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Season is well underway in Sarasota County, and there’s a lot happening in the months ahead.
A quick reminder that we’re hosting an Open House tonight at our administration office at 301 N Cattlemen Rd, Ste 203 from 3:00–5:30 PM. If you’re available, please stop by to say hello and connect with our team. We’d love to see you.
Registration has also just opened for our National Travel & Tourism Week Celebration on May 7th at The Ringling. We hope you’ll join us as we recognize the impact of travel and tourism in our community. See all the details below!
And already looking ahead to June, Savor Sarasota registration launched yesterday for dining partners. Restaurants are encouraged to sign up early to participate as we have already received a few media requests. For our non-restaurant partners, please help us spread the word and encourage your favorite local spots to register or explore partnership opportunities.
We appreciate your continued collaboration and look forward to the season ahead.
~Your Marketing and Partnership Teams
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🎪 Step Right Up to the Greatest Week in Travel — A Century in the Making!
Thursday, May 7, 2026
4:30 – 6:30 PM
The Ringling | 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota
Join Visit Sarasota County at The Ringling’s breathtaking John & Mable Museum of Art Courtyard as we celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week in spectacular style.
As we look ahead to 2027 — marking 100 years since John Ringling moved the winter quarters of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to Sarasota — there’s no more fitting place to gather. That pivotal moment helped establish Sarasota as one of Florida’s very first tourist destinations, and we’re proud to kick off this centennial season in the place where it all began.
With subtle Art Deco flair and circus-inspired touches, the evening blends history, hospitality, and a little spectacle, including:
✨ A circus-inspired courtyard experience
🥂 Heavy appetizers and first round of drinks (plus a speakeasy surprise!)
🎪 A “Walk of the Decades” showcasing 100 years of tourism history
🎩 Optional 1920s-inspired attire
🏆 Recognition of our 2026 Voice of Sarasota
Join us as we shine the spotlight on an industry — and a century — worth applauding.
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Travelers are actively planning Sarasota getaways and Visit Sarasota’s email audience of 73,000+ opted-in subscribers is one of the most engaged ways to reach them.
With a 47% average open rate, you can spotlight your business in a monthly eNewsletter or take over the inbox with a Custom, Dedicated Email (100% share of voice), now is the best time to reserve the month that matters most to you.
Looking to boost visibility even further? Pair your email placement with a Featured Business Listing or targeted website advertising for year-round exposure.
Check availability or build a plan:
Andy Roberts — sales@visitsarasota.org
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Social Media Post Callout! |
Spring Trip Inspiration
Help us inspire spring itineraries: what should visitors see, taste, or experience while they’re here?
Share images or videos for a chance to be featured on our social channels.
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Connecting the Dots: How to Weave Data into Stories
Join us for our next Tourism U with Andria Godfrey, VP of Data Science at Miles Partnership
Explore the power of data storytelling and how organizations can transform complex information into compelling narratives that drive smarter decisions. Through a practical framework that guides you through identifying your audience, interpreting data, and building a cohesive narrative, you’ll turn findings into actionable recommendations. This presentation highlights the value of integrating multiple data sources and leveraging emerging tools like AI to create meaningful, results-focused strategies.
Reserve Your Virtual Seat for Thursday, February 26 at 12pm via ZOOM
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Media Wins: Florida & Sarasota in the Global Spotlight
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January delivered strong national and international media visibility for Florida and Sarasota, reinforcing our positioning across beaches, family travel, romance, and new air access in priority markets.
23 total articles
180+ million potential audience reached
Top Market Highlights:
U.S.: National lifestyle and travel outlets spotlighted Florida beaches, family-friendly trips, and couples’ getaways, driving broad awareness nationwide.
UK: Coverage highlighted Sarasota’s new flight routes and centennial celebrations, boosting regional travel interest.
Germany: Assisted placements emphasized Florida’s appeal as a sunny, romantic destination, generating strong reach in a key feeder market.
View full media coverage:
https://visitsarasota.softr.app/pr-mentions
Local Media
Our Partnership & Sports teams pitch local journalists, freelancer writers, and publications to strengthen understanding and appreciation for Sarasota County's powerhouse tourism industry among residents and local businesses alike.
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New Content on VisitSarasota.com |
Website and Consumer E-news Stats for January |
- 361k Website Pageviews
- Events Page had 40k views! Upload those events 😁
- 21k Partner Referrals
- 873 E-news sign ups
- January Consumer E-news had a 42% open rate and 2,371 clicks
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January Visitor Snapshot from Zartico |
This year, thanks to new funding, we are utilizing a platform called Zartico to analyze visitor movement and spend. These insights along with data from our research firm, Downs and St. Germain, will give us a deeper understanding of our visitor and help us market to them more effectively.
In January 2026:
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- 31% of all spend in Sarasota County came from visitors from 50+ miles .
- New York and Tampa-St.Pete were the top visitor markets accounting for 7% of visitors followed by Chicago at 5%.
- 11% of visitors came from within 50 miles of Sarasota County but are not residents of Sarasota County. They accounted for 13% of restaurant spend.
- 35% of visitors had a household income of $151K+, 34% were aged 65+ and 35% have children in their household.
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*Data from Zartico comes from a sample size of credit card spending and cell phone geolocation data. To be considered a visitor for credit card spend data, the billing zip code needs to be out of the area. For location data, it is where the cell phone has been overnight the most in the last 30 days (it's home location).
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Lastly, don't forget to add PitchUs@VisitSarasota.com to your PR lists! |
This email goes to everyone on the Marketing and Communications team to keep us in the loop of all the great things you are doing!
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Copyright © 2025 Visit Sarasota County
Our address is 301 North Cattlemen Road, Suite 203, Sarasota, FL 34232, United States
If you do not wish to receive future email, .
(You can also send your request to Customer Care at the street address above.)
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