Fort Lauderdale Convention Center Review
Alexander
The architectural design of the 600,000 square foot Fort Lauderdale Convention Center takes advantage of its waterfront setting. Highlighting this location is a wall of glass that runs along the entire eastern side of the building. The centerpiece is a three-level glass atrium with a skylight that provides abundant natural light and looks out on a 1.3 acre fountain plaza, all while taking in the scenic Intracoastal Waterway. This convention center is the perfect facility to host any type of event.
The Fort Lauderdale Convention Center is busy throughout the year, hosting a diversity of events ranging from major international conventions and trade shows to local small business meetings to sporting competitions. The size and layout of the center makes it possible to host multiple clients at the same time or to dedicate its entire square footage to one large event. The four exhibit halls, 2 ballrooms and 31 meeting rooms can be configured in a variety of ways to meet the needs of any group. A 2,500-space parking garage is connected to the center via two enclosed, air-conditioned skywalks, located at the north and south ends of the building.
High-tech services are standard in the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center. Wi-fi hot spots are located throughout the center, making communication for attendees easy and there is a Cyber Café that offers both permanent terminals and plug-ins for laptops. While there, you also can enjoy a quick snack or light lunch while catching up on the latest news via the flat screen televisions tuned into CNN/MSNBC. If you need to conduct a meeting with a group or an individual who is off-site, the Teleconference Suite is the ideal spot. This room is furnished with a large conference table, comfortable chairs, 2 pull-down screens and a flat screen TV, giving you the flexibility to communicate by a conference call or video.Other state-of-the-art amenities offered at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center include digital monitors placed outside of three of the exhibit halls that provide scrolling news headlines against a backdrop of images showcasing the natural beauty of the area. These also can serve as advertising space for local business partners or as an announcement platform for patrons. And, placed throughout the facility is a digital signage system that tells people what’s going on in the building and where. These signs also can be found outside each meeting room and can be customized to each event. Additionally, the building has a business center, which offers a variety of services, including copying, faxing and packing & shipping assistance.
The award-winning food and beverage service at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center is second to none. The extensive menu gives you a variety of choices, whether you’re looking for a box lunch, a buffet, a coffee break, an elegant catered banquet or anything in between. If you don’t find something to your liking, they will custom design a menu for you and your group. Once you have tasted their culinary delights, you will know how this facility became the first convention center to be awarded the prestigious Confrerie de la Chaines des Rotisseurs award.
Conscious of their impact on the environment, the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center is working towards Silver Level LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Buildings Council. You will find evidence of this ongoing effort everywhere in and around the building, from lighting to recycling to environmentally friendly landscaping. Their in-house “Green Team” is committed to finding and implementing new ways to provide maximum comfort and an even greater meeting experience for their clients.
Location is still another reason why you should choose the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center as the site for your next event. The building is a 5-minute drive from the airport, close to Port Everglades and is within walking distance to some of Fort Lauderdale’s most beautiful hotels. Only minutes away in the downtown area is the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment district and some of the finest dining establishments in the country are close by. Golf and water sports are just 2 of the outdoor activities you can enjoy. You can “cruise” the area via the unique Water Taxi as it takes you around the many canals, creeks and rivers that make up the Intracoastal Waterway, with stops at hotels and restaurants along the way. Best of all, the city’s most famous natural attraction, its Blue Wave beach, is less than 1 mile away from the center.
Add all of this to Fort Lauderdale’s gorgeous year-round weather and you have the ideal place to gather for your convention, trade show, annual meeting or sporting event. The friendly and highly professional staff is the best in the business and they are eager to welcome you to the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center.
Alexander writes about Convention Centers and travel information around Florida
