Florida Keys Newsroom

What's New for Meetings, Incentives in the Florida Keys

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 18:22:00 +0200

FLORIDA KEYS -The Florida Keys & Key West welcome meetings for groups seeking engaging outdoor celebrations, activities and attractions with wide-open spaces throughout the easily accessible 125-mile-long chain of southernmost islands.

"The year 2022 is especially memorable for visitors to the Keys, marked by several historic highlights: the reopening of our iconic Old Seven Mile Bridge, Key West's 200th anniversary of its first settlement in 1822 and Everglades National Park's upcoming 75th anniversary in December," said Jack Meier, group sales manager for the Keys' Monroe County Tourist Development Council.

"Celebratory activities and group events can all be enjoyed throughout our scenic, wide-open islands of the Florida Keys," Meier added.

The Keys are an ideal island destination offering unique bonding experiences for meetings with 15 to 100 attendees.

Flying into the Florida Keys is an option from major U.S. cities. Six airlines - Allegiant, American, Delta, JetBlue, Silver and United - operate more than 20 nonstop U.S. routes to Key West International Airport, making the destination easily accessible throughout the U.S.

Of interest to planners booking meetings and incentive groups:

Keys Transportation

Key West International Airport (EYW) is to break ground this year on a new $80 million terminal, targeted for completion in October 2024. A new concourse is to include enhanced security checkpoint, concessions and baggage claim areas; a spacious departure area; and glass-enclosed jet bridges that connect planes to the facility and feature virtual walk-throughs of Key West. Nonstop flights to Key West are available from airports in Asheville, North Carolina (AVL), Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Charlotte (CLT), Chicago (ORD), Cincinnati (CVG), Dallas (DFW), Houston (IAH), Indianapolis (IND), Nashville (BNA), Newark (EWR), New York City (LGA) and (JFK), Philadelphia (PHL), Washington, D.C. (DCA), and Washington-Dulles (IAD). In Florida, nonstop flights are offered from Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Miami (MIA), Orlando (MCO), Sanford (SFB), Tampa (TPA), and St. Petersburg (PIE). Face coverings remain mandated at EYW. Visit eyw.com or call 305-809-5200.

FlixBus, a European company with bus and rail services in 36 countries, offers a convenient car-free option, six days per week, for travel to the Keys from Miami and Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood international airports. The 56-passenger, single-level motorcoaches are equipped with free Wi-Fi, an on-board entertainment portal, power outlets, reclining seats with spacious legroom, luggage space and a restroom. Passengers can travel from the two airports to the Keys with stops at Islamorada, Marathon and Key West. Stops at Key Largo and Big Pine Key also are planned. Visit flixbus.com or the company's app, available free at the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Keys Milestones

At Marathon in the Middle Keys, the 2.2-mile section of the Old Seven Mile Bridge that parallels the famed Florida Keys Overseas Highway reopened Jan. 12 after an approximately $44 million renovation that began in 2017. The landmark structure is the gateway to historic Pigeon Key, a tiny island nestled beneath it, and a "linear park" offering pedestrian recreation and prime sunset viewing. A new 60-passenger tram to Pigeon Key is expected to be operational this spring. Restoration work included new pedestrian and bicycle handrails and other structural improvements and enhancements. Parking is available for 35 vehicles, although vehicular traffic on the bridge is not allowed. "Old Seven" was built as part of railroad magnate Henry Flagler's Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad that was completed in January 1912. The newer Seven Mile Bridge (actually 6.79 miles long) stretching parallel to the historic span, is to celebrate its 40th birthday in May and is one of the world's longest segmental bridges.

In Key West, residents and businesses are commemorating the 200th anniversary of the island's first permanent settlement in 1822. Community celebrations included "Commemorating 200 Years of Settlement" events slated March 19-30, encompassing the bicentennial of the date March 25, 1822, when Lt. Matthew C. Perry erected the American flag at Key West. Activities included the creation of a cancellation stamp; dedication of a time capsule placed beneath the American flag at Mallory Square and to be opened in 50 years; a 90-minute documentary, talks, events and films about Key West history; celebrations of baseball, one of Key West's most-loved sports; a history–themed VIP party; and a March 26 Heritage Festival with stage performances, festivities and eco-friendly silent drone fireworks. Visit keywest200th.com.

The Custom House Museum, operated by the Key West Art & Historical Society, is featuring "Key West 200," an exhibit running through Dec. 11 that celebrates the 200th anniversary of the first permanent settlement of Key West in 1822. The exhibit highlights Key West's people, culture and community. Artifacts include sponge-fishing equipment, cigar roller tables and tools, 19th-century homewares, clothing, artwork and photographs, Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad memorabilia, Ernest Hemingway's boxing gloves, Native American tools, Key West Hand Print brand dresses and U.S. Navy ship models. Key West 200 chronicles history by decade and showcases glimpses of Key West life through development, immigration, industries, culture and education. The exhibit can be viewed across the Custom House Museum's two full galleries and foyer at 281 Front St. Visit kwahs.org or call 305-295-6616.

Keys Activities

The African Queen steamboat, listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, starred in John Huston's iconic 1951 film "The African Queen" with Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. Today it travels Key Largo's Port Largo Canal on scenic 90-minute cruises. Now fully restored, the vessel was built in 1912 at Lytham, England, to shuttle cargo, missionaries and hunting parties in Africa. Daily cruises depart from Marina Del Mar at mile marker 100. Visit africanqueenflkeys.com or call 305-451-8080.

In Key Largo, Keys' Meads, the Florida Keys' only meadery, has a 2,500-square-foot location offering tours, a tasting room and retail space selling made-in-the-Keys mead - a fermented alcoholic beverage crafted from honey. Traditional meads from the family operation are made from Keys honey, water and yeast, and come in dry, semidry or sweet versions. Newly crafted spirits, made from distilled mead, can be used in cocktails. Its Mead Club and online store offer shipments to most states. Keys' Meads, established in 2017, is located at 99411 Overseas Highway, mile marker 99.4, and open daily. Visit keysmeads.com or call 305-204-4596.

Through a partnership with I.CARE - the Keys' newest coral reef restoration organization - and Mote Marine Laboratory on Summerland Key, there's a new Mote Marine Laboratory land-based coral nursery at Bud N' Mary's Marina in Islamorada. I.CARE's mission is to transplant staghorn, elkhorn and starlet corals, raised both onshore and offshore by Mote, to reefs off Islamorada. I.CARE offers coral dive and transplant activities at Alligator, Captain Arnos, Rocky Top and Victory reefs for certified divers through operators Key Dives, Islamorada Dive Center and Conch Republic Divers. Visit icareaboutcoral.org or call 305-664-2211.

