Perhaps this has happened to you—it is a sunny day at the seaside, and instead of lounging in the sand, you are in a meeting with dozens of other people. A quick glance out the window to the place where the sky meets the water fills you with awe. Relaxed and revitalized, you draw your attention back to the topic and smile.
A beautiful location is a positive draw that can boost event attendance, and while venues offering natural inspiration can be anywhere, events held within view of the ocean or other bodies of water benefit attendees in more ways than one.
According to clinical psychologist and motivational speaker Richard Shuster, the color blue has been found by an overwhelming number of people to be associated with feelings of calm and peace. Shuster goes on to say our brain waves are positively affected when we gaze at the ocean.
A recent study from the National Institute for Health and Care Research in Southampton, England, shows the greatest impact of these “blue spaces” occurs through mechanisms such as the increased social contact they inspire, reduced stress, and the cognitive improvement resulting from being relaxed. They also can mitigate environmental stressors such as the urban noise and poor air quality attendees might experience living in large cities. With all the benefits in store, consider hosting your next gathering at one of these sites in view of the blue.
Meetings on the Beach
Beaches often go hand in hand with ocean views, and meeting near these sandy shores can be another relaxing draw for attendees. Wrightsville Beach stretches along the coast of North Carolina, just 6 miles from Wilmington, and Holiday Inn Resort Lumina on Wrightsville Beach sits along the sand facing the Atlantic Ocean in the beach’s namesake North Carolina town. Almost every guest room at the hotel has a water view, either of the ocean to the east or the Intracoastal Waterway to the west.
Designed to make the most of its on-the-water location, Lumina on Wrightsville Beach features 8,400 square feet of combined indoor and outdoor space. The ballroom, with expansive windows facing the Atlantic beach, can seat 340 guests banquet-style, and is easily dividable into six smaller meeting rooms. Three additional breakout rooms and a boardroom complete the indoor space, while outdoor spaces include two terraces and an event lawn.
“Our dining room with outdoor seating is on the water and thus is expanded meeting space,” says Brian Elliott, general manager of the hotel. “You can watch the sun come up over the Atlantic or set over the Intracoastal Waterway from one of our outdoor terraces. Even the fitness center boasts a view of the beach.”
Located within the Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort blends luxury with Southern hospitality and exclusivity with accessibility. Hilton Head’s temperate climate makes it a year-round playground for international visitors, as well as a top favorite among meeting planners.
“The Omni Hilton Head has been a great partner for the RBC Heritage event, as well as numerous other meetings for Coca-Cola Consolidated,” says Kimberly Williams, executive assistant with Coca-Cola Consolidated Inc., which is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. “We have had the pleasure of working with them since 2018, and Hilton Head is a great place for events and for vacation.”
Its multiple event spaces leveraging the stunning oceanfront location are what sets Omni Hilton Head apart from a competitive field of Hilton Head resorts. From indoor ballrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the ocean to versatile outdoor venues, the resort offers inspiring settings that can be customized to fit the theme and goals of almost any event.
Omni Hilton Head offers 25,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting space, the largest of which is a 3,960-square-foot ballroom. When the meetings are over, attendees might unwind at the resort’s spa, play golf on one of its three scenic courses, swim in one of three pools, enjoy tennis, or stroll along the beach. Plentiful dining options, from casual beachside eateries to elegant restaurants, also offer great settings for networking and relaxation.
Tybee Island, Georgia, has long been a playground for residents of nearby Savannah, but in recent years, it has drawn out-of-state visitors for its small-town vibes with big-time views. Hotel Tybee’s two towers stretch across the beach like welcoming arms. With 208 guest rooms, Hotel Tybee is the largest hotel on the island. It is also the only one poised for meetings and events business. Typical groups include associations, government, sports teams, and those celebrating achievements or milestones.
Hotel Tybee’s expansive Grandview Event Center has floor-to-ceiling, ocean-facing windows on each of its two floors, which total 3,341 square feet. A conference center with two rooms totaling 4,000 square feet across two floors adds function space.
