Category: Destinations

What Participants Expect From a Destination Event

You probably have a pretty good picture of what you expect your Florida destination event to be (or at least you will when your event and destination planner is through with you!). But do you know what your participants are expecting?

Looking at event and destination planning from the perspective of the participant is advantageous in planning a successful, well-attended, and memorable Florida destination event. Florida destination and event planners are keen to the expectations of event participants—they should be, it’s their job!

Even though you are not likely to have the in-depth insight into participant expectations that a Florida destination event planner does, it will help you as you work with your partnering destination planner if you know what to plan on behalf of your participants.

Attendees Come Looking For Fun & Learning

Your destination event attendees will come looking for all that Florida is famous for—interest, relaxation, improvement, and entertainment in a great atmosphere.

* A learning experience:

Destination event participants recognize that your Florida event is an opportunity, a learning opportunity. They look forward to coming to your event and learning the skills and techniques that are most valued by your organization.

* Interest:

Participants come to Florida destination events in search of something interesting; yes they want to know what you want them to know, but they also want to learn something of value and interest to them and their future.

* Networking:

As a leader in your organization or industry, you know the value of contacts; destination events are prime opportunities for networking, and participants know it—and they expect to make plenty of contacts that will further their career in your company as well as make their professional life easier!

* Great venues and accommodations:

You wouldn’t attend an event in a dive, and you wouldn’t spend a night in one; neither will your event participants. The right locations and experiences are just as important as what goes on inside them.

* Assistance and support:

Navigating the accommodations, options, events, and itineraries of a Florida destination event can be very complicated. Your participants need people they can turn to for help, and they’ll look to you to provide it.

* Fun and Relaxation:

A time for work and a time for play; destination event participants will come looking for both (another reason Florida is your ideal event destination).

* A unique experience:

Destination event participants don’t want to attend the same show over and over; they want something fresh and new to pique their interest and keep them coming back.

The demands of destination event participants can be pretty high. Meeting those demands requires a lot of time and effort; a company that tries to go it alone often finds themselves floundering. Florida destination event planners have the knowledge and resources to not only know what participants demand of their hosts, but also to manage the large and small details that make or break an event’s success. Destination event professionals know how to pull off unique, stimulating, educational events in a way that leaves participants feeling they have the upper hand.

Not every location is well-suited to meeting the demands of destination event participants. With easy access to a variety of unique venues, entertainment options, and excellent infrastructure to handle transport and accommodations, Florida ranks among the most popular event destination with organizations, and more importantly, with participants.

