Tourism

Groundbreaking for New Pinecraft Inn Set for Nov. 30

Dutchman Hospitality Group, Inc. will celebrate the groundbreaking of the Carlisle Inn, the new 103-room inn set to be built in Sarasota's Pinecraft community, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30.

11/22/2016 By staff

Tourism

Tourist Tax Collections Increase to Almost $20 Million

Tourist Development Tax collections increased to almost $20 million in fiscal year 2016, a 4.7 percent increase over 2015.

11/18/2016 By staff

Food

Sarasota County Commission Loosens Food Truck Regulations

The new rules will allow truck owners to obtain a temporary use permit that would allow them to operate on multiple properties with the property owner's consent.

11/09/2016 By staff

Transportation

Airline Begins Direct Service From Sarasota to Maine Nov. 17

Elite Airways will begin offering direct flights from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport to Portland International Jetport in Portland, Maine on Nov. 17.

10/31/2016 Research by staff

Tourism

Summer Tourism Numbers Up in Sarasota County

Visit Sarasota County on Thursday reported growth in tourist visitation and spending, hotel occupancy and room rates and consumer satisfaction during the months of July, August and September.

10/27/2016 Research by staff

Construction

Bird Key Yacht Club Completes New $2.5 Million Marina

The marina includes 780 feet of new seawall, 48 boat clips, 18 boat lifts, a dual fuel system and more.

10/26/2016 Research by staff

An Evening of Entertainment and More

Awards and Grants Winners Honored at Celebration of the Arts

The Arts and Cultural Alliance presents its annual awards show.

10/25/2016 By Kay Kipling

Tourism Beat

Visitor Bureaus are Creating Strategies to Ease Drive Time in Season

Think traffic in Sarasota and Manatee counties gets worse every year? You’re not wrong.

10/20/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Deals

Bradenton City Council Approves Hotel Development Agreement

The Bradenton City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a development agreement for a new eight-story, 130-room hotel.

10/13/2016 Research by staff

Transportation

Port Manatee Tram Tours Resume Next Week

The free tours provide an up-close view of Port Manatee and Tampa Bay, from shipping activity to wildlife.

10/12/2016 Research by staff

Sports

BMX World Cup First Major Event at Revamped Sarasota Track

The world’s best BMX racers, including newly crowned Olympic champions, will race for the World Cup title at the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup.

10/03/2016 Research by staff

Sports

New Women's Sports Museum Announced

The local nonprofit Women’s Sports Museum on Tuesday announced its intention to build an all-women’s sports museum in Sarasota.

09/27/2016 Research by staff

Tourism

Manatee Commission to Vote Tuesday on New Palmetto Hotel

The Manatee County Commission will vote on Tuesday on whether or not to enter into an agreement to build a new 250-room hotel on property adjacent to the Bradenton Area Convention Center.

09/23/2016 Research by staff

Tourism

Thunder By the Bay Leaves Downtown

Suncoast Charities for Children announced Tuesday that it is moving the 2017 Thunder By the Bay festival out of downtown.

09/20/2016 Research by staff

Sports

Rowing Park Hosts One-Year-Out Event for World Championships

The team organizing the 2017 World Rowing Championships will mark one year from the beginning of the event during its One Year Kick-Off event on Friday.

09/19/2016 Research by staff

Sports

Orioles Instructional League Offers Free Games Through Oct. 11

The Baltimore Orioles are currently hosting the team’s Fall Instructional League at Ed Smith Stadium, 2700 12th St., Sarasota, with games that are free and open to the public through Oct. 11.

09/19/2016 Research by staff

Data

Tourism, Tourist Spending Up in July

The number of tourists visiting Sarasota County increased 3.4 percent between July 2015 and July 2016.

09/16/2016 Research by staff

Sports

Orioles Bring Amateur Baseball Tournament to Sarasota

The Baltimore Orioles will host the Wilson Premier Classic, an amateur baseball tournament, Sept. 15-18 at Ed Smith Stadium and the Buck O’Neil Baseball Complex at Twin Lakes Park.

09/13/2016 Research by staff

Sports

County Parks and Rec Department Wins Sports Tourism Award

Sarasota County's Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department was recently awarded the Excellence in Sports Tourism Award.

09/09/2016 Research by staff

Sports

Congressman Named Honorary Chairman for Rowing Championships

Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, recently agreed to serve as honorary chairman for the 2017 World Rowing Championships, which take place at Sarasota's Nathan Benderson Park next Sept. 23-Oct. 3.

09/09/2016 Research by staff