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Tampa Convention Center introduces app

June 6, 2014 by Plan Your Meetings Leave a Comment

Visit Tampa with the help of convention center’s free, mobile app.

Filed Under: PYM Blog Tagged With: android, app, florida, itunes, meetings and events, tampa bay, tampa convention center

Meetings, events help Orlando top 55 million visitors

June 19, 2012 by Plan Your Meetings Leave a Comment

The number of overnight convention and meeting business in Orlando in 2011 grew to 3.3 million, an increase of 2.7 percent.

Filed Under: Meeting industry news Tagged With: destinations, destinations for meeting planners, florida, Orlando

Get in the game with triple-option deal at 3 Florida resorts

February 2, 2012 by Plan Your Meetings

The Super Bowl may be just one exciting Sunday for football fans. For meeting planners, however, it signals an extended triple-option offer at Grand Resorts of Florida, with properties in Tampa, Orlando and Palm Coast. Here’s the deal: Through March 15, planners arranging events for groups of at least 10 can hunker down at Innisbrook […]

Filed Under: PYM Blog Tagged With: florida, meeting planners, resort deal, resorts

Active adventures off Amelia Island’s coast

October 19, 2011 by Plan Your Meetings Leave a Comment

Amelia River Cruises offers three-hour eco-tours and BYOB twilight/sunset cruises off the northeast Florida coast. The eco-tour is led by a marine biologist who uses an otter trawl or shrimp net to bring catch aboard, educating guests about local marine life before releasing the creatures back into the wild.  

Filed Under: PYM Blog Tagged With: amelia island, amelia river cruises, eco-tours, florida, group activities

The 2011 PYM Annual digital guide is here!

June 7, 2011 by Kristi Casey Sanders Leave a Comment

Bringing you “Motivation for Innovation,” the 2011 PYM Annual is designed to help you navigate new technologies, find solutions for current challenges and, hopefully, inspire you to create something big, bright, beautiful and business-friendly at your next meeting or event. But, like everything we do here at Plan Your Meetings, this was a group effort. […]

Filed Under: Budgets and contracts, Event marketing and PR, Event technology, Food and beverage, Meeting and event design, Meeting sustainably, PYM Blog, Social media Tagged With: advice for meeting planners, alabama, colorado, corbin ball, denise quashie, florida, Georgia, illinois, jeff hurt, midori connolly, plan corporate meetings and events, plan your meetings, PYM, samuel smith, texas

Convention center hotel approved for Palm Beach County

June 3, 2011 by Plan Your Meetings Leave a Comment

Funding has been secured to build a 400-room Hilton hotel adjacent to the existing Palm Beach County Convention Center, thanks to a $27 million subsidy the Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners voted to approve in April. “A new convention center hotel will finally complete the package we need to elevate Palm Beach County’s image […]

Filed Under: Meeting industry news Tagged With: convention hotels, florida, new convention center hotel, palm beach, palm beach county convention center, palm beaches

Free guide to historic African-American sites

April 27, 2011 by Plan Your Meetings Leave a Comment

Planners interested in taking groups to historically significant sites in the Daytona Beach area have one more resource at their disposal. “Share the Heritage” is a free guide to African-American historical sites and attractions in the Daytona Beach area that can be viewed and downloaded from daytonabeach.com.

Filed Under: PYM Blog Tagged With: african american history in daytona beach, black history, cultural attractions, florida, meet in daytona beach, share the heritage

Hoteliers’ harvest

April 13, 2011 by Plan Your Meetings Leave a Comment

The Marriott & Renaissance State Association Team of Florida recently held a bowling event with a food drive component that collected 386 pounds of food for America’s Second Harvest of the Big Bend in Tallahassee, Fla. That donation was enough to feed 296 people in Tallahassee and surrounding counties.

