--- title: "Big Decisions Happen by the Water" id: "57389" type: "post" slug: "big-decisions-happen-by-the-water" published_at: "2026-05-26T13:00:00+00:00" modified_at: "2026-06-06T22:07:50+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2026/05/26/big-decisions-happen-by-the-water/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2026/05/26/big-decisions-happen-by-the-water.md" excerpt: "Greater Fort Lauderdale's waterfront convention district offers the atmosphere, infrastructure, and sustainability commitments that modern meetings demand. " taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "C-suite" - "Meetings" - "Onsite Experience" - "Strategy and Operations" - "Workplace" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Big Decisions Happen by the Water Research increasingly shows that meetings are better by the water. Teams are more energized, engaged, and productive when the environment encourages collaboration and new ideas. For today’s CEOs and executive teams, selecting an event destination is no longer simply a matter of square footage. It is a decision about atmosphere, access, and the conditions that shape outcomes. In Greater Fort Lauderdale, the water is not separate from the meeting experience—it is woven into it. ## Designed for Scale, Connected to the Water At the center of the destination is the fully expanded Broward County Convention Center, now operating at 1.2 million square feet along the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway. The facility was designed not only to accommodate large events, but to keep them cohesive within a district where the water is always part of the experience. Contiguous exhibit space, integrated meeting environments, and direct hotel connectivity reduce friction for planners while expansive views and natural light bring the surrounding waterways into the atmosphere of the event itself. Ease of arrival is equally intentional. The convention center sits just minutes from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and adjacent to Port Everglades, with Brightline rail service connecting Miami and Orlando. Walkable hotel inventory surrounds the district, minimizing transit time and allowing attendees to move naturally between sessions, evening gatherings ,and experiences by the water without missing a beat. ## Where Sustainability and Community Run Deep For organizations evaluating environmental responsibility as part of site selection, Greater Fort Lauderdale reflects clear operational commitments. LEED-certified buildings, solar panels, high-efficiency lighting, and compostable serviceware are embedded into daily operations. Filtered refill stations and single-stream recycling systems reinforce stewardship throughout the facility—an approach that aligns naturally with a destination shaped by its waterways. Community and economic impact also factor into modern event decisions. Hosting in Greater Fort Lauderdale means engaging a destination defined by maritime heritage, cultural energy, and a thriving tourism economy. In May 2026, the region will host IPW, welcoming global travel leaders and further reinforcing its position on the international stage. The convention center’s direct connection to the four-diamond Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel strengthens that continuity. With 801 guestrooms and expansive meeting space under one roof, executive teams can centralize activity while offering attendees access to dining, rooftop gathering spaces, and wellness amenities overlooking the Intracoastal—extensions of the experience that encourage conversation to continue long after sessions conclude. ## The Case for Meetings That Mean More Ultimately, location decisions reflect organizational priorities. They signal how a company values engagement, experience, and long-term impact. In Greater Fort Lauderdale, the water shapes more than the view. It influences how attendees feel, how they connect, and how events unfold from opening remarks to closing reception. Here, environment and execution move together—creating the kind of setting where leadership conversations go further and ideas gain momentum. [ASAE Staff](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/) [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/) Tags: [#C-suite](https://associationsnow.com/tag/c-suite/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) [#Onsite Experience](https://associationsnow.com/tag/onsite-experience/) [#Strategy and Operations](https://associationsnow.com/tag/strategy-and-operations/) [#Workplace](https://associationsnow.com/tag/workplace/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [ArticleCleveland Brings the Destination Into the MeetingOctober 27, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/27/cleveland-brings-the-destination-into-the-meeting/) - [ArticleReport: Cost, Stability Top Meeting Planners’ AgendasOctober 20, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/20/report-cost-stability-top-meeting-planners-agendas/) - [ArticleToronto Goes All In on Meeting Planner and Attendee EaseAugust 25, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/25/toronto-goes-all-in-on-meeting-planner-and-attendee-ease/) - [ArticleHow Much Foresight Should a Board Do?October 23, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/23/how-much-foresight-should-a-board-do/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2026%2F05%2F26%2Fbig-decisions-happen-by-the-water%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !