From Business Trip to Beach Getaway
in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
Today’s meeting planners are balancing more than meeting space and room blocks. Attendees want a seamless business experience, but they also want to enjoy the destination, especially when they can bring family or a significant other along. That’s where a beach meeting can offer something extra.
How to Plan an Extended Meeting Trip on Alabama's Beaches
What Planners Should Look For
When choosing a coastal meeting venue, consider more than the view. Convenient meeting access, comfortable accommodations, parking, food and beverage, A/V, and an experienced planning team can make the difference between a complicated event and a smooth one.
At the Island House Hotel – a DoubleTree by Hilton in Orange Beach, planners have access to meeting space for up to 200 attendees, with the Island Ballroom conveniently located near the hotel entrance. Complimentary parking makes arrival easy, and all 161 guest rooms are Gulf-front and newly renovated.
Why Bleisure Travel Matters
Bleisure travel combines business and leisure, allowing travelers to extend a work trip before or after a conference to enjoy the destination. It has become increasingly popular as travelers look for ways to make the most of business trips, and we see this firsthand at the Island House Hotel. Conferences throughout the year bring attendees who bring their families or significant others to enjoy the beach while they attend meetings. For planners, this is a great way to enhance the attendee experience without altering the event's purpose.
Tip: Ask about courtesy shoulder dates when booking your conference. This gives attendees the opportunity to arrive early or stay after the conference and enjoy Alabama’s Beaches on their own.
How the Island House Hotel Helps
Planning is easier when the key pieces are coordinated by one experienced team. At the Island House Hotel, our meeting planners work with groups on room blocks, meeting space, BEOs, AV, food and beverage, and event details.
Our award-winning chef provides on-site catering, while our experienced sales staff helps with event planning. This allows planners to work with a team that understands the event from start to finish.
And when meetings are over, attendees can enjoy the Gulf, relax on their private balcony, or take a dip in our heated pool, all without having to leave the property.
A Few Tips for Planning a Beach Meeting
Build in some free time. Don't fill every minute of the agenda. Give attendees an opportunity to enjoy the destination.
Ask about shoulder dates early. Courtesy shoulder dates can give attendees more flexibility to extend their stay.
Communicate the destination. Let attendees know they are welcome to bring family or significant others and make a vacation out of their business trip.
The Bottom Line
A successful beach meeting should deliver both a productive business experience and an enjoyable destination experience. The Island House Hotel offers meeting space, Gulf-front accommodations, on-site services, and an experienced team of planners to make the business side easy, while giving attendees a reason to stay a little longer.
Great for business travel. Even better when you can make it a beach getaway.
Victoria Branch
Victoria Branch is the Director of Sales at Island House Hotel, where she has been creating memorable group experiences since 2020. With more than 10 years of experience in hospitality sales, Victoria began her career as a wedding coordinator and quickly discovered a passion for bringing every detail together to create meaningful and unforgettable events.
Today, Victoria loves working with a wide variety of groups, meetings, and associations, helping each one find their ideal home away from home at Island House Hotel. She takes pride in building lasting relationships, understanding each group’s unique needs, and creating experiences that are seamless, welcoming, and memorable.
Outside of work, Victoria enjoys traveling with her husband, discovering new cities, and experiencing unique hotels and destinations along the way. She also has a deep appreciation for nature and the Gulf Coast, where she enjoys the beautiful surroundings and relaxed coastal lifestyle that make the area such a special place to call home.
