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in St.Maarten are two examples of excellent conference hotels that cater to largemeetings as well.” The 580.000-sq. ft.PuertoRico Convention Center is the largest in the Caribbean, accommodating groups of up to 10,000. In Jamaica, the charming Halfmoon, Montego Bay resort has long been a popular event venue, while the capital city of Kingston is home to the Jamaica Conference Centre. After a $10 million renovation, the former Bataliere Hotel is expected to open by the end of 2011 as the Radisson Hotel & Spa Martinique, providing that island with one of its premier meeting venues. Major meeting sites in the Bahamas include the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, which has 300,000 sq. ft. of event space, and the RadissonOur Lucaya Resort onGrand Bahama Island,with 90,000 sq. ft. of event space. The British Virgin Islands’ Scrub Island Resort offers more than 7,000 sq. ft of indoor and outdoor space for group func- tions. For the U.S. Virgin Islands, the largest meeting facility is at the Marriott Frenchman’s Reef Resort, which can accommodate up to 800 people. Other options include the all-inclusive Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas, the Westin St. John and the Renaissance St. Croix Carambola Beach Resort & Spa. “In addition to the fantastic meeting spaces at our local properties, the USVI has unique ‘off-site’ venues for group func- tions,” Figueroa says. “On St. Thomas, the recently restored Old Stone Farmhouse, which dates back to the 1750s, is set in a wooded valley close to the 11th hole of the Mahogany Run Golf Course. Villa Norbu, located cliff-side, faces the vast Atlantic Ocean adding to the serene ambiance. Oceana sits on the water’s edge with breathtaking sunset views and is great for groups because of its extensive wine list, which features roughly 200 selections.” “On St. John, groups can have cocktails in the Caneel Bay plantation sugar mill ruins, followed by dinner at Equator Restaurant, which sits on a hill above the ruins affording spectacular water views,” Figueroa continues. “St. Croix’s history comes alive in the Whim Plantation – a 12-acre museum that hosts off-property gatherings. The 16 acres of exotic flora at the St. George Botanical Garden offers a colorful backdrop for any reception. A rich history surrounds the location of the gardens as they are built upon a pre-Columbus Indian settlement and the ruins of a sugar plantation. Fort Frederik is another good choice. It’s a U.S. National Historic Landmark in Frederiksted that was built between 1752 and 1760 by Denmark.” The Hyatt Regency Trinidad in Port of Spain has hosted some impressive events since its 2006 opening, according to Cheryl Andrews, president and CEO of Cheryl Andrews Marketing Communications, which represents the two-island nation. In April 2009, the hotel was the site of the Summit of the Americas, which, as Andrews notes, drew “every head of state from this hemisphere, from Hugo Chavez to Barack Obama.” The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting came to the Hyatt in November 2009, bringing Queen Elizabeth, and the heads of state of Canada, Australia and all of the countries in the British Commonwealth. “While most of the delegates stayed at the Hyatt, there were so many people for both events that they had to bring in two major cruise ships,” Andrews says. The oceanfront hotel boasts two ballrooms of 35,000 sq. ft. and 13,000 sq. ft., along with a spectacular view. “It opens up to a piece of the bay that visitors to Port of Spain never had before,” Andrews says. The largest meeting space in Bermuda is at the Fairmont Southampton, where a ballroom and about a dozen meeting rooms can accommodate up to 1,500. One of Bermuda’s most interesting event settings is the Dock Yards, which was former- ly a British naval base. “There is a wonderful natural amphitheatre there for large meetings,” Shutte says. “We also have lots of forts, churches and outside venues where you can do more intimate meetings. You can do things on the beach and in other natural environments, whether it’s at a golf course or a botanical garden. We also have a wonderful art gallery that can be turned into a meeting or dinner environment.” If views and experiences like that sound like an ideal compliment to keynote speeches, workshops and strategic planning sessions, maybe it’s time to consider booking a meeting in the sunny, breezy and enchanting Caribbean. Black Meetings & Tourism September/October 20010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 53