Kiawah Island: Upscale island events
Want to pamper attendees?
The Sanctuary’s 3,100-sq. ft. Presidential Suite has five-fixture showers, a grand oceanview balcony and a fireplace. Multi-million dollar beachfront homes are in the island’s accommodations mix, too. The Ocean Room is the Sanctuary’s high-end restaurant (private rooms are available). Prix fixe dinner menus come with a wine pairing option here and in the more casual-dress Jasmine Porch restaurant; chefs strive to include at least one locally grown or sourced item per course. The Ocean Course is a walking-only golf course before noon; using its knowledgeable caddies is de rigueur. The award-winning spa has separate men and women’s areas with mineral baths, saunas and steam rooms, and a communal solarium for attendees who want to veg out after being scrubbed and rubbed to perfection.
Want to meet outside?
Mingo Point is the go-to venue for marshside oyster roasts, barbecue dinners and other catered functions for up to 800 people. At the Sanctuary, the Grand Oaks Ballroom’s French doors open onto garden space that is used for banquets. Its Terrace Ballroom opens onto a seaside courtyard and event lawn. The Grand Lawn overlooks the resort’s private beach, and can be booked for receptions, banquets and music concerts. Small groups also have the option of holding evening receptions by the Sanctuary’s infinity pool, which seems to feed directly into the Atlantic Ocean. At the East Beach Conference Center, every meeting room opens onto a covered veranda, a popular venue for catered events.
Want to create a country club atmosphere?
The Ocean Course Clubhouse has a veranda with two fireplaces for outdoor dining and a vast event lawn abutting the 18th hole and the beach; indoor meeting rooms, a fine dining restaurant and a popular local bar also are available on-site for groups of less than 150 people. The Osprey Point Clubhouse has banquet and meeting space for groups of up to 70 people, a boardroom and a covered veranda. Groups of up to 380 people can meet in the ballroom at the Turtle Point Clubhouse, which is walking distance from many villa and home accommodations.
Want group activities?
Golf is the big one here; readers of Travel & Leisure Golf ranked Kiawah Island Golf Resort the No. 1 golf resort in the United States. The island has five world-class golf courses, designed by Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Gary Player and Clyde Johnston. In-house conference planners and golf staff at the Sanctuary can help planners sort out tee times, tournament formats, pairings, scoring and catering arrangements. Kiawah also is ranked the No. 1 Tennis Resort in the World by tennisresortsonline.com. Nature programs range from marsh creek kayak expeditions and eco-tours to birding walks and bike tours.
Want to put attendees in touch with nature?
Watersports and fishing excursions are a natural fit. The Heron Park Nature Center offers tours year-round. Resorts can create customized team-building programs as well as beachside activities such as nighttime volleyball tournaments and corporate Olympics. Other popular activities include cycling and half-day spa retreats.
Want shops to recommend?
Individual resort shops sell branded gift items, luxury bed linens, clothing and sporting equipment for men, women and children, and locally made artwork. The Wells Gallery has an ever-changing collection of fine art celebrating Kiawah Island and the surrounding region’s natural attractions. Freshfields Village, which is outside the resort entrance, is a quirky shopping village with book, clothing, import and furniture boutiques. And, of course, Charleston is only 30 minutes away.
