Every Day Exquisite
The eyes of the world are on Longboat Key with the release of the Forbes Travel Guide’s “Top 12 Destinations for 2025.” The barrier island made the international A-list of getaways just months after the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort opened last August. Coincidence? We think not.
The first St. Regis hotel opened in New York City in 1904, breaking the mold for American luxury hotels in the way it married glamorous comforts with hospitality innovations. This secret sauce has come to define the St. Regis experience in more than 60 hotels and resorts across the globe. (Sarasota County is now home to the 12th St. Regis in the U.S. and the second in Florida.)
A hundred and twenty years ago, the leading edge looked like butler service, air conditioning, a shower for every guest room, and telephones by the beds. Today on Longboat Key, it looks like a 500,000-gallon snorkeling lagoon with 40 rays and 2,800 local reef fish tended by a devoted team of marine biologists. Like a 20,000-square-foot spa outfitted with showers that refresh your thoroughly pampered senses with eucalyptus-infused raindrops or even falling snow. Like a post-ritual relaxation room with a full view of the Gulf waters. Like six dining spots onsite catering to gourmet cravings for tomahawk steak, East Coast oysters, freshly made pasta, local-catch ceviche, even a Wagyu hot dog topped with lobster (see side story). Like aqua-butlers who, at the touch of a button, come bearing a flute of Dom Perignon right to you at the jacuzzi.
“The figure of the butler is a signature thing from the St. Regis,” says Marketing Director Rafael Montalvo, “but the aqua-butler is something very particular that we offer here. It’s the first one within the brand. We came up with the concept to cater to our clients and make their stay even more special.”
“I think the one thing that I love most about our culture is in our promise to make the everyday exquisite,” says General Manager Winfred van Workum. “That means we make everything beautiful, better, the best it can be. That core value of driving excellence is something that really motivates the culture here. It goes into every little detail and also, of course, the service.”
You could say that the St. Regis idea of excellence is peerless, but that would belie its commitment to partnerships that elevate the guest experience even further. Van Workum says he’s especially passionate about a collaboration with La Mer to enhance all spa treatments with rejuvenating potions by the ultra-luxury cosmetics brand. Montalvo can’t wait for the opening of a Vilbrequin swimwear boutique, which will tout a fantastic custom print inspired by Longboat Key’s proximity to both the sea and Sarasota’s circus heritage.
When seeking out ways to up the ante on amenities, the St. Regis also looks locally. Cutting Loose Salon is a perennial pick for Sarasota’s best salon and was invited to set up shop at the St. Regis. Master Stylist Kerri Johnson oversees the full-service salon outpost to bring a complete hair-care suite to the St. Regis, including keratin treatments, bespoke color, and balayage.
“It’s not necessarily about how you can make one look; it’s about how you can make one feel,” Johnson says. “That’s always been the Cutting Loose philosophy, and I feel that it really corresponds with what the St. Regis does.”
Ready for the best part? You’re welcome to partake in the exquisite offerings of the St. Regis without being an overnight guest.
“In the beginning, I wondered why we so often get asked which parts of the St. Regis are open to the public. Is it because the St. Regis is so intimidating, or maybe because there are so many private clubs and hotels here?” Van Workum says, pointing out that the pools, restaurants, and spa are built to accommodate a capacity far exceeding that of a 168-room hotel.
“I hope the community will make us their spot for a late-night drink, or the place you come on a Monday and Tuesday for a casual dinner—but also for your anniversary, your weddings, and bar mitzvahs,” Van Workum says. “I hope a lot of people will celebrate their special occasions here and create amazing memories.”
marriott.com/en-us/hotels/srqls-the-st-regis-longboat-key
A History of Hospitality
Each St. Regis destination strives for an authentic sense of place rooted in the unique beauty of its locale. And the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort stands quite literally on a legacy, built on the hallowed grounds of the old Colony Beach and Tennis Resort.
For 42 years, The Colony served as Sarasota’s leisure landmark, a hub for Sarasota high society, and a haven for visiting glitterati. But The Colony was also a family place, not just for its guests—it was home to a family whose name is baked into Sarasota’s now-famous culture for fine dining, wine, and hospitality.
In 1968, an orthodontist named Murray “Murf” Klauber plucked his family up from Buffalo, NY, and moved to Longboat Key after being smitten by a visit to The Colony, then a rustic huddle of beach cottages. He purchased the property several years later with a vision to transform the resort into a premier condominium hotel and tennis mecca.
“For us kids, it was like going to heaven,” recalls his son Michael Klauber, co-owner of Michael’s on East and Michael’s Wine Cellar. “I grew up either on a tennis court, a waterski, a surfboard, or hitting golf balls.” Klauber and his siblings, Tommy and Katie, also received hands-on education in restaurants, hotels, and entrepreneurship. Since cutting his teeth in The Colony’s kitchens, Tommy has become one of Sarasota’s top restaurateurs. Katie started out refilling guests’ coffee cups and ended up as The Colony’s president and general manager for more than 20 years.
Not only has the St. Regis named a suite after Katie, but the waterfront bar is dubbed the “Monkey Bar” after The Colony’s renowned hangout.
“That was my dad’s thing at the resort,” Klauber says. “At 5:30, if you wanted to find my dad, he was usually at the Monkey Bar, hosting guests for drinks, telling stories, and holding court as he liked to do.”
On the bar bites menu you’ll find the “Murf ‘n’ Turf,” a Wagyu sausage on a special bun topped with lobster remoulade.
“My dad loved a great hot dog, and so we always had hot dogs on the menu out there,” Klauber says. “I’ve had the Murf ‘n’ Turf a couple of times, and it’s really well done, I have to say. I’m sure Dad would approve. He’d like to think of the St. Regis as a phoenix rising.”
“The emotional connection people have with The Colony is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” says Winfred Van Workum, general manager of the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort. “We see that especially with the weddings we’re booking. A lot of times, these are grandkids of people that got married here, or got engaged here, or spent their vacations here. The location is such a special memory.”
Michael’s on East catered a luncheon for 400 new staff during orientation before the St. Regis opened on Longboat. Klauber says, “When I was asked to address the team, I told them this is a property with a history of hospitality. Now, it’s going to be a property with a history of exquisite hospitality.”
