AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. (July 29, 2010) – The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) recently announced the creation of a new digital planner guide and dedicated planner web site to assist group and meeting planners bringing their events to Amelia Island. In addition to the two new resources, several of the destination’s finest hotels, resorts and inns are offering new money-saving incentives to attract more corporate meetings and group events to the island.
The new “Meet on Amelia Island: The Official Meeting Planners Guide” is an online guide that provides easy access to an array of valuable tools and information to assist meeting planners, including island venues, references and ideas for group activities. The guide can be accessed at www.MeetOnAmelia.com, a new web site dedicated specifically for meeting planners considering a trip to Amelia Island. Additionally, the CVB staff offers planners free, professional assistance with the RFP process, site selection and securing entertainment.
“We are really ramping up our assistance to meeting planners in this very competitive market,” said Gil Langley, President and CEO of the Amelia Island CVB. “In addition to our award-winning venues, incredible dining and activities, and quick access to the Jacksonville International Airport, now planners can count on these great new tools and offers to make their jobs a lot easier, from start to finish.”
With a combined 100,000 square feet of meeting and conference facilities, the tiny island is big on options and regularly accommodates groups of every size in a unique mix of luxurious ballrooms, quaint meeting rooms at historic inns, and traditional, no-nonsense conference space.
Several of Amelia Island’s accommodators are currently offering meeting planners and groups special incentives, including discounted room rates, complimentary and discounted meeting space and more. Meeting packages on Amelia Island include the following:
Amelia
Hotel
at the Beach
For small board retreats or an event for 60 guests, the Amelia Hotel at the Beach has created a tiered incentive program for groups booking at least five guest rooms for a meeting or event. Groups booking five or more guest rooms are eligible for a discount on meeting room rates; groups booking 15 or more guest rooms will receive complimentary use of meeting space; and large functions requiring 20 or more rooms receive both a complimentary meeting facility and a complimentary room for the group coordinator. The staff is dedicated to providing affordable, friendly service for all corporate events, and assisting guests with catering, business services and island outings for families and executives. For more details, visit www.ameliahotel.com.
Amelia
Island Plantation
The Four-Diamond Amelia Island Plantation is offering a variety of incentives for small gatherings, large business meetings, and group sizes in between. Amelia Island Plantation is offering their “Natural Choice” incentives, which include discounts on a variety of amenities. Discounts include 30 percent off airport transportation, 25 percent off group team building recreation, 15 percent off published banquet menu pricing; and 25 percent off audio visual. Additional incentives include a 30 percent discount on golf greens fees and cart Fees, 30 percent Allowable Attrition, Complimentary Daily Resort Fee and complimentary one-hour welcome reception, including beer, wine & chef’s choice of hors d’oeuvres. For information on this plan and additional packages, call (888) 261-6165, email groupsales@aipfl.com and visit www.aipfl.com.
Comfort Suites
The Comfort Suites offers a 20 percent discount for groups that have 10 or more rooms, and provides one complimentary room for 15 or more sold rooms. Although the property does not have its own dedicated meeting space, it does offer free continental breakfast, fitness center, laundry services, and a swimming pool. For more information on the Comfort Suites, visit www.comfortsuites.com.
Elizabeth Pointe Lodge
Known for providing outstanding personal attention, Elizabeth Pointe Lodge offers 400 square feet of meeting space in its Miller Cottage, where guests can conduct meetings in complete privacy, free from competition, and without leaving the beach. Meetings packages include a 15 percent discount on room rate for those booking eight or more rooms (10 percent discount for less than eight rooms), Sunday through Thursday. Guests will also receive 10 percent off the meeting space rate. The discounted fees include full breakfast in the morning, complimentary newspaper, free parking, social hour in the evening and beach amenities. All guests enjoy complimentary computer access and high-speed WiFi internet throughout the facilities. Audiovisual assistance, telecommunications, fax, copy, and secretarial services are also available at an additional fee. Special events, tours and charters can be arranged. Golf, tennis, sailing, horseback riding, deep-sea fishing, and other activities are all available on Amelia Island and the staff can arrange excursions for guests. For more information, contact Olivia Hoblit at (904) 277-4851 or visit www.elizabethpointelodge.com.
