Got Meetings? Try these Off-Season Crowd Pleasers

Do you have a meeting to plan? An event to arrange? A wedding? A tête-à-tête between CEOs and executives to configure?  While meetings and conferences are getting back into action now all over the globe, sometimes the best venue choices are not what you would expect. Consider these more out of the way resorts in off seasons for the best rates, amenities, flexibility and availability. 

Fort Worth, TX
Low-season: Summer

As the fastest growing city and 12^th largest in the United States, Fort Worth has become a top destination for meetings and events thanks to its central convention center right downtown, access to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, world-class museums like the Kimbell, state-of-the-art event venues like the new Dickies Arena, and its rich Western culture in the recently revitalized Stockyards District. Meeting planners find more value in the summer when traffic and hotel rates dip (hotel rates by about 7%), with an endless and diverse selection of hotels for meetings, including the Omni Fort Worth and The Worthington Renaissance right downtown. and Hotel Drover, a new Western-chic Autograph Collection in the Stockyards District.

Scottsdale, AZ 
Low-season: Summer 

Summertime marks Scottsdale’s off-season where the best deals are available making it an ideal time to plan a budget-friendly meeting or event. Perched 2,500 feet above the rugged Sonoran Desert in a certified Dark Sky Community, ADERO Scottsdale offers more than16,800 square feet of versatile indoor and outdoor meeting space across six multi-functional venues. Groups can spread out and enjoy the feeling of a semi-private experience due to lower foot traffic on-site, in addition to the latest A/V technology and amenities that foster connectivity. The 177-key resort includes 16 oversized suites, three dining concepts, two swimming pools, a 5,300 square-foot fitness facility, adjacent SunRidge Canyon Golf Club and easy access to 55,000 acres of desert-inspired activities perfect for off-the-beaten-path team building exercises.  

St. Petersburg, FL
Low-season: Fall

The laidback Gulf Coast city of St. Petersburg sees occupancy rates drop from mid-August to December, and boasts endless activities to explore during free time (hello ‘bleisure’!), including world-class museums like The Dali Museum and Chihuly Collection, and up-and-coming bars and restaurants on the new St. Pete Pier. For a central and picturesque meeting venue right downtown, the historic Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club boasts over 60,000 square feet of event space, including four sophisticated ballrooms, 36 meeting rooms and three separate outdoor spaces usable almost the entire year in Florida’s sunny weather. Attendees can take advantage of The Vinoy’s luxury amenities, including a championship-grade golf course, private marina, two outdoor pools and waterfront restaurant, Paul’s Landing if they don’t want to leave the resort. The Vinoy is also undergoing renovations slated to complete next year, which will bring a refreshed and modern touch to the resort’s meeting spaces, guest rooms, lobby and more. Plus, sticky Florida temperatures turn to pleasant highs in the 80s in September and October, so meetings attendees can also extend their summer just a bit longer. 

Nassau, Bahamas 
Low-season: Summer 

Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau – Opening just last summer just steps away from the local beach and cruise port, Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau is perfect for any size gathering and the only resort in the destination with oceant-front meeting rooms. In addition to its 11,600 square feet of indoor meeting and event space, the resort also features the Compass Rose Ballroom complete with 5,000 square feet of space and floor-to-ceiling natural views with a 1,500 square foot pre-function meeting space right outside. Additionally, meeting planners can take advantage of the property’s five function rooms, including an executive boardroom, and more than 40,000 square feet of combined outdoor meeting space.  

Lexington, KY    
Low season: Winter  

Lexington, KY, is an underrated meeting destination, especially during the off-season, when flights are cheaper and more convenient, and the city is less congested. Earlier this year, the Central Bank Center opened, bringing nearly 150,000 square feet of modern, airy meeting and event space to the downtown area. The new center revitalized the already existing Lexington Convention Center and Rupp Arena that, after nearly four decades of use, needed major upgrades to accommodate the increasing demand in Lexington. Featuring a contiguous exhibit hall, ballroom, and an additional 25,000 square feet of meeting space, this Southern gem doubles as a sustainable platform for exhibitions, conventions, shows, public gatherings, and cultural activities. The state-of-the-art facility connects visitors to the unique beauty and history of Kentucky by using localized design elements, such as reclaimed wood from Claiborne Farm (home of the famed Secretariat) for the centerpiece staircase.  

Atlanta, GA  
Low season: Winter  

Plan a meeting or event at the Bellyard in Atlanta during the off-season to avoid congested streets and sweltering summer temperatures. Smaller groups can book 7,000 square feet of nontraditional indoor/outdoor meeting and event space at West Midtown’s newest boutique hotel, Bellyard. The vibrant space encourages groups to feel like they’re part of the energy of Bellyard and Drawbar (the hotel’s restaurant bar and lounge). Meetings become an experience at the outdoor terrace and private courtyard garden with a sunny mural by local artist, Lacey Longino.  

Orlando, FL 
Low Season: Fall 

Early fall in Orlando means cooler temperatures, lighter crowds, and lower rates for conferences and meetings—and the newly reimagined Caribe Royale Orlando is the premier location for an event of any scope and scale. A significant expansion to its event space was debuted as part of its $127 million reimagination, including the addition of the Palms Ballroom, which provides 50,000 square feet of extra event space designed to host large conventions and corporate gatherings. Meeting planners can experience unparalleled event planning flexibility at Caribe Royale’s massive event space—all 220,000 square feet of it!—conveniently located on a single level for ease of navigation and accessibility for all travelers. The resort checks off an extensive wish list for meeting planners looking to create immersive trip experiences with personalized offerings and ample space to welcome guests. Part of the resort’s latest updates include the renovation of its 1,215 one-bedroom suites, which feature a separate living room and bedroom area, along with a dedicated workspace. Event guests will enjoy a plethora of hotel amenities, including five restaurants, one of which is the AAA Four Diamon Venetian Chop House.

Cape Coral, FL
Low Season: Summer 

The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village serves as a Southwest Floridian escape in Tarpon Point Marina with waterfront views of the Gulf of Mexico, Caloosahatchee River and San Carlos Bay. With the summertime off-season making flights less expensive and more convenient, it’s the perfect time to plan a meeting in the scenic destination of Cape Coral. In 2021, Westin Cape Coral unveiled a $15 million renovation to its guest rooms and suites, offering an inventory of 308 accommodations to better cater to its group business vertical. The resort also has 50,000 square feet of event and meeting space, including 11 event rooms, striking banquet halls and outdoor spaces and terraces to accommodate both large and small gatherings, meetings and events. The Tarpon Point Ballroom is the largest space on property with 12,260 square feet of space for up to 1,400 people. 

Hollywood, FL 
Low Season: Summer 

Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort is a destination unto itself with the ambiance of a Caribbean destination. Known for its white sand beaches, turquoise water, and famous Broadwalk, off-season is the ideal time to enjoy Hollywood’s laidback nature, lower costs, and lesser traffic, offering a more lax experience than its neighbors Miami and Fort Lauderdale. The resort offers flexible event space insulated from distractions, featuring 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, 10,000-sf ballroom, seven breakout rooms, and 8,800-sf pre-function area with oceanfront views. Events can be held on the private pool deck overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, at one of the resort’s diverse beachfront restaurants, or private dining room at the award-winning JWB Prime Steakhouse and Seafood. Staff assist in planning by customizing memorable team-building events, indoors, or beachside.