St. Augustine

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What was once the indoor swimming pool of the Alcazar Hotel (1888-1931), now the Lightner Museum, is an ideal venue for elegant events and banquets in St. Augustine.

AMERICA’S OLDEST CITY BOASTS NEW MEETING SPACES

By Debi Lander

t. Augustine, founded in 1565, earns the title of old-

Sest European-founded settlement in America or simply, the “Nation’s Oldest City.” But meeting planners will be happy to know that St. Augustine offers new conference and lodging facilities with modern upscale options.

While the city’s Old World charm predominates, it retains an enduring attraction for visitors. A mix of Spanish architecture, gilt-age opulence, plus a golfer’s paradise and a beach make Northeast Florida a prime location to host an event. And let’s not forget the year-round temperate climate.

The Embassy Suites by Hilton, an AAA Four Diamond resort, is like no other in the brand. Opened in 2019, the Embassy Suites St. Augustine combines all of the typical brand perks with the amenities you’d expect at a luxury beach accommodation. And it’s only four miles from the historic Old Town. The sprawling property will wow your attendees with a private beach, waterfront activities, as well as state-of-the-art meeting rooms, outdoor event spaces and excellent food and beverage. The putting green doubles as the complimentary morning yoga classroom.

The property’s laid-back ambiance extends into 25,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, including surfside event lawns, covered terraces and 11 meeting rooms. The largest ballroom, 7,194 sq. ft., allows banquet seating for 300 and views of the Atlantic. The lobby feels like it’s open-air yet is comfortably climate-controlled. The hotel offers 175 guestrooms (up from the original 120), along with two of the best amenities

anywhere. All guests receive a made-to-order full breakfast and daily evening complimentary happy hour, typically from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Meeting planner Elizabeth McKenna, CMP, CED, took a group of 75 from Revlon to the Embassy Suites St. Augustine. “Our attendees are still talking about how this resort made them feel and offered a one-of-a-kind experience,” she relates. “The oceanfront resort is the hidden jewel of Florida, offering luxury rooms, outstanding food, breathtaking beach views, and a staff willing to meet your every need. We are already looking at planning our next event there as they made everything so effortless.”

In the center of the historic Old Town, you’ll find the chic Casa Monica Resort & Spa. This five-star restored 1888 hotel offers 138 unique guestrooms and fine dining in its popular restaurant. The Flagler Conference Center, over 3,200 sq. ft., offers quiet space for meetings (no windows), and the Casa Monica Ballroom, divisible by three, measures 3,560 sq. ft. Sultan’s Pavillion, a delightful 1,200 sq. ft. outdoor space, overlooks the 4,000-sq.-ft. pool deck.

Opposite the Casa Monica, you’ll find the Lightner Museum, a true St. Augustine historic architectural gem. This property, a former Henry Flagler Hotel, entices visitors with extraordinary glassware collections, light fixtures, sculpture and architectural relics from the Gilded Age. The entry lobby makes an ideal space for a cocktail gathering. However, the definitive event space, capacity of 250, is what used to be the famed swimming pool. Exterior terraces on the above floor and overlooking galleries top the locale.

The Treasury, a former bank just across the Plaza from the Casa Monica, presents a ballroom space with a formal atmosphere. Marble columns and floors set the tone while lighting pros change the theme to fit your needs. Perfect for an awards dinner, the venue seats up to 225.

If you’d like to offer your attendees something more informal, consider an excursion aboard the Sabrage, a 63-ft. custom Cooper catamaran. The boat features a premium sound system, a well-appointed bar, spacious decks, comfortable seating and a professional crew. Take a relaxing daytime or sunset cruise and enjoy the notable city landmarks from the water. Cross under the Bridge of Lions and view the fort (Castillo de San Marcos), a National Park site, from the vantage point of those colonials who tried to overtake the town. Or let your group get rowdy on the Black Raven Pirate ship. Sailing becomes a fun way to encourage bonding.

For a casual but authentic and memorable night, reserve the Colonial Quarter. It’s a short walk down the pedestrian-only St. George Street. Costumed storytellers with meaningful connections to St. Augustine’s past will

