Visit Sarasota County wins for 'Amish Las Vegas'

SARASOTA — For pitching a feature touting Sarasota as the “Amish Las Vegas,” Visit Sarasota County won a Gold Adrian Award from Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI). The awards honor the best in travel marketing and public relations.

The video and story, featured on the Today's Show website, showcases the Amish community in Sarasota, particularly the Pinecraft neighborhood, and its popularity as a vacation and wintering destination for the Amish. A resident interviewed proclaimed in the video that: “What happens in Pinecraft stays in Pinecraft.”

According to a release, Visit Sarasota County worked with MMGY Global, its public relations firm, to differentiate Sarasota County from other Florida beach locations. That led to idea to pitch a story that highlights the local Amish community, something unique to the area.

“We are honored to be recognized with this award,” Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, said 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.”

The awards will be presented Feb. 24 at the Adrian Awards Gala in New York City.