Sarasota-Manatee may not have a dedicated, high-end conference center with major meeting and exhibit space, but there is no shortage of business meeting venues of all sizes and amenities. If you’re contemplating an intimate corporate retreat, a conference that will bring in hundreds of attendees, or a weekend training session for 75 employees, you can stay local. We’ve compiled a must-keep chart on pages 38-39 that lists 75 facilities with all the pertinent information

to get you started.

Just in time, too. After several tough years, the meetings industry is showing signs of life.

“Since last summer, clients have been spending a little more money,” says Terry Blumenstein, partner at Sarasota-based meeting-planning agency Coordination Plus. “They’re considering hotels where the price for rooms or food is a little more expensive.”

Kelly M. Defebo, sales manager for the Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau, agrees—up to a point. “The purse strings are loosening a little, but budgets are still reduced,” she says. “Meeting planners are looking for the ability to keep the quality of the meeting high with a reduced budget.”

Here’s what planners are looking for today: value. Clients want shorter meetings more tightly packed with relevant speakers and breakout sessions. Receptions may be scaled back, offering only beer and wine instead of a full bar, or passed appetizers instead of a sit-down dinner. Specialty food items might be passed over in favor of simpler—and therefore cheaper—choices.

If another group is in the hotel at the same time, planners might coordinate menus and offer similar dishes in order to cut food and beverage costs. “They’re also looking at hotels that don’t penalize them for attrition,” says Defebo. “If they say they’re going to have 100 rooms on one night and only end up having 80, they’re looking for a hotel that will waive any penalty fee or work out a deal in some other way.”

“It is a buyer’s market,” says Rhonda Holliday, director of resort sales for the Longboat Key Club & Resort. “Groups are shopping every detail of their meeting, from airport transfers to coffee breaks, and are looking for value-added items.”

Plus, no company wants to be seen as organizing an over-the-top lavish affair. The “AIG effect” has made all meeting planners aware of the pitfalls of extravagant wining and dining while so many others are tightening their belts. “[Company CEOs] will not sign until they are convinced the business purposes and goals of the trip are clearly defined and the costs are justified,” says Holliday.

So planners don’t hesitate to eliminate elements not deemed absolutely necessary. “People have really cut back on the little frilly things, like not having centerpieces or specialty linens or maybe entertainment,” says Kim Pate, director of sales at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.

Another must-have: high-speed wireless Internet access. Everyone is connected to their iPads or BlackBerries these days, and meeting attendees require it in the meeting space, says Pate. If a hotel or meeting facility doesn’t offer free Wi-Fi, the client will need to add that cost into the overall budget.

Groups also want to make a connection with the community in which they hold their event as a way to make their meetings more meaningful for attendees. It’s also good company P.R. “Corporate social responsibility has been around for a while, but it’s turning into a big trend at meetings,” says Defebo. “Planners ask me for local organizations they can contribute to through volunteer work.” That might include packing bags of canned goods for a local food pantry or participating in a Habitat for Humanity project.

“We had a group in for a team-building event, and they decided to build playhouses,” says Pate. “They had a competition among the team, built three or four playhouses, and then donated them to a local organization.”

Though many meetings these days are still booked within a relatively short time (think 90 to 120 days out), planners are starting to look down the road and secure venues and dates for 2012. “If you’re looking a year out and even two years out, it’s getting more difficult to find the space you need,” says Blumenstein.

“We’re ahead of our booking pace over last year for 2011,” says Pate. “Things are coming back slowly. I think 2011 will still be a little bit of a challenge, but I do see things recovering.”

While bookings are picking up, prices won’t see an uptick for awhile. “Prices are pretty much holding now,” says Debbie Meihls, executive manager of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’ll be a few years before people can spring back to the old prices.”

