New Opal Sol Resort Shimmers for Luxury & Wellness Meetings

Eager to connect with each other over the planning of high-end events, 115 industry professionals gathered at the end of July for Northstar Meetings Group's Luxury & Wellness Meetings — Summer at the brand-new 248-room Opal Sol and its sister property, the 230-room Opal Sands, in Clearwater Beach, Fla., supported by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater.

"Chef-inspired menus, and clients and planners hugging it out: Is it really 'work'? It sure is," said Alison Best, CDME, business development director for Northstar. "Bringing meeting professionals together with destinations and resorts for program-sourcing and education is critical to most corporations and associations."

Wellness and welcomes

Teaching a balanced equation — stress + rest = growth — speaker Kara Hardin, CEO of the Practice Lab, spoke to the common sense of self-care in this world where we feel we must be "on" at all times. One piece of advice: Involve your body and do the things you love to do. "You may or may not be pleased to hear that the research around movement is that you should do something two to three times a week," she counseled. "Do 20 to 30 minutes of moderate Zumba. Maybe rearrange your office. It's a light walk with your dog."

The next day's speaker, Mary Delia Allen of the Welcoming Edge, spoke to the necessary practice of making sure the staff at a high-end event — or any meeting, really — is coached to offer a warm welcome and a friendly farewell to all who enter the event's space. Do this, and you will have a happier client, a more loyal client, and a client who feels seen and appreciated, she said.

Hosted-buyer appointments went swimmingly

Energized participants engaged in productive appointments, then were able to gather in a more relaxed way poolside, where prosecco and specialty drinks were served in the cabanas. They also were able to enjoy the massage chairs, compression boots and other items in the wellness lounge. Yoga sessions were held both mornings, and generous gifting for the attendees came from Seiko, FitKit Wellness and SodaStream.

Once again, we would like to thank our wonderful partners for their support for Luxury & Wellness Meetings — Summer: Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, the Opal Sol, the Opal Sands, the Opal Collection, Visit Sarasota County, Big Cedar Lodge, SodaStream, Seiko, FitKit Wellness, Citizen Watch America, Clearwater for Youth, PC/Nametag and Madison Avenue.

Northstar's next Luxury & Wellness Meetings hosted-buyer event will take place March 1-3, 2026, at the 108-room Appellation Healdsburg in California's wine country. Check out our calendar for more Northstar events taking place in the next 12 months. All photographs below were taken by Matt Klinger.