St. Augustine Florida Travel Guide

Planning a successful Florida meeting or business conference is not something that happens overnight. Even after you’ve made the decision to book your event at The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village – the largest hotel and Florida conference center between Atlanta and Orlando – there are still sponsors to gather, speakers to engage and a world of other matters to address. Here are some things to keep in mind.

First, never assume you can handle all the details yourself. As a conference planner, you should make a complete list of everything that must be done and create a planning committee to help you cover all the bases. Naturally, the staff at The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village will help you with all the arrangements and planning here at our world-class meeting hotel and Florida conference center.

Make sure each committee member has specific tasks to accomplish. Each task should be prioritized and have a delivery date to ensure that your Florida conference center event is properly organized. With each member responsible for specific items, there is less chance of being overwhelmed as the date for your Florida event approaches.

Provide exhibitors for the Florida Conference Center with detailed instructions and guidelines well in advance. The staff at The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village will provide you with a simple schematic that indicates where each exhibition booth can be set up, along with information on where to ship the materials and where to pick them up on the day they arrive. This will save everyone a lot of headaches when they arrive at our 40,000 sq. ft. St. John’s Florida Conference Center.

When the planning is done efficiently, it is relatively easy for your organization to host a successful Florida event or business conference. By planning ahead, delegating tasks to an able committee, and processing action items in a logical manner, you are sure to keep the conference planning process manageable. For more information about holding your Florida meeting or conference at The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village, please visit www.worldgolfrenaissance.com/meetings or call 904-940-8000.

Over the past few years, Florida meetings have gotten a bad rap, with many viewing them as “too much fun.” However, all indications show that America is beginning to emerge from the Great Recession. And as the world gets back to the “business of business” – which includes more face-to-face meetings – indications also show that companies are seeking programs that recognize their efforts and re-energize their spirits. And that puts meetings in Florida back on the agenda.

With the “perception” issues of 2009 and 2010 behind us – and the benefits and ROI of face-to-face programs so well-documented – companies have come to realize that there is absolutely no reason why Florida meeting programs shouldn’t provide meaningful content and direction, along with a memorable and enjoyable experience. Florida meetings are not only effective in rewarding their recession-weary staff, they can also be an efficient way to incentivize customers, and gain/retain business.

As the leading Florida Conference Center hotel, holding a face-to-face Florida event at The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village is a smart investment. And because of our world-class amenities and location, we can provide a Florida Meeting Experience that is truly unique.

Our two legendary golf courses – one of which is just steps from our backdoor – provide the perfect opportunity for Florida meeting and incentive groups. Activities like golf outings enable attendees to become more engaged and connected with fellow participants during Florida events. They also help build relationships, encourage interaction between members, and can lead to creative and positive thinking.

And golf is not the only opportunity to enhance your Florida Meeting Experience. The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village is just minutes from St. Augustine’s historical sights and nightlife, the beautiful Atlantic beaches, a variety of eco-excursions, and a plethora of other engaging activities.

To find out more, about creating a unique Florida Meeting Experience at The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village, visit www.worldgolfrenaissance.com/meetings or call our Florida Conference Center sales and services team 904-940-8000.

While many business leaders intuitively understand the value and benefits of face-to-face Florida meetings, it is critical these days to identify the quantifiable return on investment for such programs. The good news is that the value of face-to-face Florida meetings has been confirmed by actual research, and it is indisputable!

The “Return On Investment of U.S. Business Travel” study conducted by Oxford Economics found that face-to-face meetings allow companies to convert 40% of prospective customers, versus just 16% without such a meeting. What’s more, the average company generates 5-20% of new business through conference and tradeshow attendance. As the leading Florida Conference Center hotel, holding a face-to-face Florida meetings at The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village is a smart investment.

The study also showed that each dollar invested in business travel (including Florida meetings) drives approximately $12.50 in sales and $3.80 in profits. Furthermore, the average business would forfeit 17% of its profits in the first year by eliminating business travel, and it would take three years for profits to recover.

Nearly 85% of the corporate executives surveyed perceive Web meetings and teleconferences to be less effective than in-person meetings with prospective customers. And 63% believe virtual meetings are less effective than in-person meetings with current customers.

The survey also found that companies would need to increase an employee’s total base compensation by 8.5% to achieve the same effect of incentive travel, but then would not capture allegiance and pride growth generated through incentive travel programs.

So whether it’s an executive retreat, a tradeshow, or a customer/employee recognition program, planning a face-to-face Florida meeting at The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village – the leading Florida Conference Center hotel – is ROI at its best.