Photo credit above: Omni Amelia Island Resort

Amelia Island, Florida is an ideal backdrop for meetings, conferences, incentive programs, and special events. Few destinations are better suited for groups to come together and allow their surroundings to inspire their business vision and strategies. It’s the best of both worlds all on one island. Our unique combination of natural attributes paired with business and leisure amenities is unmatched. The natural wonders are, well, a wonder for meeting goers in need of a breath of fresh air outside of the board room.

Amelia Island offers a diverse range of meeting spaces, from expansive conference facilities at luxury resorts to more intimate settings perfect for small and midsize gatherings. Whether hosting a large conference or a cozy event, the island’s hotels and resorts provide the ideal venues with the necessary capacities and amenities.

Simply put, meeting and event planners — to say nothing of the attendees they serve — can have it all here on Amelia Island. The charm and convenience ensure that visitors in town for a few days of meetings feel like they’re practically in paradise. Read on to learn how you can have your fun and meetings too, on Amelia Island.

Year-Round Availability

With perpetual mild climates, Amelia Island shines as an exceptional event destination in north Florida, offering the perfect backdrop for year-round gatherings. The island seamlessly blends natural beauty with top-notch business and leisure amenities, making it an ideal spot for your next meeting or conference.

• Enjoy flexible indoor meeting spaces complemented by breathtaking outdoor venues for receptions and get-togethers, available throughout the year.

Outdoor Adventures and Team Building

Team building fosters collaboration, boosts morale, and strengthens the overall effectiveness of a group by encouraging trust and improving communication among team members. Breathe new life into your conference by heading outdoors for memorable team-building opportunities.

• Nothing compares to riding horseback along the beach and catching the ocean breezes atop a saddle. Amelia Island Horseback Riding and Happy Trails Walking Horses offer folks a chance to check this item off their bucket list.
• For those who are a little more grounded, a day exploring Fort Clinch State Park combines our region’s history with miles of hiking and biking trails. A great place for camaraderie in nature.
• Scheduling kayaking and/or stand-up paddleboarding would be a stroke of genius. The backwaters and creeks of Amelia Island are loaded with flora, fauna and wildlife.
• Take things up a notch with a thrill ride from Backwater Cat Adventures (pictured above). Like a go kart on water, these unique and speedy boats are perfect for those seeking an adventurous way to see the island.
• Find your drishti on the horizon when you practice yoga along our Atlantic waters. Deb Cunningham Yoga offers group yoga sessions that you can take right on the beach! There’s no better way to greet the day than stretching out your muscles with your toes in the sand.

Elevated Dining

Explore Amelia Island’s vibrant dining scene, where local flavors and international cuisine come together, featuring some of the freshest seafood in the region. With over 90 independent restaurants, your group will have a wide array of menus to choose from. Year-round, farm-to-table sustainable dining experiences ensure that every meal is a delightful culinary adventure.

• Experience the Sprouting Project at Omni Amelia Island Resort, where groups can discover the farm-to-table journey firsthand. Explore the gardens, aquaponic greenhouse, barrel room and apiary and engage in interactive workshops and tastings.
• Attend the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island Chefs Theater, a monthly cooking demonstration preparing and cooking a variety of cuisines. Small class sizes create an intimate environment in the gorgeous Salt dining room. After each demonstration, students dine with a matched wine and return to the set for the next dish. The final demonstration is by the pastry chefs.
• Planners can book one of the restaurants in this historic seaport village for a group meal with unbeatable views and atmosphere. Beyond fresh seafood, cuisine options also include Asian, Italian, Southern, Cuban, and more. And be sure to save room for the ice creameries and candy shops. Happy hours are a blast at the breweries, too.

Group Tours

Group tours that blend adventure and camaraderie offer a unique way to explore the island’s natural beauty while strengthening bonds.

• Omni Amelia Island Resort offers a Nature Segway Tour led by a staff naturalist who will provide a unique experience throughout the resort’s maritime forests and marsh waterways. 
• Be on the lookout for dolphins, sea turtles, egrets, manatee and more during an Amelia River Cruise around the island. Boats can accommodate up to 84 guests and the captain will share stories of the region’s unique history.
• Fishing excursions are natural bonding experiences. There is no shortage of charters to send your group out for a “reely” good time. Whether backwater or off shore, you’re guaranteed a great fishing story.

Easily Accessible

One of the beauties of Amelia Island is that it’s easier to get to than you can imagine. We are just 30 miles from Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), offering nonstop flights to numerous major U.S. cities. For those traveling from the southeast, the island is easily accessible via I-95.

• Meeting attendees, incentive winners, and executives traveling for a corporate retreat can fly into Jacksonville International Airport. From there, it’s a scenic half-hour drive to downtown Fernandina Beach.
• Looking for something a little smaller and more private? Bent Wing Flight Services at Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport offers corporate and private airplanes and jets the luxury of easy landings and carefree departures.
• Located just off Interstate 95 makes driving here convenient from many major southern cities, including Atlanta, Charlotte, and Birmingham. Once on the island, our best restaurants, retail spaces, and event venues are no more than 15 minutes away regardless of which hotel is your home base.

Downtown Charm

Historic downtown is a great option for building in downtime for attendees or planning a group outing. The 50-block area is easily navigable and offers plenty of dining, shopping and activities.

• Amelia Island Downtown Tasting Tours offers two incredible experiences focusing on the wonderful food and beverage of historic downtown Fernandina Beach. Tour guests will enjoy meeting the owners, chefs and bartenders who make our quaint downtown a terrific place filled with delicious eats, delightful cocktails, character and charm.
• Any beach trip — leisure or business — is improved with a treasure hunt. For that, we encourage exploring the eclectic and independent shops that stretch from the harbor-front to down and around Centre Street.

Premium Hotel Properties

Amelia Island’s south end is home to two luxurious resorts that offer stunning scenery, exceptional meeting spaces, and unmatched service. They both represent the true meaning of southern hospitality and offer the perfect setting for your next event.

• The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island sets the standard for luxury, making the most of its gorgeous outside space and impressive interior. The amenities are ideal for corporate events, VIP retreats, and incentive programs for top performers. The 446-room hotel has 48,000 square feet of conference space, including a ballroom that comfortably holds 1,430 conference guests. A luxury spa and 18 holes of championship golf are stellar on-site activities for team building and relaxation. The concierge and hotel staff are available to assist with corporate social responsibility (CSR) opportunities that support the local community and environment. Yoga and meditation are among the most popular wellness options.
• Omni Amelia Island Resort (pictured above) is another crown jewel. There are 402 oceanfront rooms and more than 300 villas and homes on the property. Planners have 80,000 square feet of function space to create engaging experiences. Venues include ballrooms, boardrooms, restaurants, lawns, terraces, and of course, the beach. An 18-hole championship golf course and a new 10-hole short course make the Omni an ideal site for charity events, fundraisers, and interoffice competition and team building.

Planners looking for smaller, more budget-friendly meeting space and lodging options have quite a few to choose from.

• Courtyard by Marriott and Springhill Suites by Marriott (pictured above) share space in this budget-friendly lodging site just steps from the beach. There’s more than 6,000 feet of meeting space, including a poolside, outdoor function area. Combined, the hotels have 239 guest rooms.
• The Residence Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites Historic Harbor Front, and the Amelia Hotel at the Beach are more great options for small board retreats that offer outdoor pools and stunning water views.

Get away from the daily grind to enjoy the beauty, built-in fun, and other amenities that will inspire your team to new heights when they return to work. See for yourself why Amelia Island is the perfect choice for your next meeting.