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Connecting professionals. Sharing knowledge. Advancing best practices
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With the winter cold settled in for the season, the FL Suncoast Chapter (Chapter) invites LAI Global members to join us in sunny, warm Sarasota for a February respite.
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 (Tours) hosted by the Chapter is the first tour in the series.
On February 25 – 27, 2026, the Chapter welcomes distinguished land economics professionals from across the globe to the gorgeous Sarasota/Bradenton area during the prime winter season.
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.)
As a precursor to the 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 a FL Suncoast-event series where prominent members from around the globe provide expertise and advice on land- and water-related issues.
The Tours/LED are open to Global LAI members; a guest is welcome on the Tours. With Enthusiasm, Holly Elmore
FL Suncoast Chapter President
holly@earth-impact.org
404-510-9336
Photo banner is a Sarasota skyline image from across Sarasota courtesy of Holly Elmore Images.
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Register NOW!
Learn about registration options for Global and LAI FL Suncoast members at this LINK.
As early bird pricing expired on October 20, use the below codes to reinstate early bird pricing through December 31.:
- Tours: HollyDiscountGlobal
- LED: HollyDiscountLED
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Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
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On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, the Tours begin with an opening reception hosted at the internationally award-winning Selby Gardens. Jennifer Rominiecki, Selby Gardens President & CEO, is the opening reception keynote speaker.
On the final day, Friday February 26, Tours activities begin with a personalized tour of the amazing botanical garden that showcase the completed Phase I and the under-construction Phase II of the Master Plan, the lovely grounds, and the highly regarded research endeavors.
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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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Land Economics Dialoges (LED)
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Water Challenges, Economics, 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 October 20; use the HollyDiscountLED to reinstate the discount through December 31.
Sponsorship opportunities are detailed HERE.
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One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours
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,
- Mote Science Education Aquarium, the recently opened state-of-art aquarium with over one-million gallons of marine habitats,
- 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 October 20; use the HollyDiscountGlobal to reinstate the discount through December 31.
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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