And no one wants to risk losing bookings over prices that might be a little too high, especially as the industry remains highly competitive. Secondary markets like Sarasota and Manatee tend to be more affordable than primary markets like Orlando or Las Vegas, and more companies are now considering them, says Defebo. But that also means that, “Smaller destinations like Sarasota have to compete with larger ones that have more meeting space, more hotels, bigger budgets, and more flexibility to play with rates and offer larger incentives,” she says.

That’s why the local meetings business prides itself on customer service and does everything it can to work with potential clients. “Because we have hotel chains but don’t have the big flags [in the Bradenton area], we’re able to work with the meeting planners better and offer packages tailored to them,” says Meihls.

The Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau will sponsor receptions or other events for companies and groups that are in town for a meeting and are bringing in a big crowd that will fill hotel rooms and spend money. They’re a way to introduce the whole group to the area, thank the group for its business, and secure some repeat business as well. This tactic helps convince local businesses to hold their meetings here rather than in another destination. “We like to talk to companies and see what they need and how we can assist,” says Defebo. “Whatever will help keep their business here, we’re open to that.”

 

Meet Market

Here’s your list of the region’s top 73 event venues.

Compiled by Forest Balderson

Sarasota/Bradenton International

Convention Center

8005 15th St., E.

Sarasota, FL 34243               941-355-9161          sbicc.net # of Rooms: 5        Total Sq. Ft.: 93,000*             Capacity: 5,000

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

777 N. Tamiami Trail

Sarasota, FL 34236

941-955-7676

vanwezel.org

# of Rooms: 4

Total Sq. Ft. 60,000               Capacity: 5,550

Manatee Convention Center          P.O. Box 1000

Bradenton, FL 34206            941-722-3244 ext. 226            manateeconvention center.com # of Rooms: 7        Total Sq. Ft.: 32,400                Capacity: 4,000

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota          5840 26th St., W. Bradenton, FL 34207                941-752-5300          mccfl.edu               # of Rooms: 5               Total Sq. Ft.: 28,000              Capacity: 2,300

PAL Sailor Circus  2075 Bahia Vista St. Sarasota, FL 34236            941-361-6350          sailorcircus.org       # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 27,000                Capacity: 2,500

Stardust Event Center/Skate Center          2571 12th St.

Sarasota, FL 34237                941-365-6888          stardusteventcenter.com       # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 24,400              Capacity: 1,260

Hyatt Regency Sarasota               1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, FL 34236 941-953-1234          sarasota.hyatt.com                # of Rooms: 20            Total Sq. Ft.: 22,000              Capacity: 700-1,250

Sun-N-Fun RV Resort            7125 Fruitville Road Sarasota, FL 34240            941-371-2505          sunnfunfl.com        # of Rooms: 8        Total Sq. Ft.: 22,000     Capacity: 450-1,200

Sarasota Opera 61 N. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota, FL 34236           941-366-8450          sarasotaopera.org # of Rooms: 6        Total Sq. Ft.: 20,000                Capacity: 1,950

Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota           1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive Sarasota, FL 34239        941-309-2000          ritzcarlton.com/resorts/sarasota            # of Rooms: 11            Total Sq. Ft.: 18,000              Capacity: 800-1,200

John & Mable

Ringling Museum           5401 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL 34243         941-359-5700          www.ringling.org     # of Rooms: 2        Total Sq. Ft.: 13,500     Capacity: 1,200

The Longboat Key

Club & Resort         301 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Longboat Key, FL 34228      800-237-8821          longboatkeyclub.com            # of Rooms: 7        Total Sq. Ft.: 12,000              Capacity: 150-250

The Powel Crosley Estate             P.O. Box 1000

Bradenton, FL 34206            941-722-3244          crosleyestate.com # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 11,000              Capacity: 200

City of Sarasota Municipal Auditorium 801 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34237            941-954-4165          auditorium.sarasotagov.com                # of Rooms: 1               Total Sq. Ft.: 10,000              Capacity: 750

