva Island Meeting Space: 31,000 square feet Rooms: 465 Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village The $15 million conference center launched in 2018 contributing an additional 30,000 square feet of meeting space to the already expansive resort. Location: Cape Coral Meeting Space: 50,000 square feet Rooms: 263 Sundial Beach Resort Corporate retreats that entertain up to 300 guests are Sundial’s bread and butter. The laid-back resort is situated on Sanibel Island and features fully equipped condominiums set along the coastline. Location: Sanibel Island Meeting Space: 23,000 square feet Rooms: 288 DiamondHead Beach Resort Located in the heart of Fort Myers Beach, this high-rise resort is ideal for smaller groups looking for beachfront access. Location: Fort Myers Beach Meeting Space: 8,000 square feet Rooms: 124

Paradise Coast (Naples/Marco Island/Everglades)

Naples Grande Beach Resort Situated on a 200-acre mangrove estuary, the resort features 23-waterfront acres, beach access, luxury spa, an 18-hole golf course and 15 tennis courts. In 2018, the resort completed a $3 million renovation of the meeting/event space, lobby and restaurants. Location: Naples Meeting Space: 83,000 square feet Rooms: 474 JW Marriott Marco Island In 2018, the resort completed a $320-million-dollar renovation with a new Lanai Tower featuring new guest rooms, an adults-only restaurant, and 10-K Alley—a 12,000-sq.-ft. indoor virtual entertainment center and new meeting/event spaces that brought its total event space to 100,000 square feet—the largest in southwest Florida. Location: Naples Meeting Space: 100,000 square feet Rooms: 810 The Ritz-Carlton Naples | Naples Golf These two hotels, located 10 minutes from each other, work under one umbrella when hosting groups. Spend a morning at the golf resort, then shuttle over to the beach resort for sunset. Location: Naples Meeting Space: Golf Resort: 40,000 square feet;Beach Resort: 44,000 square feet Rooms: Golf Resort: 295; Beach Resort: 450 LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and Vanderbilt Bay, the luxury boutique resort is ideal for groups looking to host intimate and high-end social gatherings. The sunset views are incomparable. Location: Naples Meeting Space: 12,000 square feet Rooms: 189 Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa In 2018, this Gulf-front resort completed a $60 million transformation with a renovated lobby, rooms, pool, market, restaurant and meeting space. Location: Marco Island Meeting Space: 12,000 square feet Rooms: 310 Inn on Fifth The Inn on Fifth is the only accommodation found along the high-end shopping street known as Fifth Avenue South. Its zip code alone speaks volumes, making it an ideal location for high-end social gatherings and corporate retreats. Location: Naples Meeting Space: 10,000 square feet Rooms: 119

Miami

Loews Miami Beach Hotel The Loews Miami Beach Hotel is a short walk from the expanded Miami Beach Convention Center and recently debuted a $50 million renovation of the lobby, guest rooms, function spaces and poolscape with private beach access. (Not to mention, the resort’s on-site ceviche and mojito team-building activities make for great Havana-themed nights.) Location: South Beach Meeting Space: 65,000 square feet Rooms: 790 The Betsy Hotel South Beach The Betsy welds together the retro charm of old South Beach and sophistication for the modern business travelers. Ideal for smaller groups looking for a memorable experience. Location: South Beach Meeting Space: 23,000 square feet Rooms: 130 East Miami Centrally located in the new Brickell City Centre, East Miami features contemporary urban vibes with tranquil water views. The rooftop is a major draw for groups, featuring sprawling sights of the skyline. Location: Brickell City Center Meeting Space: 20,000 square feet Rooms: 352 InterContinental Miami This well-known luxury business brand knows how to host all types of gatherings—from small meetings to large conferences. Location: Downtown Meeting Space: 101,000 square feet Rooms: 675 Hyatt Regency Miami Connected to the James L. Knight Center, downtown Miami’s only convention center, Hyatt Regency Miami is the perfect spot for those looking to convene downtown. Location: Downtown Meeting Space: 100,000 square feet Rooms: 615