Hawks Cay Resort, Duck Key, Florida

Revamped resort makes a splash

By Doug Wallace

Imagine the Atlantic Ocean at sunrise and the Gulf of Mexico at sunset. Sixty acre Hawks Cay on Duck Key has the best of these two worlds. The resort also boasts the largest meeting and conference space in the Florida Keys—20,000 square feet of it—recently spruced up by a multi-million-dollar renovation.

The makeover included the creation of an adults-only section and tran-quility pool, an update to the 7,000-sq.-ft. spa, two new luxury penthouses and 16 family suites. All together, that’s 177 guestrooms and 250 two- to four-bedroom privately owned guest villas for rent.

The beauty of this AAA Four Diamond-rated spot is that once your group is on the property, you are together for the duration of your conference, unlike places like Las Vegas, where people tend to scatter.

“People travel for the experience,” says Andrew Rosuck, Hawks Cay’s regional vice-president of sales and marketing. “We have an 85-slip marina for everything from backwater fishing to deep-sea sport fishing. You can kayak, go stand-up paddle boarding, SCUBA diving, or for a jet-ski ride to the mangroves.” The resort is also one of the few places in the US to offer SNUBA, where you can dive without the need for certification, connected by a hose to your air supply on a floating raft.

One of Hawks Cay’s taglines positions it as “the Caribbean you can drive to” and they’re not that far off. The two-hour drive from Miami on the iconic Overseas Highway is a bucket-list highlight. “Driving to the Keys is so much fun,” says Rosuck. “There’s so much to see and do along the way.”

A Marina Walk overlooking the yachts and fishing boats is set to open early next year. It will feature a 250-seat restaurant, a market and cultural area, even better access to watersports—and more of that incredible panoramic sea view. hawkscay.com

other articles in this section

Swag-Bag Standouts

Banff, Alberta

Incentive Travel Insights

Gifting Guidance

The Renaissance of Incentive Travel

Promotional products your attendees will love. Really.

Incentive Research in Action

History in the Making

Mindful Indulgences

Dynamic Duos

Status Report

Editor's Choice: 6 Springtime Gifts

Warm up to Winter Ski Incentives

Set to Impress

Expert Tips for Virtual Incentive Events

Party Pivots

Presents of Mind: The Art of Virtual Gifting

A Rewarding Experience

Noteworthy: Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, Bermuda

Cards vs. Cash

Good Times

Value Validation

Trip Trends

Sailing Away

The More, The Merrier

Holiday Angst

Making the Connection

Make an Impact

Mutual Appreciation

Healthy Options for Incentive Trips

A Rewarding Experience

Cruising the Rhone River

Celebrating Employee Milestones

How Do they Do It

Eyes on the Prize

Healthy employees = Healthy company

Measuring ROI

Hawks Cay Resort, Duck Key, Florida

Good Sensations

How to Design an Effective Gift Card Incentive Program

Fogo Island Inn, Fogo Island, Newfoundland

The Case for including Spouses on Incentive Trips

Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya

On-site Gifting

Rim to River Hiking in the Grand Canyon

Sparkling Hill Resort, Vernon, BC

Creating incentive trips that appeal to everyone

The Brave New World of Gift Cards

Award Show Winners

Capella Marigot Bay Resort and Marina

Take me to the river

Click + Praise

The Science of Incentives

Incentive trips go family-style

Knock-their-socks-off gifts for hard-to-buy-for executives

Building a Better Program

Perfect Pampering

Indulge Me!

Customized Recognition Programs

Virtual gift cards, the new reality

Gift Cards that Give

Go with a Pro, in the Spa and on the Greens

Chartering private jets

Offsite Employee Engagement

Behaviour-based Recognition

Canadian tax implications for employee gifts

A Christmas Bonus with all the Fixin's!

Peer-to-peer recognition

Everyday Green Heroes

Recognizing Environmental Actions in the Workplace

Reward and Recognize Every Day!

New Year, New You!

Co-Branded Cards

Last-minute gifts and rewards

Double Pampering Hits the Spot!

Hidden Gems: Cobble Beach Resort

Gamification

Free and Fab Employee Rewards

Incentive Programs Used by the Pros

Think Local for Corporate Gifts

21st Century Gift Cards

Time for an Incentive Travel Update

Reward Best-Practices for the Holiday Season

Small Product, Big Impact

Spa Rewards, Done Right

Staying Motivated

Gift Giving Guidelines

The Pros and Cons of Gift Cards

Eco-Friendly Corporate Gift Ideas

Green Guides

Travel Rewards Strategy

Speaker Gifts that Shine with Gratitude

Tax Treatment of Incentive Travel