Hampton Inn, Amelia Island at the Beach
The Hampton Inn Amelia Island at the Beach offers a new Meeting Room that accommodates up to 30 attendees. The property is near the beach and merely a short drive from historic Fernandina Beach and area attractions. Catering services and AV equipment are available, along with discounted group rates on reservations of 10 rooms or more. Guests enjoy comfortable "Cloud Nine" bedding, complimentary breakfast bar and friendly service at the Hampton Inn. For more information, contact Jeff Malone at (904) 321-1111 or jeff.malone@hilton.com or visit www.ameliaislandhamptoninn.com.
Historic Harbor Front Hampton Inn and Suites
The recently renovated Historic Harbor Front Hampton Inn & Suites is located amid the shops, restaurants and charming brick taverns of downtown Fernandina Beach, within walking distance of the harbor. Now through October 30, 2010, guests booking 10 rooms (Sunday through Thursday) will receive 50 percent off the meeting space rate, and 10 percent off room accommodations, as well as complimentary breakfast each morning. Large conference rooms provide ample space and comfortable amenities, including high-speed wireless internet access, evening reception, and catering services. For additional details, visit www.hamptoninnandsuitesameliaisland.com.
Residence Inn, Amelia Island
The newest property on the island, Residence Inn, Amelia Island,offers meeting space for up to 90 people. The 133-room property provides spacious suites, complete with full, gourmet kitchens, ideal for meeting attendees. The property also offers guests incredible amenities, such as HDTV, complimentary high speed Internet access, complimentary island shuttle, hot breakfast, and evening social experience. Guests are within walking distance of the pristine beaches and only a short distance from all of the islands treasures. The Residence Inn is offering discounted room rates to guests booking 10 or more rooms, and one complimentary room for every 20 rooms booked. For more information on this new hotel and its meeting facilities, visit www.residenceinnameliaisland.com.
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
With 444 ocean view guestrooms and suites, a recently added $22 million ballroom, 30 event spaces and more than 35,000 square feet of function space, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island provides ranks among the largest resorts on Florida’s Atlantic coast. The resort offers an Association Value Package on select dates in 2010 and 2011 to meetings guests, and features such perks as one complimentary suite upgrade for every 40 contracted rooms, one complimentary Presidential or Garden View Suite, customized catered food and beverage pricing, discounted in-house audio/visual equipment, complimentary internet access in guest rooms, and a flexible attrition contract clause. Guests can also book a group with the Meetings Within Reach offer, which is available on select dates and includes daily continental breakfast for all attendees, daily meeting room rental for one room, daily internet access for one meeting room, and discounted in-house audio/visual equipment. For details on these packages, visit www.ritzcarlton.com/ameliaisland.
Amelia
Island
Williams House
The charming and elegant Amelia Island Williams House is an ideal bed and breakfast for small, intimate business meetings or retreats. The innkeepers supply meeting set-up for guests, a full breakfast each morning, and an evening reception with complimentary wine and cheese. They also have an extensive onsite catering menu available. The bed and breakfast offers a traditional meeting facility, as well as more comfortable options, including the formal dining room and living room. When all 10 guest rooms are booked for a function, the meeting space is complimentary and groups receive a 20 percent discount on the guest room rate (through January 2010, excluding holidays). For additional information, visit www.williamshouse.com.
For a list of all meeting space options, visit www.MeetOnAmelia.com.
About Amelia Island
Northeast Florida’s coastal treasure, Amelia Island is a barrier island rich in colorful history and breath-taking natural beauty. Consistently ranked in the top 10 North American Islands by the readers on Conde Nast Traveler, Amelia Island offers long, beautiful beaches, abundant wildlife, and pristine waters. Upscale resorts with world-class spas, championship golf and exclusive dining blend effortlessly with a captivating collection of bed and breakfast inns and historic districts. The island is home to Fernandina Beach, once a vibrant Victorian seaport village, and now a charming downtown district of eclectic shops, attractions and eateries. Forget the everyday getaway; Come make memories on Amelia Island. For visitor information and online planning, visit www.ameliaisland.com.
- Amelia Island -
