Courtesy St. Augustine VCB
St. Augustine, Fla.
When snowstorms hit the northern states, planners’ thoughts turn to Florida. Kathy Catron, director of communications for St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau, collectively marketed as Florida’s Historic Coast, reminds not to forget about fall in her area.
It’s a time when many festivals are held, giving meeting planners built-in evening entertainment for their groups, she said. For example, Oct. 3 to 6, St. Augustine has its Spanish Wine and Food Festival. Throughout October, there’s the Flavors of Florida’s Historic Coast, a dining promotion offered in participating restaurants. “It’s a great time to visit some of our restaurants,” Catron said.
Beginning Nov. 23 and continuing through the holidays, St. Augustine’s historic district is bright with thousands of white lights, creating a magical backdrop for a conference or meeting. It’s so striking that the American Bus Association named the city’s “Night of Lights” a Top 100 Event for 2011.
And fall is a pleasant time to play the area’s best-known sport: golf.
There are 14 golf courses in the area, and Ponte Vedra Beach is home to the PGA Tour.
“Fall is a great time for golf,” Catron said. “Many of the golf courses have incentive pricing.”
For example, TPC Sawgrass, with two public courses, offers a “play and stay” promotion that combines golf and accommodations.
800-653-2489
www.floridashistoriccoast.com
Savannah, Ga.
This elegant Georgia city gives planners the “total package,” said Jeff Hewitt, vice president of business development for Visit Savannah. “Our city is a place to escape, slow down and focus,” he said. “It’s chic and sophisticated with plenty of stories to tell.”
Gordon, of the SFPE, would agree. Her conference guests toured the historic district. “It’s a very interesting city,” said Gordon, who enjoyed learning about Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low and the Underground Railroad.
She also liked the cuisine — and the low fall rates. September and December are prime months for planners with sharp pencils, Hewitt noted.
“The cost was not only appealing to me as an organizer, but it was also appealing to the participants,” said Gordon.
Meeting at the 330,000-square-foot Savannah International Trade and Convention Center puts meeting goers a boat ride away from downtown Savannah and its lush squares, constant green spaces in the coastal city.
In all, there are nearly 4,500 hotel rooms in the Historic District, including the 347-room Hyatt Regency Savannah, where Gordon’s group stayed.
Gordon was impressed with the Hyatt Regency, and Savannah in general. When asked if she’d recommend it to others for a fall event, she said, “Hands down, yes.”
877-728-2662
www.savannahvisit.com
Tucson, Ariz.
Golfers know a secret about Tucson: Its golf courses are seeded in late summer or very early fall, so when fall hits its stride, they’re like brand-new.
“Golfers love that,” said Hughes of the Metropolitan Tucson CVB.
Golfers aren’t the only ones who appreciate autumn in Arizona. Those who crave some serious bling flock to Tucson in September, when venues throughout the city play host to the Tucson Fall Gem Show. Vendors are often happy to share their knowledge as a spouse program, Hughes said.
Oct. 11 to 13, Tucson will celebrate its diverse ethnic communities with “Tucson Meet Yourself,” a schedule of performances, demonstrations and food vendors. And at the end of October, more than 45,000 people will walk through downtown to celebrate All Souls Weekend. At the end of the walk, they burn notes and prayers in an urn to salute their ancestors.
While the golf, the festivals and the weather are good reasons for fall visits, some of the most stunning sights at this time of year happen at night. In this part of Arizona, astronomy is a pastime, not a science, especially on a cool fall night.
“Have a high-powered telescope on hand as part of a reception,” Hughes said. “People from all over the world or back East have never seen anything like this.”
800-638-8350
www.visittucson.org
