Conference center back in play

When Sarasota developers Charles Githler and Andy Dorr attempted to build a $100 million conference center downtown six years ago, the project stumbled.

But the dream, to raise Sarasota's national profile with a business meeting space that can draw in hundreds of events a year, has never gone away. And after decades of starts and stops, including the 2009 effort from Githler and Dorr, momentum could be percolating once again.

“We're an ideal conference location compared to many throughout the country,” says Dorr, who sits on the boards of Visit Sarasota County and the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. “We have wonderful recreation and leisure — hence why we draw 4 million people per year here.”