December 11, 2024 • 27 mins
When I think of Sarasota Florida, the first thing that comes to mind is baseball. I live in Baltimore and the Orioles have their spring training home right there in Sarasota. I think about the Grapefruit League and all the teams that start preparing for their new season under the sunny skies of Florida.
But Sarasota County has more to offer than baseball stadiums. Sarasota County falls just south of Tampa and just north of Fort Myers. I think a lot of folks may overlook this beautiful space of the Sunshine State when flying into other major airports nearby. I’ve been to Florida plenty of times, but it’s always been to Orlando or points further south.
My conversation this week is with Kelly Harb. She’s the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Visit Sarasota County. Kelly totally opened up my eyes to the wonders of Sarasota. If I’m being honest, Florida isn’t exactly on our trip list at the moment, but I’m going to bump Sarasota up near the top for our next trip. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Kelly Harb.
But Sarasota County has more to offer than baseball stadiums. Sarasota County falls just south of Tampa and just north of Fort Myers. I think a lot of folks may overlook this beautiful space of the Sunshine State when flying into other major airports nearby. I’ve been to Florida plenty of times, but it’s always been to Orlando or points further south.
My conversation this week is with Kelly Harb. She’s the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Visit Sarasota County. Kelly totally opened up my eyes to the wonders of Sarasota. If I’m being honest, Florida isn’t exactly on our trip list at the moment, but I’m going to bump Sarasota up near the top for our next trip. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Kelly Harb.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thank you. Have you ever been to Sarasota, especially for
oriols wing training?
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I have not. I have not been to Sarasota. My
family primarily would just go to Orlando. That was pretty
much the only place we did Florida.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
I can feel that too. But just here. He's actually
from New Hampshire, so he's a huge Boston Red Sauce fan.
All that. I'm trying to change him to be primarily Oriols,
but hey, that's all I list to do. She are,
he is, She's my spirit animal. All right. Thank you
(00:32):
so much, Kelly. It really pleasure to meet you, and
hope the season goes well and recovery continues. Thank you,
Thank you, talk to you to meet you guys. Thank you,
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
All right, Kelly, You're all mine now. Uh, either way,
jeff Jeffrey, whatever you want to go with doesn't bother
me at all? Is it harb? Is it pronounced just
like it looks harb? Okay, I just want to make
sure well. As Lauren said, I think we're just gonna
have a chat about Sarasota and how great where you
(01:07):
live is and why people should want to go hang
out down there. That's pretty much it. She sent me
some notes that you sent her about some of the
events that are coming up that you want to highlight,
so we can certainly get into that. And yeah, I
don't think there's going to be anything in here that
I ask you that's going to be tricky.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
I've been with Visits Sarasota for about seventeen years, so
I think talking about is very normal for me.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I think you'll be good. All right, will jump into it.
Then I'm just going to do a little intro here
that i'll re record when I do the actual podcast
at the end. But yeah, we'll just jump right in
and see you what we get. Joining me today is
Kelly Harb, the vice president of Marketing and Communications at
Visit Sarasota County in Florida. Kelly, it's great to meet you.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Thank you. It's nice to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I do feel like I have to start with the
elephant in the room and ask you how recovery is
going following the two hurricanes came through your region just
a short time ago.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Recovery is going amazing. Our destination is so so resilient.
We have launched a few campaigns as a result of
these storms so that people can keep up to date
as to what's going on our development where places that
are welcoming visitors. So we have started a campaign called
(02:26):
Support the nine four one. It's really kind of started
as a local campaign and now it's expanding out into
visitors as we're starting to see more and more visitors
coming to the area and looking for things to do.
Support the nine four one dot Com is a really
great website to go to. It has real time user
(02:46):
generated content, up to date events for things that are
happening in the area in different articles that you can
use to explore where to go and what to do.
So I would recommend checking that out, and when you
do finally utilize any of those businesses that are listed
on that page, make sure you hashtag support the nine
(03:09):
to four to one and it will go on that
page so you can share it with others as well.
The other thing we've done is we've started a regional
branding with our neighbors to the north of Bradenton, Florida,
Bradenton and Maria Island. We've started a web page called
Florida's West Coast dot com and again there it talks
(03:33):
about the two destinations together and all of the things
that you can do when you come to the region
as a whole, that's great.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
I think partnering up with your neighbor is always smart,
especially when you're trying to inspire folks to come visit.
It can't hurt to get involved with other people right
there next to you.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Absolutely nobody when you come to the area. Nobody sees
the dividing line. You know, am I in Sarasota or
am I in Bradenton. So this is really kind of
a long time goal of our and we were able
to finally make it happen as a result of Milton
and Helene, So we have them to thank for that.
