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Muscle Car City makes a unique event venue |
Ellen On-Site: Charlotte Harbor From a Planner's Perspective
Editor Ellen Thomas, CMP, travels to different Florida meeting destinations and presents meeting options from a planner's perspective.
Becky Bovell, Director of the Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands Visitor & Convention Bureau, likes to refer to Charlotte Harbor as "Florida's newest meeting destination." On a recent visit, I discovered just why meeting professionals should take note.
Located on Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast between Sarasota and Fort Myers, the heart of Charlotte Harbor meetings is Punta Gorda, a historic fisherman's village that has gone through a recent renaissance. The arrival of a waterfront conference center, new group hotels and interesting area attractions combined with a walkable downtown district filled with dining options, quaint shops, entertainment venues and a thriving arts scene sets the stage for small to mid-size groups.
Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center The new event center opened in January 2009 and boasts 43,000 square feet of flexible meeting and exhibit space. Hibiscus Hall is the largest space at 20,000 square feet, with a built-in stage and ceilings up to 46 feet high. A unique wall of windows overlooks the terrace, Great Lawn event area and the harbor on one side. Groups of up to 1,517 (theater-style) or 112 exhibit booths can be accommodated in Hibiscus Hall. Two additional 1,785 square-foot meeting rooms, a large pre-function area with soaring ceilings, green rooms and a business center are found here.
New Group Accommodations: By the end of 2009 more than 500 rooms will be available within walking distance of the convention center. Attendees can walk to the Four Points by Sheraton Punta Gorda Harborside from the event center and experience the first prototype in the Four Points chain's new style. A stylish, coastal-chic feel in the lobby and throughout the selection of 106 guest rooms and suites is complimented by Gulf and harbor views and nautical touches. Meeting space totals 667 square feet, and meals and events can be held on the terrace or poolside.
Another distinctive addition to the downtown area is the boutique The Wyvern Sophisticated design and original artwork by Lynette Shaw adorns the lobby and a poolside rooftop event venue overlooks the Gulf of Mexico. The Wyvern's 63 guest rooms and harbor suite are replete 
The new Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center |
with upscale decor and amenities and Gulf or city views. An elegant meeting room that reflects the hotel ambience holds groups up to 50 and on-site Lulu Restaurant features a Latin fusion menu and is open to group events.
The Best Western Waterfront offers more than 4,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and 188 guest rooms, including four suites. Water views from an outdoor tiki bar and poolside event possibilities are available to groups.
Event Venues and attractions: The location of any of the hotels mentioned above provides groups with multiple options for dine-arounds and event venues within the downtown Punta Gorda area. The best part is, they all are within walking distance. Recently, a new attraction roared into town - Muscle Car City. This 99,000 square-foot venue serves as a museum to more than 200 mint-condition hot rods and muscle cars spanning 80 years, one of the largest displays of GM muscle cars in the nation. Even more interesting is all of these automobiles are the collection of one owner, Rick Treworgy. Within Muscle Car City is one of the largest automotive memorabilia stores and a retro style diner. The venue is open to group events.
Sports-minded groups will love the Charlotte Sports Park professional baseball facility. Groups can enjoy a Tampa Bay Rays spring training game or hold their own game or event in the 7,000-square foot stadium.
Beach-minded groups will appreciate Palm Island Resort, surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico about 30 minutes from downtown Punta Gorda. A true island resort, ideal for incentives, Palm Island privacy is assured as access to the resort is only by water. Groups of up to 150 can be accommodated among indoor meeting space, outdoor settings or on the white-sand beach. A total of 160 upscale one-, two- and three-bedroom villas feature gulf, bay or marina views and fully-equipped kitchens.
Charlotte Harbor is accessible via Charlotte County Airport and four other southwest Florida airports, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Fort Myers and Naples.
For more information contact Sean Doherty at the Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands Visitor & Convention Bureau VCB.
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