Bring a Pail
Shell collectors flock to Sanibel Island, known as the seashell capital of the world. For details:
sanibel-captiva.orgLee County
The Fort Myers Riverfront Redevelopment Plan is well under way. The project includes the addition of a 200-room convention hotel (at press time, a developer had not been selected), 100,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, two new parking decks, a four-acre addition to the existing 10-acre Centennial Park that will include a riverfront amphitheater, and an expansion of the existing public yacht basin. The project also calls for an expansion of the Harborside Event Center. The latter currently has 41,000 square feet of exhibit space; the 80,000-square-foot addition will nearly triple that amount. At press time, there was no time-line in place for the center expansion.
The 454-room Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs is undergoing a three-month guest room renovation. The property recently added a restaurant, a spa boutique and a rock-climbing wall.
The 181-room Sundial Beach & Golf Resort in Sanibel Island has announced plans to renovate its exterior, all 12,000 square feet of meeting space and the full-service spa.
The 347-room Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Myers is undergoing a $5 million renovation of its lobby, front desk area, Tarpon House restaurant and Charlie's Cabana bar.
Spirit Airlines will double the number of cities it serves from Southwest Florida International Airport by adding seasonal service to Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth and Minneapolis-St. Paul, as of this month.
Meeting Hotels
Properties include the 227-room Crowne Plaza Hotel Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops, 149-room Courtyard Fort Myers Cape Coral and 67-room Hotel Indigo Fort Myers River District.
On Fort Myers Beach are the 213-room Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina and 124-suite DiamondHead Beach Resort & Spa.
On Captiva and Sanibel Islands are the 444-room South Seas Island Resort, 347-room Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa, 181-room Sundial Resort and 137-room 'Tween Waters Inn.
Convention Center
Fort Myers Harborside Event Center; exhibit space, 41,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, four; (239) 321-8110
Airport Transit
Southwest Florida International Airport, 14 miles southwest of downtown Fort Myers. Transfer cost by taxi, $40
Taxes
Fort Myers: room tax, 5 percent; sales tax, 6 percent; total tax on hotel rooms, 11 percent
Group Venues
The Olympic spirit is strong year-round at the The Art of the Olympians Museum and Gallery in Fort Myers. The facility connects the world of art and athletics through its exhibits of works by Olympic competitors. Visitors can view paintings, photography and sculptures from the likes of sprinters, skiers and cyclists. Up to 200 people are accommodated for receptions. (239) 332-5055
Hold a meeting of the minds at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, the winter retreats of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. The 20-acre venue includes the Edison Botanic Research Lab and a 15,000-square-foot museum devoted to inventions by the two innovators. The compound offers six indoor and several outdoor options for events. (239) 334-7419
Contact
Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, (800) 237-6444
Naples
The 189-room La Playa Beach & Golf Resort has wrapped up a refurbishment of its guest rooms.
The 450-room Ritz-Carlton, Naples, has completed a $6 million upgrade. Among other improvements at the property, guest rooms now sport new furnishings and hurricane-proof windows. The hotel also opened a new eatery, Bites.
The Naples Botanical Garden has expanded its offerings. Among its new features are gardens displaying the flora of Asia, Brazil, the Caribbean and Florida. Up to 1,000 attendees are accommodated for private events.
The Inn on Fifth in downtown Naples unveils its $15 million expansion this month. The new three-story building houses 32 new club-level suites (for a total of 119 guest rooms) as well as a 1,000-square-foot boardroom, bringing total event space to 9,000 square feet.
The Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau has launched a new website designed to help eco-minded travelers find the best information on environment-friendly hotels and nature-based activities and tours. The site also has tips on how to be an eco-friendly guest, as well as a list of volunteer opportunities and contact info for the organizations and workshops that offer them. Deals and packages are posted at ParadiseCoast.com/green.
Meeting Hotels
Area properties include the 474-room Waldorf Astoria Naples; 450-room Ritz-Carlton, Naples; 317-room Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club; 295-room Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples; 199-room Hilton Naples; 189-room La Play Beach & Golf Resort, and 125-room Edgewater Beach Hotel.
On Marco Island are the 727-room Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort & Spa, 297-room Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa and 91-room Marco Beach Ocean Resort.
Airport Transit
Southwest Florida International Airport, 35 miles north of Naples. Transfer cost by taxi, $55; by shuttle, $30
Taxes
Room tax, 4%; sales tax, 6%; total tax on hotel rooms, 10%
Group Venue
The Golisano Children's Museum of Naples debuted last winter. The 30,000-square-foot facility is packed with 12 hands-on exhibit galleries that are fun for all ages. Private events for up to 500 are accommodated. (239) 514-0084
Contact
Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau, (239) 252-2384