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www.longboatkeychamber.com
LONGBOAT KEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CORPORATE PARTNERS
TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY The Town of Longboat Key was born Nov. 14, 1955. That’s when 199 of the island’s 250 registered voters gathered in a 28 tiny fire station and voted 186-13 in favor of incorporation. The Town has done a lot of growing up in its first 58 years. Today, it has more than 6,200 registered voters, a permanent Bicentennial Park population of 6,884 residents and a population of 18,000 to 24,000 towns in Florida. The Police Deduring peak season. partment includes 19 sworn offiSplit between Sarasota and cers, many of whom are also EMTs. Manatee counties, the Town is The police marine patrol units pagoverned by the seven-member trol the waterways surrounding the Longboat Key Town Commission Key. The Fire-Rescue Department and administered under a town has 33 sworn emergency personmanager/council form of governnel, all of whom are paramedics or ment. EMTs. The department also offers The town has approximately 120 services to the community such employees and a full complement as blood pressure screening, fire/ of departments, including Planning safety inspections and CPR trainZoning and Building, Public Works, ing. Both departments maintain Town Clerk, Police, Fire-Rescue, IT cooperative relationships with poand Finance. lice and fire departments in other Longboat Key is consistently communities. ranked as one of the 10 safest
Bicentennial Park The Town is responsible for maintaining one of the Key’s most valuable assets: its 12 miles of white sand beach that make the island a world-class tourist destination, plus 12 public beach accesses. Town-operated recreational amenities include the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center, which offers 10 soft clay courts, teaching professionals, an observation
THE RESORT AT LONGBOAT KEY CLUB It’s easy to see why Travel + Leisure magazine named The Resort at Longboat Key Club in its annual listing of the top 500 hotels and resorts worldwide. Whether you’re planning a romantic weekend getaway, family vacation, wedding or meeting, The Resort at Longboat Key Club offers an unforgettable experience. Located on the southern tip of Longboat Key’s white sand beaches, the resort’s 221 rooms offer breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico, Islandside golf course or a private lagoon. The resort opened in 1982 with a three-month celebration titled “Celebration of a Dream” — a reference to circus magnate John Ringling’s vision in the 1920s of a luxurious hotel that would be the jewel of the island. Nearly 32 years later, that dream is alive and well. Since Ocean Properties purchased the resort and Key Club facilities in late 2012, the properties have undergone approximately $4.5 million in upgrades. The Key Club’s ongoing commitment to sustainability also earned it Florida’s official “Green Lodging”
Resort at Longboat Key Club
certification. Once you pass through the gates, you’ll find Four-Diamond amenities that will make you certain you’ve found your home away from home. The Tennis Gardens, with its 20 Har-Tru courts, has earned numerous accolades since it opened in 2009, including recognition in Tennis magazine’s “Top Tennis Resorts of 2012” and on Tennis Resorts Online, which listed the Key Club as a “2013 Gold Medal Tennis Resort.”
The Islandside golf course includes 18 holes spread over lush greens overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The Harbourside course offers three nine-hole courses designed by Willard Byrd. But recreation at the resort goes beyond tennis and golf. A 9.5-mile island path makes for a scenic bike ride, jog or stroll. (Bicycles and helmets are available.) A 291-slip marina can accommodate boats of up to 150 feet.
deck and regular events; and Bayfront Park Recreation Center, where you’ll find regular fitness classes and bridge games, plus a playground, tennis, basketball and shuffleboard courts and a multipurpose ball field. Other Town parks are Bicentennial Park, Joan M. Durante Park, Quick Point Nature Preserve and Overlook Park. If relaxation is your goal, consider an island-inspired facial or massage and a wide variety of wellness-oriented body treatments and aromatherapies at The Spa. Also consider scheduling a session with a personal trainer in the state-of-the-art Fitness Center or trying spin or Pilates classes in the Mind & Motion Studio or beachside yoga and tai chi. The resort is a place where business and pleasure mix: Its prime location and flexible meeting space make it a top destination for executive retreats and groups of 10 to 150. With inclusive wedding packages and five venues ranging from the pristine beachfront to an elegant ballroom, it is an ideal place to say, “I do.” The resort is just minutes away from St. Armands Circle’s world-class shops and restaurants and Sarasota’s cultural attractions. It’s easily accessible from SarasotaBradenton International Airport and Tampa International Airport and driving distance from famed Florida attractions such as Orlando theme parks — Walt Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios; Tampa's Busch Gardens and St. Petersburg’s Dali Museum.