The future is ripe with possibility for meetings and conventions in the Bradenton area, arguably one of southwest Florida’s best-kept secrets.
Just a year after the grand opening of the Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa in July 2024, the buzz was building this summer in Bradenton when I visited ahead of the debut of the renovated Bradenton Area Convention Center, boasting nearly 95,000 square feet of space perfect for unforgettable gatherings—and a direct hallway to the hotel, no shuttle required.
And once business wraps up, you’re just a hop, skip and a sandy jump away from the powdery beaches of Anna Maria Island via the Gulf Islands Ferry. Whether you’re adding a little vacation before or after a meeting, there’s sure to be sun and fun everywhere.
As a guest of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (BACVB) this summer, I got to see firsthand some of the destination’s unique and awe-inspiring spots for groups of all sizes. Picture beachfront parties, a gala in a historic home and sporting venues for unforgettable experiences.
Day One: Pampered at the Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa
Upon checking in at the Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa, our group with BACVB got the grand tour of the property’s guest and meeting rooms. With 252 rooms and 10,000 square feet of meeting space, it’s the right size for board meetings as well as midsize meetings.
Lunch at The Social was a treat, with executive chef Anthony Castro delivering the goods himself. Having worked at renowned establishments within Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton and Shangri-La Hotels, he’s a seasoned chef itching to cook up some innovative meals at all the hotel’s eateries. Chef Castro even sprinkles his magic at Oyster River Rooftop, where every bite comes with sweeping sunset views and a dash of coastal cool.
Lunch at The Social was grouper tacos, burgers piled high and a sampling of sweets including chevre carrot cake and key lime tarts with coconut macadamia crust.
From there, a trip to the hotel’s Revive Spa. Small but mighty, this oasis offers massages, facials and hot-and-cold-water immersion therapy. There’s a 30-degree plunge pool for the brave set alongside a steamy, blissful whirlpool. I’ll admit, I only dipped my toe in the cold plunge, but the whirlpool had me floating on cloud nine before my fabulous treatment by massage therapist Falyn Conners.
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We then hopped aboard the hotel’s complimentary shuttle for the brief drive to its private Beach Club at Riviera Dunes, featuring a lap pool, volleyball and pickleball courts, poolside cabanas and loungers. The lawn hosts group events with yard games such as giant chess, checkers and cornhole, while the gift shop sells everything from bathing suits to gelato.
Next, our crew zipped over to Longboat Key for a tour of the Zota Beach Resort, an Opal Collection gem right on the Gulf. The resort boasts 187 rooms and suites, while the 2,700-plus-square-foot Zara Zota Ballroom can host up to 300.
Dinner at on-property Viento Kitchen + Bar, which features its own wine wall, was decadent. We started with a watermelon and warm feta salad, moved on to lobster tail atop pumpkin ravioli and finished with a rich, flourless chocolate cake.
Day Two: Behind the Scenes in Bradenton
On day two, the group got an insider’s sneak peek of the then-yet-to-open Bradenton Area Convention Center from the ever-enthusiastic Elliott Falcione, executive director of BACVB. Lunch at the center was a citrusy, Floridian delight—orange zest and honey-infused butter on rolls and a dessert trio with bold flavors of key lime and orange.
Tom Parker, the new executive chef at the convention center, has a few ideas for groups, too, infusing Florida-native datil peppers into recipes and generally giving groups a vast array of tastes from the Sunshine State.
Next stop: The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, where dinosaur fossils lurk, Calusa Indian dioramas transport you to ancient Florida and the planetarium lets you wish upon shooting stars in its 50-foot full-dome theater. The Spanish-inspired South Courtyard is a dream for events for up to 225 guests, and manatees happily swim by the glass walls of the Jeanie Kirkpatrick Boardroom after their stint at onsite Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat.
Dinner took us to famed Powel Crosley Estate, a 1929 Mediterranean marvel that’s now a spectacular event space overlooking Sarasota Bay. Once the winter home of the innovator Powel Crosley (think wireless radios, vintage clocks and car parts) and his wife Gwendolyn, the estate hosts hundreds of events a year.
Paul Mattison, superstar chef, wowed us with scallion-stuffed filet mignon and goat cheese bruschetta—served up in a dining room still boasting its original Spanish-tile floors with decorative walls and ceilings worthy of its listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Day Three: An Anna Maria Island Adventure
The morning began with a buffet bonanza at the Palmetto Marriott’s M Club—eggs, pastries, lattes and enough choices to fuel a marathon. Then it was off to Anna Maria Island, a barrier island paradise where shops, galleries and Beach Suites AMI, a luxury beach chair, umbrella and cabana rental company, set us up in style—a stocked Yeti cooler included. Our beachside mocktail featured coconut water inside a logoed coconut, courtesy of AM I COCONUTS?, a local delivery service that brings customized coconut drinks to you right at your beach spot.
For lunch, we feasted on seafood poke bowls, fish spread and grouper bites at Beach House Waterfront Restaurant in Bradenton on Anna Maria Island. With sweeping Gulf views, several areas of the restaurant can host groups, including the outdoor Sunset Deck for up to 200.
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Our timing was perfect as the Herrig Center for the Arts was setting up the “Create 2025” juried show just as we arrived back to downtown Bradenton, and executive director Carla Nierman clued us in to over 300 creative classes held each year at the center. You want a pottery class, jewelry, painting? They’ve got it, and they’ll arrange for your group to do it, too. There’s plenty of indoor/outdoor space for your next creative meeting, and the LiveArtfully boutique at the center sells a wonderful selection of handcrafted gifts from local artists.
For sports fans, LECOM Park is home to the Bradenton Marauders and the MLB’s Pittsburgh Pirates during spring training, and yes, you can rent out the park for your group—hot dogs and home runs included.
Night brought us back to the Palmetto Marriott’s Oyster River Rooftop for a showstopping meal: smoked Old Fashioneds, lobster thermidor, oysters and filet mignon. Dessert? Mini cheesecake tacos and “Chocolate Seduction” that lived up to its name.
Day Four: A Grand Goodbye
On our final day, we galloped over to TerraNova Equestrian Center, just 40 minutes from the Bradenton Area Convention Center. This is horse heaven, where Derby parties get a Florida twist. Groups can sip Mint Juleps while horses prance, jump and gallop past viewing areas.
We wrapped up our tour with a feast at Taverna Toscana, where Florence-born chef (and Top Chef alum) Fabiano Viviani has dreamed up such delights as wagyu short rib bolognese, truffle mushroom Roman focaccia pizza and 24-hour French onion soup. Groups can dine indoors or out at the breezy outdoor bar overlooking some funky local shops.
Saying goodbye was a difficult feeling that lingered as we headed home, some driving across Florida and others flying out of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), which is six miles from downtown Bradenton. SRQ now has nearly 70 non-stop routes, including new Miami flights from American Airlines that started in November, and recently completed $72 million in concourse upgrades with more gates, seating and new food and retail options. Convenient flights? Another reason to meet in Bradenton.