Although there is a bar on the property, food service for events is catered. “We allow planners to use any caterer they choose, giving them more flexibility to their menus,” says Nick Fisher, director of sales at Hotel Tybee. “We don’t take a cut of the catering. We simply rent the space, and it’s customizable for the clients.”
Meetings by the Gulf
The Gulf of Mexico is known for its white-sand beaches and calm, turquoise waters. Tucked between the Gulf of Mexico and Vanderbilt Bay, LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort in Naples, Florida, provides access to the Gulf, as well as a convenient location to downtown Naples and the Naples Conference Center. This favorable setting ensures that anywhere on the property, attendees might enjoy vistas of blue water, shimmering sands, and lush tropical landscapes with easy access to the city.
All indoor meeting space at LaPlaya was designed in one building and on one floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to spacious covered terraces overlooking Vanderbilt Bay. A combined 24,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting space includes two ballrooms, sweeping lawns, tropical pool decks, and secluded sandy beaches.
LaPlaya was hit hard by Hurricane Ian in 2022, forcing an 18-month recovery period for the property. During this time, every inch of the resort was renovated, re-creating the lush tropical atmosphere that distinguishes it. “Throughout this journey [after Hurricane Ian], our clients stood by our side, shifting dates, rebooking events, being reluctant to cancel, and holding on to the finish,” says Linda Menshon, area director of sales and marketing at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort. “Our team’s passion came through as they walked clients through each stage of our recovery. We were able to strengthen our relationships and gain an even deeper trust factor.”
One of Clearwater Beach’s most popular resorts, Opal Sands Resort in Florida (part of Opal Collection), is only months away from having a sister resort, Opal Sol, set to open early next year. The two properties will be connected by a skybridge, allowing guests of each hotel to enjoy shared privileges, more dining options, and expanded amenities. Where Opal Sands already boasts 230 guest rooms and suites, Opal Sol will add 248 suites ranging from studios to three-bedrooms, with unobstructed views of the Gulf of Mexico.
Function space will more than double when Opal Sol opens early next year. Currently, Opal Sands features 17,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. Opal Sol will contribute an additional 57,194 square feet that, when combined with Opal Sands, will provide more than 106,000 square feet of indoor, outdoor, and ancillary space that can accommodate meeting and event groups as large as 700 attendees.
A brilliant stroke for planners is Opal Collection’s new “Experiences” program that makes suggestions for curated programming and engagement opportunities for attendees to give back to the community. “The new Experiences opportunities have been carefully reviewed and approved by resort staff for volunteer and sustainability outreach,” says Jeff Castner, general manager of Opal Sands Resort. “The experiences include several resort-centric team-building events and wellness classes as well.”
On the shores of Mobile Bay in Point Clear, Alabama, sits one of the South’s storied resorts, the Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa. Now a member of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, the resort was established in 1847 with 40 guest rooms. Through the years, it has survived cannon shelling, multiple fires, and countless hurricanes, and has accommodated wounded soldiers, presidents, celebrities, and royalty. The hotel has a significant wartime history, serving briefly as a makeshift hospital during the Civil War and a military training facility during World War II.
With more than 41,000 square feet of meeting space, the Grand Hotel can accommodate groups of as many as 600 to as few as 20. The Grand Ballroom expands to 9,450 square feet and opens to a beachfront patio. Two additional ballrooms allow for multiple events on the property without crowding. Ample sporting options at the resort include golf, tennis, pickleball, swimming, and a croquet course. A full-service spa and salon on the grounds provides services from heads to toes.
Airline service to Point Clear can be from either of two nearby international airports: Mobile International Airport in Alabama to the west, and Florida’s Pensacola International Airport to the east.
Meetings on the Water
The ability to cruise along the water adds an element of movement and change in scenery throughout an event, a dynamic experience where the backdrop continuously shifts as the vessel cruises.