entertain your guests with juicy tales, or put on a show while they enjoy drinks and dinner. The outdoor setting under the sprawling limbs of the great Colonial Oak creates a remarkable Casa Monica Resort & Spa CREDIT: ASAAD IMAGES evening. The Pirate and Treasure Museum, adjoining the property, maintains a collection of Smithsonianquality pirate artifacts and interactive displays. The award-winning St. Augustine Distillery is located in the city’s former ice plant and is ideal for small functions of up to 40 people. Larger groups can tour the distillery and enjoy tasting the craft gin, vodka and bourbon. Don’t overlook the most famous building in the city, the former Ponce de Leon Hotel, now Flagler College. Millionaire Henry Flagler brought tourism to Florida, beginning with his railroad and the 1888 Ponce de Leon Hotel. A tour of the golden-age hotel offers a glimpse into the grandeur of the past. See a 100-ft.-high domed lobby, the world’s most extensive private collection of Tiffany stained glass windows, and electricity installed by Edison. Consider the 8,900-sq.-ft. Grand Ballroom as a reception space for up to 400 guests. The ornate venue showcases elaborately painted ceiling murals and one-of-a-kind gilded details. The Solarium offers rooftop terraces with likely the best views in town. Another unusual but highly sought-after venue is the Saint Augustine Amphitheatre. The multipurpose arts and recreation center seats 4,700 on a 16-acre property. The meeting spaces often used by entertainers for professional shows include smaller indoor conference rooms and an outdoor pavilion and deck areas. Construction is underway for the Hyatt Place Vilano Beach, on the opposite side of the Intracoastal Waterway. The hotel, scheduled to open in August 2022, will combine Florida-style and Art Deco décor. It will include 120 guestrooms, a finedining restaurant and a rooftop bar. Banquet rooms total 7,200 sq. ft. with 3,000 sq. ft. prefunction space. The Reef Restaurant, on the Atlantic’s Vilano Beach, resting Black Raven Pirate Ship

GOLF HEAVEN IN PONTE VEDRA

If your group is interested in golf, the Ponte Vedra area, located about 25 minutes from St. Augustine, will surpass expectations and bring rave reviews. The most thrilling destination for golfers is The Players Club (TPC) and Clubhouse, home to THE PLAYERS Championship, often referred to as “golf’s fifth major.” When attendees approach the massive 77,000-sq.-ft. Clubhouse, they’ll think they arrived at a vineyard chateau. The site offers full banquet facilities and catering at the highest culinary standards. Reserve the volunteer storytellers for a group tour and escorted golf cart rides to the TPC final three holes. They will see the famous 17th island hole, considered the world’s “most photographed hole in golf.”

The preferred location to house serious golfers is the

Outdoor dining at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa

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Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa. The 65-acre grounds border the TPC course, and a cart path leads directly to the TPC Clubhouse. This upscale resort offers a total of 514 guestrooms between the main building and 80 one and two-bedroom villas (with kitchens) around the palmshrouded grounds. The Sawgrass Marriott Resort houses the 16,000-sq.-ft. Champions Ballroom and a Tournament Hall with 12,500 sq. ft. of exhibition space. A total of 60,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor space awaits your group.

The Sawgrass shuttle takes guests on a five-minute ride to the Cabana Beach Club for private beach access. Meals in the new beachside restaurant are sure to please surf and sand lovers. The Sawgrass Spa is a 25,000-sq.-ft. sanctuary with 19 treatment rooms.

Additionally, the grande dame Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, dating back to 1928, offers two championship courses teeming with coastal wildlife and beachside dining and pools. The facility includes 25,000 sq. ft. of flexible function space. Gorgeous guestrooms, some just steps from the ocean, number 262. The club’s renowned spa is the largest in the area, with more than 100 pampering and beauty services. Sister property Ponte Vedra Lodge is a 66-room hotel. Party space on the second floor offers dramatic shoreline views.

TPC 17th hole

The World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine, situated within the World Golf Hall of Fame complex between Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra, makes an informative outing for golf enthusiasts and non-golfers. The attraction’s goal is to preserve the sport’s history and legends. Groups can tour the facility in as little as an hour but it may take two to three. Most favor the locker room area, where inductees have chosen their mementos to represent their individual story. The multi-leveled attraction also contains banquet space, small meeting rooms and an outdoor natural grass 18-hole putting green — perfect for teambuilding or friendly competition.

World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine features two 18-hole courses and can offer group tee times and customized golf tournaments. Planners will find the resort’s combination of hotel and conference center the largest between Orlando and Atlanta. The largest meeting room is 26,450 sq. ft., and the hotel includes 300 guestrooms. La Terrazza, an outdoor function space, can accommodate 2,000 people.

Whether booking an event in St. Augustine or Ponte Vedra, meeting planners would do well to budget an afternoon of sightseeing or a meal in the Old Town, leaving time for groups to stroll along cobbled, car-free streets or ride a private trolley. Consider arranging a tour of Castillo de San Marcos. Construction using coquina (shell-stone) rock began in 1672, and the structure is considered the oldest masonry fort in North America. Another fun option is a visit to the St. Augustine Lighthouse, presenting amazing views for those who would like the exercise of climbing 219 steps.

History, beach, golf, water sports, and a dynamic downtown make Florida’s Historic Coast a sunny and stunning choice for meeting planners. One phone call to the St. Augustine & Ponte Vedra VCB will get you all the planning assistance you need.