Visit Sarasota County (VSC) has received recognition from several national organizations for its efforts in attracting meetings and events to the area. The organization was named a 2025 Readers’ Choice by ConventionSouth, a publication focused on event planning in the southern United States. More than 7,000 meeting professionals participated in this year’s voting process, which saw the highest level of social media engagement to date. This marks the ninth time VSC has earned this award since 2001.
In addition to this honor, VSC was selected as a Platinum Choice Award Winner by Smart Meetings, a source of information about destinations and venues. Readers of Smart Meetings voted based on their experiences at various locations, placing VSC alongside larger destinations such as Kissimmee and Miami. The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota also received an award in the hotel category.
The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) presented VSC with two bronze awards during its 69th annual Adrian Awards ceremony. One award recognized VSC’s Support the 941 hurricane recovery campaign, while another acknowledged its Indicators & Insights Summit. These awards highlight achievements in travel marketing across multiple categories including advertising and digital campaigns.
“Being recognized by some of the top meetings associations in the country reflects something we never take for granted – trust,” said Erin Duggan, President and CEO of Visit Sarasota County. “That trust is earned through strong results and strong relationships, and it pays dividends far beyond a successful event, generating Tourist Development Tax paid by visitors and reinvested back into our community. We also share this recognition with the sales teams at our hotels and sports venues – it’s their partnerships and expertise, paired with ours, that turn handshakes into room nights.”
Throughout the year, VSC works to attract events ranging from athletic competitions to corporate retreats. In fiscal year 2025, its incentive program provided $28,000 to help hotels secure bookings for meetings and conventions. International outreach efforts included collaborations like an “Art Car” partnership with Lipstick Lex to promote Sarasota abroad. The group business generated from these initiatives contributes Tourist Development Tax revenue that is used for local amenities such as beaches, arts facilities, and sports venues.
For further details about Visit Sarasota County’s sales activities or programs supporting local tourism businesses visit www.sarasotameetings.com.
