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Top 10 Reasons for holding your meeting on Florida’ s Historic Coast
1 Complimentary
Meeting Services
One simple call to the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors & Convention Bureau will connect you with all the services you need to make your meeting a tremendous success. We check hotel availability, assist with off-site selections, provide meeting facility specifics and help plan itineraries. In addition we will connect you with destination management companies, transportation, entertainment, dining, audio / visual and décor vendors and numerous other businesses-- all complimentary.
2 Airport Access
Jacksonville International Airport( JAX) is 50 minutes north of St. Augustine; 40 minutes from Ponte Vedra. The Northeast Florida Regional Airport is available for private and chartered planes, a 5-minute drive to downtown St. Augustine or 20-minute to Ponte Vedra. By car, both destinations are easily accessible from the north and south by Interstate 95 and from the west by Interstate 10.
3
Northeast Florida’ s Climate
Gentle ocean breezes and a year‘ round temperate climate characterize local weather. Average daily temperatures range from a low of mid 50’ s in January to a high of high 80’ s in August.
4 World-Class
Accommodations
The allure of pristine Atlantic Coast beaches beckons, even when work is on the agenda. And Ponte Vedra Beach allows you to do that in style. The Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, AAA rated Five-Diamond Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and The Lodge & Club combine to offer 100,000 square feet of meeting space. These Ponte Vedra Beach hotels offer access to some of the world’ s best-known golf and spa opportunities. In St. Augustine, the AAA rated 4-Diamond Renaissance at World Golf Village Resort offers 101,000 sq. ft., of meeting and reception space, exceptional golf courses and spa.
5 Unique Meeting Venues
St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches offers unique venues for meetings. For example, host your special event at the Loft at the White Room, The River House, The Ponte Vedra Concert Hall or the architecturally stunning Lightner Museum which exhibits relics of America’ s Gilded Age. The Clubhouse at the TPC Sawgrass offers a palatial setting that is sure to impress.
6 Outdoor Teambuilding
The area has a multitude of beautiful beaches, captivating waterways, and inspiring terrain perfect for outdoor gatherings and teambuilding programs. Strict restrictions which limit the height of structures, plus a refreshing splash of pride in the communities, create a relaxing, and exclusive experience for groups during outdoor meetings and themed events.
7 Golf’ s Elite
Many sportswriters refer to THE PLAYERS Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach as“ golf’ s fifth major.” The Stadium Course’ s 17th hole, with its infamous island green, is one of the world’ s most photographed and the tournament has the highest purse on the PGA TOUR. It also has the strongest field in golf, but it’ s not all about the money. A few miles away from the Stadium Course is the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, where the best players in golf history are celebrated.
8 Rich History
St. Augustine is the nation’ s oldest city, founded in 1565 by the Spanish. A part of the Spanish Empire for far longer than it has been part of the United States, the area reflects a European essence that is rare in other parts of the country. In more recent times, Standard Oil co-founder and railroad tycoon Henry Flagler transformed St. Augustine into an American Riviera. Many of the structures built during that time period— the 1880s— are still here, including the magnificent Casa Monica Hotel. St. Augustine has also become an inspiring town for artists, authors, storytellers and ghosts. This rich past has left behind opportunities to use numerous historic sites and structures as unique venues for memorable meetings.
9 Stunning Shores
Strict height restrictions along the area’ s 42 miles of beaches have created seaside vistas that are unobstructed. Several outstanding area beaches are preserved as part of the national and state park systems. In the seaside communities of Ponte Vedra Beach, Vilano Beach and St. Augustine Beach, you will find a variety of properties ranging from upscale boutique hotels to more modest beach properties perfect for smaller meetings. Extracurricular activities include deep-sea fishing, kite boarding, beach paddle tennis, horseback riding on the beach and just plain relaxing in the sun.
10
Food for Thought- Dine-Around Simplified
The freshest seafood, locally-grown produce and Southern cooking influence the flavors of the area. A wide selection of dining establishments offer experiences that range from European fine dining and sidewalk bistros to rustic waterfront grills and seaside eateries. The St. Augustine Independent Restaurant Association( SAiRA), a collection of outstanding local restaurants, celebrates the culinary and cultural diversity that is unique to northeast Florida. SAIRA also offers a certificate / voucher program that is the perfect option for a destination dine-around program.