Summer 2026
Quick answer: The top convention and business event providers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for 2026 are anchored by the newly expanded Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center and its connected headquarters hotel, the Omni Fort Lauderdale, supported by major venues like Pier Sixty-Six, the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Signature Grand, and FTL War Memorial, plus leading event-production and destination-management companies including A2 Events, DECO Productions, CSI/Cohera DMC, MC&A, and Meeting Tomorrow. The region’s tourism authority, Visit Lauderdale, coordinates citywide bookings. Full contact details for each are included below.
Greater Fort Lauderdale has quietly transformed itself into one of the most competitive meetings-and-conventions destinations in the Southeast. A $1.2-to-$1.3 billion convention center expansion, a brand-new connected hotel, a packed 2026 event calendar headlined by IPW and the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, and a deep bench of event-production talent have put the “Venice of America” on the map for planners of every size. This guide breaks down exactly who the top providers are, what they do, how to reach them, and which marquee events are filling the city’s calendars in 2026.
What Makes Fort Lauderdale a Top Convention Destination in 2026?
Fort Lauderdale’s appeal to meeting planners comes down to a rare combination: a world-class, just-expanded convention center; a connected headquarters hotel; an international airport (FLL) about 15 minutes away; a cruise port (Port Everglades) a half-mile from the convention campus; 24 miles of beaches; and 300 miles of scenic waterways that turn ordinary transfers and receptions into memorable experiences.
The centerpiece is the Convention Center District expansion. According to Broward County, the project added the East Expansion and a new Convention Center Connector (a bypass road through Port Everglades) that opened October 20, 2025, and the connected 801-room Omni Fort Lauderdale held its grand opening December 18, 2025. Officials project the expanded campus will generate more than $450 million annually from conventions, conferences, trade shows, and special events while creating more than 3,000 new jobs. In short, 2026 is the first full year Fort Lauderdale is operating at this new scale — and that’s why it matters now.
The Top Convention Venues in Fort Lauderdale
1. Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center
This is the flagship. Following its roughly $1.2–$1.3 billion expansion, the center now offers more than 1.2 million square feet of total event space, including a 350,000-square-foot contiguous exhibition hall, a new 65,000-square-foot waterfront ballroom, five ballrooms, dozens of meeting rooms across three levels, an expansive waterfront plaza (opening through 2026), and direct water-taxi access on the Intracoastal Waterway. It is one of the first LEED Gold-certified convention centers in the county. It hosts the indoor portion of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and served as the host venue for IPW 2026.
- Address: 1950 Eisenhower Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
- Phone: (954) 765-5900
- Website: ftlauderdalecc.com
2. Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel (Headquarters Hotel)
The convention center’s interconnected headquarters hotel, opened in December 2025, is Omni’s first Fort Lauderdale property and its return to South Florida after more than two decades. The 29-story, 801-room waterfront hotel offers roughly 120,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including the 30,000-square-foot Waterway Ballroom — billed as the largest ballroom in Greater Fort Lauderdale — plus the 15,000-square-foot Port Everglades Ballroom, 47 meeting spaces, and 27 breakout rooms. Amenities include the Mokara Spa, a rooftop pool deck, and multiple dining concepts (Reef 76: Kitchen & Bar, the Fair Ketch sports bar with a Topgolf Swing Suite, and more).
- Address: 1850 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
- Phone: (754) 224-3700
- Website: omnihotels.com (Fort Lauderdale)
3. Pier Sixty-Six
A reborn South Florida icon, the redeveloped Pier Sixty-Six resort and marina — anchored by its landmark rotating tower — offers waterfront event space, ballrooms, and deep-water yacht dockage along the 17th Street corridor. It’s a premium option for upscale corporate functions, galas, and incentive programs that want a resort-and-marina setting.
- Address: 2301 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
- Phone: (954) 525-6666
- Website: pier66.com
4. Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina
A large, full-service waterfront hotel adjacent to the convention center and Port Everglades, the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina is a workhorse for convention overflow, satellite meetings, and waterfront receptions, with on-site restaurants and marina views. It serves as one of the Convention Center District hotels and a designated boat-show venue.
- Address: 1881 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
- Phone: (954) 463-4000
- Website: hilton.com (Fort Lauderdale Marina)
5. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Hollywood/Davie)
Just south of Fort Lauderdale, the famous Guitar Hotel-anchored Seminole Hard Rock is one of the region’s largest entertainment-and-meetings complexes, with extensive convention and ballroom space, a casino, concert venues, dining, and resort amenities — a strong choice for large corporate events and incentive trips wanting a built-in entertainment destination.
