Getting the Most Out of a Destination

Event planners seeking natural, friendly destinations with year-round sunshine, meeting- and incentive-ready infrastructure and plenty for attendees to see and do will find all that these qualities definitely add up to successful meetings. As organizations lean into incorporating memorable activities around wellness, giving back or having hands-on fun, destinations with islands, beaches and neighborhoods can deliver with serene beaches, historic landmarks and outdoor adventures surrounded by breathtaking nature.

Make time for break time

Successful events that carve out time for wellness and serenity are bound to be appreciated long after delegates return home. One destination that has optimized several partners to weave wellness initiatives into their venue’s offerings – from historic buildings to wildlife refuges – is Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods.

Nancy MacPhee, manager of tourism product development for the destination, suggests an outing like this to combine history, nature and wellness in a unique mix: “The Edison and Ford Winter Estates, a riverfront historic home located right downtown on the river is the former winter home of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, and [attendees are] doing outdoor waterfront yoga.”

In addition, MacPhee offers these ideas: “We’re very lucky to have the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge where people can see a variety of wildlife, especially birds. It’s a very quiet place, so they offer meditation walks, and accommodate groups upon request.” The Refuge has more than 6,470 acres of hiking, walking and driving trails, plus observation towers, fishing docks and boardwalks, making it an ideal option for attendees to spend an afternoon.

Any peaceful setting is fertile ground for a retreat-like atmosphere. In the greater Fort Myers area, “the Wonder Gardens have started doing wellness experiences like guided mindfulness walks on their property, and they also do tours for groups. It’s really beautiful, with lots of wildlife to look at,” notes MacPhee, adding that some local resorts are extending their spa offerings and yoga outside.

Healing and then some

An area sporting wildlife won't necessarily hold a group's interest on its own. See what enhancements can be added. MacPhee says, “Some wildlife reserves offer evening experiences during the full moon, where groups can walk on a boardwalk over water without using flashlights, while a guide narrates about the skies. We’re unique, because we have three lighthouses in the greater Fort Myers area, and you can climb one of them on Boca Grande – the Gasparilla Island Lighthouse.”

Activities that emphasize expressing creativity can take many forms – from pottery to sketching to journaling – and are becoming more and more popular. They're also therapeutic. Attendees can channel their inner artist at places like Azaleas on the Corner in Fort Myers, where an evening of painting paired with wine will spark great conversation within your group. “You can do a sip-and-paint or sip-and-stem floral workshop to create a centerpiece for your table while enjoying different wines,” says MacPhee.

Make every moment count

With many attendees working from home or on hybrid schedules, planners eager to bring people together for unforgettable experiences are always looking to organize fun hands-on activities ... like learning how to sail. For example, in the greater Fort Myers area, the Offshore Sailing School has a fleet of 26-foot-long boats that can be booked for groups. “You can take a group of 25 or 30 out on these boats – with four or five people in each boat – and it’s a wonderful team-building experience, because you’ve got to work together to get the sailboat going in the right direction,” says MacPhee. “And then at the end, you race against the other people in your group; it’s really fun.”

For the sweet tooth attendees in your group, arrange something along the lines of a chocolate-making workshop. In the case of Fort Myers, that's the Norman Love Chocolate Salon. “He is one of our premier chocolatiers, and he offers cooking classes. Some are timed around holidays like Easter and Valentine’s Day, but a group could certainly go in for a tour of his chocolate factory and then request a cooking class,” says MacPhee. 

Seek the unique

The eternal question for planners: what's unique about a particular destination? What are the one-of-a-kind outings you can arrange? In the case of Fort Myers and surrounding neighborhoods, its downtown has more historic structures than most communities in southwest Florida, including house theaters. According to MacPhee: "These offer a different perspective for groups; you can do a behind-the-scenes tour and watch the actors, practice for the evening performances coming up or you can go to a full-blown theatre performance.”

Most destinations have their particular twists on F&B, reflected in their local cuisine. For example, several restaurants in the greater Fort Myers area offer catch-and-cook experiences that groups love. “If you’re fishing on your own or with a captain, and you want to bring your fish into a restaurant, they’ll cook it for you, and they’ll work with you to cook it however you want,” MacPhee says. 

And talk about unique? "We even have a brewery, Fort Myers Brewing Company, that’s doing yoga – they call it ‘brewga’ – at the brewery, and they also have barre classes along with tours for groups,” MacPhee says. 

These ideas can be applied to any destination, as any city or town has something unique to discover. And when the destination has access to nature, it increases a planner's ability to add mindful elements to the overall experience.

Getting the Most Out of the Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods of Fort Myers

This beachfront paradise is brimming with unique, immersive experiences.

One destination where a planner's wish-list all comes together – with nature, sustainability, community service, unique experiences and plenty of interesting activities – is the islands, beaches and neighborhoods of Fort Myers. In addition to its more than 90 golf courses, lively culinary scene and 30,000 acres of nature sanctuaries, the islands, beaches and neighborhoods of Fort Myers provide many opportunities to weave give-back programs into any business event. "We’re working on establishing a variety of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) experiences with a couple of groups,” says MacPhee. 

For example: “Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation has a program called Coastal Watch, where groups can sign up to participate in tree planting to re-establish mangroves – which protect us from hurricanes. Some of them were very damaged over the last few years, so we’re replanting mangroves.” 

In addition, an initiative in partnership with Keep Lee County Beautiful is beach cleanups. “It’s a really great experience for a group that comes in for a meeting, since everybody wants to go to the beach,” she adds. 

Attendees can observe and learn about shorebird and turtle nest monitoring. “Every day during shorebird season or turtle nest season, trained volunteers go out on the beach and identify whether there was a nest laid so they can protect the nest, and then account for it 60 days later when it hatches,” says MacPhee.

Groups can also participate in oyster bed restorations by collecting oyster shells from restaurants and bringing them to the beach to re-establish oyster beds. “This is a very important part of water quality – oysters do a great job of cleaning water, and you can do that with Coastal Watch,” she notes.

An added incentive

Whether you’re planning a pre- or post-event visit, a VIP incentive or a large conference, Fort Myers and surrounding areas can accommodate it thanks to 275,000 total square feet of meeting space and more than 12,000 hotel rooms. Planners can save up to $7,000 with Fort Myers’ Island Incentive Offer by booking a new meeting, with 150+ room nights that takes place May to December, through December 31, 2028. 

Enhancing the experience

With continued investment in Fort Myers’ downtown core, the area has become a top destination for tourists and groups, with three hotels totaling more than 400 guest rooms. Here’s what planners should have on their radar to enhance the experience there:
• The former Hotel Indigo was transformed into The Banyan Hotel Fort Myers, Tapestry Collection by Hilton in early 2024, with 67 rooms, a new restaurant, pool, fitness room and rooftop bar with views of downtown and the Caloosahatchee River.  
• The Hampton Inn Fort Myers Downtown adds 118 rooms to the region’s count.
• Featuring 37,000 sq.ft. of meeting space, the 243-room Luminary Hotel also manages the adjacent Fort Myers’ Caloosa Sound Convention Center & Amphitheater, which can host up to 3,000 attendees and offers 42,000 square feet of exhibit space spread over eight meeting rooms.
• New eateries include Voodoo Brewing Co., which serves up craft beer and pub food, and Bruno’s of Brooklyn, a high-end Italian restaurant. 
• Southwest Florida International Airport, located 17 miles from downtown Fort Myers, has nonstop flights to major hubs and to smaller cities in the United States and internationally.

For more information on holding your meeting or event in the greater Fort Myers area, contact:
Jill Vance, Director of Sales, [email protected]