Adventure lovers can experience The Lagoon on Grassy Key, a 50-acre action-sports eco-park at mile marker 59 that is home to Keys Cable Park, Bongos Beer Garden and the Lagoon Saloon. At Keys Cable Park, specializing in wakeboarding, groups can opt for private half- or full-day rentals with additional activities including stand-up paddle boarding, efoil (electric hydrofoil) surfing and kayaking. The entire park can be booked for private groups and outdoor events for up to 250 attendees. Bongos, a locals' favorite venue with live music and a popular weekend brunch, can accommodate groups in its 2,000-square-foot beer garden or on the lagoon's beach. The Lagoon Saloon, living up to its motto, "Swim, Sail, Swill, Surf," sells the latest in wind, surf, skate and lifestyle clothing and accessories and offers two kegs on tap at the register. The park is located at 59300 Overseas Highway. Visit RidetheLagoon.com or call 305-414-8245.

Key West Art & Historical Society offers a Key West Lighthouse Sunset Experience for groups of up to eight, with 90 minutes of exclusive access to the lighthouse, keeper's quarters and grounds. The lighthouse, opened in 1848, has an 88-step spiral staircase to reach the top. The grounds and keeper's quarters museum are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Each experience includes a complimentary bottle of wine or prosecco and artisanal meats, cheeses or sweets (vegan and vegetarian options are available) from a local wine shop. Bookings are required at least 24 hours in advance. Contact mgieda@kwahs.org or call 305-295-6616.

The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory - known for its tropical gardens, hundreds of free-flying butterflies and a wide variety of small tropical birds - is home to local celebrity flamingos Rhett and Scarlett. During "Flamingle" encounters, daily from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m., guests seated in a picturesque gazebo overlooking the conservatory's pond can enjoy interacting with Rhett and Scarlett as the pair roams freely. Prescheduled groups can tour between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., and prescheduled twilight tours enable visitors to explore the conservatory just before sunset to experience a butterfly twilight "dance." Visit keywestbutterfly.com or call 305-296-2988.

Salute to the Sol Yoga offers customized party and group event yoga in Key West. Known for virtual, private and Sunday yoga classes on the event lawn at The Perry Hotel & Marina Key West, Salute to the Sol's team of certified personal instructors delivers customized vinyasa sessions for all levels. The addition of group yoga for wedding weekend, bachelor or bachelorette party, corporate or team-building events rounds out Salute to the Sol's services, which are available to book and offered at a variety of locations. Visit salutetothesol.com/ or call 407-496-5868.

Keys Tours

On Big Pine Key, the 2-acre fruit farm Grimal Grove - billed as the first and only breadfruit grove in the continental United States - offers 90-minute guided tropical fruit excursions showcasing species of subtropical and tropical fruits, trees and plants. "Our new fruit hunting excursions allow visitors to have a fun, fanciful and unique culinary experience," said Patrick Garvey, owner-director of Grimal Grove. "I started the tours to integrate Keys culture and adventure with the growing of food." Participants can sample sweet and sour exotic fruits including breadfruit and learn the story of 1950s-era hermit Adolf Grimal, a recluse who designed Old Grimal Estate at 258 Cunningham Lane. Visit grimalgrove.com or call or text 305-923-6663 to book a tour.

Ever ridden in a presidential limo? The Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key West, Florida's only presidential museum, has acquired one of Truman's presidential limousines and a ride is included on the museum's White Glove Tour. The mid-century, mint-condition Lincoln Cosmopolitan stretch limo, with about 33,000 odometer miles, was originally based in New York City for use by President Truman. The tour, just over two hours, is offered Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., priced from $500 plus tax for up to six people, and includes a visit to the new Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation Suite adjacent to the museum. Several of the suite's galleries feature recently unveiled artwork, photos and artifacts. Visitors can don white gloves to hold presidential memorabilia, then ride in the limo around Old Town Key West. Visittrumanlittlewhitehouse.com or call 305-294-9911.

The 90-minute Old Town Literary Walking Tour takes participants past sites and landmarks recalling world-renowned writers' presence in Key West, illustrating the island city's significance in the literary world. The tour features former homes and haunts of writers including Tennessee Williams, Shel Silverstein, Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Frost and others. Group tours on Fridays and Sundays are offered for two to 12 people; private tours are offered on request. Visit kwls.org or call 305-293-9291.

At Key West's Fort East Martello Museum, Sloan's Ghost Fort Adventures has group tours for up to 30, featuring Robert the Doll, dubbed the "world's most haunted doll." Tours take guests through the Civil War–era fort to "visit" Robert, given to Key West youngster Robert Gene Otto in 1904. The evening tours are created by local author David Sloan, chronicler of the eerie doll's history, in partnership with museum operator Key West Art & Historical Society. Tickets are $45; VIP tickets, which include an additional hour of "ghost hunting," are $85 per person. It's at 3501 S. Roosevelt Blvd. Visit ghostfort.com or email keywest.ghostfort@gmail.com.

Keys Hemingway Happenings

Key West's 8,200-square-foot Hemingway Rum Company Papa's Pilar Distillery, located at 201 Simonton St., has unveiled its new Hemingway's Library, a 2,400-square-foot tasting bar and center for hosting events and rum tastings. The new venue is available for private group cocktail classes, with cost based on group size and amenities. Formerly a tobacco warehouse, the distillery houses the Papa's Pilar Rum production facility, an experience center, tasting room and trading post. A 350-gallon still produces up to 80 gallons of rum weekly from molasses, yeast and water. Visitors can book distillery tours and cocktail classes Tuesdays through Sundays at various times. Reservations are required for classes. Visit papaspilar.com or call 305-414-8754.

In Key West, the Lighthouse Hotel, a Kimpton Key West property at 902 Whitehead St. across from the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, offers "A Hemingway Affair" for private parties of up to 10. The Hemingway Suite, with a view of the author's former home, can be reserved for a custom-menu culinary experience created by Great Events Catering, cocktail hour with butler-passed hors d'oeuvres, and multicourse, chef-prepared in-suite meal. Contact megan.coccitto@kimptonkeywest.com or call 305-294-8067.

Key West Food Tours offers its Hemingway/Southernmost Food & Cultural Tour, tracing famed author Ernest Hemingway's libations and lifestyle during the 1930s when he lived in Key West's Old Town district. The four-hour tour for groups of eight to 16 participants covers 1.6 miles and stops at five locations. Among its attractions are four food tastings including Key lime pie, three cocktails and a guided tour of the landmark Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum where the literary legend lived and wrote. Samplings include Caribbean- and Cuban-influenced food highlighting Key West's rich heritage and culture. The all-inclusive tour is priced from $150 per person. Visit keywestfoodtours.com or call 305-570-2010.

Florida Keys meetings information: fla-keys.com/meeting-planners/
Florida Keys visitor information: fla-keys.com or 1-800-FLA-KEYS
Florida Keys health and safety protocols: fla-keys.com
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Key Lime Academy: Built for Travel Pros

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 16:15:00 +0200

FLORIDA KEYS - An online training program for travel trade professionals provides travel advisors, tour operators and meeting planners with a self-paced, informative and fun video series to help sell the Florida Keys & Key West.

The Key Lime Academy platform uses seven video-driven modules to educate participants about the island chain's five distinct regions: Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, The Lower Keys and Key West.

Each module includes an eight- to 10-question quiz in multiple-choice format. Module completion takes about 30 minutes, to be completed during a single or separate learning sessions.

