Destin/Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., December 2, 2014 – 2014 brought several exciting new properties to the beautiful Emerald Coast. On June 9, Emerald Coast county and tourism industry officials unveiled the expansive new Bayview Plaza, which adds 30,000 square feet of outdoor exhibition and event rental space to the Emerald Coast Convention Center. 

The large concrete pad is equipped with electricity and water and will provide additional space for events such as cheerleading and volleyball competitions, trade shows and exhibits, and flexible event space for boat, automotive and RV shows. Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Ed Schroeder stated, "With this addition, we have a variety of events and trade shows and other vendors that can come in here for space they can't find anywhere else in northwest Florida."

The Veterans Park on Okaloosa Island, adjacent to the Emerald Coast Convention Center, was also celebrated as Okaloosa County's premier 14-acre park. The completed initial phase added boat trailer parking at the nearby Marler Park boat launch, as well as an improved, safe nature walk surrounded by a bird sanctuary, pond and views of Choctawhatchee Bay. Future improvements will further enhance the park's natural beauty and add to the outdoor experience with a handicapped-accessible boardwalk along the bay, additional walking trails and a unique veterans memorial.

The new Holiday Inn Resort Fort Walton Beach Hotel, located directly on the beach facing the Gulf of Mexico, is the perfect place for family vacations, romantic getaways, meetings and business travel. The hotel has 152 modern guest rooms including Gulf-front rooms with private balconies and family rooms with bunk beds and video games. There is also 2,500 square feet of beachfront indoor/outdoor event venues & meeting rooms. Outdoor amenities include a beautiful pool with a cascading waterfall and lazy river, poolside tiki bar, interactive pirate and mermaid shows, water sport equipment rentals and beach service with chair and umbrella rentals.

Destin Commons, northwest Florida's premier open-air lifestyle center, also unveiled a 100,000-square-foot expansion this past summer. The expansion includes approximately 26 new stores and restaurants, anchored by retailer H&M and Uncle Buck's Fishbowl & Grill. Whole Foods Market will also be joining Destin Commons with construction beginning in 2015.

Okaloosa County is also thrilled to announce a 12% year over year increase in bed tax revenue during the summer season of June/July/August. And so far in 2014 (the months of January through August,) they are up an impressive 10%.

For more information on visiting Ft. Walton Beach, Destin and Okaloosa Island throughout the year, visit www.EmeraldCoasting.com or call 1-800-322-3319.

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The Emerald Coast Tourist Development Department promotes the destination through marketing and advertising of the beaches of Destin, Ft. Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island. The TDD oversees the operation of the Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Emerald Coast Convention Center, the Emerald Coast Film Commission, the Visitors Welcome Center and conservation efforts aimed at improving and protecting the natural environment of Okaloosa County. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/floridasemeraldcoast, Twitter @EmeraldCoastFLA, Pinterest at pinterest.com/emeraldcoastfla, Instagram @EmeraldCoastFLA or visit the official tourism site of the Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau at EmeraldCoasting.com.