South Florida

Miami
Miami International Airport unveiled its new international arrivals facility in August. The three-level, 40,000-square-foot section is accessible via airtrain and includes a 72-lane passport control area that can process 2,000 passengers per hour. Six lanes are dedicated to serving members of Global Entry, the government program that offers expedited screening for accredited travelers.

B Hotels & Resorts has new properties planned for first-quarter 2013. The 253-room B South Beach will replace the current Continental Oceanfront South Beach Hotel after undergoing a renovation and brand repositioning. The property will have 3,000 square feet of indoor and 5,000 square feet of outdoor meeting space. The second hotel will be under the b2 brand and will feature 243 guest rooms, a spa, a fitness center and a lounge, in addition to about 2,000 square feet of function space.

The 179-room James Royal Palm will begin welcoming guests late this year with two swimming pools, several dining options, a full-service spa and more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space.

Following $45 million in renovations, the Ritz Plaza Hotel reopened in June as the SLS Hotel South Beach. The newly revamped property has 140 guest rooms, including 10 villas. There is no dedicated function space at present, but planners can use various spaces around the hotel for meeting and event purposes, including the 7,935-square-foot pool deck.

In January, the 243-room St Regis Bal Harbour opened with a spa, a fitness center and approximately 11,200 square feet of meeting space. For dining, guests can enjoy the creations of renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten at the J&G Grill.

The Doral Hotel & Country Club has become the Trump Doral Golf Resort & Spa, after the mogul purchased the property for $150 million in February. The resort has 693 guest rooms, a 48,000-square-foot spa with 33 treatment rooms, and 90,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 24,000-square-foot ballroom. A series of upgrades will be made to the hotel through next fall.

The Mayfair Hotel & Spa recently began  a renovation of its 179 guest rooms, which will be decked out with new furniture and bedding by this fall. The property features 15,000 square feet of event space.

Marlins Park, home to the Miami Marlins major league baseball team, officially opened this April with a capacity for 37,000 people. During games, planners can rent out private suites or the Clevelander, a 4,000-square-foot field-level venue, for events.

The 56-room Tempo Hotel Miami has become the Casa Moderna Miami Hotel & Spa. The property has approximately 6,000 square feet of meeting space and a fitness center.

The Shelborne South Beach completed a $20 million renovation in January that covered all 150 guest rooms and 20 suites. Added were a new art deco porte cochere and a heated infinity pool. The hotel has three ballrooms, ranging from 1,515 to 4,915 square feet, plus an ocean-view terrace.

Benchmark Hospitality International is now managing the One Bal Harbour Resort & Spa. The 124-room property includes more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space and a spa with 10 private treatment rooms.

Meeting Hotels
In downtown Miami and Key Biscayne are the 641-room InterContinental Miami; 612-room Hyatt Regency Miami; 402-room Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne; 300-room JW Marriott Miami, and 205-room Conrad Miami.

Properties near Miami International Airport include the 693-room Trump Doral Golf Resort & Spa and 500-room Hilton Miami International Airport.

Hotels in Miami Beach and North Miami Beach include the 1,504-room Fountainebleau Resort, 841-room Loews Miami Beach, 392-room Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club, 263-room Courtyard by Marriott Miami Beach Oceanfront and 85-room Setai.

For a more comprehensive list of properties, visit mcvenues.com.

Convention Centers
Miami Beach Convention Center; exhibit space, 502,848 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 70; (305) 539-3071

Miami Convention Center; exhibit space, 28,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 34; (305) 579-6341

Coconut Grove Expo Center; exhibit space, approximately 150,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, none; (800) 933-8448, ext. 3071

Airport Transit
Miami International Airport, about seven miles west of downtown Miami. Transfer cost by taxi to downtown, $25; by shuttle, $16 per person; by taxi to Miami Beach, $32; by shuttle, $21 per person; by taxi to Key Biscayne, $41; by shuttle, $24 per person

Taxes
Miami/Miami Beach: room tax, 6%; sales tax, 7%; total tax on hotel rooms, 13%

Group Venues
Originally built as a sprawling single-family residence in 1936, the 16,350-square-foot landmark Temple House was completely restored in June and is now available for private events. The art deco venue features a 4,466-square-foot mezzanine overlooking the Grand Room, a 14,000-square-foot space with a 25-foot-high ceiling and expansive white walls that can be used as projection screens. (305) 673-2526

The New World Center is dedicated to music education and performance, featuring state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment. Planners can organize a private pre- or post-show event for attendees on the rooftop garden and lounge, which offers views of Miami Beach and Biscayne Bay. The space can hold up to 250 people for cocktail receptions. (305) 673-3330

Another great perch from which to enjoy a panorama of city, ocean and bay is Miami's 11 11 Lincoln Road, on the seventh floor of a parking garage. The unique 25,000-square-foot space, with a 34-foot-high ceiling and no walls, accommodates private groups of up to 600 people. (305) 538-9320

Contact
Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, (800) 933-8448

Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority, (305) 673-7050

Palm Beach
The 379-room PGA National Resort & Spa is undergoing a $65 million renovation that is expected to reach completion later this fall. The project includes enhancements to the property's clubhouse, golf courses, 40,000-square-foot spa, health club and 40,000 square feet of conference space. New to the property are a swimming pool and bar, and the Ironwood Steak and Seafood Restaurant.

A 400-room Palm Beach Convention Center hotel is in the works and is expected to fly the Hilton flag. No further details were available at press time.

