Visit Sarasota County Receives Accolades from Meetings Industry

Visit Sarasota County (VSC) has been recognized by three leading national publications and associations for its efforts to attract meetings to enrich the local economy. 

VSC was named a 2025 Readers’ Choice by ConventionSouth, a national multimedia resource for planning events in the South. Throughout the year, meeting professionals nominated the meeting sites they believe provide exemplary service for group events. With over 7,000 voters participating in the selection process and the highest social media interaction to date, this was the competition’s most successful and engaging year. With this accolade, VSC joins the ranks of over 500 other convention and visitor bureaus, hotels, and unique venues located across the South. Since its creation in 2001, this is the ninth time VSC has received the Readers’ Choice Award.

In December, VSC was also selected as a Platinum Choice Award Winner by Smart Meetings, a leading source for information and inspiration about destinations and venues. After VSC was nominated, Smart Meetings readers voted on their favorite destinations and venues, based on actual lived experiences in ballrooms and off sites, placing our local tourism bureau in the same competitive site as larger destinations such as Kissimmee and Miami. The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, was also named as an award-winner in the hotel category. 

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) also awarded VSC two bronze awards – one for its Support the 941 hurricane recovery campaign, another for its Indicators & Insights Summit – during the 69^th annual Adrian Awards, the largest competition dedicated to travel marketing. The 2025 awards recognize exceptional achievements across advertising, digital marketing, public relations/communications, and integrated 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.” 

All year long, VSC attracts events ranging from athletic competitions to corporate retreats, helping drive demand beyond peak season to support hotels and the local economy strong. In fiscal year 2025, VSC’s incentive program paid $28,000 in assisting hotels with booking meetings and conventions, while international outreach and creative collaborations like VSC’s “Art Car” partnership with Lipstick Lex kept Sarasota top of mind overseas. This group business generates valuable Tourist Development Tax revenue that is reinvested into beaches, arts, and sports facilities, all made possible through close collaboration with hotels and venues.

For more information on VSC’s sales efforts, visit www.sarasotameetings.com. 

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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