Doral

An industrial and suburban neighborhood eight miles from the Miami International Airport, Doral is widely known as the home of the Trump National Doral Miami Resort. As it is also home to the headquarters for Carnival Cruise Line, Burger King and Perry Ellis International, Doral is a dynamic business center. With all this plus an active Venezuelan community, Doral event venues are very lively. Doral is located 12 miles from downtown Miami, 16 miles from the Miami Beach Convention Center and 18 miles from South Beach. Hotel venues in Doral begin with the 642-room Trump National Doral Miami, which has 100,000 square feet of meeting space, five golf courses and 48,000-square-foot spa. (The property has undergone a $200-million renovation since it joined the Trump Hotel Collection.) Other options include the 265-room InterContinental at Doral Miami, with 10,000 square feet of meeting space; and the 145-room Aloft Miami Doral with 3,000 square feet of meeting space. While special event venues in Doral are somewhat limited, there are several possibilities in nearby Coral Gables, home to the University of Miami, and Hialeah. The Doral Park County Club can accommodate banquets for 200 people and a ballroom with theater seating for 250. Shopping is an extremely popular pastime in Doral, thanks to its two exceptional malls. The Miami International Mall has 140 stores highlighted by anchors Macy's, Kohl's, and JC Penny. The Dolphin Mall features 240 stores as well as an expansive food court, movie theater and bowling alley. Other attractions in the area include the Art Museum at Florida International University and Hialeah Race Track, a horse racing and gaming complex. An impressive selection of South American restaurants dominates the Doral dining scene. Among the more popular for groups is Olivos Restaurant, which specializes in Argentine and Mediterranean cuisine and Restaurante Monserrate, which offers authentic Colombian fare in a family-friendly atmosphere.