Plan Your Meetings

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The Florida Keys: America’s tropical isles

By Kristi Casey Sanders

Want to meet in Key West?

The Pier House Resort and Caribbean Spa has been called the “flagship hotel of the Key West state of mind.” For more than 40 years, the resort has hosted local festivals and literary figures such as Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote. Amenities include a 2,600-sq. ft. conference center, luxury suites for small groups, on-site dining, and 26 one- and two-bedroom suites. Every sunset is a celebration in Mallory Square. Old Town is ground zero for entertainment, shopping and dining. Recommended restaurants include Nine One Five, Mangoes and Conch Republic Seafood. For evening entertainment, bring groups to Sloppy Joe’s Bar, Captain Tony’s Saloon, Hog’s Breath Saloon or the Schooner Wharf Bar. Group activities include championship golf at the Key West Golf Club, historic walking tours, day sails, sunset/dinner cruises and fishing trips, and art tours and workshops. Unusual off-site venues include art galleries, theaters, party or fishing boats, the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, Flagler Station Over-Sea Railway Historeum, Dry Tortugas National Park (home of Fort Jefferson), and the Key West Heritage House Museum & Robert Frost Cottage.

Want to meet in Key Largo?

Let attendees follow in the footsteps of Bogart and Bacall by partying at the Caribbean Club or visiting the boat used in the filming of African Queen. The Fish House and Fish House Encore are known for their seafood and service. Looking for group activities or unusual venues? The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park has glass-bottom boat tours, a living coral reef for snorkel or scuba divers to explore, and the nine-ft.-tall, 4,000-lb. Christ of the Deep underwater statue. The Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center in Tavernier gives educational tours. The Everglades Alligator Farm is a short drive away; groups can explore the wetlands by airboats, kayaks and canoes. The Island Dolphin Care Center has a meeting room and seven different aquatic environments.

Want to meet in Islamorada?

Pamper attendees at the Cheeca Lodge & Spa. The Theatre of the Sea offers dolphin, sea lion and manta ray swim programs; marine and parrot shows; and adventure and snorkel cruises. The History of Diving Museum’s galleries have exhibits about treasure hunters, diving pioneers and equipment through the ages. Islamorada calls itself the “sportfishing capital of the world,” and several outfitters can create custom group charters. Robbie’s of Islamorada is a waterfront attraction with tarpon feeding, fishing charters, party boats, tours and an on-site restaurant.

Want to meet in Marathon?

Marathon is home to three popular beaches: Sombrero Beach, Coco Plum Beach and Bahia Honda State Park. Accommodations are available in full-service resorts and botels (floating motel rooms with boat slips). Unusual venues include Crane Point, which has a museum, nature trails, a historic house and a bird center. Captain Hook’s Marina & Dive Center has an aquatic learning center as well as charter boats. The Turtle Hospital teaches attendees how injured sea turtles are rehabilitated and retrained to live in the wild. Group activities include sportfishing, sailing, watersports, tours, stargazing, diving and snorkeling. Transport your group to Hawks Cay Resort on Duck Key. In addition to 175 guest rooms, there are 240 villas located throughout the property’s 60 acres. Other amenities include 25,000 square feet of meeting space, which holds up to 1,000 people, with multiple outdoor events areas. During downtime, attendees can retreat to the Atlantic Ocean to swim with dolphins, fish or participate in water sports.

Want to meet in Big Pine & the Lower Keys?

Pamper attendees with a stay at Little Palm Island, a private resort and spa accessible only by boat. The ecology is completely different here than on the upper and middle keys; eco-tours take groups to uninhabited mangrove islands, grassy flats and to see the unusual marine and wildlife in the backcountry. The Parrotdise Waterfront Bar & Grill on Little Torch Key is the only public waterfront restaurant between Key West and Marathon; amenities include live music, beach volleyball, beachside catering, tropical fish and shark ponds, boat slips, seafood, steaks and locally made wines. The Dolphin Research Center at Grassy Key has dolphin demonstrations and swims as well as half- and full-day educational programs.

Destinations (MAP)

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What you should know

The Keys are ideal for small groups, but many full-service resorts and hotels have meeting space for groups of 200 or more. Key Largo is only an hour’s drive from the Miami International Airport and less than two hours from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Everything in the Keys has a mile marker (mm) address with a note whether it is bayside or oceanside of U.S. Route 1. Numbers count down miles from Florida City (mm 129) to Key West (mm 0).

What will surprise you

Increased regional air service to Key West International Airport and the Florida Keys Marathon Airport means travelers no longer have to take puddle-jumpers to get here.

The 411:
  • 750 maximum group size in Key Largo
  • 600 maximum group size in Duck Key (Marathon)
  • 400 maximum group size in Key West
  • 200 maximum group size in Islamorada
  • 60 maximum group size in Little Palm Island (Lower Keys)
  • Average group size: 25-75
  • Best values in summer