Venues and destinations across Florida invite meeting planners to come, experience and see the beauty of Florida for themselves. Touched by the forces of nature in a couple of places, but not altogether marred, the Sunshine State is filled with beautiful destinations, welcoming hotels and convention centers that are ready to host meetings.

"How are we doing after an unusually active hurricane season? Come and see for yourself," said Bud Nocera, president and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA. �Increase your bottom line by attending the 24th annual Florida Encounter, the only state-organized appointment trade show of its kind.�

For an energizing getaway for your business� convention or meeting, pack your laptops and head to Florida, where beautiful weather, flavorful culture and big-city hot spots surround grand convention centers.

�Due to the immense media coverage of those areas in our state that were hit by hurricanes, many people have been left with the incorrect impression that the entire state was damaged. But this is not true. Florida's sun is shining and Florida�s major cities and most of its towns are welcoming meetings, convention attendees and visitors,� said Nocera.

Whether you are planning a conference for 10 or 10,000 � Florida�s convention centers offer the ideal setting for mixing business with pleasure. The annual Florida Encounter highlights meeting offerings and �what�s new� in Florida, designated specifically for corporate, association and incentive meeting planners.

This year the show will be held at the Royal Pacific Resort, a Loews Hotel, in Orlando Nov. 7-10. Registration is open for meeting planners and now is the time to sign up for optional activities such as a VIP excursion to the Kennedy Space Center or canoeing on a crystal-clear spring.

To help you see for yourself that Florida is open for business, meeting planners attending Florida Encounter are invited to take post-Encounter familiarization tours of areas throughout the state. To register or view a schedule of events and for information regarding Florida Encounter, visit www.Encounter.VISITFLORIDA.org.

To further encourage meeting planners to attend, those planners who successfully encourage their fellow qualified planners to attend could win one of two $1,000 American Express gift certificates: one to the attendee that refers the most planners and one from a random drawing of attending planners who apply before October 22. If you have any questions, call a VISIT FLORIDA Encounter team member at (850) 488-5607 ext. 373.

With major convention cities such as Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Jacksonville and Tampa � Florida meets your meeting needs. For more information on Florida�s convention and visitors bureaus visit www.VISITFLORIDA.com and click on the regional map or visit the Florida Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau web site, www.facvb.org.

To prepare you for your visit to Florida, the following is a roundup of new meeting facilities, renovations, expansions and group services in the Sunshine State. Rain or shine, you will always have a great time in Florida! The following resort and meeting facility news of Florida is listed north to south:

Resorts & Meeting Facilities

NEW FACILITIES St. Augustine � The PGA TOUR Spa Laterra is opening in November at The World Golf Village. Attendees of meetings and conventions at the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village and adjoining St. Johns County Convention Center will be able to enjoy the spa's unique features and services, which cater to both golfers and non-golfers. www.wgv.com.

Palm Coast (Jacksonville area) � The Club at Hammock Beach is open. The 12-story tower of luxury suites, is situated on miles of spectacular beach frontage and boasts exceptional golf, a full-service spa and fitness center, an elaborate water pavilion and world-class dining. The property�s 15,000 square-feet indoor meeting space and more than 19,000 square-feet of outdoor function space are perfect for small meetings and events of 25 to 475 people. www.hammockbeach.com.

Orlando � The 730-room Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate open on

October 10. This luxury golf and meetings destination offers more than 70,000 square-feet of meeting space, 27 meeting rooms, and a European-style spa. www.championsgate.com.

Tampa � The Ford Amphitheatre at Tampa�s Florida State Fairgrounds opened in July 2004. The 20,000-person open-air venue features nearly 9,900 fixed seats under a translucent fabric roof and an uncovered grass berm with space for 10,100 more. Called Ford Amphitheatre, the $23 million facility encompasses approximately 17 acres, only seven miles east of downtown Tampa. www.visittampabay.com.

West Palm Beach � The upscale 352-room West Palm Beach Marriott is open following a $17 million renovation of what was formerly the Sheraton Hotel. With 18,000 square-feet of flexible meeting space, the West Palm Beach Marriott also serves as the headquarter hotel to the all-new Palm Beach County Convention Center. www.westpalmbeachmarriott.com.

Miami Beach � Fontainebleau Tower, is the newest addition to the well-loved Fontainebleau Hilton Resort in Miami Beach. This new 36-story luxury high rise Condominium Hotel will open in February 2005 and provide 460 beautifully appointed suites. Balconies, plasma TV's and kitchens are just some of the things are standard in these units. Separate guest registration and Concierge Services are located in the building and Fontainebleau Tower guests will enjoy all the fabulous services and facilities provided within the Fontainebleau Hilton Resort. Visit www.fontainebleau2.com for more information.

Key Largo � Nearly complete, the 11,500 square-foot �Town Hall� is the Ocean Reef Club�s newest facility. Offering 7,500 square-feet of meeting space the structure can accommodate 500 people and increases the Club�s total meeting space to almost 40,000 square-feet. www.oceanreef.com.

Key West � The Doubletree Grand Key Resort in Key West has opened a new 3,500 square-foot conference center. The resort now offers more than 8,000 square-feet of meeting space. www.doubletreekeywest.com.

EXPANSIONS Sandestin � Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa recently expanded its Serenity by the sea Spa, Salon & Fitness Center. New beach fitness and yoga classes are now available. www.sandestinbeachhilton.com.