- Address: 1 Seminole Way, Davie/Hollywood, FL 33314
- Phone: (866) 502-7529
- Website: seminolehardrockhollywood.com
6. Signature Grand (Davie)
A dedicated banquet-and-conference facility west of the city near the I-595/I-75/Turnpike interchange, Signature Grand specializes in large ballroom events — conferences, galas, award breakfasts, and celebrations seating 1,000-plus — with ample parking and easy highway access.
- Address: 6900 W State Rd 84, Davie, FL 33317
- Phone: (954) 424-4000
- Website: signaturegrand.com
7. FTL War Memorial
The renovated FTL War Memorial near downtown is a flexible concert hall, live-music venue, and event space that also handles corporate programs, product launches, and large gatherings. Its modern renovation makes it a distinctive non-traditional venue option.
- Address: 800 NE 8th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
- Phone: (954) 835-7080
- Website: ftlwarmemorial.com
8. Unique Off-Site Venue: Bonnet House Museum & Gardens
For receptions, galas, and intimate corporate gatherings with historic Old-Florida charm, the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens estate near Las Olas Beach is one of the city’s most sought-after off-site venues.
- Address: 900 N Birch Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
- Phone: (954) 563-5393
- Website: bonnethouse.org
The Top Event Production and Destination Management Companies
Venues provide the space; production companies and destination management companies (DMCs) bring events to life. These firms handle logistics, audiovisual and staging, theming and décor, transportation, entertainment, team-building, and off-site experiences. Here are the leading providers serving the Fort Lauderdale market.
A2 Events — Event Production & Destination Management
A Fort Lauderdale-based corporate event-planning company and DMC known for transforming spaces — from corporate meetings and fundraising galas to brand activations and social gatherings — with decades of combined experience in logistics and luxury production.
- Address: 616 NW 2nd Ave #220, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
- Phone: (863) 774-6178
- Website: a2events.com
DECO Productions — South Florida DMC & In-House Production
A South Florida destination management company specializing in corporate meeting planning, event design, and in-house production. Highly rated by corporate planners for managing complex multi-day programs, transportation, décor, entertainment, and gala events.
- Address: 14350 NW 56th Ct, Suite 100, Opa-locka, FL 33054 (serving Greater Fort Lauderdale)
- Phone: (305) 558-0800
- Website: decoproductions.com
CSI DMC / Cohera — Custom Destination Event Planning
A full-service destination and event management company serving South Florida and Fort Lauderdale, recently combined with 360 Destination Group to launch the Cohera DMC brand. Services span experiential creative direction, brand activations, logistics, AV and technology, hospitality and staffing, conference and meeting management, tours, and transportation.
- Address (CSI South Florida): 1855 Griffin Rd, Dania Beach, FL 33004
- Phone: (305) 433-1027
- Websites: csi-dmc.com · meetcohera.com
MC&A — Destination Management & Corporate Event Planning
An award-winning DMC with decades of experience crafting immersive events and destination experiences rooted in local culture, MC&A serves Fort Lauderdale with destination design, program management, transportation, tours, and team-building at venues from the Bonnet House to private yachts on the Intracoastal.
- Phone: (954) 522-8001 (Fort Lauderdale/South Florida office)
- Website: mcadmc.com
Meeting Tomorrow — Corporate AV & Event Production
A nationwide full-service audiovisual and event-technology partner that services every convention center, hotel, and meeting venue in the Fort Lauderdale area, with local technicians across Hollywood, Sunrise, Plantation, and Pembroke Pines. Specialties include staging and scenic design, 3D renderings, live webcasting, event recording, and union-labor coordination.
- Service area: Fort Lauderdale and nationwide (local technician network)
- Phone: (800) 700-6310
- Website: meetingtomorrow.com
Live It Productions International — Event Production
A Fort Lauderdale-based event-production company handling full-service staging and production for corporate and special events in the region.
- Address: 4800 NW 15th Ave, Unit C, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
- Phone: (305) 866-9696
- Website: liveitproductions.com
Who Coordinates Conventions Citywide? Visit Lauderdale and the CVB
Before contacting individual venues, many planners start with the destination’s official sales-and-services organization.
Visit Lauderdale (Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Visit Lauderdale is the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale and Broward County. Its meetings-and-groups team helps planners with site selection, hotel-room blocks, citywide convention bookings, and connections to local vendors — a free, single point of entry to the destination. Visit Lauderdale books conventions into the Broward County Convention Center and reported securing 48 conventions there in 2025, representing an estimated 265,000 hotel room nights and roughly $801 million in economic impact.
