Why You Should Host on Florida’s West Coast
Whether you’re planning a large gathering like a conference or trade show or something more intimate like a corporate retreat, you need a meetings destination that not only impresses but also inspires. Here in the Bradenton Area, we love turning events into unforgettable escapes – and meeting planners love our winning combination of state-of-the-art venue + contemporary hotel + exciting nearby attractions. Keep reading to discover all the ways we make it easy (and fun!) to host on Florida’s West Coast.
1. A Convention Center at the Center of It All
Essential to any successful event is the venue. The Bradenton Area Convention Center recently completed a $54 million transformation, providing planners with 95,000 sq. ft. of stunning and versatile meeting space – but that’s only part of the appeal! The Convention Center is connected to the recently built Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa by a climate-controlled walkway, giving attendees a convenient place to stay, recharge between sessions, and play once meetings wrap for the day, thanks to the hotel’s multiple restaurants, rooftop bar and restaurant, pool, beach club, and outdoor amphitheater. What’s more, nearby downtown Bradenton features waterfront dining, local shopping, live performances, and more activities for all ages and interests. It’s everything event-goers could need in an easy two-mile radius!
2. The 3 W’s: Weather, Water & Wildlife
With more than 285 days of sunshine year-round, the weather here is often a bright spot for teams, especially if plans include having some fun on our waters (gulf, bay, and river!) or spotting all kinds of amazing wildlife in our 12+ nature parks and preserves. There are so many different ways to enjoy our Florida sunshine and unspoiled paradise – whatever a group’s interests and abilities. Plus, time in the great outdoors has been shown to result in other positive benefits too, like reduced stress, better focus, and increased productivity.
3. A Contagious Culture of Creativity
With a thriving local arts scene, the largest live-work artists community in Florida, and a variety of exciting museums, the Bradenton Area is the ideal environment for encouraging fresh thinking. There’s just something about our coastal setting and friendly locals that positively impacts collaboration and sparks new ideas.
4. Memorable Dining (in More Ways Than One!)
One of the best things about traveling for business or leisure is trying new foods. The Bradenton Area doesn’t disappoint, with many area restaurants serving up our signature Floribbean cuisine – a fusion of fresh Floridian seafood and citrus flavors and tantalizing Caribbean tastes. Also a treat is the way meals are enjoyed around here, whether that’s right on the beach, dockside, or from a rooftop overlooking the scenic Manatee River. And even if a full agenda doesn’t allow for visiting one of our local restaurants, planners can still arrange for their group to enjoy these irresistible tastes by enlisting the help of the Convention Center’s in-house caterer, Gulf Islands Hospitality.
5. Seamless Event Planning and Travel
Last but certainly not least, the Bradenton Area makes both the planning of an event and the logistics of getting everyone here a breeze. That’s because the Convention Center is operated by our local Convention and Visitors Bureau. Meeting planners work with one consistent team of local experts from start to finish, simplifying the process and helping make valuable connections.
The Bradenton Area Convention Center is also conveniently close to two major international airports (Sarasota Bradenton International Airport and Tampa International Airport), offering a combined total of 170+ nonstop flights from around the world. Accessible by multiple major highways, it’s also an easy trip for those driving.
Ready to start planning your event on Florida’s West Coast? Submit an RFP or reach out to our team at meetings@bacvb.com.