After completion and with a score of 80 percent or higher, an electronic graduation certificate is awarded through email.

Key Lime Academy features 11 themed itineraries: Adventure, Culture, Eco, Family, Girlfriends, Motorcycle, Romance, LGBTQ / One Human Family, Camping, Bicycling and Pre- and Post-Cruise. Visit fla-keys.com/keylimeacademy/.

Florida Keys meetings information: fla-keys.com/meeting-planners/
Florida Keys visitor information: fla-keys.com or 1-800-FLA-KEYS
Florida Keys health and safety protocols: fla-keys.com
Social: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube • Pinterest • TikTok • Keys Voices Blog

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Only-in-the-Keys Group Activities Create Lasting Bonds

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 16:08:00 +0200

FLORIDA KEYS - Seeking unique Keys group activities that help to forge company bonding and meaningful connections to a memorable island destination? Bucket-list adventures are what the Florida Keys are all about.

A fishing charter, for example, in waters off the Keys is an adventure made especially memorable by catches such as sailfish, tarpon or yellowtail snapper.

A group hunt for the best Key lime pie is sure to satisfy all taste buds. Nearly every Keys dining venue serves this rich signature dessert.

For active groups, cycling on land and water, paddleboarding, swimming with dolphins and colorful Keys marine life, building giant sand castles, and other group experiential activities can be booked throughout the Keys.

A few examples:

Key Largo Bike and Adventure Tours has a variety of cycling tours including a Bike and Beer tour with a trek from Tavernier to Islamorada, stops for beer and a van ride back. In Islamorada, another tour visits historic venues, locations from the hit Netflix drama "Bloodline," a Tiki bar and popular craft breweries. Visit keylargobike.com

Serenity Eco Therapy, based in Key Largo and offered throughout the Keys, combines gentle meditation, yoga and Pilates with a guided paddle in a kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard. A 2.5-hour tour promotes well-being. Visit serenityecotherapy.squarespace.com

At Marathon's Dolphin Research Center, programs including the Researcher Experience for up to four let participants spend four hours with researchers observing sea lions and dolphins, assist with data research and enjoy a Dolphin Encounter swim. Small groups also enjoy the Ultimate Trainer for the Day Experience, a full day of interactive adventures. The center is accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums. Visit dolphins.org

At Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters in Marathon, groups can swim with and feed fishes while learning about the Keys' marine ecosystem. There are four touch tanks and public feedings throughout the day. Private tours and events can be reserved. Visit floridakeysaquariumencounters.com

Crafting sand sculptures in Key West at the Casa Marina Key West or The Reach Key West is a way to build competitive team spirit or bonding. Just Sand and Water offers beach workshops for six to 150 participants. The two properties are Curio Collection by Hilton resorts. Visit justsandandwater.com

Key West Hydrobikes offers hourly rentals and tours on pedal-powered nonmotorized water bikes. Participants can cycle Key West Harbor to the back side of Wisteria Island. Average cruising speed is about 5 mph. Tours depart from LagerHeads, at 0 Simonton St. Visit keywesthydrobikes.com

Florida Keys meetings information: fla-keys.com/meeting-planners/
Florida Keys visitor information: fla-keys.com or 1-800-FLA-KEYS
Florida Keys health and safety protocols: fla-keys.com
Social: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube • Pinterest • TikTok • Keys Voices Blog

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Enhanced Accommodations Welcome Meetings, Incentives Back to the Florida Keys

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 15:53:00 +0200

FLORIDA KEYS - Group meetings and incentive events are coming back to the Florida Keys & Key West. The 125-mile-long island chain offers endless wide-open spaces on land and sea, with blue water activities - seamlessly blending work with play - and unconventional ways to reconnect with business colleagues and new friends.

"Our outdoor wide-open spaces, with many of them scenic waterfront settings, offer a unique advantage for all types of activities and help to create unforgettable Keys meetings," said Jack Meier, group sales manager for the Keys' Monroe County Tourist Development Council. "Creatively styled and enhanced outdoor venues throughout the Keys continue to be unveiled as we all look forward to reconnecting and renewing with business opportunities."

Many Keys hotels regarded for hosting meetings have enhanced their resorts with new offerings, providing memorable and unique bonding backdrops and experiences for meetings with 15 to 100 attendees.

For additional and evolving information about Keys health and safety protocols, visit fla-keys.com.

To download the Monroe County Tourist Development Council's new meeting planner guide and read its Keys Traveler MICE edition, visit fla-keys.com/meeting-planners/.

Keys Airlift

Key West International Airport (EYW) is expanding with a new $80 million terminal targeted for completion in October 2024, with a new concourse to include enhanced security checkpoint, concessions and baggage claim areas; a spacious departure area; and glass-enclosed jet bridges that connect planes to the facility. Groundbreaking is scheduled in 2022. Currently, nonstop service is available on six carriers, providing convenient access to the Keys for business travelers. American Airlines offers nonstop service from Miami (MIA), Philadelphia (PHL), Charlotte (CLT), Dallas (DFW), Chicago (ORD), New York (LGA) and Washington, D.C. (DCA). Delta Airlines provides nonstop flights from Atlanta (ATL) and LGA. United Airlines operates nonstop flights from Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR), Washington-Dulles (IAD) and ORD. JetBlue Airways has nonstop service from Boston (BOS) and New York (JFK). Silver Airways offers nonstop service from Florida's Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Orlando (MCO) and Tampa (TPA). Allegiant Air provides nonstop service from Nashville (BNA), Florida's Sanford (SFB) and Cincinnati (CVG), and later this year, is adding service from Indianapolis (IND), Florida's St. Petersburg (PIE) and North Carolina's Asheville (AVL). Visit eyw.com or call 305-809-5200.

Keys Accommodations

In northern Key Largo, the private Ocean Reef Club has 30,000 total square feet of meeting space, including a 7,500-square-foot ballroom and state-of-the-art cooking school. Usually reserved for members, Ocean Reef includes a 165-room inn with a newly renovated lobby, dining room and lounge, Buccaneer Island recreational beach and pool area, two 18-hole golf courses, full-service 175-slip marina and private airport. Visit meetingsatoceanreef.com or call 800-741-7333.

In Key Largo, Playa Largo Resort & Spa, an Autograph Collection Hotel located at 97450 Overseas Highway, offers nearly 40,000 square feet of flexible space for six to 300, including an 8,600-square-foot outdoor event lawn. Group dining includes Moroccan-style beach dinners and in-water tables for toes-in-the-ocean dining. Outdoor activities include watersports, private charters, eco-tours, diving, snorkeling and fishing. Attendees can reserve a chiminea to make s'mores, a poolside private cabana or spa pampering during downtime. New Playa Largo Ocean Residences offer three- and four-bedroom homes for corporate retreat options. Visit playalargo.com or call 305-853-1001.

