Flexible meeting spaces, 11,000-plus guest rooms, and a top airport are just a few of the perks that make Fort Myers a leading event destination. The metro area includes the Gulf Islands, such as Captiva, Sanibel, and Pine Islands. In 2022, the deadly Hurricane Ian severely impacted Fort Myers and many other south Florida destinations; however, the area is well on the road to recovery and is almost entirely open.
Fort Myers’ Caloosa Sound Convention Center and Amphitheater, located downtown, has 41,000-plus square feet and eight meeting rooms. The venue adjoins the 243-room Luminary Hotel, which has 10,834 square feet of meeting space and shares 30,000 square feet of event space with the convention center.
Boca Grande’s 163-room Gasparilla Inn & Club features 83,973 square feet of event space in 11 indoor/outdoor areas, including elegant meeting rooms, croquet lawns, and clubhouses, accommodating 30 to 300 guests. Opened in 1913, the inn has remained a seasonal resort. It closes annually from mid-July to early October.
The 462-room Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs boasts more than 82,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, including high-tech meeting rooms, ballrooms, courtyards, and a terrace. The largest event space, at 14,000 square feet, divides into eight sections and accommodates more than 1,000 guests banquet style and 1,400 theater style. The terrace accommodates formal dining for 660 and receptions for 1,000.
The 308-room Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village features 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space and accommodates a capacity of 1,400 people. For smaller groups, the 167-room Pink Shell Beach Resort at Fort Myers Beach has 9,500 square feet of event space, while the 121-room DiamondHead Beach Resort has 8,000 square feet of event space.
This past December saw the opening of two additional hotel properties in Fort Myers: the 118-room Hampton Inn & Suites in downtown Fort Myers and the 254-room Margaritaville Beach Resort on Fort Myers Beach, which includes six restaurants and 20,318 square feet of event space. Some resorts and hotels in the area are still recovering from Hurricane Ian’s destruction. The 400-room Sundial Beach Resort on Sanibel Island, with 20,000 square feet of function space, will resume event bookings later this year. The 424-room South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island continues its phased reopening while undergoing construction and repairs.
For local dining with waterfront views, Oxbow Bar & Grill on the Caloosahatchee River offers a casual seafood menu and space for private events. On Fort Myers Beach, the open-air Parrot Key Caribbean Grill serves fresh seafood, indulgent desserts, and tropical cocktails, and offers excellent event space with its ocean views. Tarpon Lodge is a mix of Old Florida ambiance and elegant dining on the waterfront. Groups also can reserve overnight stays in rooms and cottages.
For teambuilding in and around Fort Myers, groups can take cooking classes at Norman Love Confections or Kitchen Social, or practice their golf swings at the area’s 50-plus golf courses. Groups also can gather to watch the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park at Fenway South or the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium at the Lee County Sports Complex.
Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers is one of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic, with direct flights to 63 destinations by 16 air carriers. The transportation hub is currently undergoing a $331 million terminal modernization project.