But you know, this will just continue to grow, this collaboration,
(04:12):
and so we're really excited to be able to finally
get that off the ground.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
I was doing an interview with someone for this show,
this podcast, and we were talking about a particular county
and I mentioned how I had visited that county and
we got dinner at I forget what place it was,
and they they got visibly upset with me that that
place we had dinner was not in their county, and
I was like, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize that
across the street was the other county, and the whole
(04:38):
interview was off from there on. And I was like,
so when you say like, no one sees a dividing line,
it's so true as a guest in a place like,
of course, you want people to come visit your county,
You want people to come visit your beaches, but they
don't see where the county starts and stops, like they're
just traveling and visiting and trying to have a good time.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
No, And we always say, you know, a rising tide
raises all boats. So you know, we have really partnered
in the way that you know, if they're going to
destination that we're not going to at that particular time,
guess what they're they're talking about us as well. And
then vice versa. When we go somewhere, you know we're
talking about them. You know, it's it only it only
(05:20):
works in our favor if we're all working together. Otherwise
it doesn't work. And the person that needs to benefit
the most from it are the visitors.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
I've been thinking about this a little bit too, because
I do some work with one of the radio stations
based out of Tampa, US one oh three five, and
I think it's got to be. So that's your radio station, Well,
thank you. I think it's got to be such a challenge,
especially when you have natural disasters come through an area
and you are an area that people visit, because I mean,
(05:49):
anywhere on the coast in Florida is a tourist destination realistically.
So when you have disasters coming through, you've got people
that have vacations plan they still want to come visit,
they still want to come hang. But you also have
locals that live in those places too, that are trying
to recover and get their life back to normal. I
just imagine the balance of those things must be kind
of difficult to navigate sometimes.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
I think it was in the beginning, but I do
think that we are such a tourist destination and we
really rely on tourism to you know. You know, we
have so many hospitality workers in the area that I
think by and large, our destination really does understand the
importance of a visitor. And so, you know, we had
(06:33):
a little bit of pushback in the beginning, but you know,
I think that very quickly changed too. And you know
that this support the nine four one campaign really also
kind of helped push that messaging too, And I think
now what we're seeing is, you know, we've got advocates
of visitors that are continuing with their travels to the destination.
(06:55):
They're now going online and talking about their experience here,
and they're saying, you know, if you're they're talking to
other visitors and saying, if you're planning on coming here
and you're debating whether to continue to come, please come
because the locals need your business, and you know, the
beaches are gorgeous and you know you're still going to
(07:16):
have a great time. So it's not the locals anymore,
you know, saying please come. Now, we have our own
advocates that, you know, people talking about their own experiences,
and I think through word of mouth and testimonials of
that alone just speaks volumes. So it's really actually, you know,
really actually has worked in our favor. It's been very
(07:39):
enlightening to see.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
All right, So, Kelly, let's dive into some more exciting
things and more fun things. Tell me more about Sarasota
County as a whole. Give me, give me your elevator
pitch of Sarasota County.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
So, Sarasota County has thirty five miles of beachfront. We
also are known as Florida's cultural coast. We have a
professional orchestra, a professional opera, a professional ballet in our destination.
We have several performing arts houses. We have over fifty
two events annually, So you're never going to be bored here.
(08:15):
I like to tell people that once you go to
the beach and get your sunburn on your first day
or two of your visit, then there are plenty of
things to do off of the beach as well. So
we have the State Art Museum of Florida, which is
called the Ringling. It's a sixty six acre campus which
dives into the history of John and Mabel Ringling, who
(08:37):
brought the circus to the area, which also takes me
in down another pathway of the circus legacy in the destination.
You'll see lots of circus touches. We do still actually
have a circus here the Circus Arts Conservatory make sure
that that legacy is not lost in the Circus is
(09:00):
still a thriving art form in our destination, and so
I think when people come here, the research that we have,
we have over consistently over a ninety five percent visitor
return rate, which tells you that once people come here,
you know, they think they're just going to go sit
on the beach for a day or two, hang out,
(09:23):
go home, and then you know, maybe next year they'll
visit another part of Florida. I think the big story
in that is that, you know, when people get here,
the number one thing I hear is people say, oh
my gosh, I had no idea all this was here.
And so that's the real hidden gem in the destination
is finding out and peeling back all the layers of
(09:46):
everything there is to do in the destination, and then
people are intrigued and they want to come back for
more year over years. So it works out in our favor.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
As as someone that promotes travel. When you hear someone
tell you, oh my gosh, I didn't know this stuff
was here, like like hearing you say that makes me
feel good, thinking like, wow, Okay, they've uncovered this on
their own. They've discovered it. But do you how do
you feel when you hear that? Are you like, oh man,
they're not getting my messaging.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
No? I mean, you know, I know that. You know,
when people come to Florida, the first places they go
to are Orlando and Miami. Those are those are the
big ones. And then and then once people get familiar
with those destinations, and then they start to look around
and they want a different experience. And you know, we're
(10:34):
seeing a lot of the experiential travel that people want,
and they want to live like a local, and they
want to you know, do all the things. And what
I love about our area is that when people come here,
myself as a resident and you as a visitor, we're
going to go to the same places. We're going to
shop in the same places where you're not going to
(10:56):
go check into a hotel and be stuck in a
tourist area of town. You know, we use every area
of our destination as locals also, So I think once
people get here, they really discover that on their own.
