Hotel and Travel

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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)
Availability: Sunday – Thursday
Cancellation Policy: 48 hours prior to arrival

Hotel Booking Cut-Off: Monday, January 19, 2026
Use the SAWS group booking link below to access the discounted rate. If calling the hotel directly, reference “Global SOF SAWS”.

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 or adjust 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.

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the island renovation 2020 400x300

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.

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 and the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Walton Beach free of charge for hotel guests only
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.

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