North Florida
VisitJacksonville.com; @Visit_Jax
Hugging the St. John’s River and just minutes from the Atlantic Ocean, Jacksonville offers the “The Flip Side of Florida,” says Jeanne Goldschmidt, director of sales and services for Visit Jacksonville. “If you’re open to something different, in Jacksonville, you’ll find a slice of Florida that locals love.”
Jacksonville has the largest urban park system in the nation, a nationally recognized art scene, and great affordability, Goldschmidt says. “Plus, we can usually accommodate tight schedules. This is a place to gather, get business done, and get a return on experience well worth the investment.”
The city has more than 20,000 guest rooms. According to Visit Jacksonville, Marriott Jacksonville Downtown expects to complete full renovations this summer; it has 344 guest rooms and nearly 13,000 square feet of function space. Also completing renovations this spring, the 193-room Dune House Hotel & Spa (formerly One Ocean Resort & Spa) features 10,000 square feet of event space to host up to 450 reception guests. The newly opened 252-room Hilton Jacksonville at Mayo Clinic includes 21,500 square feet of event space to seat 1,240 guests theater style. Other properties include the 951-room Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, with 116,000 square feet of event space, including 30 meeting rooms; 322-room Southbank Hotel Jacksonville Riverwalk, with 39,425 square feet of function space; and 255-room Marriott Jacksonville, with 19,459 square feet of event space to seat 500 banquet guests. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Jacksonville Riverfront, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Jacksonville Airport, and the recently renovated Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Airport each offer approximately 10,000 square feet of event space.
The Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center features 78,000 square feet of exhibit space, 22 meeting rooms, a 600-person-capacity ballroom, and a grand lobby that can accommodate 900 guests for receptions. Additional venues include the 300-person-capacity Conference Center at the Jacksonville Main Library; University Center at the University of North Florida, with numerous meeting rooms and a hall seating 710 people theater style; and Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens, with a variety of indoor and outdoor venues for up to 500 guests. The zoo’s new J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Manatee River habitat is expected to open in mid-2026.
