New in Town

Longboat Key, the barrier island off Sarasota and Manatee counties sometimes known for its resistance to change, has a new hotel for the first time in years.

The 84-room property, called Zota Beach Resort, is a former Hilton. The hotel owner, Delray Beach-based Ocean Properties, spent $24 million renovating the hotel in a modern decor style that reflects the blues, grays and other calming colors that match the Gulf of Mexico. A new tower, which houses 103 rooms, is set to open this fall.

Sandra Rios, director of marketing and communications for the Resort at Longboat Key Club, Lido Beach Resort and Zota, says the glamour of Zota blends nicely with surrounding Longboat complexes. “It's nice to have to some contemporary on the island,” she says.