Set on a 15-acre nature sanctuary, Baker's Cay Resort Key Largo, a Curio Collection by Hilton, offers 200 pet-friendly rooms and suites; over 15,000 square feet of indoor space including two panoramic waterfront ballrooms; and 12,000 square feet of scenic outdoor event venues for teambuilding adventures, watersports and water excursions. On-site culinary experiences utilize locally sourced products and sustainable Keys seafood. A beachside tequila and taco restaurant uses house-made hot sauces crafted from peppers grown on property. Amenities include two swimming pools and waterfall grotto, a nature trail with hidden beaches, a boat dock and salon. The property stands at 97000 Overseas Highway. Visit bakerscayresort.com or call 305-602-7988.

The 214-room, 27-acre oceanfront Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada has acquired The Casitas villas at Cheeca Lodge, with personalized butler service, one- and two-bedroom units from 750 to 2,100 square feet. Ten villas offer resort or ocean view, large furnished porches, full kitchens, bathrooms with rain showers and large soaking tubs, and washer and dryer. Guests have access to all the resort's signature amenities and exclusive access to the Casita area's private beach, pool and tennis courts. The iconic resort also has added a third pool and second open-air Tiki bar. Groups can enjoy a sunrise breakfast on a 39-foot motor catamaran or a custom event on nearby Indian Key. With more than 4,600 total square feet of versatile space, the resort has six venues for up to 110. It's located at 81801 Overseas Highway. Visit cheeca.com or call 844-489-9664 or 305-664-4651.

The new luxury 7.1-acre 30-unit Islands of Islamorada, with vacation rental villas and a suite hotel, is an enclave of 22 three-story waterfront villas, each with four bedrooms, full kitchen and outdoor recreation space, accommodating eight to 10 guests. In the Ocean House, an additional eight one-bedroom suites, each accommodating up to three, directly front the Atlantic Ocean. Amenities include oceanfront Tiki bar, paddleboards, kayaks, fitness facility and classes, yoga lawn, two swimming pools and a whirlpool tub, pickleball, a private marina, oceanfront event spaces with a fee and 24-hour on-site concierge. Minimum three-night stays are required. It's located at 82779 Old Highway on Upper Matecumbe Key. Guests can arrive by car, boat or seaplane. Visit theislandsofislamorada.com or call 305-440-3255.

Hawks Cay Resort on Duck Key features multiple outdoor venues with more than 100 square miles of meeting space for outdoor group experiences such as fishing, diving, kayaking and interacting with dolphins. The 60-acre property, promoted as the most expansive resort in the Keys, offers 20,000 square feet of waterfront meeting space with two ballrooms and opportunities for outdoor events and team building activities, receptions and pool parties. The Preferred Hotel Group Lifestyle Collection and AAA Four Diamond Award–rated resort offers 177 hotel guest rooms and 250 two- and three-bedroom townhome-style villas and six dining outlets, including the casual waterfront marina restaurant Angler and Ale, the fine dining chop house Sixty-One Prime and Hawks Cay Marketplace. The property is located at mile marker 61 oceanside on the Overseas Highway. Visit hawkscayresort.com or call 855-395-5539.

In Marathon, Faro Blanco Resort, located at 1996 Overseas Highway and known for its historic lighthouse guiding guests to the property since the 1950s, is planning renovations to the 125-unit hotel and grounds to include an expanded waterpark-pool area with waterslide, Tiki bar and cabanas. Its adjoining 74-slip marina, accommodating vessels between 35 and 140 feet, has been purchased by Suntex Marinas of Dallas, Texas. Marina guests have access to most of Faro Blanco's outdoor amenities. Visit faroblancoresort.com or call 305-743-1234.

Marathon's newest large resort, the 24-acre, 199-unit Isla Bella Beach Resort, at mile marker 47 at Marathon's Seven Mile Bridge, has more than 20,000 square feet of function space, including a 3,800-square-foot Hibiscus Event Center and 16,000 square feet of outdoor space. Nearly a mile of shoreline includes an oceanfront event area. There's a marina, a 4,000-square-foot spa, five pools and F&B venues that include the Polynesian-inspired restaurant, Mahina, with upscale Pacific Rim cuisine flavored with Japanese, Korean, Polynesian and Micronesian influences.
Visit islabellabeachresort.com or call 305-481-9451.

In the Lower Keys, the ultraluxe Little Palm Island Resort & Spa is located on a secluded private island off Little Torch Key. The exclusive adults-only property offers 2,480 total square feet of oceanview meeting and event space including the 1,080-square-foot Sunset Terrace, 450-square-foot Sunrise Terrace and 950-square-foot Great Room. Venues can be one space or separate. Visitors can arrive by seaplane or the resort's private boat, The Truman. The property's shore station is at 285000 Overseas Highway. Visit littlepalmisland.com or call 305-684-8341.

The 20-acre Oceans Edge Key West Hotel & Marina, with a recent multimillion-dollar renovation, has 175 suites and rooms, each offering waterfront balconies, ranging from 382 to 575 square feet. Outdoor event space overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and oceanside marina can accommodate up to 100 people for receptions or events. The Yellowfin Bar and Grill, with waterfront views, offers dock-to-dish dining and state-of-the-art retractable walls. It's located at 5950 Peninsular Ave. on Stock Island. Visit oceansedgekeywest.com or call 305-809-8242.

The 219-room Kimpton Key West collection's Ridley House, with 23 king rooms including two suites at 601 Caroline St., and Ella's Cottages, with 22 rooms at 811 Simonton St., are ideal for group buyouts. Kimpton's three other boutique properties include the 45-unit Lighthouse Hotel at 902 Whitehead St., offering a group setting with a historic backdrop for an intimate outdoor dinner or welcome party; the 44-room Fitch Lodge at 1030 Eaton St.; and the 85-room Winslow's Bungalows at 725 Truman Ave., the collection's largest with three pools. Each of Kimpton's five pet-friendly Old Town resorts offers continental breakfast, complimentary bikes, hammocks and its own pool. Visit kimptonkeywest.com or call 877-219-4500.

The rebranded 178-room waterfront Opal Key Resort & Marina, part of the Opal Collection Hotels & Resorts and formerly known as Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina, is located in the heart of downtown Key West, adjacent to Mallory Square at 245 Front St. The resort, with 6,000 square feet of indoor and 10,000 square feet of outdoor function space, is home to a full-service 37-slip marina with watersports, outdoor and indoor dining options, waterside shops and live entertainment. Visit opalcollection.com or call 305-294-4000.

Sunset Key Cottages, on the island of Sunset Key just 500 yards off Key West, offer 40 Key West–style individual two-, three- and four-bedroom cottages, accessible by 24-hour ferry service - a seven-minute cruise - from the dock at sister resort Opal Key Resort & Marina. Guests receive a daily complimentary breakfast basket with fresh muffins and bakery goodies and are invited to participate in "Up Spirits" daily from 4:30-5 p .m. for a complimentary daily ration of white or golden rum. In addition, a "conch cruiser" delivers daily afternoon ice cream. Meetings can utilize space at Opal Key, with 6,000 square feet of indoor and more than 10,000 feet of outdoor function space. Latitudes Restaurant at Sunset Key offers both al fresco beachfront and indoor dining overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Groups are bookings of five or more cottages. Visit sunsetkeycottages.com or call 855-335-1009.

