FEATURE
Work and Play, Your Way Inn on Fifth Caters to Today’s Discerning Travelers BY MEAGHAN BRANHAM
F
lorida’s reputation as one of the world’s top tourist destinations hasn’t changed over the past two years during travel restrictions brought on by COVID-19. What has changed, however, is what visitors expect from the places they go for work and for play.
On South Florida’s west coast, Inn on Fifth in Naples has become a hotspot for people looking for a getaway or destination meeting place, including travelers from Greater Orlando. Recently renovated, and with indoor and outdoor meeting space, the boutique hotel is perfectly positioned to take advantage of today’s new expectations. “Whether guests are here vacationing or for a conference, they are looking for the more laid-back, relaxed atmosphere of our hotel and our destination,” says Cathy Christopher, the resort’s director of sales and marketing. With the posh 5th Avenue shopping and dining district just outside the front door and the white sands of the Gulf of Mexico only blocks away, Inn on Fifth has long been a favorite for those looking to unwind or host an event in one of Florida’s most beautiful cities. Today the hotel checks off all the boxes of what 2022 travelers are looking for. Christopher says. “It’s been a stressful couple of years for everyone, and a trip here is an opportunity to slow down, take an extra nap every day, enjoy the outdoors in a safe and friendly environment, and enjoy the amenities of a world-class destination.” Those amenities include a spa, a fitness center, a rooftop pool and two popular on-site restaurants known for their extensive wine lists: Ocean Prime and Truluck’s. Throughout the 119 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, including 32 suites on the club level, the resort has continued to focus on pleasing aesthetics and impeccable cleanliness — something all travelers are demanding from the hospitality industry now more than
32 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | i4Biz.com
ever because of the pandemic. Visitors are also taking advantage of the inn’s conventional and not-so-conventional meeting spaces. “Recent events have taught us that more than ever before, our group attendees want to get outside for their meals,” Christopher says. “They leave the meeting room and relocate to the pool and courtyard area to order lunch a la carte from our pool menu. Often, they love it outside so much that they continue their meeting poolside.” That outside space extends to the popular shopping and dining spots on 5th Avenue, where smaller crowds allow for safer outings. And visitors in Naples, as in most of Florida, have the advantage of a climate that allows those outside gatherings all year long — making the destination all the more viable for a safe meeting or vacation. This year, the Inn on Fifth sees visitors continuing the trends they started in 2021, booking space for business and leisure trips — or a combination of both. And those guests are not willing to compromise on either safety or comfort. Inn on Fifth is ready to accommodate them without compromise. Whether they’re in the hotel’s 1,875-square-foot ballroom, its executive boardroom, its sprawling rooftop courtyard, or on a terrace overlooking 5th Avenue, guests at Inn on Fifth can enjoy their getaway — and they can always take their productivity poolside, just the way they like it.