In January, the 194-room Embassy Suites West Palm Beach-Central opened with approximately 17,000 square feet of meeting space, an on-site restaurant, an outdoor pool, tennis courts, saunas and a fitness center.

Meeting Hotels
Area properties include the 560-room Breakers Palm Beach; 379-room PGA National Resort & Spa; 352-room West Palm Beach Marriott; 284-room Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach; 210-room Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, and 194-room Embassy Suites West Palm Beach Central.

Convention Center
Palm Beach County Convention Center; exhibit space, 100,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 23; (561) 366-3000

Airport Transit
Palm Beach International Airport, three miles west of West Palm Beach. Transfer cost by taxi, $35

Taxes
Palm Beach County: room tax, 5%; sales tax, 6.5%; total tax on hotel rooms, 11.5%

Group Venue
Attendees can wander among 16 acres of colorful gardens, exquisite bonsai trees, and galleries of historical and contemporary art at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach. Among the attractions are six traditional gardens, a bamboo grove and hidden waterfalls. Several areas are available for rent, including an outside terrace that accommodates up to 300 people and an area that can be tented for up to 600. (561) 495-0233

Golf
The Links at Madison Green in West Palm Beach will challenge seasoned golfers, playing 7,106 yards from the back tee on a par-72 layout. But the course is designed for all levels of skill, with five sets of tees at varying distances. The clubhouse offers several event spaces, including the renovated Madison Ballroom, which accommodates up to 150 people, as well as two outdoor venues. (561) 784-5225

Contact
Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau, (800) 833-5733

Lee County
The 454-room Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs began a three-month guest room renovation in July to complement the addition of a restaurant, a spa boutique and a rock-climbing wall.

The 407-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.

In Fort Myers, the 347-room Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa is undergoing a $5 million renovation of its lobby, front desk area, Tarpon House restaurant and Charlie's Cabana bar.

Meeting Hotels
In Fort Myers, properties include the 374-room Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa, 227-room Crowne Plaza Hotel Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops, 227-room Holiday Inn Select Fort Myers and 225-room Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa.

On Captiva and Sanibel islands are the 444-room South Seas Island Resort, 261-room Sundial Resort and 138-room 'Tween Waters Inn.

In Bonita Springs is the 454-room Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa.

Convention Center
Fort Myers Harborside Events Center; exhibit space, approximately 41,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, four; (239) 321-8110

Taxes
Fort Myers: room tax, 5%; sales tax, 6%; total tax on hotel rooms, 11%

Sanibel and Captiva islands: room tax, 5%; sales tax, 6%; total tax on hotel rooms, 11%

Group Venue
The lush and lovely Centennial Park in Fort Myers offers 10 acres of recreation space on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River. Amenities include a pier that's perfect for fishing, and various boat docks, volleyball courts and pathways. Two picnic pavilions are available for reservation at no cost. (239) 321-7530

Contact
Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, (800) 237-6444

Duty Runs Deep

The USS Mohawk, a World War II warship, was sunk off the coast of Sanibel Island in July, creating the first Veterans Memorial Reef in the U.S. Divers can explore the vessel, which rests 90 feet below the surface.

Other Cities, Other Sites
HOLLYWOOD: A new $130 million, 349-room Margaritaville Resort is in the works in Hollywood Beach. Upon opening in  2014, the property will include a 15,000-square-foot Margaritaville Cafe, a rooftop pool, 35,000 square feet of meeting space and a boat dock.
Contact:hollywoodmargaritaville.com

FORT LAUDERDALE:  The Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center is now LEED Gold certified. The center, fresh from a $34 million, 230,000-square-foot expansion, features 600,000 square feet of flexible function space.
Contact: (954) 765-5900; ftlauderdalecc.com

The 296-room Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach-a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel  is renovating all of its guest rooms and the 8,200-square-foot ballroom. The property offers about 28,000 square feet of meeting space, complimentary wireless Internet and a 250-slip marina.
Contact: (954) 764-2233; bit.ly/RD3LJ8

COCONUT CREEK:  The Seminole Casino Coconut Creek recently doubled the size of its casino floor to 100,000 square feet in a $150 million expansion. The gaming area now includes more than 2,300 slot machines and 65 table games.
Contact: (954) 977-6700; seminolecoconutcreekcasino.com

POMPANO BEACH: A new 219-room Marriott hotel is in the works and will feature 11,000 square feet of meeting space upon completion in spring 2013. The property will comprise two adjacent towers, one being the former Ocean Point Hotel, with 100 rooms, and the other a new 119-room structure. Among the offerings will be an oceanfront rooftop terrace and two swimming pools.
Contact: (800) 831-4004; marriott.com

DELRAY BEACH:  A 134-room Hyatt Place opened in August with more than 2,000 square feet of meeting space, free Wi-Fi, a fitness center and free breakfast.
Contact: (561) 330-3530; delraybeach.place.hyatt.com

KEY LARGO: The 145-room Ocean Reef Resort currently is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion of its fitness center. The new space will span 30,000 square feet (up from 12,000) and include four group exercise rooms, a Pilates studio and more. The property has more than 30,000 square feet of meeting space.
Contact: (305) 367-2611; oceanreef.com

NAPLES The 87-room Inn on Fifth in downtown Naples is on target to complete a $15 million expansion in November. The new three-story building is across the street from the original Fifth Avenue site and will house 32 new club-level suites as well as a 1,000-square-foot boardroom, bringing total meeting and event space to nearly 9,000 square feet. The inn will have a new total of 119 guest rooms upon completion.
Contact: (239) 403-8777; innonfifth.com