Wharf conference center to open in May

The Wharf's new 27,000-square-foot conference center officially opens in May, in time for Christian-based Student Life, which is expected to bring 30,000 youths to the Gulf over the summer.

The facility on the Intracoastal Waterway in Orange Beach will be one of the largest at the Gulf, with 19,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and a ballroom that can seat 1,600 to 1,800, according to Leigh Roberts of Showtime Events, the center's marketing firm.

The Wharf's center is a much-needed addition to the resort area, which has a shortage of meeting space, according to Beth Gendler, director of sales for the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau. "We have turned away a lot of business for lack of space," she said.

The CVB works with all local facilities to match meeting planners with the appropriate property, Gendler said. The Gulf competes with Biloxi; Destin, Fla.; and some areas in Georgia for regional business, she said.

The CVB focuses on drawing associations; corporate, religious and sports events; and social gatherings such as reunions and weddings.

The Perdido Beach Resort has the area's most meeting space under one roof, according to Charlie Glanding, director of the hotel's group sales. The hotel and resort has 36,327 square feet of indoor space, 12,106 square feet of outdoor space and 346 guest rooms, he said.

Other area facilities with meeting space include the newly opened Phoenix West, The Beach Club at Fort Morgan, Caribe Resort in Orange Beach and several hotels.

The Wharf's facility won't hurt business at Perdido Resort, according to Glanding. "It's just meeting space. It will help sell more guest rooms."

Last year's group business was good, he said, but added that year-over-year comparisons are tough these days.

"When you have a hurricane you have to throw those years out," he said. "After a hurricane, you are either very busy because you're the only one open or it's the opposite. From a budgeting process, we're definitely doing well." In fact, he said, the Perdido Resort was the first hotel up and running after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and had solid bookings for three to four months after the storm.

The convention season is typically April and May, June through mid-July, then September and October, according to Gendler.

The 2007 season was one of the best as far as occupancy, she said. In 2008, there were 46,500 meeting attendees at the Gulf for a total of 61,900 room nights, she said. So far in 2009, there have been 45,475 attendees, she said.

"This year could be very close to last year's numbers, which would be great in this economy," Gendler said. "We tend to be less affected than some areas because we are so regional that people can get in the car and drive here. The meetings are staying the same, but attendance is down."

There hasn't been a huge decrease in business at The Beach Club, according to Sarah Green, group sales manager. The resort has more than 13,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space and 340 condo units in the rental program, she said.

"We've seen the most decrease in bookings of social groups," she said. Those include family reunions, church retreats and a few weddings, she said. At the same time, business people who are attending conferences are bringing their families and extending their stays to make it a vacation, she said.

"People are so budget conscious that many groups are willing to pair people up" and share a condo unit, said the Wharf's Roberts, who is booking events for 2010 and 2011. "When you are sharing a condo as big as 1,300 square feet and it's two bedrooms, it's like a suite."

The fact that The Wharf fronts the Intracoastal Waterway and not the beach has not been an issue, Roberts said. "I find most people at meetings don't have a ton of free time. The Wharf has a view of the marina, and people like that." The Wharf also has multiple restaurants, bars, and nearby entertainment options, she said. "Orange Beach is an interesting spot to bring your meeting."