Things to do in Destin

There is a reason Destin, Florida is one of the top destinations for families. With its warm weather, sandy beaches, reasonably priced restaurants, multiple attractions, and comfortably-sized condos along the coast, Destin is one of the top vacation spots. Located in the northwestern tip of Florida, Destin offers an ideal travel destination for Florida and Georgian residents, as well as vacation travelers throughout the United States.Want to know the best places to visit and eat in Destin, Florida? Feel free to lie in the sun on Destin’s clean, sandy beaches, but if you want places to visit when you are done absorbing the sun’s rays, consider visiting the places listed below. Tours and Activities for the Adventuresome: Below are suggestions regarding activities to do in Destin, Florida.  Southern Star Dolphin & Sunset CruisesSouthern Star offers a two hour tour on its 76 foot glass bottom boat. If you want to see dolphins up close, this is the tour for you. The tour is also great for families with kids–allowing them to drive the boat for a while. Just Chute Me ParasailIf you’ve never gone parasailing, give it a try at Just Chute My Parasail. The view is fantastic, and the adventuresome go all the way–going up 800 feet. People have described parasailing with Just Chute Me Parasail as an incredible experience with a friendly crew. Parasailing also makes a great, memorable date, especially if you are on a romantic vacation in Destin, FL. Suggested Places to Eat: The following are restaurants to check out during your stay in Destin.The Luck Snapper RestaurantThe Lucky Snapper overlooks the Destin Harbor, offering a unique dining experience that overlooks the harbor. This grill and bar restaurant serves crab cakes, popcorn shrimp, catfish, calamari, gator tail and crab legs for the seafood lovers as well as pastas, salads, smoothies and a wide selection or Martinis and Specialty drinks. McGuire’s Irish Pub & BreweryPeople describe McGuire’s as a fun restaurant with huge burgers, generous portions, tasty beer, and a fun atmosphere–all for a reasonable price. When you enter the restaurant, be sure to check out the ceiling, which is covered with over 170,000 dollar bills. The menu includes Martinis, Irish potato skins, Yellow Fin Tuna Steak, Peppercorn Steak, $9.99 steak burgers and Irish ale.Callahan’s Restaurant & DeliThis family-run restaurant offers huge portions and excellent service. Consider ordering their made-to-order sandwiches and taking them on a picnic for lunch. Callahan’s also serves hamburgers, salads and desserts. It’s where all of the locals go for lunch, so go early to avoid the lunch crowd. Places to Spend the Afternoon: The following are places to spend an afternoon in Destin.Silver Sands Factory StoresIf you enjoy shopping, check out the Silver Sands Factory Stores. They have the stores you would find in your average mall, such as Gap, as well as higher end retailers like Saks, Kenneth Cole, Coach and BCBG. There is also a playground at the Factory Stores for kids to play at.Emerald Bay Golf ClubThis championship level, 18-hole course is one of the best in Florida. If you are a golfer looking for a nice course at a good price, check out the Emerald Bay Golf Club. Also, consider staying at a Destin, FL golf resort. Destin History & Fishing MuseumIf the weather outside is less than desirable, check out the Destin History & Fishing Museum. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday and is only $5 for adults and $3 for children. This museum includes a large collection of antique fishing rods and reels, the oldest seine fishing boat still in existence, photographs of early Destin boat captains and exhibits that feature what life was like before electricity in the 1930s.  Gator BeachThis is one of the best attractions in Destin, and best of all–it’s free. This educational site is great for families with kids. At Gator Beach, you can learn about alligators and snakes and see the rare alligator, “Mellow Yellow.” You can even feed the alligators and get a picture holding an alligator at Gator Beach. If you are staying in Destin for more than a week, consider research Gulf Coast vacation rentals online. You may also be able to find a Destin Bed and Breakfast.

Destination Weddings – How To Manage Your Bridal Accessories

If you have planned on a destination wedding, you will definitely need a few bridal accessories to make the occasion more beautiful. Most destination weddings take place with only a few family and friends being invited. The bridal accessories you choosedepends on the destination your wedding will take place in and the kind of wedding you plan on having. People who plan destination wedding usually want to escape the commotion of the city and everyday life and break away from tradition. You will require a few bridal accessories, amonth other things, to make your destination wedding special.
The bridal accessories you require for a destination wedding depends on what type of wedding you are having. For example, tropical clothing would suite a Jamaican wedding along with some a small cake and some lingerie, which usually features as a wedding package included along with your reception dinner and room. There is not much else you will need in terms of bridal accessories. You can announce your wedding by sending out wedding announcements to your family and friends informing them of your upcoming nuptials at the destination that you have chosen. This way you can tell others about your wedding without them having to be there.
You will have to send thank you cards in case you receive gifts. This is perhaps why people prefer destination weddings. All the money that would have been spent on an elaborate and big wedding can now go into a special wedding/honeymoon. Choose a destination that caters to all that you need for a perfect wedding. Another beautiful destination for weddings could be the Rocky Mountains. There are many who simply love the mountains and would do anything to get married there. Here too you will need specific bridal accessories.
You wardrobe will depend on what time of the year you are going and accordingly you have to take fall or winter clothing. Mountains are beautiful for winter weddings and you can even choose to have a theme wedding that all your family members and friends can attend. Your ceremony can over look the valleys and the gullies and this would be simply enchanting. You could have a beautiful chiffon dress with a gentle print pattern and your bouquet can be of wildflowers to signify the wilderness.
For destination weddings, you can either have one where everyone you know can travel to and participate in, or you can fly away to a quite place for a more intimate and cozy wedding. Whichever you choose, don’t forget to take your bridal accessories with you. But you probably wont require much for a destination wedding and you will only have to carry a bit more than your clothes. The wedding party is entirely planned out by the places which offer such weddings. All you need to concern yourself with is going there and enjoying yourself.