Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/3108
Black Meetings & Tourism April/May 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 109 doors venues for those spe- cial events. To learn more about the Georgia Peaches (I meant Beaches, I couldn't resist) log on to www.exploregeorgia.org. Now its time to crank up the volume and head to the high energy atmosphere of Miami Beach, and more specifically the 23 block area at the southern tip of the island known as South Beach. This place is arguably America's hottest island attraction with hundreds of nightclubs, restaurants, boutiques and hotels. South Beach features many of the world's top resorts and most distinguishable brand names, each with their own appeal. There's the Miami Beach Resort with over 40,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, and 18 meeting rooms. The Fontainebleau Miami Beach caters to large groups with over 107,000 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space, which includes three ballrooms totaling 66,000 sq. ft. and a 21,000-sq. ft. ocean lawn. This property has over 1,500 guestrooms and suites. Miami Beach also has its own 500,000-sq. ft. Convention Center with all the state-of-the-art amenities. There are more resort properties then I can mention here so log on to www.miamiandbeaches.com and click on the link for meeting planners. Even farther south is the Florida Keys. From Key Largo to Key West this string of islands separating the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico is dotted with quaint shops, restaurants and resort properties that offers an idyllic getaway. Properties in the Keys are capable of handling those smaller intimate gatherings. For example the Key Largo Marriott has over 15,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and is one of the larger resorts in terms of meeting space. And as you might expect, water activities dominate the recreational scene. To learn more about the meeting opportunities log on to www.fla-keys.com. Over in the western end of the Gulf of Mexico is Galveston Island, TX. Located 50 miles south of Houston, the island has over 4,000 sleeping rooms and 130,000 combined sq, ft, of meeting space at the various hotels. The Galveston Island Convention Center at San Luis Resort is a 43,000-sq. ft. facility that functions as the island's official convention center. Hotel conference centers include; the Holiday Inn, Hotel Galvez – a Wyndham Historic Hotel, Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa & Convention Center, The San Luis Resort Spa and Convention Center and the Tremont House – another Wyndham Historic Hotel. Don't let stories of last year's visit by Hurricane Ike turn you Galveston Island Convention Center Entrance point for many visiting Key West