Suzanne Hackman receives 2025 Visionary Award from Smart Meetings
Suzanne Hackman, Visit Sarasota County’s director of sales & industry relations, was honored with the 2025 Visionary Award during the 10th Annual Smart Woman Summit, presented by Smart Meetings at the JW Marriot Tampa in September, Visit Sarasota County has announced.
This award “is presented to leaders in the meetings and event industry who take bold, transformative approaches — innovative thinking, inclusive leadership, measurable impact — to pave the way forward for others in the industry,” a news release explains.
“With this honor, Hackman joins a network now 1,000 women strong, all of whom are previous award recipients and contribute in unique ways to make the meetings and events industry a powerful force for good in the world,” the release adds.
Visit Sarasota County is the tourism marketing organization for Sarasota County.
“Receiving the Visionary Award is both gratifying, humbling and a reflection of so many who came before me,” said Hackman in the release. “I had great mentors who helped me out at the beginning of my career, and I believe in paying it forward and building up those coming behind me in the industry,” she added. “I am grateful to be in a profession I am passionate about, and I deeply value the opportunity to work alongside so many talented individuals every day,” Hackman said.
“Hackman joined Visit Sarasota County in March 2024 as the tourism bureau’s lead on attracting overnight business and groups for meetings, conferences, and exhibitions,” the release notes. “A tourism industry veteran with more than two decades of sales and business development experience, Hackman combines expertise with regional familiarity to keep hotels full, which in turn helps boost the local economy,” the release continues.
Prior to joining the staff of Visit Sarasota County, the release adds, Hackman served as regional director of sales for PRA Business Events and vice president of sales and business development for Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, “an organization she was with for more than 17 years.”
The release also explains, “Smart Meetings is a leading publisher and networking organization for the meetings and hospitality industry, providing digital and print content, hosting networking events, and offering resources and connections to help event professionals elevate their professional goals.”
To view the full list of awardees, visit https://www.smartmeetings.com/magazine_article/presenting-the-2025-smart-women-in-meetings-award-winners.