Filed Under: PYM Blog Tagged With: america, csr, florida, giving back, marriott state association team of florida, renaissance hotel sales team, second harves of the big bend, tallahassee

Fort Lauderdale debuts convention collection

April 5, 2011 by Plan Your Meetings Leave a Comment

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau has teamed with six upscale hotels near the Broward County Convention Center to offer one-stop planning assistance for groups needing up to 2,700 rooms. In addition to accommodations and hotel meeting space, the “Lauderdale Convention Collection” offers special savings and incentives. “By creating a single hospitality experience […]

Filed Under: Meeting industry news Tagged With: broward county convention and visitors bureau, convention space, corporate meetings and events, florida, meet in fort lauderdale, planning assistance

New names for California, Florida CVBs

February 3, 2011 by Plan Your Meetings Leave a Comment

If the rash of newly re-named tourism authorities is any indication, “convention and visitors bureaus” are on the way out. In their stead is an assortment of organizations urging leisure and group business to “visit” or “discover” their destinations. Take, for example: Visit Oakland (formerly the Oakland, Calif., Convention & Visitors Bureau) Discover Torrance (a […]

Filed Under: Meeting industry news Tagged With: california, cvbs, discover torrance, florida, tourism agencies, visit oakland, visit orlando

Peabody Orlando doubles its size with $450 million expansion

December 6, 2010 by Kristi Casey Sanders Leave a Comment

It may have taken 10 years to plan and more than two years to build, but the Peabody Orlando’s $450 million expansion project is finally complete. The project added a 32-story tower with more than 700 guest rooms; a state of the art conference center; a 22,000-sq. ft. full-service spa; and new dining and recreational […]

Filed Under: Meeting industry news Tagged With: expansion, florida, hotel news, new meeting space, Orlando, peabody orlando

A whale of a deal

November 30, 2010 by Kristi Casey Sanders Leave a Comment

There’s something special brewing for meeting planners at One Ocean Resort, Hotel & Spa, which is in Atlantic Beach, near Jacksonville, Fla. Bring a meeting to the eco-friendly beach resort before Dec. 30, 2011, and you’ll have your choice of concessions, which increase in value according to the number of rooms per night booked. Special […]

Filed Under: PYM Blog Tagged With: atlantic beach, florida, Green Lodgings, jacksonville, meeting concessions, meeting special, one ocean resort, plan meeting, plan meeting in jacksonville, special offer

The coast is clear

November 7, 2010 by Ashley Brazzel Leave a Comment

It’s been more than six months since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill raised questions about whether Gulf of Mexico destinations from Texas to Florida would be able to maintain their blue waters, white-sand beaches and fresh seafood production. But by all accounts, businesses and beaches are open and welcoming all meetings and events. Here are some destination updates …

Filed Under: Meeting industry news Tagged With: alabama, beaches, cleanup, Events, fishing, florida, gulf coast, louisiana, mississippi, oil spill, plan meetings, recovery, seafood, texas, updates

The last show of 2010

October 26, 2010 by Kristi Casey Sanders Leave a Comment

It’s hard to believe that we’re celebrating our last PYM LIVE Event of the year. But, it’s already in progress in Clearwater, Fla. at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater Beach. If you couldn’t be in attendance, you can follow the conversation below, which will be archived post-event. The educational breakout session will occur […]

Filed Under: PYM Blog Tagged With: clearwater, education, florida, networking, pym live events

Why you should meet in Gulf Coast states now

August 5, 2010 by Kathy Janich Leave a Comment

Yes, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has sullied some of America’s favorite beaches and messed mightily with the meetings and event industry, but smart planners see opportunities beyond the tar patties. From Florida to Texas, the main message from travel and tourism officials is that it’s business as usual. Most attractions, hotels, restaurants, exhibits, […]

Filed Under: Meeting industry news Tagged With: alabama, bp, Events, florida, gulf coast, meet, mississippi, northwest florida, oil spill, panhandle, plan meetings, texas

Bama beaches closed; spill drifts toward Florida

June 18, 2010 by Ashley Brazzel Leave a Comment

Winds this week will largely determine what happens along the coasts of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, as the worst oil spill in U.S. history nears the two-month mark. Forecasters have been most concerned about the Mississippi/Alabama barrier islands and the Florida Panhandle. Thousands of vacationers, meanwhile, are changing plans, either hoping to catch […]

