Visit Sarasota County announces return of awards program with new name

Event planned in May during National Travel and Tourism Week

Image courtesy Visit Sarasota County

Visit Sarasota County (VSC), the county’s tourism office, is bringing back an awards program that puts the spotlight on “greatness in our local hospitality industry,” the organization has announced.

Moreover, the program “will henceforth be celebrated as The Haley Hall of Fame Awards,” a news release points out. Virginia Haley, who served as president of Visit Sarasota County, retired last year after dedicating 24 years of service to the organization, “as well as the local hospitality industry as a whole,” the news release adds.
“Naming the program after her is a tribute to Haley’s immense legacy that continues to reach far and wide in our community,” the release continues.

“VSC will announce the candidates and winners of these prestigious awards” during its annual National Travel and Tourism Week celebration, which will be held on May 14, the release notes.

“National Travel and Tourism Week is an annual commemorative event that highlights the U.S. travel community” and the role travel plays across America, the release explains.

Beginning at 4 p.m. on May 14, the celebration will be held at Bird Key Yacht Club, which is located at 301 Bird Key Drive in Sarasota, the release continues. VSC also will announce “the coveted Voice of Sarasota Tourism winner at the event,” the release points out.

Additionally, the event will include samples from several restaurants that will be participating in the upcoming Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week, the release notes.

“Those who continue to keep the tourism industry stimulating, creative, and moving forward will be honored with a Haley Hall of Fame Award,” the release adds. Submissions for nominations are being collected through March 29, the release says. VSC staff is encouraging everyone to recommend deserving candidates, the release adds. The categories for The Haley Hall of Fame Awards are as follows:

  • 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 frontline employee who is not in management but 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 a seamless experience 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 who contributes to “exceptional growth within the tourism and hospitality industry.”

To nominate an individual for consideration of one of these awards before, visit this link: https://www.cognitoforms.com/visitsarasota1/nttwawardnominations2024