Visit Sarasota County Accepting Nominations for Haley Hall of Fame Awards

SARASOTA, Fla. – (July 16, 2026) – Visit Sarasota County (VSC) is encouraging all local hospitality and tourism businesses to celebrate their star employees, volunteers, and leaders through its annual Haley Hall of Fame Awards. Nominations are open now through August 28. 

The awards program is named after Virginia J. Haley, who dedicated 24 years of service as the President of VSC. During her tenure, Haley guided the destination through a period of unprecedented growth and national recognition in which Sarasota County evolved into one of the fastest-growing tourism markets in the United States, while tourism revenues, visitation, and destination awareness reached record levels. Haley was selected for induction into Destinations International's Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors in the destination marketing profession, with the honor to be formally bestowed later this month.  

“Our Haley Hall of Fame Awards celebrate the real talent and heart behind our tourism economy and the communities they create, just as Virginia did during her many years of service to our industry,” said Erin Duggan, President & CEO of Visit Sarasota County. “Every nominee embodies the excellence and care that set

Sarasota County apart, qualities our visitors remember and return for again and again. If you’ve had any hand in helping steward our destination, we want to recognize you.”  

The Haley Hall of Fame Award categories are: 

•    Management Excellence: Recognizes a manager or supervisor who demonstrates a significant positive impact on staff while also mentoring their team to inspire unforgettable experiences to visitors in Sarasota County.  

•    Front Line Excellence: Recognizes a front-line, non-management employee who continually demonstrates outstanding customer service to visitors in Sarasota County.  

•    Heart of the House Excellence: Recognizes a back-of-the-house ("behind the scenes"), non-management employee who is committed to providing high-quality service within the organization so that visitors have seamless experiences in Sarasota County.  

•    Volunteer Excellence: Recognizes an individual who continually enriches the visitor experience in Sarasota County through their volunteer service.  

•    Rising Star: Recognizes an emerging leader in Sarasota County who exhibits ongoing contributions and exceptional growth within the tourism and hospitality industry. 

•    Legacy Star: Recognizes a longtime leader in Sarasota County who actively contributes to our local tourism and hospitality industry through their leadership and mentorship. 

•    Business Excellence: Recognizes an organization in Sarasota County that acts as a champion for strengthening hospitality and furthering connections in our industry and community.  

•    Regional Collaborator: Recognizes an organization outside of Sarasota County that is advancing the tourism and hospitality industry through regional collaboration.

Recipients of last year’s Haley Hall of Fame Awards include: Management Excellence – Juan Carlos Serra Valenzuala, The Resort at Longboat Key Club; Heart of the House Excellence – Myllanna McKinnon, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe; Front Line Excellence – Susie Chinn, The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime; Volunteer Excellence – Phil Trego, Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce; Rising Star – Edith May Perez, The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota; Legacy Star – Mary Bensel, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall; and, Business Excellence – Watershed Hospitality Concepts

Local businesses can submit nominations now through August 28 at bit.ly/haleyawards. All nominees will be notified in early Fall, and the awards celebration will take place at the tourism bureau’s Indicators and Insights Summit, to be hosted at the Art Ovation Hotel on November 19. Early-bird tickets and sponsorships are also on sale now at bit.ly/VSCSummit. 

About Visit Sarasota County 
Visit Sarasota County (VSC) is the official tourism marketing entity and primary provider of visitor information for Sarasota County where tourism is the top industry. Through programs and partnerships, VSC makes Sarasota County a better place by promoting our community on the world stage. These efforts bring together over 450 partners to keep visitors coming, local businesses open and residents employed all year. VSC is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program, a program of the Destination Management Association International (DMAI). To learn more, visit www.visitsarasota.com. 

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