Hotel and Travel

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HOTEL | TRAVEL | EVENT SHUTTLE

Hotel

Host Hotel
The Island Resort at Fort Walton Beach

Address: 1500 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Rate: $110 per night (not including taxes and fees)
Amenities: Includes Breakfast Vouchers
Availability: Sunday – Thursday
Cancellation Policy: 48 hours prior to arrival

We’ve secured discounted room blocks for registered attendees. Rooms are limited and will sell out — please book early using the information below. After the cut-off dates, group rates and availability are not guaranteed.

If your plans change and you need to cancel your reservation, please contact GSOF directly instead of cancelling through the hotel. This ensures we can reassign the room to another attendee and avoid losing inventory from our contracted block.

Wake up to the sound of the Gulf and enjoy a true beachfront experience at The Island Resort. Located just minutes from the symposium venue, this resort-style property offers tropical pools, beach bars, and direct access to the sugar-white sands of Fort Walton Beach. Whether you’re networking poolside or relaxing after sessions, The Island provides a perfect balance of convenience and coastal comfort.

Overflow Hotel
Hilton Garden Inn Ft. Walton Beach

Address: 1297 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Rate: $110 per night (not including taxes and fees)
Availability: Sunday – Thursday

BLOCK CLOSED

Travel

Getting Here

By land, sea, or air, there are various ways to get to Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Fly: There are some direct flights to the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (DSI), and new routes are being added via major carriers such as American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, SunCountry, and Allegiant Airlines.

Other nearby airports include Valparaiso (VPS) (6.6 miles), Pensacola International Airport (PNS) (34.8 miles) and Panama City Airport (ECP) (49.2 miles).

Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS): ~20 minute drive from the Conference Center
Pensacola International Airport (PNS): ~1 hour drive from the Conference Center (larger commercial hub)
Panama City Airport (ECP): ~1.5 hour drive from the Conference Center (58.4 miles)

Airport Transfer: Hotel shuttles, taxis, and rideshares are available to pick you up and bring you directly to your accommodations. There are also many rental car companies available.

Uber / Lyft:

It is not necessary to rent a car for this event; Uber and Lyft are available for local transfers
Shuttles will be provided from The Island Resort at Fort Walton Beach at the start and end of each day. A shuttle schedule will be available shortly.

Driving / Renting a Car: Destin-Ft. Walton Beach is a short road trip away from many major southern cities.

Parking is available at The Island Resort at Fort Walton Beach free of charge for hotel guests only
Overflow Parking is also available at adjacent lots, see below for more information.

Event Shuttle

We are excited to offer a convenient event shuttle service for our guests! On the morning of each event day, the shuttle will be available to transport attendees from the hotel to the event venue. In the evening, the shuttle will return guests to the hotel after the day’s activities. This service is designed to make your experience as seamless and stress-free as possible, ensuring that you can focus on enjoying the event without worrying about transportation. Final routes and departure times will be published in the mobile app and onsite signage.

The Shuttle will run between the hotel and the Destin Fort Walton Beach Convention Center.