Data

Tourist Tax Revenue Still Down

Tourist Development Tax collections were down by 5.3 percent in January when compared to January 2018.

03/22/2019 By Staff

Worth the drive

Sebring Festival Lets You Explore the Sweet World of Craft Soda

Sample colas, ginger ales, root beers and cream sodas, with flavors like caramel apple, prickly pear, espresso, peach cobbler, candied bacon and more.

03/22/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Tourism

Siesta Ranked the 15th Most Affordable Beach in the U.S.

To create the list, researchers examined the cost of parking, sunscreen, water, fish tacos, beer, cocktails and accommodations.

03/06/2019 By Staff

Tourism

Report Puts Orioles’ Annual Economic Impact at $92 Million

The analysis measures the total tourism impact created by the Orioles, combined with the club’s business operations and spending in Sarasota County.

02/25/2019 By Staff

Tourism

Selby Gardens Raises $31.5 Million for Phase One of Its New Master Plan

That includes a $5 million gift from Drs. Joel Morganroth and Gail Morrison Morganroth.

01/31/2019 By Staff

Science

Mote Project Wins County Commission Approval

The Sarasota County Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved a series of agreements with Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium for its new Science Education Aquarium.

01/30/2019 By Staff

Tourism

Florida Tax Revenue Generated Through Airbnb Totaled $89.5 Million Last Year

Thanks to an agreement hammered out in 2017, the company last year transferred $1.1 million to Sarasota County on behalf of its hosts.

01/30/2019 By Staff

Tourism

Tourism Nonprofit Expands Sales Team

Visit Sarasota County recently promoted Ellen Thomas and hired Amanda Walker and Allison Jones.

01/29/2019 By Staff

Environment

Historian's Talk Will Raise Money for Maritime Museum

Historian Jack E. Davis, recently featured in Sarasota Magazine, will speak at a fundraiser for the Florida Maritime Museum on Thursday, March 14

01/25/2019 By Staff

Politics

Sarasota Added to U.S. Civil Rights Trail

The Sarasota area was added to the trail because of the Lido Beach 'wade-ins'—protests created to push Sarasota to desegregate local beaches.

01/22/2019 By Staff

Tourism

Tourist Tax Collections Down Again

Tourist Development Tax collections were down by 5.9 percent last November when compared to November 2017, according to new numbers.

01/17/2019 By Staff

Hospitality

Anna Maria Island Resort Looking to Hire

Waterline Marina Resort & Beach Club is hosting a job fair for full- and part-time positions on Tuesday, Jan. 29.

01/15/2019 By Staff

Tourism

Visitors and Revenue From Airbnb Up in 2018

Roughly 100,000 visitors booked lodgings through Airbnb in Sarasota County in 2018, generating $22.8 million in revenue for local hosts.

01/15/2019 By Staff

Marketing

Educational Events Intended to Help Hospitality Businesses Hurt By Red Tide

Visit Sarasota County is helping hospitality businesses learn how to use Google My Business to communicate with customers concerned about red tide.

01/14/2019 By Staff

Public relations

Visit Sarasota Executive to Discuss Challenges of Marketing During Red Tide

Erin Duggan, the vice president of Visit Sarasota County, will speak at the next luncheon of the Central West Coast chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association.

01/02/2019 By Staff