Sarasota: Florida’s Cultural Coast

December 5, 2016

Off-Site Activities

The Circus Arts Conservatory rents a big-top tent for one-ring shows that feature magicians and performers for audiences of up to 1,754; the event can include a performance before or after the reception, circus meals and a red carpet. At Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, an urban oasis among 20,000 exotic plants, the newly renovated Great Room by the Bay accommodates up to 250 people and overlooks Sarasota Bay and Ringling Bridge through a wall of windows. Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium can host cocktails at the reef, dinner among the sharks and luaus at a tiki hut; it also has six indoor and outdoor meeting spaces with capacity for up to 500 guests.

Team Unity

Located on 450 acres near Bradenton, IMG Academy serves as a school and training destination for athletes of all ages and abilities, and offers performance coaching for business groups. Former collegiate and professional players and coaches, teachers and performance specialists can tailor a day or several days. Facilities include an on-campus spa, sport fields, tennis and basketball courts and a new multisport stadium with seating capacity for 5,000. The Circus Arts Conservatory can accommodate groups of five to 50 for a variety of circus arts team-building activities that help boost self-esteem, encourage team bonding and provide a fun approach to getting a group to work, play and learn together.

At Your Service

Complimentary services by Visit Sarasota County will assist you in creating the ideal meeting for your clients. Site visits can be arranged with customized itineraries, and someone from the bureau can accompany you upon request. The sales team can help with locating the hotel that meets your group’s needs, as well as recommending the area’s best caterers, photographers and off-site venues for events and meetings. Personalized save-the-date postcards can be mailed out. Visit Sarasota can create welcome bags for attendees and provide an on-site information booth.

Incentives and Pluses

Incentives are available for events that are new to Sarasota County within the past five years. On a sliding scale, from 10 to 250 peak rooms, off-site dining credits range from $625 to $3,750. Or planners can choose an in-destination shuttle credit for a special event or transportation to/from the airport. For 36 or more peak rooms booked, there’s a one-night, $15-per-room rebate option. Note that peak rooms is defined as the highest number of rooms booked on a single night throughout the duration of the stay. Rooms must be booked with a Visit Sarasota County partner hotel.