- Address: 1700 SE 17th St, Suite 100, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
- Phone: (954) 765-4466
- Website: visitlauderdale.com
Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF)
For the marine-and-yachting events that define the region — most notably the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show — MIASF is the owner and key organizer. Planners in the marine sector often coordinate through this trade association.
- Address: 221 SW 3rd Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
- Phone: (954) 524-2733
- Websites: miasf.org · flibs.com
Fort Lauderdale’s Largest Convention and Business Events in 2026
2026 is a landmark year for Fort Lauderdale’s event calendar, with several of the largest gatherings in the destination’s history. Here are the marquee events.
IPW 2026 (May 17–21, 2026)
The biggest story of the year. For the first time ever, Greater Fort Lauderdale hosted IPW, the U.S. Travel Association’s flagship international travel trade show and the single largest generator of international inbound tourism for the United States. Held May 17–21, 2026, at the expanded Broward County Convention Center, IPW 2026 drew an enormous crowd: industry reports cited more than 5,200 attendees from 70-plus countries, over 1,000 exhibitors, and roughly 100,000 scheduled business meetings. Officials projected the event would generate more than $14.2 billion in economic impact for the region over the following three years — a staggering figure that underscores why Fort Lauderdale invested so heavily in its convention infrastructure. IPW’s selection validated years of expansion and positioned the destination ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 tourism.
Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) 2026 (October 28 – November 1, 2026)
The world’s largest in-water boat show returns for its 67th edition, October 28 through November 1, 2026. FLIBS spans nearly 90 acres and more than three million square feet of exhibit space across seven waterfront venues — the Broward County Convention Center, Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Hall of Fame Marina, Las Olas Marina, 17th Street Yacht Basin, Pier 66 Marina, and the Superyacht Village at Pier 66 South — connected by water taxis and shuttles. The show draws more than 100,000 visitors and historically generates a statewide economic impact approaching $1.8 billion. It is owned by MIASF and produced by Informa Markets.
- Main entrance/box office reference: Bahia Mar, 801 Seabreeze Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
- Website: flibs.com
Other Notable 2026 Business Events and Recurring Gatherings
Beyond the two giants, the expanded convention center and surrounding venues host a steady stream of trade shows, corporate meetings, and consumer expos throughout 2026. The Convention Center’s first full year at 1.2 million square feet has expanded its capacity to court large national association meetings, technology conferences, and industry trade shows that previously bypassed the destination. Recurring large-scale events tied to the region include trucking and transportation expos, business and real-estate summits, comic and fan conventions, and a growing roster of medical, marine, and travel-industry conferences. (Note: Seatrade Cruise Global, a major regional cruise-industry event, is held nearby at the Miami Beach Convention Center rather than in Fort Lauderdale, but it draws cruise professionals to the broader South Florida market each spring.)
How to Choose the Right Convention or Event Provider in Fort Lauderdale
Selecting the right partner depends on the type and scale of your event:
- For large conventions, trade shows, and exhibitions: Start with the Broward County Convention Center and the connected Omni Fort Lauderdale, and engage Visit Lauderdale’s meetings team for citywide coordination and room blocks.
- For corporate meetings, incentives, and galas needing turnkey production: Engage a DMC or production company such as A2 Events, DECO Productions, CSI/Cohera, or MC&A, which handle logistics, theming, transportation, and off-site experiences end to end.
- For audiovisual, staging, and event technology: Meeting Tomorrow and Live It Productions provide AV, staging, scenic design, and webcasting across all area venues.
- For resort-style or waterfront settings: Consider Pier Sixty-Six, the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, or the Seminole Hard Rock.
- For unique, smaller off-site events: The Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, FTL War Memorial, and private-yacht charters offer memorable alternatives.
A practical tip: because Fort Lauderdale is compact and walkable-by-water, planners can combine a downtown or convention-center daytime program with a sunset Intracoastal cruise and a beachside closing reception — all without long transfers. Local DMCs specialize in stitching these experiences together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest convention venue in Fort Lauderdale?
The Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center is the largest, offering more than 1.2 million square feet of event space after its roughly $1.2–$1.3 billion expansion, including a 350,000-square-foot exhibit hall and a 65,000-square-foot waterfront ballroom. It is located at 1950 Eisenhower Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316; phone (954) 765-5900.
What is the headquarters hotel for the Broward County Convention Center?
