St. Augustine, Fla. (September 16, 2009) -- Meeting planners have a new reason to host an event in America's oldest city with the introduction of a special incentive that provides free airfare for a site visit to St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches.

The St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau is offering free round-trip airfare from anywhere in the continental U.S. for use during a site visit to the area by a meeting planner who also submits a Request for Proposal prior to December 31, 2009.

The meetings must be booked and held prior to December 31, 2010 and include a minimum of 75 room nights and planners must spend at minimum of $20,000 (including incrementals). This offer is not valid with a previously submitted RFP.

"Meeting planners are under increased pressure to stretch their dollars even further in this economy," said Charles Cox, chairman of the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau. "By offering this special promotion specifically tailored to meeting professionals. we hope it provides yet another reason to host an event in a meeting-friendly area rich with history, filled with amenities and activities for the entire family and surrounded by some of the most beautiful beaches in the United States."

Meeting planners have much to choose from in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches. With more than 7,000 rooms, suites, villas and bed and breakfast inns offering a variety of price points, there are a number of lodging options.

The area offers an abundance of meeting space and state-of-the-art facilities with a variety of unique venues for hosting special events including breathtaking historical sites and one-of-a-kind attractions.

For more information about booking a meeting in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches and the free airfare promotion for meeting planners, please call (800) 418-7529 or visit www.myfloridameetings.com. The web site serves as a one-stop resource for meeting professionals seeking valuable information about hosting an event in the Old City.

About St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches:

Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest, continuously occupied European settlement in the continental United States and home to more than 85 historical sites, attractions, museums and national monuments. St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the Beaches are rich with shopping and dining opportunities as well as activities for the entire family.

Situated between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach on Florida's northeast Atlantic coast, the area offers more than 42 miles of beautiful beaches including the charming Anastasia Island, a myriad water sports and great fishing.

Ponte Vedra offers a variety of luxurious accommodations, fashionable shopping and an array of outstanding championship golf courses for players of all skill levels. The area is home to the internationally-known TPC Sawgrass and THE PLAYERS Championship golf tournament. There is challenging golf to be found throughout St. Augustine and only eight miles from the Old City is the World Golf Village and World Golf Hall of Fame.