July/August 2005 Article                      

From the Field: Saddlebrook Resort, Tampa

A resort village so well designed you don’t need transportation to get around. Walk to restaurants, recreation, meetings easily. Guest rooms are extra comfortable with recent renovations. Wonderful variety of off-site activities nearby for all tastes. And, some great rates. See for yourself.

The Saddlebrook Difference

Renovation is virtually complete. Looks great. The beds very comfortable, "way overstuffed" and all white high-count cotton with a palm tree throw at the bottom. The 2 bedroom, 2 bath suite accommodation is still the PERFECT solution for rate sensitive groups that want Florida in high season. Great value for the money. On 480 acres of lush Florida countryside. Walking Village, surrounding the Superpool, contains meeting, recreation and dining facilities, and shops. Guest rooms border the Walking Village, making everything convenient.

Off-site activities great for meetings and for families include:

• Busch Gardens, 20-25 min. Private function areas for groups. African Safari on open top jeeps, stops to see elephants, rhinos, zebra (also feed), and other animals.
• Downtown Tampa, 25-30 min. Splittsville - great for younger, active crowd, upscale bowling alley with entertainment, 50's restaurant next door that caters events. Ybor - restaurant and complex takes you back to authentic old world Cuba with traditional food, cigar rolling, flamenco dancers, museum
• Dinner Boat Cruise -- Yacht Star Ship - 30 min. away. Cruises the Tampa channel on a 2-hour trip. It holds 700 people.
• Canoe trips 15 min away on the Hillsboro River. Guided trip through 1600-acre reserve with a naturalist. 4 1/2 mile trip through mangroves and in open water. Alligators, birds, turtles. "Challenge Course" on Saddlebrook property, learning tool for team-building and dealing with change.

The Basics

• 30 miles from Tampa International Airport
• 800 sleeping rooms
• Wireless, high-speed internet access
• 4 dining restaurants on property, plus three bars
• Superpool
• Two challenging 18-hole Arnold Palmer golf courses
• 7,000 sq. ft. European-style spa
• 45 tennis courts
• 5-acre executive challenge site
• Sports village and fitness center
• Fishing
• 82,000 sq. ft. of function space with largest room being 18,000 sq.ft.
• 37 meeting rooms
• Maximums: 1,200 classroom style, 2,000 theater style, 1,500 rounds of 10 for dining
• Business center

2005 avail dates and estimated rates for deluxe rooms with one bed:

• Oct 9 – 23 $165 and up
• Oct 30- Nov 5 $165 and up
• Nov 13-19 $165 and up