The Omni Fort Lauderdale, an 801-room, 29-story waterfront hotel connected directly to the convention center, opened in December 2025. It offers about 120,000 square feet of meeting space, including the 30,000-square-foot Waterway Ballroom. Phone: (754) 224-3700.
What is the biggest convention event in Fort Lauderdale in 2026?
By economic impact, IPW 2026 (May 17–21) was the biggest, with 5,200-plus attendees from 70-plus countries and a projected $14.2 billion in economic impact over three years. By attendance and global profile, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (October 28 – November 1, 2026) is the largest recurring event, drawing 100,000-plus visitors.
Who do I contact to book a convention in Fort Lauderdale?
Start with Visit Lauderdale (Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau), the official destination marketing organization, at (954) 765-4466. For the convention center directly, call (954) 765-5900.
Are there full-service event production companies in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. Leading options include A2 Events ((863) 774-6178), DECO Productions ((305) 558-0800), CSI DMC/Cohera ((305) 433-1027), MC&A ((954) 522-8001), and Meeting Tomorrow for AV and staging ((800) 700-6310).
How far is the convention center from the airport and cruise port?
The Broward County Convention Center sits about a half-mile from Port Everglades cruise terminals and roughly 15 minutes from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), making it one of the most accessible convention campuses in the country.
Quick Contact Directory
Convention Venues & Hotels
- Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center — 1950 Eisenhower Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 · (954) 765-5900 · ftlauderdalecc.com
- Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel — 1850 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 · (754) 224-3700 · omnihotels.com
- Pier Sixty-Six — 2301 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 · (954) 525-6666 · pier66.com
- Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina — 1881 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 · (954) 463-4000 · hilton.com
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino — 1 Seminole Way, Davie/Hollywood, FL 33314 · (866) 502-7529 · seminolehardrockhollywood.com
- Signature Grand — 6900 W State Rd 84, Davie, FL 33317 · (954) 424-4000 · signaturegrand.com
- FTL War Memorial — 800 NE 8th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 · (954) 835-7080 · ftlwarmemorial.com
- Bonnet House Museum & Gardens — 900 N Birch Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 · (954) 563-5393 · bonnethouse.org
Event Production & Destination Management Companies
- A2 Events — 616 NW 2nd Ave #220, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 · (863) 774-6178 · a2events.com
- DECO Productions — 14350 NW 56th Ct, Suite 100, Opa-locka, FL 33054 · (305) 558-0800 · decoproductions.com
- CSI DMC / Cohera — 1855 Griffin Rd, Dania Beach, FL 33004 · (305) 433-1027 · csi-dmc.com · meetcohera.com
- MC&A — South Florida office · (954) 522-8001 · mcadmc.com
- Meeting Tomorrow (AV & production) — nationwide, local technicians · (800) 700-6310 · meetingtomorrow.com
- Live It Productions International — 4800 NW 15th Ave, Unit C, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 · (305) 866-9696 · liveitproductions.com
Coordinating Organizations
- Visit Lauderdale (CVB) — 1700 SE 17th St, Suite 100, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 · (954) 765-4466 · visitlauderdale.com
- Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) — 221 SW 3rd Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 · (954) 524-2733 · miasf.org · flibs.com
Sources, Resources, and References
- Broward County — Convention Center Expansion Project (project scope, East Expansion, Connector, Omni opening dates, economic projections): broward.org/CCExpansion
- Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center — official venue site (square footage, ballrooms, expansion details): ftlauderdalecc.com
- Visit Lauderdale — Convention Center venue page, IPW 2026 page, and convention-booking data: visitlauderdale.com
- Travel Weekly — “Omni opens convention hotel in Fort Lauderdale” (Omni room count, meeting space, ballrooms, dining): travelweekly.com
- IPW / U.S. Travel Association — IPW 2026 schedule and host-destination details: ipw.com
- Nomad Lawyer / industry coverage — “IPW 2026 in Greater Fort Lauderdale” (attendance, countries, exhibitors, $14.2B economic-impact projection)
- Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) — official show site and 2026 dates/venues: flibs.com
- Marine Industries Association of South Florida — show ownership and marine-industry economic data: miasf.org
- CSI DMC / Cohera — Fort Lauderdale destination management services: csi-dmc.com · meetcohera.com
- A2 Events — event production and destination management: a2events.com
- DECO Productions — South Florida DMC and in-house production: decoproductions.com
- MC&A — Fort Lauderdale corporate event planning and DMC services: mcadmc.com
- Meeting Tomorrow — Fort Lauderdale corporate AV and event production: meetingtomorrow.com
- Cvent — Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center venue profile: cvent.com
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