Regional tourism bureau recognized by VISIT FLORIDA for its inaugural Indicators & Insights Summit
During the 2025 Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism, held recently in Orlando, “Visit Sarasota County earned statewide acclaim for its efforts to advocate for the tourism industry and the hundreds of local businesses under its umbrella,” the organization announced this week.
“The tourism bureau was recognized with a Silver Flagler Award for its rebranded annual meeting, the Indicators & Insights Summit, which brought together more than 100 hospitality leaders” in the fall of 2024, a news release notes. The event, held shortly after Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused widespread damage in Sarasota County, was planned “to provide travel insights, recovery forecasts, and a moment to unite as a sector,” the release points out.
“Named after Henry Flagler, the Father of Florida Tourism, the Flagler Awards is an annual statewide program hosted by VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official tourism marketing organization,” the release explains. “Since 2000, the awards have celebrated the very best in destination marketing efforts that solidify Florida’s ranking as one of the world’s premier vacation destinations,” the release continues. The winner of each award “is selected by a panel of industry judges” who evaluate campaigns on the basis of quality, effectiveness and creativity, the release points out.
“We’re grateful to our industry peers across the state — and especially within our community — for believing tourism matters and welcoming our Summit into this esteemed hall of fame,” said Erin Duggan, president & CEO of Visit Sarasota County, in the release. “Ensuring our more than 500 partners have the insights needed to tap into tourism, our community’s top industry, remains paramount to our mission — and this accolade from VISIT FLORIDA only further helps us advance our efforts and strengthen pride in place,” she added.
This fall, Visit Sarasota County’s award-winning Indicators & Insights Summit will be held on Nov. 18, “with a distinct focus on how Sarasota County’s top industry — tourism — works for local businesses,” the release says. Among the guest speakers will be Jackie Reau, CEO of Game Day; Blair Bloomston, founder and CEO of Leaders Uplifted; and Kristen Theisen, CEO of Amplify Connections Consulting, the release points out.
This year’s program also will include “the tourism bureau’s Haley Hall of Fame Award, which will honor seven regional hospitality movers and shakers,” the release notes.
The half-day Summit will be held at the Carlisle Inn on Bahia Vista Street in Sarasota. The hours are 8 a.m. to noon. Tickets are available for business leaders and residents alike: https://bit.ly/2025VSCsummit.