Destin, Emerald Coast, Okaloosa Newsroom

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 laid-back beach towns of Destin • Fort Walton Beach • Okaloosa Island are the perfect setting for serious or fun meetings followed by relaxing on sun-bleached beaches and activities ranging from championship golf and world-class fishing to sampling sumptuous seafood.

Located on Okaloosa Island, the Emerald Coast Convention Center has given Northwest Florida’s upper Gulf Coast a meeting mecca with 35,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. The Convention Center is within a short “flip-flop” stroll of the Gulf of Mexico and with views of the Choctawhatchee Bay. A complement to the current lodging facilities with meeting space throughout southern Okaloosa County, the Emerald Coast Convention 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 and 6,000 square-foot kitchen. The architectural design allows for theater, banquet, classroom and reception style seating, and also features high ceilings and hanging points – ideal for exhibitions and tradeshows.

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 offer STSN high-speed Internet access.

The Emerald Coast Convention Center presents full in-house, award-winning catering by ARAMARK – featuring executive chef Mark Hall – and convention staff services that work directly with meeting planners to ease stress and promote perfectly planned functions. For seamless booking, the Emerald Coast website – www.emerladcoastfl.com – offers planners information “at-their-fingertips” on the convention center including fast facts, floor plans, pricing and capacity charts, center guidelines, event calendars and an online request for proposal.

Several other modern meeting facilities can be found throughout the area. Overlooking the East Pass and the Gulf of Mexico, the full-service Emerald Grande boasts a nearly 2,000 square foot banquet room and 280 condo units. Emerald Grande features an onsite restaurant, spa and 24-hour front desk service. The surrounding HarborWalk Village, with various boutique shops and tantalizing restaurants, allows for pre- and post-meeting strolling and window-shopping.

The Palms of Destin provides 416 condo units and 9,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, as well as the world-famous Polynesian restaurant – Trader Vic’s – with a poolside Mai Tai bar and full service spa. .

Pelican Beach Resort along with The Terrace at Pelican Beach present almost 6,000 square feet of meeting and event space along with gorgeous Gulf views. ResortQuest’s SunDestin Resort’s executive conference center has nearly 3,000 square feet of space and top-quality audio-visual equipment. For groups looking for hotels, the Ramada Plaza Beach Resort with 14,000 square feet of space, along with Four Point by Sheraton, Holiday Inn SunSpree and Holiday Inn Destin offer hundreds of sleeping rooms and thousands of square feet of space perfect for banquets, weddings, meetings and reunions.

For meetings allowing free time, the laid-back beach 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 Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) offers continuous service by five major airlines. Ground travel is also easy along primary feeders: Highway 98, Highways 331 and 85, and Interstate 10.

Additional visitor information is available by calling the Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. at (800) 322-3319 or the Emerald Coast Convention Center at (877)574-5123 or by visiting http://emeraldcoastfl.com/convention/.

Year 2012
For More Media Information
Michelle Kelly / Anna Whiddon

The Zimmerman Agency
(850) 668-2222
awhiddon@zimmerman.com



Resources Image Library News Releases News @lerts Search Contact Recent Press Press Kit General Overview Accommodations Meetings Activities Attractions Acclaims Dining Environmental Fast Facts Golf Weddings Special Events Trivia Spring Break	Press Kit: Meetings Download PDF. 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 laid-back beach towns of Destin • Fort Walton Beach • Okaloosa Island are the perfect setting for serious or fun meetings followed by relaxing on sun-bleached beaches and activities ranging from championship golf and world-class fishing to sampling sumptuous seafood. Located on Okaloosa Island, the Emerald Coast Convention Center has given Northwest Florida’s upper Gulf Coast a meeting mecca with 35,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. The Convention Center is within a short “flip-flop” stroll of the Gulf of Mexico and with views of the Choctawhatchee Bay. A complement to the current lodging facilities with meeting space throughout southern Okaloosa County, the Emerald Coast Convention 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 and 6,000 square-foot kitchen. The architectural design allows for theater, banquet, classroom and reception style seating, and also features high ceilings and hanging points – ideal for exhibitions and tradeshows. 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 offer STSN high-speed Internet access. The Emerald Coast Convention Center presents full in-house, award-winning catering by ARAMARK – featuring executive chef Mark Hall – and convention staff services that work directly with meeting planners to ease stress and promote perfectly planned functions. For seamless booking, the Emerald Coast website – www.emerladcoastfl.com – offers planners information “at-their-fingertips” on the convention center including fast facts, floor plans, pricing and capacity charts, center guidelines, event calendars and an online request for proposal. Several other modern meeting facilities can be found throughout the area. Overlooking the East Pass and the Gulf of Mexico, the full-service Emerald Grande boasts a nearly 2,000 square foot banquet room and 280 condo units. Emerald Grande features an onsite restaurant, spa and 24-hour front desk service. The surrounding HarborWalk Village, with various boutique shops and tantalizing restaurants, allows for pre- and post-meeting strolling and window-shopping. The Palms of Destin provides 416 condo units and 9,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, as well as the world-famous Polynesian restaurant – Trader Vic’s – with a poolside Mai Tai bar and full service spa. . Pelican Beach Resort along with The Terrace at Pelican Beach present almost 6,000 square feet of meeting and event space along with gorgeous Gulf views. ResortQuest’s SunDestin Resort’s executive conference center has nearly 3,000 square feet of space and top-quality audio-visual equipment. For groups looking for hotels, the Ramada Plaza Beach Resort with 14,000 square feet of space, along with Four Point by Sheraton, Holiday Inn SunSpree and Holiday Inn Destin offer hundreds of sleeping rooms and thousands of square feet of space perfect for banquets, weddings, meetings and reunions. For meetings allowing free time, the laid-back beach 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 Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) offers continuous service by five major airlines. Ground travel is also easy along primary feeders: Highway 98, Highways 331 and 85, and Interstate 10. Additional visitor information is available by calling the Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. at (800) 322-3319 or the Emerald Coast Convention Center at (877)574-5123 or by visiting http://emeraldcoastfl.com/convention/.

Year 2012 For More Media Information Michelle Kelly / Anna Whiddon The Zimmerman Agency (850) 668-2222 awhiddon@zimmerman.com