At Sun Dream Yacht Charters based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, each of its fleet’s three luxury yachts are more than 130 feet long, with multiple decks inside and outside, providing versatile spaces that can be customized for a variety of events. Menus can be tailored per client needs, and event staff are available to assist with all aspects of the yachting experience.
“Being on the water provides a level of privacy and exclusivity that is difficult to match on land, offering clients a serene and undisturbed environment perfect for intimate gatherings or high-profile corporate events where privacy is a priority,” says Bob Brantmeyer, president and CEO of Sun Dream Yacht Charters.
Florida’s Marco Island, a haven for sun worshippers and sports enthusiasts of all kinds, lies just south of Naples. It has a number of exclusive resorts, and its skyline from the water is a sight to see at any time of day. While the sleek Marco Island Princess yacht sails daily from its dock at Rose Marina to cruise the sparkling waterways around the island, it can also be chartered for private cruises for meetings and events on the water.
The 90-foot, executive-class yacht has a professionally equipped galley on board and its own chef and staff, who prepare and serve all food and beverages. Planners can select from menus or make suggestions specific to a type of event. Two full-service bars provide beer, wine, and cocktails for cash, or arrangements can be made for open bars.
Staff members can work with meeting planners to coordinate table settings, menus, flowers and decor, entertainment, photography, transportation, special decorations, and all the extras they might need, eliminating the need to use outside destination management companies.
Fresh Water, Fresh Gatherings
For planners with a non-seaside locale, take note that even landlocked states have waterside lodging and venues. The Southeast is checkered with lakes, rivers, creeks, and streams, offering different levels of accommodations, from camping to glamping (luxury camping) to upscale resorts.
Arkansas is home to dozens of lakes, and a fine place to meet by the water resides at one of its state parks. DeGray Lake Resort State Park in Bismarck features prime lodging and amenities in its 90-room lodge while also offering 133 campsites and three yurts. The lodge features stunning views of DeGray Lake and includes a 300-seat conference center with breakout rooms. The lodge’s Shoreline Restaurant serves a full menu, plus banquet catering services that can accommodate groups and special requests.
“Meetings and events guests are eager to share their positive experiences with our team,” says Park Super-intendent Dru Edmonds. “First-time guests often make reservations for a future event before leaving the property. Many are impressed with the breadth and scalability of our services and amenities, and return year after year to grow their event.”
DeGray also sports an 18-hole championship golf course, 18-hole disc golf course, basketball and tennis courts, hiking trails, horseback riding, two swim beaches, and a water trail for paddleboats. A full-service marina has bait and tackle, fuel, and boat rentals, including party barges, kayaks, and pedal boats.
Overlooking the Ohio River in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, in the heart of whiskey country by Churchill Downs, you will find one of the largest meetings and events hotels in the Southeast, The Galt House Hotel. Although the hotel traces its name back to 1835, the physical location has changed several times as it has been expanded through the decades.
Two hotel towers provide 1,310 guest rooms and suites, most of them with views of the Ohio River. The footprint includes seven restaurants and lounges with diverse cuisine and price points. All of this supports a massive 130,000 square feet of event space, including two ballrooms and 53 meeting rooms of different sizes. The Grand Ballroom will seat 1,640 guests at banquet tables, and when combined, the Archibald and Cochran ballrooms will seat 950 at banquet, while the exhibit hall can seat 792.
With a pool, full-service spa, high-tech fitness center, and shopping mall, The Galt House provides everything attendees might need. It is connected by a skywalk to the KFC Yum Center basketball arena and is within walking distance to Louisville’s other cultural sites and entertainment venues.
arkansasstateparks.com/parks
galthouse.com
grand1847.com
hoteltybee.com
laplayaresort.com
luminaresortwrightsville.com
themarcoislandprincess.com
omnihotels.com
opalcollection.com/opal-sands
sundreamyachts.com