The 222-room Marriott Key West Beachside, with 129 one-, two- and three-bedroom suites, offers Key West's largest ballroom at 5,673 square feet, in-house audiovisual equipment and an outdoor event patio for 140. With nearly 10,000 square feet of meeting space, the property incorporates seven breakout rooms. A 16-slip dock and pier can accommodate boats for fishing and excursions up to a maximum 40-foot length and 13-foot beam. It's located at 3841 N. Roosevelt Blvd. Visit keywestmarriott.com or call 305-296-8100.

The three-story,186-suite Margaritaville Beach House Key West, formerly the Barbary Beach House Key West, opened Nov. 15. The new property, Key West's only Margaritaville resort, includes a Tin Cup Chalice Bar & Chill venue, bar concepts, lagoon-style pool, 24-hour fitness center, expanded retail outlet space, 4,000 square feet of meeting space and family-friendly activities. Amenities include complimentary welcome frozen cocktails, daily poolside refreshments including fruit smoothies and popsicles, concierge service, complimentary airport pickup and drop off, and nonmotorized watersports. The resort, allowing dogs under 30 pounds for a fee, is located across from Smathers Beach at 2001 S. Roosevelt Blvd. Visit MargaritavilleBeachHouseKeyWest.com or call 866-237-5022.

The legendary 311-room Casa Marina Key West has hosted generations of business tycoons, artists and dignitaries. With more than 11,000 square feet of event space, including the 3,080-square-foot historic Flagler's Ballroom, the resort boasts the largest meeting space in Key West. All-inclusive group packages include the outdoor Sun Sun Beach Bar & Grill. Hybrid meetings through Encore, an event services company, offer both virtual and in-person options for meetings and groups. The resort features Hilton EventReady with CleanStay program. It's located at 1500 Reynolds St. Visit casamarinaresort.com or call 305-296-3535.

The 150-room The Reach Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton has 18,000 square feet of outdoor event space and over 4,000 square feet of indoor event space. Oceanfront venues include a gazebo that juts over the Atlantic Ocean, which can be set up as a boardroom, and the 3,024-square-foot Palms Lawn in its center courtyard. All-inclusive group packages include the on-site signature Four Marlins Oceanfront Dining restaurant. Sand sculptor Marianne van den Broek offers group sand-sculpting workshops, and Barefoot Billy's has jet ski and coral reef exploration tours. The resort features Hilton's EventReady with CleanStay program. It's located at 1435 Simonton St. Visit reachresort.com or call 305-296-5000.

Florida Keys meetings information: fla-keys.com/meeting-planners/
Florida Keys visitor information: fla-keys.com or 1-800-FLA-KEYS
Social: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube • Pinterest • TikTok • Keys Voices Blog

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Florida Keys' Five Distinct Destinations Are a World Away

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 10:52:00 +0100

FLORIDA KEYS – The dazzling archipelago of the Florida Keys, sometimes called America's Caribbean, is a subtropical meetings getaway that requires no passport, no customs clearance and no currency exchange.

"If you're seeking the exotic beauty of an offshore location, the allure of nature-based activities to entice participants or island-style relaxation under the Caribbean sun, the Florida Keys offer the perfect antidote for the 'been there, done that' meeting," said Jack Meier, group sales manager for the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.

The 125-mile-long chain of islands is picturesquely framed by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay to the west. Much of the Keys is pristinely protected in national and state parks, wildlife refuges and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, encompassing the continental United States' only living coral barrier reef.

Clients can fly into Key West from major U.S. cities. Airlines Allegiant, American, Delta, JetBlue, Silver and United operate more than 20 nonstop U.S. routes into Key West International Airport. Many group participants, however, opt to fly into mainland South Florida and drive the famed Florida Keys Overseas Highway, or the Highway that Goes to Sea, to enjoy funky waterfront dining venues and attractions.

Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine & the Lower Keys and Key West all have unique offerings for meetings, typically with 15 to 100 participants.

The northernmost island, Key Largo, is often called the Dive Capital of the World and shelters some of Florida's most diverse botanical eco-systems.

Islamorada, with six islands, is known as the Sport Fishing Capital of the World. In addition, its Morada Way Arts & Cultural District delights those who enjoy fine art galleries.

Family-oriented Marathon offers marine attractions such as the Turtle Hospital, the world's first state-licensed veterinary hospital for sea turtles, the acclaimed Dolphin Research Center and Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters.

Big Pine & the Lower Keys' small islands are home to scenic Bahia Honda State Park and the National Key Deer Refuge.

The legendary destination of Key West features a renowned historic district with more than 3,000 preserved wooden structures.

It also offers an artistic heritage and a literary legacy forever tied to writer Ernest Hemingway, who lived and wrote on the island in the 1930s. Visual artists have flocked there since John James Audubon visited in 1832, inspired by ever-changing subtropical light. And few visitors miss Key West's Mallory Square, where stunning sunsets are celebrated nightly.

Florida Keys visitor information: fla-keys.com or 1-800-FLA-KEYS
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Unconventional Florida Keys Venues Make Meetings Memorable

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 10:50:00 +0100

FLORIDA KEYS – In the Florida Keys, meetings can be hosted at off-beat, unconventional venues: a tucked-away waterfront restaurant with views of a setting sun sinking into the sea, a one-of-a-kind marine attraction or at the home of a renowned literary legend.

Unique and unusual venues can be booked throughout the Keys.

At Bud N' Mary's Fishing Marina, a 10,000-square-foot steel building is positioned on the Atlantic Ocean with about 5,000 square feet available for Islamorada events. It's decorated with funky Keys nautical and sportfishing gear. An onsite kitchen and chef provide dining options. Visit budnmarys.com or call 305-664-2461.

Pierre's Lounge & Restaurant at Morada Bay, a two-story colonial Plantation-style venue in Islamorada, hosts upstairs meetings overlooking Morada Bay's palm-lined beach and the Florida Bay. Upstairs, a 903-square-foot main dining room can be configured in conference-, classroom-, hollow square- or U shape-style. A 525-square-foot VIP Room can be used for breaks and a main meal. French Fusion cuisine can be group-customized. Visit MoradaBay.com or call 305-664-8414.

Robbie's Marina is a popular Islamorada waterfront hub, nestled among coconut trees on Florida Bay with eclectic outdoor vendors. Planners can charter a party boat fishing trip for groups. The onsite, old Keys-style Hungry Tarpon Restaurant cooks up the catch for a fresh fish meal. Participants can even feed resident tarpon. Visit robbies.com or call 305-664-8070.

Theater of the Sea in Islamorada offers dolphin and sea lion shows for up to 200 for private evening events. Customized options include a private tour of marine life exhibits, parrots for photographs or a choreography of dolphin behaviors added to music. Visit theaterofthesea.com or call 305-664-2431.

Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key near Marathon offers group activities based on interests and time available at the non-profit facility that's home to bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions. Private tours, research sessions or interactive dolphin experiences and question and answer sessions with an educator can be booked. Planners can buy out the center for private group events for up to 200. A director of guest services helps to plan visits that can include an onsite picnic. Visit dolphins.org or call 305-289-1121, ext. 239.