And that's hard to relay in a story or an ad.
(11:17):
It's just something you have to experience and feel on
your own. And you know, so, no, it doesn't it
doesn't make me feel bad, but it makes me as
a matter of fact, it makes me feel good when
people come and they are able to experience what we
already know.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Yeah, I think that's exciting. Because I was telling my
wife we did a trip to Hawaii over the summer
and we stayed in like a really tourist ye spot
on Owahu, you know. And I always tell her, Mike,
I think, whenever you go somewhere for the first time,
there's the tourist place you have to stay, right and
the touristy things you have to do the first time.
If you go to Nashville, you've got to stay in
your Broadway, You've got to do Broadway. But after you
(11:53):
do it, then the next time you come, you go
check out everything else, and you make sure you see
everything else. And you were just saying that Sarah Soda
has a ninety five percent return rate, So I imagine
you do get folks that come down and they do
what might be the touristy hot things to do, But
then they come back and they start diving deeper into
the community and checking out the different places that they
might have missed the first time around. And I think,
(12:15):
to me, that's really exciting because it's it's the fact
that you lure them back with their really great experience
the first time, and then that opens their eyes to
so many other things they didn't know existed.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Yeah, and I think our area is small enough to
where you kind of feel a sense of ownership if
you will once you come here and if you've gone
to the Chalk Festival, if you've gone to the Ringling,
if you've gone and experienced the things that we have
in our destination, you feel like you're a part of
(12:46):
it and you don't want to miss the next year.
Or you know, if you ride the Legacy Trail when
you're here and you draw, you ride your bicycle from
Sarasota to Venice in that you know eighteen to twenty
mile stretch, and you've experience and you've seen the beauty
of it, and you've met people along the way on
the trail. You know, that's just something that becomes ingrained
(13:08):
in you. And you know, and as it gets cold
up north, people want, you know, that's what you think of.
You think, Wow, remember the time we took that bike
ride down the Legacy Trail, and let's go do that again.
And it feels comfortable and familiar. And that's what I
like about the destination is that we are we can
easily absorb visitors coming from all over the world, and
(13:30):
everybody feels like they have a place and there's something
for them here.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
I love that, Kelly. Before we move on, is there
a place people can go or a place they should
go to find out more information or start planning their trip.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Yeah, visit Sarasota dot com is a comprehensive website of ours.
You can also go on that website and order a
visitor guide. We would be happy to mail one to
you for free.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
I love that. I love that, so, Kelly. I live
in Baltimore, so I'm familiar with Sarah so primarily because
that's where the Orioles have their spring training home. I
imagine that baseball spring training is also a pretty big
time for y'all down in that part of the country.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
It is, it sure is. We definitely get lots of
visitors to who come down just for the spring training.
So we have the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, and then
down and well in Park, which is also part of
Sarasota County, we have the Atlanta Braves. So we are,
you know, one of the Florida destinations that have multiple
(14:32):
spring training teams. And so when you come down, if
you're a Baltimore fan or a baseball fan, you're definitely
going to be able to get your fill just by
staying in the one area and you know, going in
between the two stadiums to essentially watch all of the
teams come through and practice and play.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
I've always been curious what do the stadiums do when
spring training's over and the teams are in their own
home parks. I mean, do you guys have other events
that go on there? Are they still being used by
the baseball teams? And how does that work?
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Yeah? We have, you know, I mean we occasionally will
have youth tournaments at the stadiums and then and then
in well In Park, the cool Today Park where the
Atlanta Braves play, do festivals year round, some concerts they
have in there, like next weekend they have the Grilled
(15:23):
Cheese Festival, which I'm personally really excited about. So, yeah,
just different things. And what I like about that stadium
is that they've built a tiki bar restaurant, tiki bar
area that a lot of people don't realize. You can
go there year round, whether there's a game there or not,
and so you can see the stadium, you know, empty,
(15:47):
and it's it's it's cute. It's a nice stadium. So
it's just a fun little outing for people to go
to year round.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
I like that. So coming up here, you've got a
cool a couple of cool events on our way. I know,
the one Earland Circus. By the time people are listening
to this conversation will probably already be happening. But it
runs through January fifth. Tell me more about that.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
So that is part of the Circus Arts Conservatory. They
do bring the circus to town every February, stays in
Sarasota for the whole month of February, but then they
do other programs year round in our destination. So one
of the things that they've started doing is the Wonderland Circus,
which basically is you know, an early start to the
(16:32):
February Circus, but it's for holiday themed so all of
the performers and the acts are you know, themed around
the holidays, just to get people in the spirit. And
so yeah, we're really excited to have the Wonderland Circus
come to town.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
You've also got I mean, you're right on the water,
so it makes sense. You've also got an aquarium, the
new Moat Marine Laboratory and aquarium. I love. I have
a three year old right now, she'll be four soon,
but I have a three year old and just the
look on her face walking through an aquarium and looking
at the animals and the fish and these things that
she can't experience on a day to day basis. I
love that experience. So I imagine this gets a lot
(17:11):
of traction down there in Sarasota too, or in Sarasota County.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
It does. And what I like about mo what I
tell people is that you know, there are aquariums that
it's strictly just an aquarium. You pay it admission fee,
you go in, you see all the fish, and you know,
and you take your pictures and then you go home.