Florida Studio Theatre            1241 N. Palm Ave.Sarasota, FL 34236                941-366-9000          floridastudiotheatre.org          # of Rooms: 6        Total Sq. Ft.: 9,900          Capacity: 515

Mote Marine

Laboratory & Aquarium         1600 Ken Thompson Parkway

Sarasota, FL 34236               941-388-4441          mote.org # of Rooms: 4        Total Sq. Ft.: 9,825                Capacity: 1,185

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens   811 S. Palm Ave.Sarasota, FL 34236 941-366-5731          selby.org                # of Rooms: 8        Total Sq. Ft.: 8,300       Capacity: 250

Bentley’s 1660 S. Tamiami Trail   Sarasota, FL 34229         941-966-2121          bentleyssarasota.com           # of Rooms: 6        Total Sq. Ft.: 6,500                Capacity: 32-320

Manatee Central

Banquet Hall       509 Ninth St., E.

Bradenton, FL 34208            941-745-5125          manateecentral.com              # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 6,000                Capacity: 275

The Chelsea Center        2506 Gulf Gate Drive   Sarasota, FL 34231          941-927-7689          chelseacenter.com # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 6,000       Capacity: 300-400

Courtyard by Marriott Bradenton/

Sarasota Riverfront                100 Riverfront Drive W. Bradenton, FL 34205    941-355-3337          courtyard.com/srqbd             # of Rooms: 3        Total Sq. Ft.: 6,000          Capacity: 150-300

Lido Beach Resort 700 Ben Franklin Drive Sarasota, FL 34236        941-388-2161          lidobeachresort.com              # of Rooms: 8        Total Sq. Ft.: 6,000       Capacity: 200-350

 

Palm-Aire

Country Club      5601 Country Club Way

Sarasota, FL 34243               941-355-9733          palmaire.net      # of Rooms: 3        Total Sq. Ft.: 5,534                Capacity: 90-300

The Players Theatre                838 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236              941-365-2494          theplayers.org        # of Rooms: 2        Total Sq. Ft.: 5,500       Capacity: 550

Mixon Fruit Farms         2712 26th Ave., E. Bradenton, FL 34208            941-748-5829          mixon.com             # of Rooms: 4        Total Sq. Ft.: 5,250       Capacity: 550

The Golden Apple

Dinner Theatre    25 N. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota, FL 34236           941-366-5454          thegoldenapple.com             # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 5,000       Capacity: 280

City of Sarasota Payne Park Auditorium         2100 E. Laurel St. Sarasota, FL 34237                941-954-4165          auditorium.sarasotagov.com                # of Rooms: 2        Total Sq. Ft.: 4,100                Capacity: 450

Sarasota Orchestra                709 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236             941-953-4252          sarasotaorchestra.org            # of Rooms: 2        Total Sq. Ft.: 3,800          Capacity: 690

The Concession

Golf Club             7700 Lindrick Lane Bradenton, FL 34202            941-322-1922 ext. 103            theconcession.com               # of Rooms: 3        Total Sq. Ft.: 3,735          Capacity: 33-350

Holiday Inn Sarasota/Bradenton Airport               8009 15th St. E. Sarasota, FL  34243 941-358-3800          hisrq.com               # of Rooms: 3        Total Sq. Ft.: 3,200          Capacity: 65-200

Hilton Longboat Key Beachfront Resort              4711 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Longboat Key, FL 34228       941-383-2451      longboatkey.hilton.com         # of Rooms: 4        Total Sq. Ft.: 3,000                Capacity: 75-125

Stoneybrook Golf Course     7515 Grand Harbor Parkway

Bradenton, FL 34212             941- 749-1842         stoneybrookgolfbradenton.com # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 3,000                Capacity: 150

The Riverhouse at

Regatta Pointe 1001 Riverside Drive

Suite 200

Palmetto, FL 34221               941-721-3800          manateeriverhouse.com        # of Rooms: 2        Total Sq. Ft.: 2,725                Capacity: 70-270   

