Sarasota has been named to Time magazine's "World's Greatest Places" list—one of only two cities in Florida to make it (the other is Orlando). Time's editors say that to compile the list of 100 destinations, the magazine "solicited nominations from its international network of correspondents and contributors, with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences," adding that it's “a tribute to the people and businesses at the forefront of industries who, amidst extraordinary circumstances, found ways to adapt, to build, and to innovate. It shines a light on ingenuity, creativity, revitalization and re-openings in destinations across the world—from small towns to big cities, and everything in between.”

Sarasota, which is celebrating its centennial this year, "is proving itself a vital cultural capital," Time's Brad Japhe writes, citing the Sarasota Art Museum, The Bay and the upgraded Lido Beach Pavilion and Resort at Longboat Key Club as major draws.

In addition to Sarasota and Orlando, other "World's Greatest Places" include Banguerra Island, Mozambique; Cairo, Egypt; Faroe Islands, Denmark; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Las Vegas, Nevada; Savannah, Georgia; and New Orleans, Louisiana.