Florida Motor Yacht Article

Byline: Ed Schmidt Jr.

WHAT'S NEW

The largest public works project in Orange County history, the Orange County Convention Center Phase Five expansion, debuted last September, adding 950,282 gross square feet of exhibition space. In total, the enhanced and expanded OCCC provides million square feet of exhibition space, 74 meeting rooms, and a 2,643-seat auditorium.

On the hotel front, Orlando is undergoing a surge in upscale properties. The luxury trend has given meeting planners more choices. Many of these properties have world-class spas, an increasingly popular activity for groups.

This spring, Universal Orlando will open Revenge of the Mummy, an indoor thrill ride. Last year, Universal Orlando opened The Jimmy Neutron Adventure and Shrek 4-D.

At SeaWorld Orlando, the Waterfront at SeaWorld, five acres of entertainment, dining, and shopping, opened recently. Other new happenings include the recently premiered nightly "Makahiki Luau" show, and "Odyssea," a circus performance with acrobatics, comedy, music, and special effects.

Orlando's evolving dining scene includes such recently opened restaurants as The Kitchen at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando, Todd English's bluezoo at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, and Murray Bros.' Caddyshack at the Festival Bay shopping complex.

For golfers, three new 18-hole championship golf courses are less than 10 minutes from the Orange County Convention Center - the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Grande Lakes Orlando, Marriott's Grande Pines, and Shingle Creek Golf Club.

Outside of Orlando, in Kissimmee, a $29 million project has made the area's main artery, . Highway 192, more visually appealing. And just a 45-minute drive away, Florida's Space Coast is home to the new 5,765-square-foot Dr. Kurt H. Debus Conference Facility, which can accommodate 438 people classroom-style or 700 for a reception.

FACILITY UPDATE

CLEARWATER BEACH

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The 220-suite Clearwater Beach Marriott Suites on Sand Key opened in April with 7,500 square feet of meeting space.

DAYTONA BEACH

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A $115 million redevelopment of the city's Boardwalk will break ground sometime this year, encompassing two 250-unit oceanfront hotels, a 50,000 square-foot retail/dining/entertainment complex, and a park.

KISSIMMEE

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The 730-room Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, which will have 70,000 square feet of meeting space and a 10,000-square-foot spa, is slated to open in October. The resort features two Greg Norman - designed golf courses.

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At Reunion Resort & Golf Club, a Tom Watson - designed golf course and an Arnold Palmer - designed golf course opened late last year. The 2,300-acre development will eventually include 3,000 hotel rooms.

ORLANDO

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The $30 million expansion of the 1,338-unit Caribe Royale All-Suites Resort & Convention Center's meeting and convention space debuted late last year. There is now 150,000 square feet of meeting space.

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On Florida's east coast, the 742-room Adam's Mark Daytona Beach recently was awarded the "Best of Daytona's Best Accommodations over 250 units" for the fourth year in a row by the Daytona Beach Area CVB.

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The 510-room Adam's Mark Orlando, with 20,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, recently added PlayStations and WebTV in all guest rooms.

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By 2006, the 2,000-room Orlando World Center Marriott will add 115,000 square feet of exhibit space to its conference center. It now has 214,000 square feet of meeting and pre-function space.

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Located inside the main terminal, the 446-room Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport hotel has 31 meeting rooms, including a 160-seat amphitheater; an outdoor pool and sun deck; and easy access to over 40 specialty shops at the Airport Shopping Mall.

TAMPA

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In Tampa, the 250-room Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino opened in March. It includes a 90,000 square-foot casino, several restaurants, a spa, and 10,000 square feet of function space.

ASK THE CVB

Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (800) 544-0415 .org Total Hotel Tax: %

Kissimmee-St. Cloud CVB (407) 847-5000 .com Total Hotel Tax: 12%

Orlando/Orange County CVB (407) 363-5872 .com/meetings Total Hotel Tax: %

St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area CVB (877) 352-3224 .com Total Hotel Tax: 11%

Tampa Bay CVB (813) 223-1111 .com Total Hotel Tax: 12%

Phantom Planner

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Relatively unknown to many planners is the Disney Event Group at Walt Disney World Resort, which is the equivalent of an in-house DMC. Among the services it offers are message development, set design and construction, entertainment, floral arrangement, photography, and specialty merchandise.

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The Orlando CVB offers dining info at .com. Each listing includes key information ranging from menu highlights to seating capacities for banquets.

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One of the easiest ways to plan a golf event in Orlando is through a group called golforlando, a marketing co-op that represents 30 upscale golf courses in the area. Among the services: tee times, club rentals, transportation, clinics, tournament scoring, event planning, hole-in-one contests, corporate signage, on-site coordination, prizes and trophies, and tournament souvenirs. .com

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An Orlando company named IceMagic produces patented ice products such as crystal-clear molded ice centerpieces, laser-etched ice centerpieces, ice beer mugs and shot glasses, and custom ice creations such as bars, walls, and even pool tables. .biz

SpecialVenues

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Apollo/Saturn V Center can hold large receptions of up to 3,000 people. This 100,000-square-foot facility at Kennedy Space Center in Titusville features reenactments of an Apollo launch and lunar landing and authentic flight hardware. (321) 449-4400; .com

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Disney's "Grand 1" Yacht, based at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, is a 48-foot Sea Ray that can accommodate 16 people. It offers spectacular views of the Wishes fireworks show over the Magic Kingdom and the nightly "Electrical Water Pageant." (321) 939-7221; .com

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Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, located at Universal Orlando's City-Walk, features Caribbean, Cajun, and Florida cuisine. A reception or buffet here can accommodate 745 people. (407) 224-6222; .com

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Daytona USA is an interactive motor sports attraction with motion simulator rides, a Pit Stop Challenge, and 30-minute tour of Daytona International Speedway. The Pepsi Theater can accommodate 250 people. (386) 947-6800; .com

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Harry P. Leu Gardens is a 50-acre botanical garden featuring the largest formal rose garden in Florida and the largest camellia selection in the Southeast. Meeting rooms accommodate 20 to 200 people. (407) 246-3681; .com

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Lady Tampa Bay is a 92-foot yacht docked in downtown Tampa. It can accommodate 149 for receptions and 120 for sit-down banquets. (813) 223-1111; .com

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The nightclub Matrix features one of Orlando's largest dance floors, a multimillion-dollar light and sound system, and reception capacity for 3,000 guests. (407) 370-3700; .com