Central – Section 4.1: Sarasota

Set on 800 feet of private beachfront, the new St. Regis Longboat Key Resort blends coastal luxury with immersive marine experiences. Photo courtesy of St. Regis Longboat Key Resort.

In Sarasota, the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, with 168 rooms and 26 suites, opened in 2024, becoming the largest development on the island in a half-century. Nestled on Sarasota’s barrier island, the resort spans 18 acres of pristine white-sand beachfront, offering exclusive access to 800 ft. of private beach. Its leafy central courtyard, known as “The Pools,” features an array of swimming pools, luxury loungers and personal cabanas as well as a family-friendly resort pool, a jacuzzi and a winding river. Onsite, guests can swim and interact with marine fauna at the Under the Sea Lagoon, a 500,000-gallon habitat with stingrays, local reef fish and two giant Aldabra tortoises, guided by the property’s resident marine biologists.

A playful fusion of Gatsby glam and circus whimsy, Cirque St. Armands brings bold design and beachside luxury to Sarasota’s Lido Key. Courtesy of Opal Collection / Cirque St. Armands Beachside.

Earlier this year, Sarasota also saw the opening of the 135-room Cirque St. Armands Beachside, Opal Collection’s newest Lido Key-based hotel. This circus-inspired hotel pays homage to the legacy of one of Sarasota’s most famous residents: John Ringling. The funky aesthetics marries The Great Gatsby with Moulin Rouge featuring grandiose billowing drapery, geometric and stripe patterns, ornate ostrich feather chandeliers, golden wall sconces and pin-striped columns. The dreamy upscale accommodations offer views from the beach to the bay.