10 Out-of-the-Box Ideas for Your Next Meeting in the Palm Beaches

The Palm Beaches, Florida are a first-class destination known for delivering a one-of-a-kind, unrivaled meetings experience.  The experience you and your group will encounter here is produced by a community that knows how to deliver on your meeting and event goals. 

Planners working with Discover The Palm Beaches will be impressed with our award-winning sales team’s ability to anticipate every need. It’s in our DNA to treat each guest as if they are a VIP—because they are. Your meeting or event will be treated with the white-glove service it deserves. All of our hotels and resorts, restaurants and other venues are out to impress you at every turn.

What’s become obvious in recent years is that attendees are not going to settle for cookie-cutter experiences. Turnkey is nice and easy, but customization is how to distinguish your event. In The Palm Beaches, your event will stand out for what the experiences and partners we help you bring in Between-The-Sessions, within the meeting and outside of it.

The Palm Beaches have a host of out-of-the-box activations and activities sure to wow your crowd, whether it’s an intimate boardroom meeting or a large corporate event. Read on for 10 ideas to make your event unique with experiences you can only find in The Palm Beaches.

1. International Polo Club

Sometimes, it’s good to get on your high horse. There is simply no venue like the International Polo Club elsewhere in the country. Experience the lap of luxury every day here. On-site event spaces make for exquisite off-site functions, including award ceremonies, galas and receptions. Have some fun by organizing polo lessons for your group to see who is king or queen of the mallet.

Pro tip: Springtime corporate events can take advantage of the competitive polo season by watching a match or engaging with the Winter Equestrian Festival, which takes place at the nearby Wellington International.

2. The Kips Bay Decorator Show House

In another case of taking advantage of seasonal offerings, planners with springtime events would be wise to set up a tour of Kips Bay Decorator Show House. The top names in fashion and interior design set up shop here, with the exclusive offering benefiting the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club and Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. This is a natural for events in the fashion industry, but groups of all types will marvel at the power of creativity and presentation.

3. Oceana Coffee Bar

When is a cup of coffee more than a shot of caffeine? When you enlist a local company with a distinct flair for the dramatic. Oceana Coffee, a popular local shop, can be mobilized for a fun coffee bar at the Palm Beach Convention Center or other locations you’re using. Rather than just setting up a booth, the Oceana team serves out of an old Volkswagen bus that will be a sure icebreaker. All of a sudden, a traditional coffee break transforms into a true mixer where ideas are shared and buzz builds around your event.

4. Mangroves and Mansions Tour

Blend The Palm Beaches’ remarkable architecture with near-perfect weather during this two-hour kayak tour. Local landmarks along the way include The Society of the Four Arts Gardens, the historic Everglades Club, The Breakers Palm Beach resort and the Flagler Museum. Upon arrival at the mangrove islands, the views turn toward the marine life and birds. Attendees will row away with a true sense of place while getting some exercise that will power them through the next set of meetings.

5. Rent Out a Food Hall

Everyone has different tastes. Don’t fight reality; embrace it by booking a local food hall. Delray Market has a buffet of options to choose from, including renting a private space and a Taste the Market experience in which you hand attendees prepaid cards to choose which vendor will serve them a terrific meal and drink. Indoor and outdoor seating is available. Grandview Public Market in West Palm Beach is another popular option with live music adding to the atmosphere, and an option to buy-out the space for private events.

6. Eco-Friendly Projects

Better than enjoying a true sense of place is the chance to give back to a host destination. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities are plentiful in The Palm Beaches. The one that will truly get attendees out of their shell is found at Loggerhead Marine Life Center, a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation of our water-based friends. Have your group assist in a beach cleanup project or host a fundraiser on-site for the organization. The release of rehabilitated turtles to the sea is truly heartwarming—an event that will last in attendees’ memories.

7. A New Way to Golf

For some people, it’s impossible not to think about golf when venturing into the region. But even with this traditional option for corporate tournaments and fundraisers, we’ve raised our game. The iconic PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens has introduced The Match, which changes the game by playing with the rules. Don’t worry: Lowest score still wins. One of the notable variations is that the winner of a hole selects the next hole’s tee location to add some strategy and additional competitiveness. How often can planners offer a new way to play a classic game?

8. Hotel Dining Experiences

Not only are the local hotels nice to look at, but they also come with chefs who are just as eager to turn a meal into an experience as you are. Executive chef Andrew Roenbeck is renowned for his devotion to the guest experience at The Boca Raton. Because he oversees 13 on-site restaurants, the chef takes a holistic view that translates to memorable receptions, meals and galas. Ask about the Fire & Ice dinner to wow your group.
At the Hilton West Palm Beach,  host a traditional cookout, known as a parrilla con amigos (grilling with friends), at the hotel’s Galley restaurant. The hotel’s ice craft beer wall is another showstopper.

8. Hotel Dining Experiences

Not only are the local hotels nice to look at, but they also come with chefs who are just as eager to turn a meal into an experience as you are. Executive chef Andrew Roenbeck is renowned for his devotion to the guest experience at The Boca Raton. Because he oversees 13 on-site restaurants, the chef takes a holistic view that translates to memorable receptions, meals and galas. Ask about the Fire & Ice dinner to wow your group.
At the Hilton West Palm Beach,  host a traditional cookout, known as a parrilla con amigos (grilling with friends), at the hotel’s Galley restaurant. The hotel’s ice craft beer wall is another showstopper.

10. Cultural Concierge

Immerse attendees in The Palm Beaches culture by showcasing local artists and performers. The Cultural Council’s Cultural Concierge, Bama Lutes Deal, PhD, will recommend the unique and memorable experiences for your group. Options include local tours, art shows, performances and more.
 
The Palm Beaches have an identity all their own, and Discover The Palm Beaches’ team is eager to share a taste of what makes the destination so special when you plan your next event. From meals to networking and more, we are ready to partner with you to bring your next meeting to a whole new level.