Sarasota tourism in the headlights

Forest equipment and agriculture tractor firm John Deere has dealt the Sarasota-Bradenton tourism industry a big blow: It moved its 2012 annual dealer conference, a three-week parade of product displays, seminars and live demonstrations, to suburban Orlando.

“This will be significant,” Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau President Virginia Haley tells Coffee Talk. “It has a huge impact. It's the single largest piece of business we have.”
Moline, Ill.-based Deere & Co., a $24 billion business, has held an annual dealer conference in the Sarasota-Bradenton region every October for at least a decade. It will be here this October, too.

The event usually draws at least 3,000 suppliers, vendors and dealers, many of whom stay at the downtown Sarasota Hyatt and the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. Vehicle and equipment demonstrations have been held in Lakewood Ranch, on land provided by Schroeder-Manatee Ranch.

Despite the setback, Haley and other local tourism officials are confident the John Deere departure will be temporary. “We are optimistic we can put together a proposal,” that will win the business back for 2013, Haley says.

John Deere officials couldn't be reached for comment. Haley says the company picked Lake Mary in Seminole County, for its 2012 conference. It chose Lake Mary mostly because it wanted closer access to a large state park for equipment and vehicle demonstrations.