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FLORIDA'S EMERALD COAST Florida's Emerald Coast – famous for 24 miles of dazzling, sugar-white sands and brilliant emerald-green waters – is recognized as one of the South's most attrac- tive meeting places for all types of gatherings. From regional events to conferences of Fortune 500 compa- nies, the Emerald Coast – voted the "Best Beach Town in the South" for 14 years in a row by the readers of Southern Living – has something for everyone, from golfing on 1,080 holes of vibrant greens and fishing the clear blue waters of the "World's Luckiest Fishing Village" to browsing at Destin Commons – a premier out- door lifestyle cen- ter – and dining in more than 300 easy-going eater- ies that are simple in atmosphere, yet spiced with character, serve to-die-for dishes and offer south- ern hospitality. Located on Okaloosa Island, the Emerald Coast Conference Center has made Destin • Fort Walton Beach • Okaloosa Island a meeting mecca with 70,000 total sq. ft. of meeting space. The Conference Center features 35,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space within a short "flip-flop" stroll of the Gulf of Mexico and directly overlooks Choctawhatchee Bay. A complement to the current lodging facilities with meeting space throughout South Okaloosa County, the Conference Center showcases 12 breakout meeting rooms ranging in size from 450 to 1,800 sq. ft. including the 21,500-sq. ft. Emerald Grand Ballroom. Architectural design allows for theater, banquet, class- room and reception hall style seating. For ease of booking, the Emerald Coast website – www.destin-fwb.com – offers planners information "at- their-fingertips" on the conference center including fast facts, floor plans, pricing and capacity charts, center guidelines, event calendars and an online request for proposal. For meetings with free time, Destin • Fort Walton Beach • Okaloosa Island present simple pleasures such as the "World's Luckiest Fishing Village," spirited sea- side celebrations, 1,080 holes of challenging golf and undeniably fresh seafood – all embraced with an assum- ing charm. The "World's Luckiest Fishing Village" offers a fish- filled experience complete with deep-sea and inshore fishing excursions, lessons from "old salts" who know the Gulf waters like the back of their hands. Bonding during team- building charters on the open ocean encourages the creation of long- lasting tales. Acclaimed for its sporting collec- tion of great golf escapes, the area touts the most holes of golf on Florida's Gulf Coast with an incredible 1,080 holes. The courses, created by such w o r l d - r e n o w n e d architects as Finger, Dye and Fazio, utilize sur- rounding waters – bay, bayou, gulf and sound – and natural contrasts of woods and wetlands for scenic, yet challenging opposi- tions. Surprisingly, Destin • Fort Walton Beach • Okaloosa Island accommodations provide priceless meeting loca- tions without the price. More than 15,900 Gulf-edged rooms are available including popular hotels, spacious condominiums, a bed and breakfast inn, beach cottages and five-bedroom bungalows. The Okaloosa Regional Airport offers continuous service by five major airlines. Ground travel is easy along primary feeders: Highway 98, Highways 331 and 85 and Interstate 10. To book a meeting, visit www.destin-fwb.com or call the Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. at (800) 322-3319 or (850) 651-7131. Black Meetings & Tourism February/March 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 42 Florida Special Advertising Section Okaloosa Island Conference Room Photo Credit: Emerald Coast CVB