Feb 27, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 2008

Contacts: Nancy Hamilton or Lee Rose (239) 338-3500
Jackie MacKay, BVK, (407) 814-0014

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel receives ConventionSouth's prestigious readers' choice award

LEE COUNTY, FL – The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in southwest Florida
received ConventionSouth magazine's annual Readers' Choice Award recently. ConventionSouth has been a recognized leader in covering the South's meetings industry for the last 25 years.

After more than a decade of honoring some of the most talented meeting professionals in the nation through its annual "Meeting Professionals To Watch" designation, ConventionSouth editors asked meeting professionals to name the convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), convention centers, conference centers, hotels, resorts and other meeting sites that they believe display exemplary creativity and professionalism to groups.

More than 18,000 readers were asked to cast their votes for the Readers' Choice Awards, and only the top vote-getters from approximately 2,000 meeting sites and CVBs received recognition. Readers' comments ranged from the very simple to the very detailed, with some readers even bestowing accolades to particularly outstanding staff members.

"We're delighted to have received this award, particularly since it's bestowed by the country's top meeting professionals who book events in the South," said Suya Davenport, executive director the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau for The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. "These planners demand the highest level of customer service and quality facilities, and they have determined that our destination displays the commitment to professionalism, creativity, excellence and outstanding customer service they require. It's an honor to have them name us as one of the best in the South."

Distributed nationally, ConventionSouth, a publication of Covey Communications Corp., is read by more than 18,000 BPA-qualified meeting professionals. Covey has been a leader in publishing nationally and internationally circulated market-specific magazines for more than two decades.

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel offers a variety of meeting room options via its many hotels and resorts. A total of 256,129 square feet of meeting space, encompassing 167 meeting rooms, is available throughout the county, with area properties offering from 600 square feet up to 73,000 square feet at one venue.

There also are meeting options in myriad off-site venues, including one-of-a-kind museums, parks and other attractions. The area offers a full range of properties from inexpensive motels to idyllic cottages to condominiums and full-service resort properties. Many are located within 30 minutes of Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), featuring 21 carriers making 130 daily non-stop flights to 37 domestic and five international destinations.

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