Event celebrates Travel and Tourism Week
Awards given for tourism week
The annual National Travel and Tourism Week was celebrated in conjunction with the kickoff of Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week at Bird Key Yacht Club on May 14.
This year’s event saw the return of Visit Sarasota’s award program, now called the Haley Hall of Fame Awards after Virginia Haley, longtime former president and CEO of VSC.
More than 150 members of the tourism industry attended and tasted samples from eight restaurants that will be participating in Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week in June.
Visit Sarasota County awarded five Haley Hall of Fame Awards to members of the community who keep the tourism industry stimulated and moving forward around the county:
Front Line Excellence − Alexandra Norohna of The Longboat Key Club and Resort; Heart of the House Excellence − Laura Lowe, The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota; Volunteer Excellence − An Cantor of Big Cat Habitat; Management Excellence − Erin McLeod, Senior Friendship Centers; and Rising Star − Kaitlyn Fusco, Mote Marine Laboratory.
More than 80 candidates were nominated.
The evening also included honoring the 2024 Voice of Sarasota Tourism, Jennifer O. Rominiecki, president and CEO of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Each year, this award is presented to an individual who has significantly enhanced Sarasota County as a tourism destination.
Visit Sarasota County’s Board Chair and Sarasota Opera General Director Richard Russell presented Rominiecki with the award, noting her contributions not only at Selby Gardens but throughout the county. She repositioned the gardens to be known as The Living Museum and serves on the board of numerous entities throughout the state of Florida.
Sponsors for the celebration and Savor Sarasota kickoff were Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, Herald-Tribune Media Group, Miles Partnership, Tiger Lily Flowers,
Kokomo Charters Wolfies.
and
The Original
Goodwills to share strengths
After months of planning, two Florida Goodwill organizations are combining efforts and leveraging their unique strengths to expand services to persons in need across South Florida.
Gulfstream Goodwill Industries has partnered with Goodwill Manasota, headquartered in the Sarasota-Manatee area, to deliver a first-class retail experience in the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast.
Headquartered in West Palm Beach, Gulfstream Goodwill Industries is dedicated to providing a wide range of impactful external mission programs that aim to empower individuals and strengthen communities. Founded in 1966, GGI is the largest human and social services organization across Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties.
Goodwill Industries Manasota Inc.− through a subsidiary, Goodwill Industries of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast − is now executing thrift store operations in the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast region, utilizing the Goodwill brand. Goodwill Manasota has earned numerous awards for retail excellence and market leadership through the internal Goodwill movement.
The collaboration will not only provide expanded leadership opportunities for employees but will also bring internal education and training programs pioneered by Goodwill Manasota to all of the 600-plus retail team members in the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast market as well, said Goodwill Manasota President and CEO Donn Githens.
For more information on Goodwill Manasota, visit experiencegoodwill.org.