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AN OPEN, PERSONAL INVITATION to the Earth Impact family!
Come join us this February 25 – 27 for the Lambda Alpha International (LAI) One-by-Sea, Two-by-Land Tours along with the Water Challenges, Economics, and Nature-Based Solutions LED (Land Economics Dialogue) in sunny, warm, and gorgeous Sarasota!
Enjoy a respite from the harsh winter conditions in the north and learn about Sarasota's economic drivers, innovative development, and the gorgeous beaches and bayfront - experience WHY so many choose the Suncoast for their vacation, second-home, and/or retirement destination.
Register NOW – space is limited!
I am excited to welcome you to my lovely hometown that many call paradise!
Holly Elmore
Ei Founder & CEO, LAI FL Suncoast Chapter President Photo banner is a Sarasota skyline image from across Sarasota Bay courtesy of Holly Elmore Images.
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The Tours begin with a lovely opening reception at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens located on Sarasota Bay, and the final tour is at The Bay, a 53-acre public park located north of Selby Gardens and on Sarasota Bay near downtown. From a land economics standpoint, 53 acres of primarily parking lots and other impermeable surfaces were transformed into an amazing public park; The Bay was designed to provide resilience to the downtown district during extreme weather events, provide food and habitat for urban wildlife via a native-plant or Florida-friendly landscape, and serve as a public amenity for the community. Speakers will educate on the behind-the-scenes efforts to create a public-private partnership to bring The Bay from vision to reality. Additionally, the former Bay Park Conservancy Managing Director and COO will share the intricacies of planning, designing, and implementing the completed Phase I of The Bay. The current COO will share on the Phase I successes and the future plans for The Bay.
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images.
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The Bay
About The Bay
The Bay is a signature public park along Sarasota Bay. Designed to be “One Park for All,” The Bay is open and accessible, free and welcoming to the full and rich diversity of the community, now and for generations to come.
The Bay conserves, preserves, restores and transforms 53 acres of precious city-owned land along Sarasota Bay from what was mostly parking lot into a blue and green oasis – providing a sustainable bayfront gathering place for the community to experience and enjoy a wide range of park uses, free programs and events.
The first 10-acre phase of the park opened in October 2022. Design and development of Phase 2, the next 14-acre $65 million development, is fully funded and underway with expected completion in 2026. The completed park in total will cost an estimated $200 million and will take approximately 8-10 years to complete over four or more phases.
Source The Bay Website
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Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens provides 45 acres of bayfront sanctuaries connecting people with air plants of the world, native nature, and our regional history.
Established by forward-thinking women of their time, Selby Gardens is composed of the 15-acre Downtown Sarasota campus and the 30-acre Historic Spanish Point campus in the Osprey area of Sarasota County, Florida. The Downtown Sarasota campus on Sarasota Bay is the only botanical garden in the world dedicated to the display and study of epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads and ferns, and other tropical plants. There is a significant focus on botany, horticulture, education, historical preservation, and the environment.
Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus features the world’s first net positive energy botanical garden complex, generating more energy than it consumes. The Historic Spanish Point campus is located less than 10 miles south along Little Sarasota Bay. One of the largest preserves showcasing native Florida plants and active archaeology that is interpreted for and open to the public, it celebrates an archaeological record that encompasses approximately 5,000 years of Florida history. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a Smithsonian Affiliate and is also accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
Selby Gardens was named one of Time magazine’s “World’s Greatest Places 2024,” recognized in The Wall Street Journal as “Best of Architecture of 2024,” selected as USA Today “2025 Top 10 Botanical Gardens in the U.S.,” featured in Vogue Magazine 2025 “Best Botanical Gardens in the US,” and honored with a 2025 Global Vision Award by Travel + Leisure.
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Extended early bird pricing ended December 31 midnight. As my personal guest, use the below codes to reinstate early bird pricing:
- Tours: HollyDiscountGlobal
- LED: HollyDiscountLED
Learn about registration options at this LINK. Scroll down for Tours/LED details.
The Tours/LED are open to LAI members and guests and the Ei family!
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Land Economics Dialogues (LED)
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Water Challenges, Economics, and Nature-Based Solutions LED
As a precursor to the February 25 – 27, 2026 One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours, the Chapter hosts a Land Economics Dialogues (LED) event on Wednesday, February 25 from 9 am – 4 pm. The LED focus is on local Water Challenges, Economics, and Nature-Based-Solutions.
An LED is an FL Suncoast-event series where prominent LAI members from around the globe provide expertise and advice on land- and water-related issues.
The LED agenda consists of four morning speakers followed by a brainstorming session during lunch. Morning presentation topics include Coastal Water Dynamics, Surface Water (Sarasota Bay, Gulf, Inland Waters), Extreme Weather, and Local & Regional Economics. The afternoon is dedicated to an empowering strategy session. A formal report will document the LED presentations, strategy session, and recommended nature-based solutions.
Land and water economics are the common thread within the LED–strategy points.
The LED is open to Global LAI members.
REGISTER HERE - early pricing ended on December 31; use the HollyDiscountLED to reinstate the early bird discount.
Sponsorship opportunities are detailed HERE.
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FL Suncoast SemiQ East Coast Tour
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One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea
On February 25 – 27, 2026, the Chapter welcomes distinguished land economics professionals from across the globe to the Sarasota/Bradenton area during the prime winter season. Due to bus limitations, the One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours is limited to 45 out-of-town guests; local chapter members will participate via their own transportation.
Step into history, innovation, and paradise for the One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours. Learn how the Suncoast evolved over the past 250+ years with visits to:- Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, the world’s first net-positive energy botanical garden,
- Nathan Benderson Park, a world-class rowing venue built from an old shell-excavation pit.
- Sarasota Bay History Cruise, and more!
As detailed in the Tours Itinerary, the tours consist of an opening reception, two days of tours filled with prominent speakers including a two-hour Sarasota Bay History Cruise, and finishes with a Closing Dinner Reception (pending sponsorship.)
The Tours is open to Global LAI members and a guest.
REGISTER HERE - early pricing ended on December 31; use the HollyDiscountGlobal to reinstate the discount.
Sponsorship opportunities are detailed HERE.
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LAI SemiQ East Coast Tours
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The LAI SemiQ East Coast Tours: Land Use & History (1776-2026) celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a series of tours hosted by the seven Eastern Region chapters: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, FL Suncoast, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. The One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours hosted by the LAI Fl Suncoast Chapter is the first tour in the series.
Registration is open for the following Tours:
- Annapolis, March 19 - REGISTER
- Atlanta, April 16 - REGISTER
- New York City, May 14 & 14 - REGISTER I hope that you register for other Tours, they will ALL be fantastic!!!
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