Why Sarasota County Is the Ideal Destination for Your Next Meeting

Picture-perfect Weather

With an average high temperature of 83 degrees Fahrenheit and 251 sunny days per year, Sarasota County is hospitable any time of the year. If you want to escape the cold weather back home, plan your event for the winter. Want to offer an optional beach day to your attendees? Schedule your meeting for late spring or summer, when water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Easy Access 

Home to one of the fastest-growing airports in the country, Sarasota County has become easy to fly directly into. In fact, during season, which generally runs from November to April, you can fly from 63 cities nonstop to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ). These include Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, New York City and Omaha. SRQ also has multiple flights per day from Atlanta, making it easy to connect from other cities.

Tampa International Airport, just 55 miles north of Sarasota, is another option for travelers. Both airports have rental cars and other forms of transportation available.

Group Appeal

No matter what your attendees are into, you’ll find it in Sarasota County. 
 Do they want to take to the links? Host a golf outing at one of the many public courses or at a private course attached to the hotel where your group is staying, such as The Resort at Longboat Key Club and The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. 

If they are a cultured crowd, treat your attendees to a night at the opera, the ballet or the theatre.
Create a team bonding experience on the water. Go tandem kayaking through the mangroves or celebrate your group’s achievements on a chartered boat.

It’s all possible here in Sarasota County.

A Variety of Venues

Sarasota’s venues are just as diverse as our conference activities. 

Accommodate your attendees and hold your meetings at our hotels and resorts. Choose from large hotels in the heart of downtown Sarasota, like the with The Westin and The Ritz-Carlton, boutique hotels such as Sarasota Modern, and waterfront resorts, including The St. Regis Longboat Key. 

If you want to go off-property for your special event, Sarasota County has no shortage of unique venues. Host a reception among outdoor statuary or on a Gulf-front patio at The Ringling. Hold a meeting or a dinner against a backdrop of live marine animals at the new Mote Science Education Aquarium (SEA). Entertain your attendees among the plant life at Selby Gardens or rent the historic Sarasota Opera House for an awards ceremony or keynote speaker presentation. These are just a few of the possibilities for memorable event spaces. 

Our area also has two popular local venues, Michael’s on East and The Ora, that offer an assortment of beautiful event spaces and catering services, making planning that much easier.     

Consider Sarasota County for your organization’s annual meeting or your next corporate retreat or conference. It’s easy to get here, the weather is ideal, and you’ll have a plethora of locations and activities to please everyone.