A much-anticipated coastal Florida property — from our list of the most exciting hotel openings in 2024 — is nearly open, and the luxury Marriott hotel is finally accepting reservations.
Bookings are now open for The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort starting as early as October, the hotel told TPG on Thursday. The resort, which sits among white-sand beaches on a barrier island near Sarasota and remains the only St. Regis opening in the United States this year, is expected to first welcome guests in July and will move up its available reservations as the opening date gets closer.
Related: The best resorts in Florida for a relaxing vacation in the Sunshine State
“I’m pretty convinced that most people when they walk in [will] say ‘wow,'” Winfred van Workum, the property’s general manager, told TPG. “But I really hope after the first day, they walk away and say, ‘This is the best service I’ve ever received.'”
That hope isn’t far-fetched when you consider the property features an 800-foot private white-sand beach, a 20,000-square-foot oceanfront spa and a 475-foot-long winding river evocative of the best lazy river of your childhood dreams, with a grown-up luxurious spin thanks to a Champagne button to summon bubbly on demand. It’s the “Bentley of lazy rivers,” van Workum noted.
The hotel has 168 airy guest rooms — including 26 suites with terraces — featuring high-end finishes that give it a beach-chic vibe, like wood plank flooring, rainfall showers, freestanding bathtubs and walk-in closets, all designed in rich, calming tones of taupes and creams. And, of course, butler service is a given.
The entry-level room category is the Superior room, which has a king or two queen beds, a balcony and a small seating area. There are also Superior Bayview rooms and Deluxe Oceanview rooms, each of which can be configured with either a king or two queen beds.
The Grand Deluxe King Terrace rooms come with epic ocean views and plenty of outdoor space to admire them. But the piece de resistance is the four-bedroom Presidential Suite, which features a large living area with plush furnishings, a private dining room and breathtaking ocean views from nearly every space.
The entire property is spread across 18 acres, so it should never feel crowded. In fact, van Workum said the word they hope to evoke is “bespoke.”
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“We’re really trying to personalize this experience, and I think we really have the ability because of our size and amenities,” he said. “We can really get to know our guests and really personalize your stay.”
The luxury experience continues at the spa with a Celebration Bar serving up Champagne and fresh-pressed juices, along with plenty of ways to pamper oneself, from a Finnish sauna to a eucalyptus steam room, snow shower, cold plunge, infinity-edge vitality pool overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and more. And for those who want to work off their vacation indulgences, The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort features a fitness center with Technogym equipment.
Families aren’t an afterthought, either. There’s a thoughtfully designed kids program with paid and complimentary activities, like shark tooth jewelry making.
“It’s really about becoming a marine explorer,” van Workum said about programming for kids. “Our number one goal is for them to have a lot of fun but at the same time to appreciate the wonders under the sea.”
But the real showstopper is the 350,000-gallon aquarium with dozens of stingrays, more than 2,800 local reef fish and a pair of Aldabra tortoises. Guests can book a swim-in experience with marine biologists or take a complimentary class to learn about local marine life.
One of the best parts of any vacation is the food, and guests at this St. Regis will have seven different culinary options, including the signature restaurant, CW Prime, serving up steakhouse classics, or the relaxed open-air pool grill, Aura. For an after-dinner drink, you can’t go wrong with a libation at The St. Regis Bar in the lobby — complete with a piano — or check out The Spirit Room, a private speak-easy where you summon the mixologist with a secret call button.
Ultimately, this luxurious property should offer the perfect experience for each one of its guests, whatever it is that they envision.
How to book
Room rates start at $930 or 76,000 points per night, and are available starting Oct. 1 on Marriott Bonvoy’s website.
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