With $54 million in expansions and renovations complete, the Bradenton Area Convention Center plans to set itself as the standard for meeting and event space on Florida’s West Coast.
The Bradenton Area Convention Center is projected to stimulate the local economy by $30-$40 million annually in economic impact through meetings and convention business, in addition to event attendees extending their stay to further enjoy the Bradenton Area’s Gulf Islands with friends and family through “bleisure” travel experiences.
“This project begins a new era for the Bradenton Area,” said District 2 Commissioner Amanda Ballard in a media announcement. “The Convention Center will diversify our visitation, welcoming conventions and meetings to support our local hotels, restaurants and small businesses.”
Ideal for small to mid-sized meetings, the Convention Center can comfortably host groups up to 800. The project boasts a total of 95,000 square feet of conference space consisting of renovations to the pre-existing Gulf Islands Exhibit Hall, offering 32,400 square feet of versatile space; a new 14,000-sf grand ballroom with banquet seating for up to 800 guests; four customizable breakout rooms, which can be divided into seven separate meeting spaces; and two 16,000-square-foot outdoor plazas, Bay Plaza and River Terrace, to take advantage of the coastal Florida sunshine.
Meetings can happen year-round at the Bradenton Area Convention Center as it is conveniently connected to its headquarters hotel, the Palmetto Marriott Resort and Spa. A 252-room, the full-service hotel provides efficiency and comfort, allowing meeting attendees to easily travel between the convention center and the hotel in just a short distance through a climate-controlled corridor connecting the two buildings. Every detail between the two venues is designed to create a seamless experience, from coordinating modern coastal decor to complementary meeting spaces.
The Bradenton Area Convention Center is the only convention center of this size between St. Petersburg and Naples. Its accessible location provides easability for travelers as it is less than 12 miles from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), which offers nearly 70 nonstop flights, and is approximately 40 miles from Tampa International Airport (TPA), providing 85 nonstop domestic flights. Road access is convenient as well, with I-75 just four miles from the convention center.
You May Also Be Interested In…
The Main Event: Convention Centers Go Big