Moat has another purpose and that it's also a research
(17:36):
and science lab, and so as a visitor, you can
actually dive a little bit deeper, and you can go
early in the morning and you can watch a diver
feed the sharks. Or you can go out on the
boat that they have out in Sarasota Bay with a
scientist and they will drag a net in the bay
(17:56):
and pull up, you know, whatever it is they pull
up that day, and they will talk about what they
find and why they found it, and you know, it's
very educational. So it offers a lot of hands on
experiences too, in addition to you know, just the just
going to the aquarium and waving high and you know,
a lot of the kids like the touch tanks so
(18:19):
they can touch sea urchins and silver dollars and you know,
all of those things. But yeah, it's very interactive, which
I think is makes our aquarium maybe a little bit
more unique than some others.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Yeah, the hands on stuff, the interactive stuff is so
so special to kids in particular, I mean, because I
think it stays with them. I we took my daughter
to the aquarium locally here three four months ago, and
she still will tell everyone she meets that she touched
a jellyfish like. It's like that I touched jellyfish like,
and it happens so long ago, you know, in the
escape of the scope of her life, but it's it's
(18:54):
stayed there, it's stuck in her brain, I think.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
So.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Yeah, having those hands on activities are great.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Absolutely. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
So you talked about the Grilled Cheese festival that is
coming up, which nott me thinking about another festival you've
got coming up next year, which sounds like it might
be along similar lines, and that's Savor Sarasota twentieth anniversary
of this event.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Yeah, so Saver Sarasota was started by Visits Aasona County
twenty years ago. Now it as a way to generate
business businesses for the restaurants during the summer months, and
now it's turned into you know, we definitely have loyal
followers who come to the destination the first two weeks
(19:37):
of June. It's always June first through the fourteenth, and
it's prefixed meals for lunch and dinner. So you know,
we are We have anywhere from sixty to ninety to
one hundred restaurants participating in this, and a lot of
them do extend their menu, you know, through the end
(19:58):
of June as well, just on their own because they
see such a following of people coming to But it's
a really great way to come and try something different
that you might not have have tried. But it's it. Yeah,
So we're looking forward to our twentieth anniversary June first
(20:20):
through the fourteenth, twenty twenty five, and if you are
looking for a summer trip to eat your way through Sarasota,
this would be it.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
I love that, you know, hearing you talk about that too.
In my mind whenever I think of summer, I'm thinking
of beaches. But I imagine that that might be the
slower season for you guys in Sarasota because it is
warmer down there and people maybe are trying to find
some slightly cooler temperatures in some places. Yeah, we are.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Our peak season in Sarasota is usually from Thanksgiving until Easter.
So whenever, whenever that is, that's when we really see
the high visitation, with the highest being probably February March.
And then outside of that, that's when you're gonna come
and get you know, the the good the good deals
(21:09):
on the hotels, the shorter lines at the restaurants and so.
But there is always something year round. So the June
the June Saber Sarasota event is something that is coveted
for people who know to come here during the summertime.
And then of course there are plenty of things to
(21:30):
do in our peak season of February in March as well.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Yeah, and we talked about a few events that you
have going on, but you've got awesome things going on
year round. Like I saw on your website, you've got
ghost tours, uh that go through the Sarasota ghost tours.
That sounds like a whole lot of fun. Tell me
more about that.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
So we have trolley tours in Sarasota that will do
everything from we have an Amish area of town that
a lot of people don't know about. But one of
the restaurants had their peanut butter pie on I want
to say it was the Food Channel. It's like one
(22:07):
of the best pies. So the Amish restaurants there are phenomenal.
It's a it's a very you know, one to two
block area of town. And so the trolley will take
you on an Amish tour and tell you all about
the Amish area of Sarasota, which is one of those
again undiscovered I had no idea this was here type things.
(22:30):
And then you know everything from the ghost tours to
the general overview of the area tour to history tours,
and then holiday tours are big as well to drive
around and see all the holiday lights and the holiday
boat parades are really fun too.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
You've got that water right there. Yeah, Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
We have a Sarasota a Holiday Holiday of Lights boat
tour parade, and then we have a Venice boat parade
as well.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
That sounds so cool, and I just think outdoors must
be a big thing for you guys too. I'm sure
you've got lots of we know, beaches, I'm sure you
have parks. You mentioned this trail, the Legacy Trail as well.
