Collier County Welcomes You to Paradise
If you have to meet, why not do it in paradise? That’s the mindset that sells a location like Collier County, Florida. Situated along the state’s Southwest “Paradise Coast,” this region’s top sites are Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades. Together, these three destinations offer meeting planners a diversity that’s the perfect backdrop for corporate groups, association meetings and incentive trips.
“Naples is a very upscale yet welcoming Gulfside city, with a pedestrian-friendly downtown perfect for evening dine-arounds, shopping, browsing art galleries, etc.,” says Jonell Modys, PR/Communications Manager for the area’s Convention Visitors Bureau. “Marco Island’s resorts sit on a four-mile white sand crescent-shaped beach. There’s great diversity in choices for team activities and recreation, including golf and fishing tournaments staged for attendees, great shopping, beautiful sightseeing tours by boat for both large and small groups and a variety of nature-based activities.”
While those attractions certainly fit most any meeting audience, there are some special features of Collier County that will appeal specifically to SMERF audiences. For example, Ave Maria is an innovative town built around the new Ave Maria University. “The cathedral at the University will surely become an attraction for religious, particularly Catholic, groups,” Modys says.
Educators will learn much about the environment by booking tours of the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. “Audubon’s beautiful nature preserve has a 2.25 mile boardwalk through the nation’s last old growth bald cypress forest, one of the best bird watching spots in the country,” Modys explains. In addition, there’s an educational component to the Everglades National Park Gulf Coast Visitor Center, which is located in Everglades City.
SMERF organizations will also score points with members by planning a day out on the water with Wooten’s. This airboat tour operator offers large boats for groups and swamp buggy tours, as well as an animal park with large alligators and crocodiles.
Finally, one of Collier County’s newest features, the Naples Big Cypress marketplace, is an excellent venue for events. Big Cypress features an indoor flea market with more than 100 retail vendors, a food court with entertainment stage and second-floor mezzanine seating, an outdoor produce market and Tiki Bar, a winery and a large event center. A 14,000-square-foot EXPO event center can be rented for trade shows, parties and other large gatherings.
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