Local hospitality and tourism employers have until Aug. 28 to nominate their standout workers, volunteers and leaders for the Haley Hall of Fame Awards, the county's premier recognition for people who power Sarasota's $3.6 billion tourism economy.
Visit Sarasota County opened nominations July 19 for the annual program, which spans front-line staff, back-of-house employees, managers, volunteers and businesses across the tourism sector. Employers can submit nominations at bit.ly/haleyawards.
Winners will be celebrated at VSC's Indicators and Insights Summit on Nov. 19 at the Art Ovation Hotel in downtown Sarasota. All nominees will be notified in early fall, according to Visit Sarasota County. Early-bird tickets and sponsorships for the summit are available at bit.ly/VSCSummit.
Erin Duggan, president and CEO of Visit Sarasota County, said the awards are open to anyone involved in the local tourism sector. "If you've had any hand in helping steward our destination, we want to recognize you," she said in a news release.
The awards are named for Virginia J. Haley, who served 24 years as VSC president and was inducted into Destinations International's Hall of Fame. Under her leadership, visitor numbers and tourism revenue reached record levels, according to the Sarasota News Leader.
Last year's winners
The 2025 Haley Hall of Fame recipients spanned the industry:
- Management Excellence — Juan Carlos Serra Valenzuala, The Resort at Longboat Key Club
- Heart of the House Excellence — Myllanna McKinnon, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe
- Front Line Excellence — Susie Chinn, The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime
- Volunteer Excellence — Phil Trego, Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce
- Rising Star — Edith May Perez, The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
- Legacy Star — Mary Bensel, executive director, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
- Business Excellence — Watershed Hospitality Concepts
Watershed Hospitality Concepts, whose restaurants include Cask & Ale, Lefty's Oyster & Seafood Bar and Blase Martini Bar, received the inaugural Business Excellence award at the November 2025 summit, according to SRQ Magazine.
A strong year for Sarasota tourism
The awards come during a banner stretch for the destination. CNN Travel named Sarasota the Best Town to Visit in 2026, and the county recorded its highest-ever March lodging rate of $402.36, according to Visit Sarasota County data. Tourism supported 15% of jobs countywide in fiscal year 2025, according to the Herald-Tribune.
Nominations close Aug. 28. The summit and awards ceremony take place Nov. 19 at the Art Ovation Hotel.
