
Our Blog
All things Siesta Key. Stories, news, and event information about Sarasota, Florida's beautiful beach.
A Complete Guide to Hosting a Conference in Siesta Key
Posted by Best Western Siesta Key onMarch 6, 2023 in General.

While Siesta Key is a brilliant beach destination, the area also proves to be a delightful and convenient location to host a conference. Whether for your business or beloved hobby, there are numerous places in Sarasota that can accommodate a large group for an annual meeting, convention, cocktail hour, etc., and offer amenities to elevate your event. Of course, there are more things to plan and consider when planning a conference, such as coffee shops, happy hours, meals, team bonding experiences, and activities between events. In addition to offering the most comfortable hotel stay in Sarasota, the local experts at Best Western Siesta Key are sharing recommendations for every aspect of your conference.
Coffee Shops
The best way to start any day, especially when attending a long conference, is with coffee. Whether you’re planning a quick morning run, in need of an afternoon pick-me-up, or spending some time with your laptop, Sarasota is filled with sweet, delicious coffee shops. From downtown to Siesta Key, local favorite coffee includes Buddy Brew Coffee, O & A Coffee and Supply, Perq Coffee Bar, The Clever Cup Coffee Shop, Captain Curt’s Coffee, and Kahwa Coffee.
Happy Hour
Something to look forward to during a conference is enjoying Happy Hour with colleagues and other professionals from your industry. Whether networking or winding down from the day, there are numerous places to spend Happy Hour in Downtown Sarasota, including Cask & Ale, Joe’s, or Office Bar SRQ. You can also head to Siesta Key for something closer to the sand and waves, such as Siesta Key Oyster Bar, Daiquiri Deck, The Beach Club, and Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill. Finally, the ultimate way to spend Happy Hour in Sarasota is by watching the brilliant sunset. Plan a sunset cruise or head to O’Leary’s Tiki bar & Grill for the perfect waterfront sunset.
Meals Out
After a successful Happy Hour, you will certainly need to fill up on a mouthwatering dinner. No matter if you are making a large lunch reservation or popping in for a lovely dinner with professionals, Sarasota and Siesta Key cover all sorts of yummy cuisines to satisfy any palate. Waterfront dining recommendations include The Boatyard Waterfront Bar & Grill and Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar. Siesta Key also offers wonderful entrees at MVP- My Village Pub, Miguel’s Restaurant, and Clayton’s Siesta Grille. If you’re spending time downtown, don’t miss Brick’s Smoked Meats, El Melvin Cocina Mexicana, Cafe Epicure, or Mattison’s City Grille, which can accommodate large parties if reservations are made in advance.
Team Bonding
What better time to bond with your team or network with industry pros than during a conference near Siesta Key? Of course, joining a kayak tour through the mangrove tunnels or hitting the golf courses around Sarasota are awesome activities. However, there are a few more unique options, such as laughing your way through a comedy show at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, practicing your swing at PopStroke, working together to find your way out of an escape room, or assisting one another through adventurous obstacles at TreeUmph! Adventure Course.
Relaxing Activities
Whenever downtime presents itself, it is always nice and wonderful to rest and recharge for the next conference session or activity. Of course, hitting the beaches of Siesta Key is a given way to relax, and your attendees will certainly marvel over the pristine sugary soft sand and picture-perfect water. However, Best Western Siesta Key has a fabulous pool, not to mention the infamous Sand Dollar Pool Bar. If your attendees are ready to keep the energy high, we cannot recommend the plethora of museums around Sarasota, such as The Ringling and Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.
Hosting a conference near Siesta Key offers magnificent scenery, fantastic food and drink options, an assortment of activities, and of course, some of the best beaches in the world. Not to mention, overnight accommodations here at Best Western Siesta Key will make your out-of-town guests feel welcome and comfortable.
Categories
- Aquarium
- Beach
- Best Western Siesta Key
- Boating
- Botanical Gardens
- Circus
- Dining
- Dog Beaches
- Dog Parks
- Dog-Friendly
- Dolphin Sightings
- Downtown Sarasota
- Events
- Fishing
- Florida Nature Trails
- Food
- Fun Facts
- Fun for Kids
- General
- Golfing
- Gulf Gate
- Gulf of Mexico
- Historic Sarasota
- Hotels
- Kayaking
- Longboat Key
- Marine Wildlife
- News
- Nightlife
- Parks
- Playgrounds
- Relaxation
- Sarasota
- Sarasota Bikes
- Sarasota Dog Beaches
- Sarasota Dog Parks
- Sarasota Hiking
- Sarasota Museums
- Sarasota Restaurants
- Sarasota Wildlife
- Shopping
- Siesta Key
- Siesta Key Beach
- Siesta Key Coffee Shops
- Siesta Key Restaurants
- St. Armands Circle
- The Beach
- Things To Do
- Transportation
- Travel Tips
- Water Activities
- Water Events
- Water Sports
- White Quartz Sand
Archives
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- August 2018
- May 2018
- January 2018
- August 2017
- July 2017
- April 2017
- September 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016