Henderson Beach Resort opened in Destin, Florida, in 2016, serving as one of the city’s only luxury, full-service resort properties at the time. While a few more of its kind have popped up nearby in recent years, the resort remains a flagship luxury hotel in Destin, located directly adjacent to the 200-acre Henderson Beach State Park. This year, Henderson Beach Resort won a Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice Award for being ranked in the top 10% of hotels on the site. It has a lot to offer planners looking for an intimate coastal setting, including beachside event space atop sugar-white sands and a wide array of creative team-building activities.
“I think the draw for our property is the size of our meeting space and the size of the hotel makes it feel like it’s a buyout even if it’s not,” says Samantha Corbin, director of catering and conference services at Henderson Beach Resort. The 170-room hotel offers nearly 30,000 square feet of meeting space and a relatively compact floor plan. “So, it feels very organic,” she says. “You’re going to see each other getting coffee in the morning and walking around the resort.” Corbin says the hotel can host gatherings of up to about 500, with the Crystal Ballroom being its largest indoor space and the Grand Piazza its largest outdoor venue. The Crystal Ballroom and Henderson’s smaller Emerald Room and Destin Ballroom feature plenty of natural light, elegant chandeliers, and Gulf-inspired artwork. Those looking for a toes-in-the-sand experience can host directly on the resort’s private beach access with beach sets and volleyball nets readily available.
The team-building options abound at Henderson Beach Resort. Corbin highlights Beach Olympics, which features cornhole games and water-balloon tosses right on the sand, as well as the popular Iron Bartender, where groups break up into teams, grab ingredients, and come up with a signature cocktail to present to a panel of judges. The winning team gets their drink served at the evening’s reception complete with bragging rights. Candle making, scarf dying, and sandcastle building also are on the menu. Corbin says cooking classes with the resort’s head chef are in the works.
Planners might also organize some time at the Henderson Spa for attendees to rejuvenate before a busy day of meetings or an evening event—options include massages, facial treatments, body scrubs, or a session in the Himalayan Salt Suite to promote better breathing and healthier skin, among others.
One of the most popular amenities at Henderson Beach Resort is its rooftop bar, The Rooftop, which recently underwent an extensive renovation and reopened earlier this year; it offers cocktails to suit a diverse range of tastes, as well as majestic views of vibrant Gulf Coast sunsets. “For us, that rooftop experience and peace has been a game changer for our group business,” says Andrew Lott, director of sales and marketing for the resort. “Groups have chosen to buy it out and kind of do a kick-off reception up there because it really gives people a sense of place overlooking that state park and giving them a sunset. It’s really spectacular.” In addition to cocktails and sunsets, The Rooftop also serves up bites such as fresh oysters and cheese-and-pickle boards.
Groups can also take advantage of the resort’s signature restaurant, Primrose Steak & Seafood, which is open to the public for breakfast and dinner and available for complete booking by private groups during lunchtime. Primrose features an expansive sushi menu and local seafood favorites such as blackened grouper and shrimp and grits. Florida artist Justin Gaffrey’s textured and colorful nature-inspired works can be seen throughout the restaurant.
