Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/319926
ST. AUGUSTINE When it comes to select- ing an inspirational and memorable venue for a mid- size or small meeting, St. Augustine is the perfect choice. Legendary history and seaside elegance, com- bined with complete meet- ing services and outstand- ing facilities, put this desti- nation at the top of the list for meeting planners seek- ing success and "something different." St. Augustine holds a unique place in the history of African-Americans in North America as the location of the first legally sanctioned free African- Ameri-can town in the nation. And from the time Spanish explorers stepped onto the shore of Florida, Africans had a place among the adventurous crew and among the earliest settlers. The St. Augustine Amphi-theatre is St. Johns County's leading multi-pur- pose arts and recreation facility. This award-winning, state-of-the-art, 16-acre outdoor theatre includes 4,100 seats, 4 concession stands, a merchandise area, a large plaza, and an elabo- rate arboretum of walking trails all within 1 ½ miles from the City of St. Augustine. St. Augustine offers some of the finest lodging options in the state, from contempo- rary motels to historical bou- tiques. Renaissance World Golf Village Resort offers top level hospitality and within 15 minutes of the resort enjoy 108 holes of championship golf, including the Slammer and Squire, located just steps from your guestroom. Rich in the old and the new, St. Augustine blends historic sites, famous restaurants, shopping from ant--iques to boutiques and breathtaking nature. Exper-ience living history in museums, take in the beau- ty of unspoiled nature, walk St. George Street to feel like you're living in the past, then visit one of the boutique hotels for 21st- century luxury. The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach is truly the place in the community to create, understand and experience the arts. This is accomplished through exhi- bitions of local, regional and national artists in a variety of media; through exciting events for the community; and through quality arts classes, lectures and work- shops. MIAMI Nowhere else on earth will you find such a combina- tion of cosmopolitan confer- ence facilities and tropical splendor like those in Greater Miami and the Beaches. In short, this unique destination can only be described as "Tropicool," which means Miami meet- ings are the ultimate choice for your next meeting. Miami offers meeting planners an array of venue options including the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) boasting over 1,000,000 sq. ft. of flexible space, including over 500,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, over 100,000 sq. ft. of versatile pre-function area space and 70 meeting rooms, while the Miami Convention Center offers 34 meeting rooms, including a 444-seat auditorium and a 117-seat lecture hall. Fresh from a major re- design, the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC) is located adjacent to Miami International Air-port, adjoin- ing the Double-tree Hotel and the Miami International Merchandise Mart. Minutes from Down-town Miami, the MACC features 172,000 sq. ft. of high-tech meeting, con- ference and trade show space, including a 29,000-sq. ft. social catering ballroom (second largest in the region) and 100,000 sq. ft. of exhibi- tion and function space. With a great location, dyna- mic meeting space and pro- fessional, attentive service, the MACC has the flexibility to host everything from trade shows and social functions to conventions and confer- ences. Miami museums cover a broad range of interests. 23 B M & T ••• March/April 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com STATS HOTEL ROOMS SawgrassMarriottGolfResort&Spa 510 RenaissanceWorldGolfVillageResort 301 MarywoodRetreatandConferenceCenter 64 WHOYOUGONNACALL? St.Augustine,PonteVedra&TheBeachesVCB (800) 653-2489 www.floridashistoriccoast.com View of St. Augustine marina Photo Credit: Maria Kuroshchepova •pg_18-26.qxp__BMT_pg3-58 5/20/14 7:51 PM Page 23