G. WIZ- The

Science Museum   1001 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, FL 34236                941-309-4949          gwiz.org # of Rooms: 4        Total Sq. Ft.: 2,500                Capacity: 500

Helmsley

Sandcastle Hotel              1540 Ben Franklin Drive Sarasota, FL 34236      941-388-2181          helmsleysandcastle.com       # of Rooms: 3        Total Sq. Ft.: 2,500          Capacity: 110-225

Holiday Inn

Lakewood Ranch           6231 Lake Osprey Drive   Sarasota, FL 34243    941-782-4400          hilr.com   # of Rooms: 7        Total Sq. Ft.: 2,500                Capacity: 100-225

LECOM 5000 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

Bradenton, FL 34211            941-782-5654          www.lecom.edu     # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 2,500                Capacity: 212

Historic Asolo Theater            5401 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL 34243         941-360-7399          ringling.org/theatre.asp          # of Rooms: 1

Total Sq. Ft.: 2,300                Capacity: 260

Homewood Suites 3470 Fruitville Road Sarasota, FL 34237            941-365-7300          sarasota.homewoodsuites.com           # of Rooms: 3        Total Sq. Ft.: 2,300          Capacity: 50-70

Holiday Inn Lido Beach          233 Ben Franklin Drive Sarasota, FL 34236        941-388-5555          lidobeach.net          # of Rooms: 2        Total Sq. Ft.: 2,048       Capacity: 72-150

The Spirit Center     2506 Gulf Gate Drive   Sarasota, FL 34231          941-927-7689          chelseacenter.com # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 2,000                Capacity: 70-140         

Hampton Inn & Suites Sarasota/Bradenton Airport              975 University Parkway Sarasota, FL 34243       941-355-8140                hamptoninn.com    # of Rooms: 3        Total Sq. Ft.: 2,000                Capacity: 60-100

Keiser College   6151 Lake Osprey Drive Sarasota, FL 34240      941-907-3900 x243 keiser-college.com # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 2,000                Capacity: 75-80

Venice Train Depot                303 E. Venice Ave. Venice, FL 34285 941-861-1382          scgov.net               # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 1,920                Capacity: 100

Hilton Garden Inn          8720 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34243          941-552-1100          stayhgi.com           # of Rooms: 3        Total Sq. Ft.: 1,850       Capacity: 80-180

Selby Auditorium USF Sarasota-Manatee           8350 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL, 34270           941-359-4637          usf.edu   # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 1,800          Capacity: 100-175

Tropical Breeze Resort/ The Pool House              140 Columbus Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34242           941-349-1125          tropicalbreezeinn.com            # of Rooms: 1               Total Sq. Ft.: 1,800                Capacity: 10-100

Holiday Inn Express         4450 47th St., W. Bradenton, FL 34210               941-795-4633          hiexpress.com/bradentonwest              # of Rooms: 2                Total Sq. Ft.: 1,800                Capacity: 50

Best Western Ambassador Suites       400 Commercial Court Venice, FL 34292           941-480-9898          bestwestern.com/ambassadorsuites   # of Rooms: 4               Total Sq. Ft.: 1,368                Capacity: 70-110

Lakewood Ranch

Town Hall             8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.                941-907-0202          lakewoodranch.com              # of Rooms: 3        Total Sq. Ft.: 1,300                Capacity: 150-200

AmericInn Hotel & Suites               5931 Fruitville Road Sarasota, FL 34232            941-342-8778          americinnsarasota

hotel.com               # of Rooms: 3        Total Sq. Ft.: 1,210                Capacity: 60-80

Historic Spainish Point           3337 N. Tamiami Trail Osprey, FL 34229            941-966-5214          historicspanishpoint.org        # of Rooms: 3        Total Sq. Ft.: 1,200          Capacity: 100

Comfort Suites University Park            8305 Tourist Center Drive

University Park, FL 34201     941-360-2626          comfortsarasota.com            # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 1200 Capacity: 50-70