In Key West, the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, a registered National Historic Landmark, is a Spanish colonial villa where famed author and Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote some of his most famous works in the 1930s. The grounds are available for up to 100 guests. Private house tours can be arranged as part of the event. Visit hemingwayhome.com or call 305-294-1136.

The Studios of Key West, housed in a Deco-style former Scottish Rite Masonic Center, offers a 200-seat, 2,175-square-foot professional theater, contemporary art gallery, nine studios and two classrooms. Meeting venues include the theater, classrooms that measure about 600 square feet each, and a 1,500-square-foot gallery for receptions. There's also a rooftop garden for outdoor receptions and sunset viewings. Visit tskw.org or call 305-296-0458.

In Key West, the Harry S. Truman Little White House, Florida's only presidential museum, first served as the winter White House of President Harry S. Truman in 1946 and was a Cold War response site by later presidents. It also was the naval station's command headquarters during the Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II. The house has also hosted former presidents Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Visit trumanlittlewhitehouse.com or call 305-294-9911.

The Tennessee Williams Theatre, named for playwright Tennessee Williams, is ideal for multi-day conferences or single-day workshops. The facility's main theater seats 481. The cabaret lobby, with about 4,000 square feet, seats 150 with café table configuration or 200 with theater seating. Visit tennesseewilliamstheatre.org or call 305-296-1520.

Florida Keys visitor information: fla-keys.com or 1-800-FLA-KEYS
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03/22

Key Lime Pie Shines as the Signature Dish of the Florida Keys

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 10:44:00 +0100

FLORIDA KEYS - Few people visit the Florida Keys without sampling a few slices of Key lime pie. Just as New York is famed for its thin-crust pizza, New Orleans for its beignets and Alaska for its king crab, the island chain is known for Key lime pie.

The signature dessert is made from the Key lime, a fruit indigenous to the Florida Keys that's smaller and rounder than the Persian limes typically found in grocery stores. Millions of slices of the tart, creamy pie - voted the official pie of the state of Florida by the state legislature in 2006 - are savored every year by Keys visitors and locals.

According to the owner of Key West's Curry Mansion Inn, a woman named Aunt Sally, the cook for estate owner William Curry, made the first Key lime pie. Key West historian Tom Hambright, on the other hand, surmises that Aunt Sally likely perfected a delicacy created by area fishermen.

While the pie's exact birthdate and creator are unknown, most people believe it originated in Key West in the late 19th century - predating refrigeration and the Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad that brought fresh ingredients like milk to the island at high speed.

Recipes for the original Key lime pie did not require refrigeration or baking. Instead, the acid in the Key lime juice reacted chemically with the other ingredients, a process called souring, and "cooked" the pie.

Key lime pie's primary ingredients are sweetened condensed milk, egg yolks and the juice of the tiny yellow Key lime. These limes are unique in both their tartness and distinctive small size. The egg yolks give the pie a yellowish coloring and, contrary to what some believe, green pies are not authentic.

The cool, smooth-textured filling is typically nestled in a crust made from graham crackers and butter, and the pie is smothered in whipped cream or topped with meringue. The controversy over which topping is better has raged for decades in the Keys.

Those who adhere to the motto "waste not, want not," use the leftover egg whites to create a tall meringue topping. Whipped cream supporters may derive their preference from the pie's early days, when cows were kept on nearby Stock Island and milk products had to be consumed quickly due to lack of refrigeration.

A good Florida Keys Key lime pie should be naturally tart and stiff, standing up well on a plate yet still looking and feeling creamy.

Today, Key lime pie can be found in many forms throughout the island chain - dipped in chocolate and frozen on a stick at Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe and other emporiums, deep-fried at Burdines Waterfront eatery in Marathon or even mixed with multiple seasonal flavors. Each spot places its individual hallmark on the creation.

Florida Keys dining information: fla-keys.com/food-drink/
Florida Keys visitor information: fla-keys.com or 1-800-FLA-KEYS
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Meetings in the Florida Keys are Unconventionally Unforgettable

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 12:47:00 +0100

FLORIDA KEYS - Though they might have a subtropical island atmosphere, the Florida Keys & Key West off the southern tip of the Florida mainland are easily accessible for meetings and groups.

"We're finding that smaller meetings and incentive groups, typically ranging from about 35 to 80 attendees, are eager to experience our all-new properties throughout the Keys from Key Largo to Key West," said Jack Meier, destination sales manager for the Keys' Monroe County Tourist Development Council.

Events throughout the 125-mile-long island chain can be creatively customized to include experiential, immersive, innovative and unconventional activities that merge work with play and unforgettable memories.

"Planners can be assured that what's new down here blends seamlessly with the Keys' popular established offerings and old-island flavor," Meier said. "Where else can small meetings or groups experience such a wide array of eco-activities, offshore island fishing, sustainable seafood and fascinating history and culture?"

Among new offerings:

Keys Transportation

For private jet clients, a new 3,000-square-foot, two-story Marathon Jet Center, located at 8800 Overseas Highway on the west side of Florida Keys Marathon International Airport, is scheduled to open by summer as a full-service fixed-base operator. The facility is to include a 5,808-foot-long runway to accommodate most private jets including a Gulfstream G650, a pilot lounge, flight planning area, snack bar and exterior elevator to access a second-floor passenger lounge and outdoor viewing decks.The Marathon airport is a general aviation facility with no commercial passenger service. Visit Marathonjetcenter.com or call 305-743-1995.

Key West International Airport, serving visitors traveling to the Florida Keys from 13 U.S. cities, is implementing $28 million in upgrades. Enhancements include additional seating, a new family restroom and a pet relief station; modernizing baggage conveyors and renovating restrooms and U.S. Customs and Border Protection space. Additional improvements include a runway length and taxiway extension to 5,075 feet, an overflow aircraft parking ramp, a new elevated maintenance storage facility, reconfiguration of the fuel truck delivery area and a new access road to fixed-base and general aviation operations. Visit eyw.com or call 305-809-5200.

On Feb. 15 American Airlines is to launch new seasonal nonstop weekly service on Saturdays between Key West International Airport and Massachusetts' Boston Logan International Airport on 76-passenger Embraer E175 regional jets, with seating for 64 main cabin and 12 first-class passengers. The service, American's first into the Florida Keys from Boston, is to run through May 2. Meanwhile, American's second daily nonstop flight on a 128-seat Airbus A319 into Key West from Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport is to continue through April 1. American also flies to Key West from Philadelphia International Airport and from New York City's LaGuardia Airport. Visit American Airlines at aa.com or call 800-433-7300, or visit Key West International Airport at eyw.com.

