St. Regis Longboat Key Opens On Florida’s West Coast

St. Regis Longboat Key Resort (Source)

Florida now has its 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), and the first guests will soon be welcomed.

The 18-acre resort is located on Longboat Key, a barrier island near Sarasota, right on the Gulf of Mexico. The St. Regis features 166 guest rooms and 69 private residences, making it quite a large property, especially given the larger size of residences compared to hotel rooms.

The resort offers a range of amenities, including multiple outdoor pools, a spa, and a gym. When it comes to dining, the property boasts several options: CW Prime (a steakhouse), Riva (an Italian restaurant), Aura (a Latin American restaurant), Oshen (an Asian-fusion restaurant), and the St. Regis Bar (a signature feature at all St. Regis properties).

Below are some renderings of the property.

St. Regis Longboat Key Rates & Points Requirements

With the St. Regis Longboat Key now open and accepting reservations, what can you expect in terms of rates? As anticipated, rates vary seasonally and can be quite steep. Currently, we’re seeing rates starting at around $700 per night in September 2024, rising to over $1,300 per night in January 2025.

If you’re considering booking a cash stay, we highly recommend doing so through the Marriott STARS program. This program offers perks like complimentary breakfast, a $100 food & beverage credit, a room upgrade (subject to availability), and more. Ford and his team are happy to assist with these requests and can be reached at ford@fordbtravel.com.

St. Regis Longboat Key (Source)

For those looking to redeem Bonvoy points, points rates start at 74,000 points per night during the off-season, increasing to around 100,000 points per night during peak season. With the fifth night free benefit, points redemptions here could offer excellent value. For reference, we value Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each, so there’s potential for significant value here.

St. Regis Longboat Key Points Requirements

The base accommodations at the St. Regis Longboat Key are the superior rooms, which are marketed as being 470 square feet (42 square meters).

A Great Addition to Marriott’s Portfolio

The Gulf of Mexico side of Florida boasts some beautiful beaches, particularly on Longboat Key. If you’re seeking a relaxing yet luxurious beach vacation, this property is an excellent choice.

While the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota is only a few miles from the St. Regis Longboat Key, it’s not directly on the beach. The Ritz-Carlton does offer a beach club with shuttle service, but many may prefer the convenience of staying right on the beach.

St. Regis Longboat Key - rates for March 2025 (Source)

This part of Florida doesn’t have many true five-star beach resorts. While there are some upscale properties, such as the JW Marriott Clearwater Beach and Don CeSar St. Petersburg Beach, we wouldn’t quite consider these to be of the same caliber. On Florida’s west coast, the only other luxury beach properties are much further south, like the Ritz-Carlton Naples.

Overall, this is a great option for earning and redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points, and we’re looking forward to checking out this hotel. Given Florida’s popularity, especially in winter, we’re confident this resort will have no trouble filling rooms despite the steep pricing.

Conclusion

The St. Regis Longboat Key has officially opened as of August 2024. The property features 166 rooms and is located on a barrier island just outside of Sarasota. It’s exciting to see the St. Regis brand expanding in Florida, and we’re sure many are eager to experience this new resort. If this sounds like the kind of trip you’re interested in, you can now book your stay, either with cash or points.