SITE: The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
ADDRESS: 1 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Kapalua, HI 96761
PHONE: 808/669-6200
WEB SITE: www.ritzcarlton.com/resorts/kapalua
VISUALS & VIBE: Views of Molokai and migrating humpback whales complement 54 holes of championship golf and more than 175,000 square feet of outdoor event space at Maui's Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua.
EVENT AREAS: 19,400-square-foot Aloha Garden Outdoor Ballroom; 15,000-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Ballroom; 4,280-square-foot Plantation Ballroom; eight meeting rooms ranging from 360 to 570 square feet; an outdoor amphitheater with seating for 120; two boardrooms with wood-burning fireplaces; and outdoor event space totaling 175,580 square feet.
SPECIAL SPACE: The largest outdoor ballroom in the state of Hawaii, the Aloha Garden Outdoor Ballroom overlooks the third hole of the property's Bay Golf Course and, offshore, the island of Molokai. The enclosed space allows for events year-round, despite unpredictable island weather.
WHO'S HERE: FedEx, Applebee, Mercedes, MetLife, American Express.
SITE: Kiawah Island Golf Resort
ADDRESS: 12 Kiawah Beach Drive, Kiawah Island, SC 29455
PHONE: 843/768-6040
WEB SITE: www.kiawahresort.com
VISUALS & VIBE: Located on a 10-mile-long barrier island 30 minutes from historic Charleston, S.C., Kiawah resort features five championship golf courses. In March, the property will open an additional luxury oceanfront hotel and spa.
EVENT AREAS: 20,000-square-foot Mingo Point; 6,900-square-foot Governor's Hall; 3,600-square-foot Brigantine Conference Center; 2,350-square-foot Club Conference Center; and 3,450-square-foot Turtle Point Golf Club.
SPECIAL SPACE: On the banks of the Kiawah Island River, Mingo Point, with a total guest capacity of 1,200, includes a 5,400-square-foot covered pavilion, entertainment staging and a bonfire area. Themed events popular at the point include the Carolina fish fry and the Low Country oyster roast and barbecue.
WHO'S HERE: UBS Realty Investors, Medical University of South Carolina, Rotary International, United States Tennis Association.
SITE: The Aerie Resort
ADDRESS: P.O. Box 108, Malahat, British Columbia V0R 2L0, Canada
PHONE: 250/743-7115
WEB SITE: www.aerie.bc.ca
VISUALS & VIBE: Voted the No. 1 resort in North America in Conde Nast Traveler's 2002 Reader's Choice Awards, Vancouver Island's Aerie is set amid 70 acres of mountainside forest, and features sweeping ocean and mountain views.
EVENT AREAS: 1,000-square-foot Summit Room; 400-square-foot Garden Room; 300-square-foot Terrace; 60-guest-capacity Garden Pond; and 120-guest-capacity Garden Deck.
SPECIAL SPACE: Carved wood ceilings, a stone fireplace and Chinese silk carpets are on display in the Summit Room, a private event haven that overlooks landscaped gardens and a decorative pool and waterfall.
WHO'S HERE: Eli Lilly, Aventis, Mercedes, IBM, BMW.