Keys Accommodations

The 12-acre luxury inclusive, adults-only 135-unit Bungalows Key Largo at mile marker 99 bayside is the Florida Keys' only all-inclusive resort for guests 21 and older. The resort is available for group buyouts for activities such as retreats and can accommodate groups up to 30. Bungalows average 900 square feet and include two Huffy cruiser bikes, a bougainvillea-draped veranda, oversized alfresco soaking tub and garden shower. The resort offers three restaurants, two on-site bars and two six-seat floating Tiki boats. A full-service Zen Garden Spa features a Himalayan salt room and eucalyptus steam room. All-inclusive rates include lodging, 24-hour golf cart pickup and drop-off, food, premium beverages, water toys and activities such as morning yoga, cooking and mixology classes, sunset happy hours, fish fries and pig roasts. Visit BungalowsKeyLargo.com or call 866-801-0195.

Baker's Cay Resort Key Largo, Curio Collection by Hilton, has unveiled a Dock to Dish tour to showcase its local seafood initiative. Guests can take a voyage with Sea Monkey Charters with options to explore deep water, backcountry or nighttime lobster netting to pursue the most abundant and sustainable catch of the day. A resort chef then guides guests through cooking methods used and includes fresh herbs handpicked from the resort's rooftop garden. Visit bakerscay.com/activities or call 305-852-5553.

In Islamorada, the 24-acre, 114-room Islander Resort at mile marker 82.1 oceanside has installed 1,948 solar panels - the largest solar installation in the Florida Keys - on 15 of its buildings as a GreenHotels.com partner. Cottage-style units feature sleek, contemporary décor with screened lanais and upscale in-room amenities. The Islander Conference Center includes state-of-the-art facilities and overlooks the property's oceanfront Great Lawn. Watersports, massage and wellness services, two pools, a hot tub and a family splash pad are among resort offerings. Dining includes Elements Lounge & Restaurant and the casual poolside Tides Beachside Bar & Grill. Visit islanderfloridakeys.com or call 305-664-2031.

In Islamorada, the 214-room, 27-acre oceanfront Cheeca Lodge & Spa has added a third pool and second open-air Tiki bar, offering more than 4,600 total square feet of versatile space and a Tahitian-style Spa Island with six outdoor venues. The Bougainvillea Ballroom, the property's largest meeting space, has 12-foot ceilings and 2,100 square feet for up to 150 attendees. Its 1,900-square-foot Sunrise Ballroom and Oceanfront Terrace on the lodge's second floor hosts meetings for up to 110. Groups can enjoy a sunrise breakfast on a 39-foot motor catamaran or a custom event on nearby Indian Key. Cheeca Lodge is located at 81801 Overseas Highway. Visit cheeca.com or call 866-348-7053 or 305-712-7166.

The 60-acre Hawks Cay Resort on Duck Key incorporates 20,000 square feet of waterfront meeting space with two ballrooms. Its 5,733-square-foot Dolphin Ballroom can accommodate up to 480. The resort features an additional 28,000 square feet of open-air venues throughout the property. Team-building activities include welcome receptions, sunrise yoga, swimming with a pod of resident bottlenose dolphins, pool parties, sunset cruises, fishing excursions, boat charters and farewell brunches. The Preferred Hotel Group Lifestyle Collection and AAA Four Diamond Award–rated resort offers 177 hotel guest rooms and 250 two- and three-bedroom villas. Dining venues include Angler and Ale, the waterfront marina restaurant, Sixty-one Prime and the new Hawks Cay Marketplace. The Oasis Cay adults-only area also offers a grill and bar serving specialty drinks. Visit hawkscayresort.com or call 855-395-5539.

Marathon's 24-acre, all-new 199-unit Isla Bella Beach Resort, located at the Seven Mile Bridge oceanside at mile marker 47, is the Florida Keys' newest AAA Four Diamond property. The resort offers 24,000 square feet of event space including a 4,000-square-foot Hibiscus Center for meetings of 25 to 300, covered patio areas, three banquet rooms, five pools, four food and beverage concepts, a 1,000-square-foot fitness center, a full-service marina and a sunset pier. Two custom MOKE beach cruisers can be creatively incorporated into events. A 4,000-square-foot spa has five treatment rooms, a spa lounge and a couples' massage room. Dining venues include Il Postino, an oceanfront Neapolitan-style Italian restaurant; The Beach Bar; The Burger Palace and Manatee Bay Marketplace, a waterfront cafe with shopping. Bocce, hammocks, oversized chess, fire pits, complimentary bicycles, watersports and guided fishing expeditions are on-site. Visit islabellabeachresort.com or call 844-885-4706.

In the Lower Keys, the 5.5-acre Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, part of the Noble House Hotels & Resorts collection and located just off Little Torch Key, is scheduled to reopen March 1 with 15 redesigned thatched-roof bungalows, some with outdoor copper soaking tubs and private outdoor showers. There are 30 total suites and 2,480 square feet of meeting and event space with ocean views. Flexible space includes the 1,080-square-foot Sunset Terrace, 450-square-foot Sunrise Terrace and 950-square-foot Great Room for small, incentive or corporate executive retreats. The Dining Room is to offer full moon dinners and wine maker events. A fully restored Monkey Hut lounge and Palapa Bar also will be unveiled. The resort's spa is to feature a two-story atrium with carved architectural details and handcrafted tile fountain. Private cabanas have been added to the oceanfront pool area. The resort is open to adults 18 and older. Access to the ultraluxury resort is at 28500 Overseas Highway. Visit littlepalmisland.com or call 800-343-8567.

The Kimpton Key West collection, scheduled to be unveiled in February, is to include five boutique properties located in Old Town Key West. The collection, located steps from Duval Street, will feature a total of 219 rooms with contemporary and colorful island decor. Kimpton Key West will feature outdoor venues for welcome receptions, intimate dinner parties and farewell brunches for outside catering. For team-building activities, Kimpton can organize activities with local partners for private sunset cruises, cigar rolling, brewery tours or scavenger hunts. Each property is within walking distance of Key West nightlife, dining, shopping and museums. Visit https://www.ihg.com/kimptonhotels/content/us/en/stay/boutique-hotels-in-key-west or call 877-219-4500.

The Perry Hotel Key West, located at 7001 Shrimp Road on Stock Island, showcases new event space for groups of 50 to 500. With more than 10,000 square feet, the expanded space includes an event lawn with a raised stage, a second waterfront pool and a rum distillery. The property's third food and beverage outlet, The Barrel House, features a VIP Terrace. At the adjacent Stock Island Marina Village, an additional 40 new boat slips bring the total to 264. With the expansions, The Perry Hotel and Stock Island Marina Village offer harbor-view accommodations, three waterfront restaurants, new event space, water activities and on-site boarding for sunset yacht excursions. Visit perrykeywest.com/meetings-and-events or call 305-269-1717.

On Stock Island, the 20-acre Oceans Edge Key West Hotel & Marina recently completed a multimillion-dollar renovation. The property features 175 suites and rooms, each offering waterfront balconies and ranging from 382 to 575 square feet. Oceans Edge offers outdoor event space overlooking the on-site marina, with 111 wet and 52 dry slips, which can be utilized for meal functions, receptions and weddings. The Yellowfin Bar and Grill, with dock-to-dish dining and state-of-the-art retractable walls, also has group space. Oceans Edge is located at 5950 Peninsular Ave. Visit oceansedgekeywest.com or call 305-809-8242.