Filed Under: Meeting industry news Tagged With: alabama, bp, damage, florida, gulf coast, gulf shores, louisiana, meetings, mississippi, oil spill, texas, tourism, update

Your own private event city

August 31, 2009 by Ashley Brazzel Leave a Comment

The Dow Museum of Historic Houses (formerly Old St. Augustine Village) in St. Augustine, Fla., is a walled village in the heart of the city’s historic downtown. Several of the historic homes in the complex operated by the Daytona Beach Museum of Arts & Sciences are available for private rentals. Or, planners can book out […]

Filed Under: PYM Blog Tagged With: Daytona Beach Museum of Arts and Sciences, dow museum of historic homes, florida, private rentals, saint augustine, st augustine

Bring in the bling

June 22, 2009 by Ashley Brazzel Leave a Comment

BW Designs specializes in providing “wow” event rental items like LED soft walls, fabric columns, lighted lounge furniture as well as giveaways like logo-etched crystal “diamonds” and illuminated event passes. A second division of the company, IceMagic, offers fully functional ice bars as well as specialty lighting and illuminated event decor (like tables and dance […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: BW designs, event rentals, florida, ice bars, ice magic

Set the stage

May 18, 2009 by Ashley Brazzel Leave a Comment

Whether you’re dressing up a convention exhibit hall or organizing an outdoor concert, ASI Production Services Inc. can provide support and services. Based in Orlando, the company can outfit events nationwide with elevated seating, stage risers, mobile staging units, fiber-optic drapes, on-site drape and fabric cleaning, and other theatrical softgoods.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: asi production services, event productions, florida, Orlando

A little bundle of sunshine

December 13, 2008 by Ashley Brazzel Leave a Comment

In search of fun gift basket ideas for your next corporate function? Look no further than Tampa Bay & Company, the online spot for the coolest destination-themed gifts — like a Bucket Full of Sunshine or a Cup Full of Tampa — and more.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: basket, corporate, florida, gift, tampa

Combination of creativity, innovation helping Florida bounce back

November 26, 2008 by Kristi Casey Sanders Leave a Comment

For months now, hotels and convention and visitors bureaus (CVB) have been scratching their heads over the increase in canceled meeting business and scrambling to find new ways to attract groups. At Florida Encounter, hotel and CVB representatives held a roundtable to discuss what they were doing to maintain or grow business. “Our goal is […]

Filed Under: Meeting industry news Tagged With: economic environment, florida, group business, innovation, marketing strategy, recession

Fay, Fay go away!

August 22, 2008 by Kristi Casey Sanders Leave a Comment

Traveling to Florida this week has been a challenge, with Tropical Storm Fay — possibly one of the slowest-moving storms in recent history — causing flight cancellations, flooding streets, and closing down airports and bridges. The MPI Southeast Educational Conference dealt with worries about the storm by being proactive — sending frequent, daily e-mails to […]

Filed Under: PYM Blog Tagged With: airtran, florida, marriott, meeting planners, mpi, mpi southeastern education conference, sawgrass marriott, tropical storm fay, weather

Free Wii breaks in Tampa

June 29, 2008 by Kristi Casey Sanders Leave a Comment

Notoriously hard to find, Nintendo Wiis are a hot item. And for good reason — the interactive sports games are a far cry from the thumb-numbing, plug-in games of the past. At the Quorum Hotel-Tampa, meeting planners are being offered complimentary Wii breaks for groups. We can’t think of a better way to get the […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: coffee breaks, florida, free, hotels, quorum, tampa, wii

Green governor

May 20, 2008 by Kristi Casey Sanders Leave a Comment

Florida Governor Charlie Crist has given the Florida hotel industry a green incentive. Since Jan. 1, hotels have had to have Florida Green Lodging certification in order to be considered host sites for government-sponsored meetings. Currently, 54 Florida hotels have earned the “Green Lodging” designation from the Department of Environmental Protection; 207 hotels have applied […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: certification, crist, florida, governor, green, hotels, industry, lodging, meeting, meetings, site

