West Palm Beach, Florida, wears many hats: It’s the largest city in Palm Beach County, the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida and the seat of county government. It’s also a premier business destination, combining walkable downtown meeting spaces — even posh Palm Beach Island, now known as “Wall Street South,” is just across the intracoastal — with world-class dining, waterfront access and perpetual warm weather. Traveling to the city is easy, with more than a dozen airlines servicing 200 daily flights into Palm Beach International Airport, less than 4 miles from city center. Brightline high-speed rail provides fast connections to Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

Looking for a home for your next business conference? Here’s why West Palm Beach checks the boxes and then some.

Blue Heron room © The Ben Hotel

Fun Meeting Facilities

The Ben Hotel features more than 17,000 square feet of gathering space and is the only venue with marina views from its ballroom and meeting space — a boon for corporations looking for something that doesn’t feel like a stuffy conference room. The Blue Heron Ballroom affords sweeping coastal views and can host up to 300 people. The 208-room Marriott Autograph Collection boutique also contains a sleek, 12-seat boardroom and an 1,800-square-foot, open-air studio for blue sky brainstorming. As the only hotel in town with a rooftop restaurant and bar overlooking the Palm Beach skyline, The Ben is an ideal place to discuss business while breaking bread.

© The Ben Hotel

Sail the Waterway

A new partnership between The Ben and Porter Yachts makes getting out on the water even easier. Instead of sitting in conference rooms for hours, why not sail the intracoastal? The Ben at Sea charter program is a fresh way to hold meetings, get new perspective and connect with colleagues. The program’s three yachts accommodate 13 people each. Vessels depart directly from Palm Harbor Marina, a five-minute walk from The Ben. The excursion includes a professional captain and crew, with The Ben’s culinary team and Executive Chef Daniel Pundik onboard to present a seasonal tasting menu paired with Champagne. 

World-Class Dining

Home to more than 100 restaurants, West Palm Beach teems with options. Local favorites include Elisabetta’s, across from The Ben, for authentic Italian cuisine, an extensive cocktail menu and a spirited crowd. For corporate events, Felice on West Palm Beach’s bustling Rosemary Square accommodates 150 people in a full restaurant buyout, but it’s also a prime spot for a client dinner. Try the signature fettuccine bolognese.

© Courtesy of Norton Museum of Art

Arts & Entertainment

This mid-sized city teems with world-class entertainment. The Norton Museum of Art houses a world-class collection of 19th- and 20th-century paintings and sculptures by the likes of van Gogh, Rembrandt and O’Keefe. It also boasts several event spaces for meetings and receptions, from outdoor gardens to a 205-seat auditorium.

A show at Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, which hosts a diverse range of programming from Broadway productions to intimate dance performances, is another ideal way to entertain clients.

© Discover the Palm Beaches

Get Outdoors

West Palm’s compact, walkable downtown and tropical climate make it easy to maintain a fitness routine, even traveling on business. Jog across Flagler Memorial drawbridge, which connects directly to Palm Beach’s Royal Poinciana Way. To experience West Palm Beach’s life aquatic, charter a boat or take a ferry to Peanut Island for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking or paddleboarding. 

Mary Lou’s © Carlos Nunez

Lively Nightlife

Downtown West Palm is also considered the seat of county nightlife, with options aplenty for evening entertainment. Upscale speakeasy Mary Lou’s is the buzziest addition to neighborhood nightlife. Top of the Rox at Roxy’s Rooftop emerged from a recent renovation boasting Clematis Street’s only rooftop bar, with skyline views and inventive cocktails.