Want to take advantage of Marriott STARS benefits, including a space available room upgrade, complimentary breakfast, a hotel credit, and more? Contact Ford ([email protected]) for more details. He may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked. This is valid for paid stays at BVLGARI, EDITION, Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and St. Regis.
The newest St. Regis property is opening as of today, and it’ll make for a great Florida getaway.
In this post:
Basics of the St. Regis Longboat Key
Florida now has a second St. Regis property, with the opening of the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort. The hotel is having its soft opening today (August 16, 2024), so the hotel will be welcoming its first guests in the coming hours.
The 18-acre resort is located on Longboat Key (as the name suggests), a barrier island outside of Sarasota, right on the Gulf of Mexico. The St. Regis features 166 guest rooms plus 69 private residences, so it’s quite a large property (given how much bigger residences are than hotel rooms).
The property boasts a variety of amenities, ranging from multiple outdoor pools, to a spa, to a gym. As far as dining goes, concepts include CW Prime (a steakhouse), Riva (an Italian restaurant), Aura (a Latin American restaurant), Oshen (an Asian-Fusion restaurant), and the St. Regis Bar (a staple at all properties of the brand).
Below are some renderings of the property.
Also, while this is targeted at those buying a residence, below is a video from the developer about the project, to give you more a sense of the vibe.
St. Regis Longboat Key rates & points requirements
With the St. Regis Longboat Key now open and accepting reservations, what are rates like? As you’d expect, they vary seasonally, and are steep. Currently I’m seeing rates starting at around $700 per night in September 2024, going up to over $1,300 per night in January 2025.
If you are going to book a cash stay, I’d highly recommend doing so through the Marriott STARS program. This will score you perks like complimentary breakfast, a $100 food & beverage credit, a room upgrade subject to availability, and more. Ford and his team are happy to help with these requests, and can be reached at [email protected].
For those looking to redeem Bonvoy points, I see points rates starting at 74,000 points per night in the off-season, and priced right around 100,000 points per night in peak season. When you factor in a fifth night free, points redemptions here could represent quite a good value. For what it’s worth, I value Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each, so you can definitely get outsized value here.
Base accommodations at the St. Regis Longboat Key are the superior rooms, and they’re marketed as being 470 square feet (42 square meters).
This is a great addition to Marriott’s portfolio
I’ve lived in Florida for most of my life, and my family is from the Tampa and St. Petersburg area, so this new St. Regis is just a short drive away. The Gulf of Mexico side of Florida has some beautiful beaches, for those who are into that, and that’s particularly true of Longboat Key. So if you want a relaxing yet luxurious beach vacation, this property is a great choice.
While the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota is only a few miles away from the St. Regis Longboat Key, the property isn’t right on the beach. It does have a beach club with shuttle service, though I’m sure many will prefer to just stay directly on the beach.
This part of Florida doesn’t otherwise have many true five-star beach resorts. Yes, there are some upscale properties, like the JW Marriott Clearwater Beach, Don CeSar St. Petersburg Beach, etc., but I wouldn’t quite consider those to be of the same caliber. On the west coast of Florida, the only other luxury beach properties are a lot further south, like the Ritz-Carlton Naples.
So anyway, this is a great option for earning and redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points, and I’m looking forward to checking out this hotel. Given the popularity of Florida (especially in winter), I’m sure this resort will have no problem filling rooms with the steep pricing.
Bottom line
The St. Regis Longboat Key has opened its doors as of August 2024. The St. Regis features 166 rooms, and is located on a barrier island just outside of Sarasota. It’s nice to see the St. Regis brand expanding in Florida, and I’m sure many are looking forward to checking out this property. If this sounds like a trip you might be interested in, you can now lock in a stay, either with cash or points.
What do you make of the St. Regis Longboat Key?
I wonder if it will have a concierge lounge. We are Titanium and the Ritz doesn't offer a free lounge. Do you know if it will have a concierge lounge?
I have a condo a mile up the beach from this property. I was able grab a few photos two weeks ago prior to Tropical Storm Debby impacting the area. It delayed opening by two days for clean-up. It has been 14 years since the previous resort at this location, the Colony Beach and Tennis Resort, was open for guests. (This was where President Bush spent the evening of September 10, 2001 in the Presidential...
I have a condo a mile up the beach from this property. I was able grab a few photos two weeks ago prior to Tropical Storm Debby impacting the area. It delayed opening by two days for clean-up. It has been 14 years since the previous resort at this location, the Colony Beach and Tennis Resort, was open for guests. (This was where President Bush spent the evening of September 10, 2001 in the Presidential Suite.) This is well overdue and was significantly scaled down from the initial plans due to Town of Longboat Key residents. Even with this project, residents are not exactly thrilled with this for the usual reason: traffic. I am looking forward to grabbing a $30 cocktail at the Monkey Bar when I head back down at the end of October.
Thanks for the history, had no idea!
Longboat Key was the first place we holidayed in the US when I was a kid in the early 80’s so it holds special memories for me. Looks pretty spectacular and a good excuse to revisit!
Hoping they don't pull the restaurant run by third party excuse to deny platinum breakfast when magically when booking through fhr/marriott stars/etc is included!
Think that's a game to filter out those who booked on points rather than cash