The 216-room Marriott Key West Beachside offers Key West's largest ballroom at 5,673 square feet, and a new outdoor event patio for 140 has been added. With nearly 10,000 square feet of meeting space, the property incorporates seven breakout rooms. A 16-slip dock and pier accommodate boats for fishing and excursions and those with a maximum 40-foot length and 13-foot beam. The property also accommodates in-house audiovisual requirements for meetings. Marriott Key West Beachside is located at 3841 N. Roosevelt Blvd. Visit keywestmarriott.com or call 305-296-8100.

The 150-room The Reach Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton, is Key West's first Curio Collection resort and is located at 1435 Simonton St. The Reach can accommodate up to 300 with over 4,000 square feet of indoor event space and an additional 18,000 square feet of outdoor event space including a gazebo over the Atlantic Ocean. The resort features an Escape Room Experience in partnership with Key West Room Escape. A new Four Marlins Restaurant with waterfront views is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Outdoor amenities include a pool and a bocce ball court. A state-of-the-art fitness center has Peloton spin bikes. On-site vendors at the resort are sand sculptor Marianne van den Broek, offering sand sculpting workshops for groups, and Barefoot Billy's, with a range of jet ski and coral reef exploration tours. Visit reachresort.com or call 305-296-5000.

Keys Attractions and Experiences

On Summerland Key, Mote Marine Laboratory's Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research and Restoration (IC2R3) can customize group tours and coral restoration activities for divers. The Lower Keys center has complimentary public tours, geared toward those interested in learning about the science behind coral restoration, from 10-11 a.m. each Tuesday. Reservations are encouraged but not required. Mote also offers a new "Reef Revival" program, enabling novice and expert divers to experience hands-on reef restoration in partnership with Captain Hook's Marina and Dive Center with locations in Marathon, Big Pine Key and Key West. Mote has planted over 75,000 coral fragments along about 130 acres of Florida's coral reef. The center also is identifying, growing and restoring coral genetic varieties resilient to disease and climate change impact threats. The center is located at 24244 Overseas Highway. Visit mote.org or call 305-745-2729.

In Key West, the Audubon House & Tropical Gardens has unveiled an interactive, educational and "Instagrammable" Audubon Experience in a room of brightly colored artwork paying homage to artist John James Audubon, who visited Key West in 1832. Walls are covered in hand-painted wallpaper displaying colorful flowers and tropical birds. Miami preservationists Mitchell Wolfson and wife Frances purchased and restored the Audubon House, built between 1846 and 1849, saving it from demolition and opened it in 1960. The newly designed room was created to encourage a new generation of visitors to explore and learn about Key West's vibrant history. Visit audubonhouse.com, @AudubonHouseKeyWest or #LiveYourWildLife. Call 305-294-2116.

At the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory, known as the United States' only butterfly facility housing flamingos, evening "Twilight Tours" are available for groups. Avid lovers of pink flamingos, meanwhile, can "Flamingle" with Rhett and Scarlett, an 8-year-old male and female breeding pair. Groups up to six can get up close and personal with the flamingos, although the pair does not socialize during evening group events. Flamingle participants are not allowed to touch the flamingos but can communicate with them, sitting in a white gazebo overlooking the lushly planted conservatory's pond while Rhett and Scarlett strut freely, interacting as they choose. Encounters take place at 4:45 p.m. daily. Visit keywestbutterfly.com or call 305-296-2988, ext. 11.

The Hemingway Rum Co. Distillery in Key West hosts private groups of up to 275 people and plans to unveil a new 2,400-square-foot event center late this spring. The 8,200-square-foot attraction also is to kick off evening "Papa's Cocktail Classes" in February with a distillery tour, tasting, class and glass. Classes are to be offered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Once a tobacco warehouse, the venue houses the Papa's Pilar Rum production facility, experience center, tasting room and trading post. A 350-gallon still produces up to 80 gallons of rum daily from molasses, yeast and water. Thirty-minute tours are offered from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at the facility, located at 201 Simonton St. Visit papaspilar.com or call 305-414-8754.

Why bar hop in Key West when you can hop on a bar with your group? Cruisin' Tikis Key West offers Tiki bar–style cruises run by Coast Guard–trained captains on six-passenger boats with a cruising speed of 4-6 mph. Guests can bring their own adult beverages; bottled water, sodas and a cooler with ice are provided. Tours include sunset, Garrison Bight, seaport, bar stop, eco and sandbar fun cruises. Cruises depart from Stock Island's Hurricane Hole, 5100 Overseas Highway, or in Key West from Mellow Ventures, 1605 N. Roosevelt Blvd. or Schooner Wharf's dock, 202 William St. Visit cruisintikiskeywest.com or call 833-845-4759.

Key West First Legal Rum Distillery offers complimentary mojito-making classes with private room rentals for groups of five to 20. Also, free classes are Monday through Friday at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 4:30 p.m. Distillery owner Paul Menta teaches guests the secrets of an authentic mojito, billed as "the best mojito north of Havana, Cuba." With reservations, friends and groups can also blend and label a celebratory bottle of rum. Locally crafted treats include rum Key lime and rum coconut Key lime pies and rum cakes. Soon to be launched are three new rum-champagne spirits: Rum Key West Sparking, Key West Mermaid Spirit and Key West Mermaid Ratafia. The distillery is located at 105 Simonton St. Visit keywestlegalrum.com or call 305-294-1441.

Key West Food Tours offers a new The Hemingway Experience tour for groups of eight to 30. The 3.5-hour tour covers a mile of walking and retraces author Ernest Hemingway's steps around Old Town with two food tastings, two cocktails (including a Papa Doble daiquiri), and a Papa's Pilar rum sampling. The tour includes guided entrance into the legendary author's former home, now the Hemingway Home & Museum, Hemingway Rum Co. distillery to sample Papa's Pilar Rum, El Meson de Pepe to sample Cuban food, Old Town Bakery to sample Key lime pie, and Sloppy Joe's Bar. Hemingway lived and wrote in Key West during the 1930s. Visit keywestfoodtours.com or call 305-570-2010.

Up the Keys Eco Tours has created two new tours, a "volun-tour" and a yoga tour, enabling groups to experience the Keys' unique environment for a day. The operator has teamed up with the nonprofit volunteer "Conch Republic Marine Army" and Big Pine Kayak Adventures for a guided tour and kayak excursion. Visitors can learn about the Lower Keys' history, culture, ecology and Key deer, plant mangrove seedlings and pick up debris. Guided tours leave Key West with door-to-door service in air-conditioned 15-passenger vans. Up The Keys also has added a Yoga Excursion featuring instruction at an off-the-beaten-path location with a certified yoga instructor, hotel pickup and yoga mat for a minimum of six guests. Visit upthekeys.com/voluntourism or upthekeys.com/yoga or call 305-587-5575.

Florida Keys meetings information: fla-keys.com/meeting-planners/
Florida Keys visitor information: fla-keys.com or 1-800-FLA-KEYS
Social: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Youtube • Keys Voices blog

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