Happy May! As we head into one of the most exciting times of year for our industry, I’m pleased to share a few highlights.

At tonight’s National Travel & Tourism Week Celebration, we look forward to celebrating our 2026 “Voice of Sarasota,” Maestro Victor DeRenzi of the Sarasota Opera, whose more than 40 years of leadership have helped solidify Sarasota County’s reputation as Florida’s Cultural Coast ®.

We’re also gearing up for one of the most delicious traditions of the year—Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week—which marks its 21st anniversary and continues to showcase the incredible culinary stories of our community while driving business during a need period.

Finally, a strong shoutout to our marketing team, whose data-driven efforts continue to quite literally put heads in beds. Our recent Expedia campaign delivered over 308,000 impressions and 1,400 clicks, generating 903 hotel room nights, 5,755 vacation rental nights, and $2.7 million in revenue—an exceptional return on investment that underscores the direct impact of strategic marketing on visitation and economic activity.

In service,

Erin Duggan, CDME - President & CEO

Friendly reminder that your referrals matter! Recommend a local business to our partner program and share this information with partnership@visitsarasota.org, and for every successful referral that completes the onboarding process (including payment), you’ll receive rewards – including a comped partnership after 3 referrals!

Last month, there were not one but two After Hours experiences that took partners from Downtown Sarasota to Englewood. The first brought guests behind the scenes at Happy Capys at Suncoast Humane Society where attendees had the rare chance to get up-close with their three resident capybara sisters. 

The next After Hours struck all the right notes hosted by the Sarasota Orchestra. Attendees got an exclusive look into their future Music Center at 5701 Fruitville Road and two ticket vouchers to experience a 2026 concert.

Both afternoons highlighted what makes these events so valuable: authentic connection at local attractions that draw visitors and define our destination. Consider this your sign to join us at our next networking event!

We’ve launched an Events webpage where you can RSVP for all our latest happenings—for B2B events, Partner Office Hours, and signature events. We highly recommend bookmarking it, so you always stay in the know.

Dining Partners: Registration is open for the 21st Annual Savor Sarasota!

Early sign-up gives you the chance to be included in additional marketing and PR opportunities. You can register now even if your menus aren’t finalized, but remember the final deadline is May 20th.

To participate, restaurants must have an active partnership and be in good standing with Visit Sarasota County.

Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this year’s campaign—secure your spot today!

USA TODAY 10BEST is thrilled to report that Sarasota, FL represents 3 of the nominees competing in the Readers’ Choice Awards.

Best Independent Bookstore

• Bookstore1Sarasota

Best Mall

• The Mall at University Town Center

Best Shopping Center

• St. Armands Circle

Readers can vote once per day for each award until voting ends on Monday, June 1st at 11:59am EDT. The top 10 winners, as ranked by USA TODAY 10BEST readers, will be announced on Wednesday, June 10th at noon EDT.

Garden & Gun is now accepting submissions for its 2026 Made in the South Awards, celebrating standout Southern makers across categories including Style, Crafts, Home, Outdoors, Food, and Drink, plus a Sustainability Award.

Winners and runners-up will be featured in the December 2026/January 2027 issue, with one overall winner receiving a $10,000 prize.

Deadlines: Final submissions June 1

Partners with exceptional products or stories are encouraged to apply.

Do you have data to analyze but lack the time, capacity, or in-house expertise? Consider partnering with the Applied Data Science Master’s Program at New College of Florida (NCF).

Second-year students are required to complete a full-time internship (summer or spring), offering a low-risk, high-impact way for your organization to explore data-driven solutions and advance key projects. By this stage, students have completed coursework in statistics and machine learning, as well as databases or cloud computing, and are ready to put their skills to the test.

There are also additional ways to collaborate, including participating in program seminars or serving as a partner organization in the Practical Data Science course, where NCF can take on your data-related projects.

If you’re interested in exploring a partnership, please reach out to Prof. Bernhard Klingenberg, Director of the Applied Data Science program at NCF, at bklingenberg@ncf.edu.

May continues the strong momentum of spring sports across the region, featuring a diverse lineup of rowing, pickleball, swimming, soccer, and equestrian events that drive visitation and highlight the area’s year-round appeal as a premier sports destination.

The month begins on the water at Nathan Benderson Park with the USRowing Southeast Youth Championships (May 9-10), a key qualifier for the USRowing Youth National Championships returning to the same venue in June. This longstanding event is expected to draw nearly 2,000 participants and 1,800 spectators, reinforcing its status as one of the top youth rowing competitions in the Southeast.

Mid-month features a pair of events across the destination. The 2026 SW Florida Powerball Amateur State Championships (May 15-17), presented by Carvana PPA Tour & Southern Pickleball, debuts at Englewood Sports Complex, marking the first major pickleball event in Sarasota County and showcasing newly renovated courts. At the same time, the Sarasota Sharks Memorial Meet returns to the Selby Aquatic Center, drawing approximately 600 young swimmers and 500 spectators for a competitive and energetic weekend in the pool.

Over Memorial Day weekend, SUPERCOPA+ 2026 (May 22-25) takes over Premier Sports Campus, bringing together more than 1,900 athletes and 5,000 spectators for an elite, invitation-only youth soccer national championship known as “America’s Championship.” This event continues to strengthen the region’s partnership with U90C Management Group and will return again in 2028 alongside the Premier SuperCopa event.

Throughout the month, Fox Lea Farm’s Spring Concours Circuit remains in full swing, hosting nationally rated hunter/jumper competitions each Thursday through Sunday, along with evening Grand Prix events. The circuit continues to drive consistent visitation and showcases the region’s strength in equestrian sport.

May’s lineup highlights the continued diversity and scale of events across the region, further solidifying its reputation as a dynamic, year-round destination for high-level competition and community engagement.

Save the date for our Vacation and Short-Term Rental Partner Gathering on June 24 from 1pm–3pm at Mellow Mushroom. We’ll share the latest visitor trends, gather your feedback, and open the floor for your insights and ideas on how we can best support your success. If there is a specific topic you would like to discuss, let us know!

We love celebrating our amazing partners and the work you do. If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Partner Spotlight, please share your details by clicking the button below. Tell us about your organization, recent projects, and what makes your business special. We can’t wait to highlight your story!

Interacted with 4,173 visitors visitors and residents at the Visitors Centers.

Mailed and distributed 417 Visitor Guides and mailed 42 Relocation Packets.

Created 410 info bags for various groups.