Outdoor activities must be a big part of your community.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Oh for sure. Definitely, the Legacy Trail is the biking
walking trail that you can't miss when you go. It's
definitely a must do for somebody who wants to be outside.
We also have two state parks in Sarasota County, the
Mayaca River State Park and the Oscar Sheer State Park,
(23:45):
which both offer camping, canoeing, hiking if you want to
see wildlife up close and personal. Mayaka River State Park
is flushed with alligators all over the place, so it's
a lot of fun. There's a tree top canopy walkway
for children and adults to get above get high in
(24:08):
the trees and kind of see the skyline, and so
it's a lot of fun for people. So definitely a
lot of outdoor opportunities for people as well.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
It really sounds like Sarasota County is a pretty well
rounded place to go with the whole family, and lots
of different options for things to do.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Absolutely, there's something for everybody. And I know that sounds
very cachet, but there is something for everybody here.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Truly, No, I actually believe you, and I do hear
people say that from time to time, but after conversations
I'm always like, I don't know if there really is.
But this time, I genuinely believe that there is something
for everybody in Sarazona County. Kelly, Harry, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
I would also like to add, you know, we talked
about Orlando and Miami and what we find. You know,
for families in particular who go to Orlando, you start
your trip in Orlando, and you do the theme parks
and you see all of that. But I would say
that Sarasota is a really nice end to that type
(25:11):
of vacation in the way that when you come here
you can just come and unwind and relax and truly
just you know, decompress from the theme parks before you
go home. We do have an airport in the area,
the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. We have over sixty NonStop
(25:31):
flights domestically on all the major carriers, so it definitely
easy to get to Sarasota. The airport is eight miles
from the city center, and then we are about an
hour and a half away from Orlando as well, so
we're very very easy to get to. Also.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
I have to tell you, I'm glad you said that,
because growing up, the only vacation my family ever took
outside of like a little drive here and there, the
only vacation we took was to Orlando, and we would spend,
you know, every couple of years, we would do a
full week there, and I would always think, we got
to do something else while we're here, like there's got
to be something else that we can see, or I want,
(26:11):
you know, one day of just relaxing on the beach
kind of thing, and my family never did it. And
like that right there, what you described is kind of
what I have been hoping for in my youth of like,
you know, do four or five days in Orlando and
then you pop over and do two or three days
at the beach at Sarasota County and just chill and
enjoy yourselves. Like I wish my parents were hearing this
conversation twenty years ago. It would have been a lot
(26:33):
easier for me.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
It's the perfect combination. I mean they the two destinations
complement each other so well because Orlando has one thing
and we have the other. So definitely a good combination trip.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
That is so true. Well, Kelly Harve, the vice president
of Marketing and Communications that visit Sarasota County one more time.
Where do people go to see all the information and
start planning their trip?
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Is it Sarasota dot com?
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Nice and easy? Thank you so much for your time, Kelly.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Did we miss anything? Is there anything you wanted to
get in at all? Or do you feel pretty good?
Speaker 1 (27:13):
I think we covered it. Do you think I was
Do you think I got it?
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Got it? You were fantastic. I always just like to
ask that question because you you obviously know what you're
promoting better than I do, so I always like to
make sure that I asked that in case there was
something you were like, oh, you know what I really
wanted to But I mean, I think we got a
pretty good comprehensive look at Sarasota County.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Yeah,
Thank you. Have you ever been to Sarasota, especially for
oriols wing training?
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I have not. I have not been to Sarasota. My
family primarily would just go to Orlando. That was pretty
much the only place we did Florida.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
I can feel that too. But just here. He's actually
from New Hampshire, so he's a huge Boston Red Sauce fan.
All that. I'm trying to change him to be primarily Oriols,
but hey, that's all I list to do. She are,
he is, She's my spirit animal. All right. Thank you
(00:32):
so much, Kelly. It really pleasure to meet you, and
hope the season goes well and recovery continues. Thank you,
Thank you, talk to you to meet you guys. Thank you,
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
All right, Kelly, You're all mine now. Uh, either way,
jeff Jeffrey, whatever you want to go with doesn't bother
me at all? Is it harb? Is it pronounced just
like it looks harb? Okay, I just want to make
sure well. As Lauren said, I think we're just gonna
have a chat about Sarasota and how great where you
(01:07):
live is and why people should want to go hang
out down there. That's pretty much it. She sent me
some notes that you sent her about some of the
events that are coming up that you want to highlight,
so we can certainly get into that. And yeah, I
don't think there's going to be anything in here that
I ask you that's going to be tricky.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
I've been with Visits Sarasota for about seventeen years, so
I think talking about is very normal for me.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I think you'll be good. All right, will jump into it.