Daytona Beach � The Volusia County Council has given the green light to a $57 million expansion of the Ocean Center Convention and Entertainment Complex in Daytona Beach, which is slated for completion in early 2007. The expansion will add 100,000 square-feet of exhibit space, 30,000 square-feet of new meeting space and include refurbishment of existing meeting rooms. www.daytonabeachcvb.org.

Orlando � The Coquina exhibit hall opened on September 22 adding another 28,800 square feet to the existing 72,000 square-feet of space at the JW Marriott, Orlando. www.grandelakes.com.

Coral Gables � The 157-room Omni Colonnade Hotel recently added more than 7,000 square-feet of ballroom space, bringing their meeting space to more than 30,000 square-feet. www.omnicolonnade.com.

RENOVATIONS Tampa � The Saddlebrook Resort will complete an $8.5 million redecoration of all 800 guestrooms in October. The redecorations are part of a $14 million guestroom renovation project that included another $6.5 million in recent improvements. www.saddlebrookresort.com.

Naples � The Registry Resort & Club has just emerged from a $30 million transformation with stylish new guestroom d�cor and Luna, the resort�s stylish new nightclub. Caf� Chablis, the resort�s all-day dining venue, recently emerged with new furnishings and fixtures. A new spa is in development at the resort. www.registryresort.com.

Miami Beach � As The Fontainebleau Hilton prepares to celebrate its 50th Anniversary in December, the storied resort has completed a $2 million renovation of the hotel�s meeting space that included new carpeting, wall and door coverings, lighting, furniture throughout the Fontainebleau Ballroom, Grand Gallerie, Promenade and several meeting rooms. The project, which is in addition to the $65 million renovation recently completed throughout the legendary resort, was finished in August of 2004. www.fontainebleauhilton.com.

Islamorada � Renovations at Islamorada�s Islander Resort were completed. Equipped for modern meetings while maintaining the ambiance of a vintage 1950s resort, the Islander Resort offers two meeting rooms, one executive boardroom and more than 2,000 square feet of meeting space. www.islanderfloridakeys.com.

DESTINATION NEWS Southwest Florida � Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers will open its new, greatly expanded terminal facility in late Spring 2005, with additional gate space that will provide new airlift opportunities into the Southwest Florida region. The airport provides international service to Fort Myers, Sanibel, Naples, Marco Island and Charlotte Harbor. www.swfia.com.

Naples � Delta customers traveling to and from Naples will gain the comfort and convenience of daily, nonstop regional jet service between sunny Southwest Florida and Atlanta�s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport beginning Nov. 15, 2004. Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) will operate three daily year-round flights using customer-preferred Bombardier regional jets. With the new service, Naples customers will enjoy the community�s only year-round nonstop air service outside the state of Florida on one of the world�s quietest aircraft. www.paradisecoast.com.

Naples � The Greater Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades CVB has updated the Meeting Planning section of its website, www.ParadiseCoast.com. The site offers information on hotels, service providers and nearby off-site group activity venues. www.ParadiseCoast.com.

SERVICES & PROGRAMS Panama City Beach � Edgewater Beach Resort now offers both wired and wireless high speed internet. The 500 sq. ft. state of the art boardroom is equipped with the latest audio, video and computer technology featuring a plasma television monitor. www.edgewaterbeachresort.com.

Daytona Beach � The casually elegant Bahama House hotel now offers free high-speed Internet access in all 87 guest rooms. Situated on the beach the 10-story property offers more than seven styles of accommodations - from standard ocean view rooms to efficiencies, suites and penthouses. www.daytonabahamahouse.com.

Fort Myers � Offshore Sailing School�s Sail-Race Challenges� offers an environment to promote growth, leadership, teamwork, communication and strategic implementation in the workplace. www.offshore-sailing.com.

Miami � Conference-goers at Four Seasons Hotel Miami can keep on track and waist line in check with The Dynamic Dyna-Band Break, a quick workout designed to help conference participants stretch, relax and focus all without leaving one's seat. www.fourseasons.com/miami.

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Note to Editors: To receive a PDF version of our national hurricane recovery ad or to request an accompanying image, please contact Jenny VanDerVliet at (850) 488-5607, ext. 312 or jenny@VISITFLORIDA.org.

For additional information, contact Vanessa Welter at (850) 488-5607 ext. 337 or vanessa@VISITFLORIDA.org.

VISIT FLORIDA, the state�s official source for travel planning, is the premier sales and marketing organization that promotes tourism to Florida through sales, advertising, promotions, public relations and visitor services programs both domestically and internationally. Working with the worlds� major travel writers, media and broadcasters to produce print and broadcast paid and earned media, VISIT FLORIDA programs reach more than two billion potential visitors each year. VISIT FLORIDA maintains domestic offices in Tallahassee, New York and Chicago and has international offices in Germany, London, Paris, Montreal, Toronto and a dedicated office in Miami serving Latin America. VISIT FLORIDA has more than 3,200 tourism industry Partners and five major strategic alliances, with Hertz, Alamo Rent A Car, American Express Travel Related Services, AirTran Airways, and the Florida Hotel & Motel Association. To learn more about VISIT FLORIDA, visit the media section at media.VISITFLORIDA.org or view the consumer web site at www.VISITFLORIDA.com.

VISIT FLORIDA Vanessa Welter, Director of Global PR Office: (850) 488-5607 ext. 337 Cell: (850) 345-9762 vanessa@VISITFLORIDA.org http://media.VISITFLORIDA.org