Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/223368
Sarasota News Leader December 6, 2013 Page 73 VISIT SARASOTA COUNTY WINS GOLD ADRIAN AWARD Visit Sarasota County (VSC) has been named a recipient of a Gold Adrian Award for its "Amish Las Vegas" feature on the Today Show's website, reaching a potential audience of more than 8 million viewers, the county tourism office has announced. The Adrian Awards are presented by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI), a news release explains. "The awards honor the best in travel marketing and public relations as determined by a panel of judges from the travel sales and marketing industry," the release adds. The awards will presented on Feb. 24 at a gala in New York City. "We are honored to be recognized with this award," said Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, in the release. "The Amish community is a special part of Sarasota. We are fortunate to have been able to work with individuals in that community to gain positive national exposure of their culture and what they have to offer visitors coming to Sarasota County." With the objective of differentiating Sarasota County from other Florida beach destinations, VSC, with the assistance of MMGY Global — its public relations firm on retainer — sought to highlight one of the "most unique aspects that visitors can experience," the release adds: the county's Amish community. "Amish home-style cooking and baking, woodworking and quilt making were highlighted, as well as a gentleman who created a solar-powered Amish buggy as a substitute for the horse and buggies used in colder climates," the release continues. The piece, titled Amish Las Vegas, showcased how visitors can enjoy the Amish community, and it shared the story of how "Amish snowbirds" go on vacation, the release notes. Visit Sarasota County is the tourism office for the community. Image from www.visitsarasota.org