The Resort at Longboat Key Club

Conference groups return year after year to The Resort at Longboat Key Club, drawn by its exceptional service and the lure of an island resort. The only beachfront AAA Four Diamond Award winner in Sarasota County resides on the southern tip of Longboat Key, Florida, just 8 miles by causeway from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

Most of the 223 accommodations include full kitchens, and all feature private balconies overlooking the golf course, lagoon, or Gulf of Mexico. The largest gatherings convene in the Resort Center, where the main venue, the John Ringling Room, hosts up to 250 attendees for business or pleasure. A second room, the Library, sequesters 14 around a fixed boardroom table, while two additional meeting suites await in a neighboring building. For meals, Spikes ’n Tees invites groups to feast beside the fairways, Portofino Ristorante & Bar serves Italian overlooking the deep-water marina, the Tavern offers seasonal fare, and Barefoot’s specializes in poolside cocktails and shared plates.

Most of the meeting spaces lie just steps from the beach, which suggests such team-building programs as volleyball tournaments and sandcastle contests. A full-service spa, the award-winning Tennis Gardens, and 45 holes of challenging golf offer endless options for group activity as well. In addition, the staff can arrange excursions to a wealth of nearby attractions, including the Mote Marine Aquarium and The Ringling art museum.