Country Inn & Suites              5730 Gant Road Sarasota, FL 34233 941-925-0631          countryinns.com/sarasotafl   # of Rooms: 2        Total Sq. Ft.: 1,200       Capacity: 45-60

Hampton Inn Sarasota           5995 Cattleridge Blvd.Sarasota, FL 34232           941-371-1900          hamptoninnsarasota.com     # of Rooms: 2        Total Sq. Ft.: 1,200          Capacity: 75-90

ComCenter Lakewood Ranch/Virtual Offices       9040 Town Center Parkway

Bradenton, FL 34202             941-782-1200          comcenters.net      # of Rooms: 6        Total Sq. Ft.: 1,200                Capacity: 24

Hotel Indigo            1223 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, FL 34236 941-487-3800          srqhotel.com          # of Rooms: 3        Total Sq. Ft.: 1,100                Capacity: 30-50

Holiday House       455 US 41 By-Pass N. Venice, FL 34285            941-485-5411          hotelveniceflorida.com          # of Rooms: 4        Total Sq. Ft.: 1,000       Capacity: 100-300

The Bridgewalk Resort           100 Bridge St.

Bradenton, FL 34217             941-782-1137          silverresorts.com    # of Rooms: 2        Total Sq. Ft.: 950   Capacity: 72

Holiday Inn Express               6600 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34231           941-924-4900          hiexsarasota.com # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 875          Capacity: 25

Hyatt Place Sarasota/Bradenton Airport               950 University Parkway Sarasota, FL 34234        941-554-5800          hyattplace.com      # of Rooms: 2                Total Sq. Ft.: 875   Capacity: 50-80

ComCenter 70/ Virtual Offices     6150 SR 70 E.

Bradenton, FL 34203             941-755-0700          comcenters.net      # of Rooms: 4        Total Sq. Ft.: 800   Capacity: 12

SpringHill Suites

by Marriott           1020 University Parkway Sarasota, FL 34234      941-358-3385          marriott.com           # of Rooms: 2        Total Sq. Ft.: 696                Capacity: 24

Courtyard by

Marriott    850 University Parkway Sarasota, FL 34234       941-358-1468          marriott.com/srqcy # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 624   Capacity: 30-40

Comfort Inn

Sarasota 5778 Clark Road   Sarasota, FL 34233                941-921-7750          choicehotels.com/hotel/fl814                # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 600          Capacity: 30-50

Days Inn Sarasota 5774 Clark Road Sarasota, FL 34233 941-921-7812          daysinn.com/hote/07695       # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 600                Capacity: 30-50

Courthouse Centre/ Virtual Offices        1990 Main St., Suite 750 Sarasota, FL 34236              941-309-5200          regus.com              # of Rooms: 2                Total Sq. Ft.: 500   Capacity: 10-14

 

Hampton Inn &

Suites Venice     881 Venetia Bay Boulevard

Venice, FL 34292   941-488-5900          hamptoninnvenice.com         # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 500   Capacity: 27-40

Residence Inn

by Marriott           1040 University Parkway Sarasota, FL 34234      941-358-1468          marriott.com           # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 500                Capacity: 12-15

ComCenter Bradenton/

Virtual Offices         100 Third Ave., W. Bradenton, FL 34205              941-567-1700          comcenters.net      # of Rooms: 2        Total Sq. Ft.: 400                Capacity: 8

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport              6000 Airport Circle Sarasota, FL 34243                941-359-5200          srq-airport.com       # of Rooms: 1                Total Sq. Ft.: 300   Capacity: 20

Best Western

Midtown 1425 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34239           941-955-9841          bwmidtown.com    # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 276   Capacity: 20-30

Johnson Photo

Imaging   6709 S.R. 70 E. Bradenton, FL 34203 941-752-0550          jpiphoto.com          # of Rooms: 1        Total Sq. Ft.: 250   Capacity: 12-20

 

*This list is ranked by total square footage.