Then I'm just going to do a little intro here
that i'll re record when I do the actual podcast
at the end. But yeah, we'll just jump right in
and see you what we get. Joining me today is
Kelly Harb, the vice president of Marketing and Communications at
Visit Sarasota County in Florida. Kelly, it's great to meet you.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Thank you. It's nice to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I do feel like I have to start with the
elephant in the room and ask you how recovery is
going following the two hurricanes came through your region just
a short time ago.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Recovery is going amazing. Our destination is so so resilient.
We have launched a few campaigns as a result of
these storms so that people can keep up to date
as to what's going on our development where places that
are welcoming visitors. So we have started a campaign called
(02:26):
Support the nine four one. It's really kind of started
as a local campaign and now it's expanding out into
visitors as we're starting to see more and more visitors
coming to the area and looking for things to do.
Support the nine four one dot Com is a really
great website to go to. It has real time user
(02:46):
generated content, up to date events for things that are
happening in the area in different articles that you can
use to explore where to go and what to do.
So I would recommend checking that out, and when you
do finally utilize any of those businesses that are listed
on that page, make sure you hashtag support the nine
(03:09):
to four to one and it will go on that
page so you can share it with others as well.
The other thing we've done is we've started a regional
branding with our neighbors to the north of Bradenton, Florida,
Bradenton and Maria Island. We've started a web page called
Florida's West Coast dot com and again there it talks
(03:33):
about the two destinations together and all of the things
that you can do when you come to the region
as a whole, that's great.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
I think partnering up with your neighbor is always smart,
especially when you're trying to inspire folks to come visit.
It can't hurt to get involved with other people right
there next to you.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Absolutely nobody when you come to the area. Nobody sees
the dividing line. You know, am I in Sarasota or
am I in Bradenton. So this is really kind of
a long time goal of our and we were able
to finally make it happen as a result of Milton
and Helene, So we have them to thank for that.
But you know, this will just continue to grow, this collaboration,
(04:12):
and so we're really excited to be able to finally
get that off the ground.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
I was doing an interview with someone for this show,
this podcast, and we were talking about a particular county
and I mentioned how I had visited that county and
we got dinner at I forget what place it was,
and they they got visibly upset with me that that
place we had dinner was not in their county, and
I was like, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize that
across the street was the other county, and the whole
(04:38):
interview was off from there on. And I was like,
so when you say like, no one sees a dividing line,
it's so true as a guest in a place like,
of course, you want people to come visit your county,
You want people to come visit your beaches, but they
don't see where the county starts and stops, like they're
just traveling and visiting and trying to have a good time.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
No, And we always say, you know, a rising tide
raises all boats. So you know, we have really partnered
in the way that you know, if they're going to
destination that we're not going to at that particular time,
guess what they're they're talking about us as well. And
then vice versa. When we go somewhere, you know we're
talking about them. You know, it's it only it only
(05:20):
works in our favor if we're all working together. Otherwise
it doesn't work. And the person that needs to benefit
the most from it are the visitors.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
I've been thinking about this a little bit too, because
I do some work with one of the radio stations
based out of Tampa, US one oh three five, and
I think it's got to be. So that's your radio station, Well,
thank you. I think it's got to be such a challenge,
especially when you have natural disasters come through an area
and you are an area that people visit, because I mean,
(05:49):
anywhere on the coast in Florida is a tourist destination realistically.
So when you have disasters coming through, you've got people
that have vacations plan they still want to come visit,
they still want to come hang. But you also have
locals that live in those places too, that are trying
to recover and get their life back to normal. I
just imagine the balance of those things must be kind
of difficult to navigate sometimes.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
I think it was in the beginning, but I do
think that we are such a tourist destination and we
really rely on tourism to you know. You know, we
have so many hospitality workers in the area that I
think by and large, our destination really does understand the
importance of a visitor. And so, you know, we had
(06:33):
a little bit of pushback in the beginning, but you know,
I think that very quickly changed too. And you know
that this support the nine four one campaign really also
kind of helped push that messaging too, And I think
now what we're seeing is, you know, we've got advocates
of visitors that are continuing with their travels to the destination.
(06:55):
They're now going online and talking about their experience here,
and they're saying, you know, if you're they're talking to
other visitors and saying, if you're planning on coming here
and you're debating whether to continue to come, please come
because the locals need your business, and you know, the
beaches are gorgeous and you know you're still going to
(07:16):
have a great time. So it's not the locals anymore,
you know, saying please come. Now, we have our own
advocates that, you know, people talking about their own experiences,
and I think through word of mouth and testimonials of
that alone just speaks volumes. So it's really actually, you know,
really actually has worked in our favor. It's been very
(07:39):
enlightening to see.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
All right, So, Kelly, let's dive into some more exciting
things and more fun things. Tell me more about Sarasota
County as a whole. Give me, give me your elevator
pitch of Sarasota County.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
So, Sarasota County has thirty five miles of beachfront. We
also are known as Florida's cultural coast. We have a
professional orchestra, a professional opera, a professional ballet in our destination.
