In South Florida, Planners Often Meet At The Mall

<B> In South Florida, Planners Often Meet At The Mall</B>

By Sue Lynn

Corporate planners looking for meeting space in South Florida can take advantage of more inventory at properties in prime retail locations and major shopping centers.

Two hotels in Fort Lauderdale and one in Miami are experiencing success by adhering to that old real-estate adage, "location, location, location"--but not at the beach.

The 263-room Sheraton Suites Plantation, for example, which became part of the Fashion Mall at Plantation seven years ago, is investing in its success as part of an upscale retail complex with chic restaurants and shops, by completing a massive renovation of its meeting space, according to director of business and convention services Maxine Groves.

The hotel now offers one 2,300 and one 2,200 square-foot ballroom, which can be subdivided into smaller venues. Three additional meeting rooms and a 640-square-foot pre-function area are located off the lobby.

For smaller conferences, the property has four executive boardrooms that can hold from six to 10 people. A 6,000 square-foot rotunda, perfect for cocktail receptions, lunch or dinner functions, is located outdoors.

While standard meeting rentals cost $200 for day-long functions and $150 for half a day, prices are negotiable based on the size of the group. A minimum of 10 attendees is required.

The Wyndham at the Fort Lauderdale Airport, meanwhile, is adjacent to the Design Center of the Americas, where national and international home- furnishing and accessory firms lease showrooms.

Formerly a Sheraton, the Wyndham property offers 20 meeting rooms, with banquet seating up to 450, and a reception area that holds up to 1,000. The airport hotel also offers midsized meeting rooms for 20 to 50 attendees, a board room that holds 14 and a ballroom for up to 130.

Shoulder-season (mid-April to September) room rates range from $89 to $139. Both hotels arrange for complimentary pick up from Fort Lauderdale airport.

The all-suite Mayfair House, located in the center of Coconut Grove, south of downtown Miami, is another hotel located within an upscale shopping center--and one chosen by "Planet Hollywood" as its Miami location. An assortment of boutiques, restaurants and specialty stores round out the neighborhood for the 179-room hotel.

The property recently completed a $5.5 million renovation and added 12,000 square feet of conference space that includes a state-of-the-art Executive Conference Center with five meeting rooms, two executive boardrooms and a full-service business center.

The average meeting draws from 40 to 70 attendees, said hotel manager Ken Kalish, but the property's three other conference rooms can hold up to 160 attendees banquet style. Two boardrooms feature permanent tables that seat up to 16 people. Other meeting rooms can be configured to meet the needs of the corporation's room set-up.

Meeting rentals at the Mayfair House start at $250. Guest room rates start at $175 to $250.