Rooms with a view

April 1, 2008 by Kristi Casey Sanders Leave a Comment

Bringing attendees to a gorgeous location is a great idea — if you can let them enjoy it. At the Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach, Fla., meeting rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Planners also can create conversation areas by outdoor fire pits and […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: daytona beach, florida, meeting space, ocean, room, scenic, view

Miami NASCAR Racing Weekend

February 15, 2008 by pym Leave a Comment

Assignment: South Florida event company ME Productions was hired to create several events taking place during the NASCAR race weekend in Homestead, Fla. Challenge: Emphasize the brand of each sponsor in each venue. Solution: ME Productions’ creative team created props, furnishings and décor that playfully displayed company logos and insignias while transforming each Miami venue […]

Filed Under: PYM Blog Tagged With: Events, florida, nascar

Orlando narrows RFP options

January 8, 2008 by Kristi Casey Sanders Leave a Comment

In the past, RFPs submitted to the Orlando/Orange County CVB were distributed to relevant member organizations, regardless of whether they technically were located within Orlando city limits. After all, Walt Disney World is in Lake Buena Vista, and some Kissimmee convention properties are closer to the theme parks than Orlando properties.

That policy has changed, and properties in Kissimmee (Osceola County) no longer will receive leads from submitted meeting and convention RFPs, even if the hotels are member organizations.

Filed Under: Meeting industry news Tagged With: convention sales leads, florida, kissimmee, meetings, Orlando, rfp, rfps

Watch the Calendar

December 3, 2007 by pym Leave a Comment

Time moves so fast, especially when you’re planning seasonal events every year. It seems as if we just finished planning our annual fall expos and our holiday events planning is almost over (except for last-minute details and the actual event). 2008 is already here. Well, not quite. Every city has seasonal happenings, and some make […]

Filed Under: PYM Blog Tagged With: Atlanta, florida, restaurants, seasonal

Bump the light

November 8, 2007 by pym Leave a Comment

“Bumping the light” — meaning to raise the performance level. Louie Gravance used the term when speaking to meeting planners at the recent VISIT FLORIDA Encounter at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Gravance, a Walt Disney graduate who now teaches “Showmanship in the Workplace” to large corporations, urged planners to “bump the light” and, […]

Filed Under: PYM Blog Tagged With: Advice & Best Practices, encounter, florida, gravance, louie, meetings

Seminole Tribe of Florida rocks out

January 3, 2007 by Kristi Casey Sanders 4 Comments

Contracts have been signed and the Seminole Tribe of Florida is poised to purchase the Hard Rock Café restaurant and casino chain from British-based The Rank Group for $965 million. But litigation filed by Power Plant Entertainment threatens to spoil the deal before Hard Rock stockholders vote on sale in March.

Filed Under: Meeting industry news Tagged With: casino, florida, gambling, hard rock, hotels, indians, merrill lynch, purchase, scandal, seminole, tribe

Names and Notes: May 2005

May 4, 2005 by Kristi Casey Sanders Leave a Comment

NAMES Steven A. Schuldenfrei has been named President of the Trade Show Exhibitors Association; Mary Beth Rebedeau will fill the vacancy he left as Executive Director of the Society of Independent Show Organizers. Alyssa Egger has been named Account Services Representative for Plan Your Meetings (PYM) magazine. Egger will work directly with PYM’s advertising partners […]

Filed Under: Meeting industry news Tagged With: conventions, Dallas, downtown, florida, food, Georgia, hilton, hotels, Houston, industry, international, louisiana, museums, new orleans, restaurants, texas

Florida offers free insurance and other incentives

April 8, 2005 by pym Leave a Comment

Last year, Florida was hit hard by back-to-back hurricanes that damaged property around the state and sent meeting planners scrambling to find alternative venues, or having to cancel events altogether. Having three hurricanes and one major tropical storm in three months is abnormal for Florida and the state's official tourism marketing agency, VISIT FLORIDA, is […]

Filed Under: Meeting industry news Tagged With: florida, insurance







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