We have several performing arts houses. We have over fifty
two events annually, So you're never going to be bored here.
(08:15):
I like to tell people that once you go to
the beach and get your sunburn on your first day
or two of your visit, then there are plenty of
things to do off of the beach as well. So
we have the State Art Museum of Florida, which is
called the Ringling. It's a sixty six acre campus which
dives into the history of John and Mabel Ringling, who
(08:37):
brought the circus to the area, which also takes me
in down another pathway of the circus legacy in the destination.
You'll see lots of circus touches. We do still actually
have a circus here the Circus Arts Conservatory make sure
that that legacy is not lost in the Circus is
(09:00):
still a thriving art form in our destination, and so
I think when people come here, the research that we have,
we have over consistently over a ninety five percent visitor
return rate, which tells you that once people come here,
you know, they think they're just going to go sit
on the beach for a day or two, hang out,
(09:23):
go home, and then you know, maybe next year they'll
visit another part of Florida. I think the big story
in that is that, you know, when people get here,
the number one thing I hear is people say, oh
my gosh, I had no idea all this was here.
And so that's the real hidden gem in the destination
is finding out and peeling back all the layers of
(09:46):
everything there is to do in the destination, and then
people are intrigued and they want to come back for
more year over years. So it works out in our favor.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
As as someone that promotes travel. When you hear someone
tell you, oh my gosh, I didn't know this stuff
was here, like like hearing you say that makes me
feel good, thinking like, wow, Okay, they've uncovered this on
their own. They've discovered it. But do you how do
you feel when you hear that? Are you like, oh man,
they're not getting my messaging.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
No? I mean, you know, I know that. You know,
when people come to Florida, the first places they go
to are Orlando and Miami. Those are those are the
big ones. And then and then once people get familiar
with those destinations, and then they start to look around
and they want a different experience. And you know, we're
(10:34):
seeing a lot of the experiential travel that people want,
and they want to live like a local, and they
want to you know, do all the things. And what
I love about our area is that when people come here,
myself as a resident and you as a visitor, we're
going to go to the same places. We're going to
shop in the same places where you're not going to
(10:56):
go check into a hotel and be stuck in a
tourist area of town. You know, we use every area
of our destination as locals also, So I think once
people get here, they really discover that on their own.
And that's hard to relay in a story or an ad.
(11:17):
It's just something you have to experience and feel on
your own. And you know, so, no, it doesn't it
doesn't make me feel bad, but it makes me as
a matter of fact, it makes me feel good when
people come and they are able to experience what we
already know.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Yeah, I think that's exciting. Because I was telling my
wife we did a trip to Hawaii over the summer
and we stayed in like a really tourist ye spot
on Owahu, you know. And I always tell her, Mike,
I think, whenever you go somewhere for the first time,
there's the tourist place you have to stay, right and
the touristy things you have to do the first time.
If you go to Nashville, you've got to stay in
your Broadway, You've got to do Broadway. But after you
(11:53):
do it, then the next time you come, you go
check out everything else, and you make sure you see
everything else. And you were just saying that Sarah Soda
has a ninety five percent return rate, So I imagine
you do get folks that come down and they do
what might be the touristy hot things to do, But
then they come back and they start diving deeper into
the community and checking out the different places that they
might have missed the first time around. And I think,
(12:15):
to me, that's really exciting because it's it's the fact
that you lure them back with their really great experience
the first time, and then that opens their eyes to
so many other things they didn't know existed.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Yeah, and I think our area is small enough to
where you kind of feel a sense of ownership if
you will once you come here and if you've gone
to the Chalk Festival, if you've gone to the Ringling,
if you've gone and experienced the things that we have
in our destination, you feel like you're a part of
(12:46):
it and you don't want to miss the next year.
Or you know, if you ride the Legacy Trail when
you're here and you draw, you ride your bicycle from
Sarasota to Venice in that you know eighteen to twenty
mile stretch, and you've experience and you've seen the beauty
of it, and you've met people along the way on
the trail. You know, that's just something that becomes ingrained
(13:08):
in you. And you know, and as it gets cold
up north, people want, you know, that's what you think of.
You think, Wow, remember the time we took that bike
ride down the Legacy Trail, and let's go do that again.
And it feels comfortable and familiar. And that's what I
like about the destination is that we are we can
easily absorb visitors coming from all over the world, and
(13:30):
everybody feels like they have a place and there's something
for them here.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
I love that, Kelly. Before we move on, is there
a place people can go or a place they should
go to find out more information or start planning their trip.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Yeah, visit Sarasota dot com is a comprehensive website of ours.
