Florida’s Paradise Coast has always been known for its vibrant colors—orange sunsets, turquoise blue waters and white sand beaches. But now, it’s also making a name for itself for being Green. Wellness and Sustainability Initiatives have made Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades one of the top meeting destinations to focus on health and environmentally friendly practices.
“Going Green” is simple in Paradise. Our Convention and Visitor’s Bureau has a list of the area hotels and resorts that have received the official “Florida Green Lodging” designation by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection. Many of these hotels feature exquisite meeting spaces, state-of-the-art conference rooms, stylish guest rooms, on-site restaurants, golf courses, earth-friendly spas and more.
Wellness means freshness, and Florida’s Paradise Coast delivers with fresh, local ingredients and healthy delicious meals. Planners often choose to host their business lunches, dinners or receptions at the area’s many award-winning restaurants. With internationally renowned chefs and exquisite, local seafood and produce, Condé Nast Traveler regularly lists Naples one of the Best Cities for Foodies in the U.S.
For those who like to mix business with fun, there are plenty of group experiences and team-building opportunities that promote wellness. Host a group yoga session or spa retreat. Plan a kayaking excursion to explore the world-famous Everglades. Take an eco-tour through the Ten Thousand Islands. Or simply let your group relax on uncrowded white sand beaches and get a healthy dose of Vitamin D from the warm Florida sun.
Green travel is also easy to accomplish in Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in nearby Fort Myers offers many non-stop flights, enabling to eliminate multiple transfers and can reduce your emissions by up to 50%. Once in destination, you can reduce your group’s carbon footprint by riding the Collier Area Transit Beach Bus around downtown Naples, to various hotels, and even to the beach.
Best of all, Florida’s Paradise Coast is on its way to becoming a Blue Zones Community®. Many of the area’s businesses are dedicated to improving well-being for the whole community, and lowering obesity rates, smoking, and chronic disease to create a healthier, happier place to live, work, and play.
Plan a meeting that offers green options in a destination that cares about wellness as much as you do. Focus on adventure, refinement and green fun when you meet on Florida’s Paradise Coast. Contact Debi DeBenedetto, Group Sales & Marketing Manager, by email at debide@colliergov.net or phone at (239) 252-2379. For more information, please visit meetinparadise.com.
