Hollywood, Florida: All America City and
one of Fodor's "Best Beaches for Families"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Judy Erickson
Hollywood, Florida Office of Tourism
(954) 921-3478
Email: jerickson@hollywoodfl.org

Hollywood, Florida: A Meeting Planner’s Paradise

HOLLYWOOD, FL - Hollywood’s natural allure and unique charm are just one reason why this South Florida beach destination has become a hotspot for business and leisure travelers alike.

Hollywood offers more than 5,000 hotel rooms and 300,000 square feet of flexible-function space that is enhanced by a desirable, convenient location between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, an ideal year-round climate, award-winning beaches, and a vast array of amenities and activities.

Recently selected as one of Fodor’s Travel Guides' "Best Beaches for Families," Hollywood boasts seven miles of uncrowded natural beach that is Blue Wave-certified by the Clean Beaches Council, and Florida's only auto-free oceanfront promenade, the 2.5-mile Broadwalk.

Historic Downtown Hollywood is home to an eclectic mix of trendy bistros and sidewalk cafés, lively pubs and jazz clubs, unique boutiques, art galleries, cultural facilities and the stunning 10-acre ArtsPark at Young Circle. Traveling between the Downtown and Beach districts is both convenient and economical, with $1 day passes available on the HOT Express Trolley.

Popular diversions include free concerts, cultural events and annual festivals, and luxury spas, championship golf courses, Vegas-style casinos, pari-mutuel facilities, and a 1,500-acre mangrove nature preserve. World-class shopping is just minutes away.

Hollywood is less than 10 minutes from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and within 30 minutes of Miami International Airport.

Hollywood's appeal as a destination for meetings is enhanced by group deals and meeting planner packages at local hotels that include:

Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach
4000 S. Ocean Drive
954-454-4334; www.cphollywoodbeach.com

Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach's 2009 Group Deals for small meetings feature 20,000 additional Priority Club Points in addition to Priority Club Meeting Rewards (3 points for every dollar); a 1/40 comp policy; and 3 VIP Upgrades with Welcome Amenities.

In addition, each group may select Option 1 or Option 2. Option 1 offers a choice of one of the following:

•   Complimentary AM or PM Break
•   Complimentary Welcome Reception
•   10 percent discount on audio-visual equipment
•   Complimentary General Session

The Option 2 incentive applies to all bookings booked and consumed by December 31, 2009, and includes a range of allowances deducted from the client's master account, from a 5 percent deduction for meetings totaling $2,500, to a 10 percent deduction for meetings totaling $25,000.

Crowne Plaza offers 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting space as well as an outdoor Waterway Pavilion that accommodates 355 guests. Onsite catering services are available.

Call Misty Polihronakis, Director of Sales & Marketing, at 954-454-4334, ext. 207.

Hollywood Beach Marriott
2501 N. Ocean Drive
954-924-2202; www.hollywoodbeachmarriott.com

The Hollywood Beach Marriott is aware of the importance of delivering efficient and affordable meetings to corporate, government and association meeting planners. At a time when controlling spending is at the top of everyone's list, the hotel is offering a discounted Super Fantastic Meeting planner package that incorporates the "resort feel" of an oceanfront experience while balancing overall meeting costs. The AAA 4 Diamond meeting package starts at $229 per night and includes deluxe accommodations, meeting space, continental breakfast and lunch.

The Hollywood Beach Marriott offers 6,634 square feet of total meeting space. The Grand Ballroom, the largest of seven meeting rooms, can accommodate 350 guests. Catering services are available.

Call Denise Gaines, Director of Sales & Marketing, at 954-924-2202.

The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa
3555 S. Ocean Drive
954-602-8607; www.diplomatresort.com

Over 200,000 square feet of meeting space at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa includes the 50,000-square-foot column-free Great Hall, four ballrooms ranging from 9,000 to 20,000 square feet, 39 breakout rooms and several boardrooms. Services include onsite audio/video staff, and satellite and T-1 connections for high-speed Internet access and videoconferencing.

Groups that book by August 31, 2009, and arrive by March 31, 2010, will receive:

•   4 percent rebate for guestrooms billed to the master account
•   A complimentary break sponsored by Pepsi
•   Signing bonus of up to 100,000 Starpoints

Amenities at the 998-room resort include 10 dining facilities, 24-hour in-room dining, two pool levels, the Westin Kids Club, an 18-hole championship golf course managed by Troon Golf® and a 30,000-square-foot spa with 22 treatment rooms.

Call 954-602-8607 or email inquires to Anamaria.alexandru@westin.com.

About Hollywood, Florida
Situated between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Hollywood, Florida, the 2007 All-America City and one of Fodor's 2009 "Best Beaches for Families," is a desirable year-round destination offering more than 5,000 hotel rooms at a variety of hotels, resorts and Superior Small Lodgings. Minutes away from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport and home to Port Everglades, the largest cruise port in the world, Hollywood visitors enjoy seven miles of Blue Wave beaches; a two-and-a-half-mile European-style Broadwalk lined with cafés, restaurants, boutique and full-service hotels and resorts as well as vacation apartments facing the ocean; a revitalized Historic Downtown Hollywood and new ArtsPark at Young Circle; and an array of activities including first-class shopping, waterfront, nature and dining experiences. For more information about Hollywood, FL, contact the Hollywood Office of Tourism at (877) 672-2468 or visit www.visithollywoodfl.org.