You can also go on that website and order a
visitor guide. We would be happy to mail one to
you for free.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
I love that. I love that, so, Kelly. I live
in Baltimore, so I'm familiar with Sarah so primarily because
that's where the Orioles have their spring training home. I
imagine that baseball spring training is also a pretty big
time for y'all down in that part of the country.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
It is, it sure is. We definitely get lots of
visitors to who come down just for the spring training.
So we have the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, and then
down and well in Park, which is also part of
Sarasota County, we have the Atlanta Braves. So we are,
you know, one of the Florida destinations that have multiple
(14:32):
spring training teams. And so when you come down, if
you're a Baltimore fan or a baseball fan, you're definitely
going to be able to get your fill just by
staying in the one area and you know, going in
between the two stadiums to essentially watch all of the
teams come through and practice and play.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
I've always been curious what do the stadiums do when
spring training's over and the teams are in their own
home parks. I mean, do you guys have other events
that go on there? Are they still being used by
the baseball teams? And how does that work?
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Yeah? We have, you know, I mean we occasionally will
have youth tournaments at the stadiums and then and then
in well In Park, the cool Today Park where the
Atlanta Braves play, do festivals year round, some concerts they
have in there, like next weekend they have the Grilled
(15:23):
Cheese Festival, which I'm personally really excited about. So, yeah,
just different things. And what I like about that stadium
is that they've built a tiki bar restaurant, tiki bar
area that a lot of people don't realize. You can
go there year round, whether there's a game there or not,
and so you can see the stadium, you know, empty,
(15:47):
and it's it's it's cute. It's a nice stadium. So
it's just a fun little outing for people to go
to year round.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
I like that. So coming up here, you've got a
cool a couple of cool events on our way. I know,
the one Earland Circus. By the time people are listening
to this conversation will probably already be happening. But it
runs through January fifth. Tell me more about that.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
So that is part of the Circus Arts Conservatory. They
do bring the circus to town every February, stays in
Sarasota for the whole month of February, but then they
do other programs year round in our destination. So one
of the things that they've started doing is the Wonderland Circus,
which basically is you know, an early start to the
(16:32):
February Circus, but it's for holiday themed so all of
the performers and the acts are you know, themed around
the holidays, just to get people in the spirit. And
so yeah, we're really excited to have the Wonderland Circus
come to town.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
You've also got I mean, you're right on the water,
so it makes sense. You've also got an aquarium, the
new Moat Marine Laboratory and aquarium. I love. I have
a three year old right now, she'll be four soon,
but I have a three year old and just the
look on her face walking through an aquarium and looking
at the animals and the fish and these things that
she can't experience on a day to day basis. I
love that experience. So I imagine this gets a lot
(17:11):
of traction down there in Sarasota too, or in Sarasota County.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
It does. And what I like about mo what I
tell people is that you know, there are aquariums that
it's strictly just an aquarium. You pay it admission fee,
you go in, you see all the fish, and you know,
and you take your pictures and then you go home.
Moat has another purpose and that it's also a research
(17:36):
and science lab, and so as a visitor, you can
actually dive a little bit deeper, and you can go
early in the morning and you can watch a diver
feed the sharks. Or you can go out on the
boat that they have out in Sarasota Bay with a
scientist and they will drag a net in the bay
(17:56):
and pull up, you know, whatever it is they pull
up that day, and they will talk about what they
find and why they found it, and you know, it's
very educational. So it offers a lot of hands on
experiences too, in addition to you know, just the just
going to the aquarium and waving high and you know,
a lot of the kids like the touch tanks so
(18:19):
they can touch sea urchins and silver dollars and you know,
all of those things. But yeah, it's very interactive, which
I think is makes our aquarium maybe a little bit
more unique than some others.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Yeah, the hands on stuff, the interactive stuff is so
so special to kids in particular, I mean, because I
think it stays with them. I we took my daughter
to the aquarium locally here three four months ago, and
she still will tell everyone she meets that she touched
a jellyfish like. It's like that I touched jellyfish like,
and it happens so long ago, you know, in the
escape of the scope of her life, but it's it's
(18:54):
stayed there, it's stuck in her brain, I think.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
So.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Yeah, having those hands on activities are great.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Absolutely. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
So you talked about the Grilled Cheese festival that is
coming up, which nott me thinking about another festival you've
got coming up next year, which sounds like it might
be along similar lines, and that's Savor Sarasota twentieth anniversary
of this event.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Yeah, so Saver Sarasota was started by Visits Aasona County
twenty years ago. Now it as a way to generate
business businesses for the restaurants during the summer months, and
now it's turned into you know, we definitely have loyal
followers who come to the destination the first two weeks
(19:37):
of June. It's always June first through the fourteenth, and
it's prefixed meals for lunch and dinner. So you know,
we are We have anywhere from sixty to ninety to
one hundred restaurants participating in this, and a lot of
them do extend their menu, you know, through the end
(19:58):
of June as well, just on their own because they
see such a following of people coming to But it's
a really great way to come and try something different
that you might not have have tried. But it's it. