Looking for a lively yet laid-back place to host your next conference or tradeshow? Or perhaps the perfect destination for cultivating creativity and connection at your company’s next corporate retreat? The Bradenton Area on Florida’s West Coast offers meeting planners a convenient and scenic locale, where teams can easily take care of business and take advantage of the many benefits of this coastal paradise. See for yourself why meetings shine brighter here.
A Brand-New Convention Center with Connected Hotel
Managed by the local Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Bradenton Area Convention Center is putting the finishing touches on a $53 million transformation, set to debut this fall and already booking events for 2026. Event planners will appreciate the versatility of the venue’s setup, ideal for bringing virtually any vision to life for up to 3,800 guests. A total of 95,000 square feet of meeting space includes a new Grand Ballroom for seating up to 800 guests, the Gulf Islands Exhibit Hall for large-scale events, a Conference Center with customizable breakout rooms, as well as outdoor gathering plazas that highlight the venue’s beautiful location near the Manatee River.
Just a short, enclosed and climate-controlled stroll away, the Palmetto Marriott Resort and Spa is the upscale hotel connected to the Bradenton Area Convention Center—featuring 252 spacious rooms and 10,000 square feet of event space. It opened in July of 2024 and offers event-goers a myriad of amenities, from rooftop dining and spa services to private Beach Club access and after-hours entertainment at The Yard.
World-Famous Beaches Ideal for Unplugging
Hosting your next meeting or corporate gathering in the Bradenton Area also means attendees are just a short ferry ride away from the world-famous beaches of Anna Maria Island—always a favorite during downtime or extended stays.
Visitors can board the Gulf Islands Ferry from the Riverwalk Pier in nearby downtown Bradenton. Once on Anna Maria Island, they can ride the free trolley to any of the breathtaking beaches, best known for their soft, sugar-white sand and crystal clear, turquoise waters. Many local businesses provide beach setup services with lounge chairs, cabanas, games and other gear so your team can simply relax and reconnect.
Teambuilding That’s Far From “Business As Usual”
Outdoor adventure, exciting museums, rich arts and culture—the Bradenton Area is home to all kinds of unforgettable experiences that have a way of opening minds, boosting creativity and strengthening teams.
More than a dozen nature parks and preserves provide endless opportunities for reconnecting with nature and one another, whether teams are hiking scenic trails or paddling through tranquil, mangrove-covered waterways. A variety of boating excursions are also available, from fishing expeditions to sunset cruises.
In addition to the area’s pristine great outdoors, Bradenton’s vibrant urban core features premier institutions, like The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature (with a state-of-the-art planetarium and manatee rehabilitation center), the Manatee Performing Arts Center and the Herrig Center for the Arts. Whether discovering stories of the past, enjoying a live performance, or taking a group art class, inspiration is all around.
Fresh Floribbean Cuisine and Unique Dining Experiences
Dining is its own adventure in the Bradenton Area, where guests experience local flavor in its purest sense. Numerous restaurants feature regional Floribbean cuisine, consisting of seafood staples like grouper, shrimp and stone crab caught right off the area’s shores along with tropical fruits and flavors originating in Cuba, Jamaica and other Caribbean countries. From vegetables picked hours before serving, to restaurants that cook your catch, the meals are ones your group couldn’t eat anywhere else.
Of course, let’s not forget the ambience. Waterfront and rooftop views, dockside and toes-in-the-sand dining—memorable dine-arounds are easy to come by and sure to have groups talking long after the meal is over.
Nearly 70 Nonstop Flights for Easy Traveling
The new meeting venue and fun activities aside, the Bradenton Area has logistics going for it, too. While it may feel worlds away from the everyday, getting here is quite easy. The Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) not only offers nonstop flights from 68 destinations, but also is only 12 miles from the Bradenton Area Convention Center. International attendees can fly nonstop into Tampa International Airport (TPA), just an hour’s drive away and easily accessible by several major highways.
Want to keep exploring the Bradenton Area? Discover more local offerings and how the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau team can help you effortlessly plan your next event at BradentonAreaConventionCenter.com
Sponsored by Bradenton Area CVB
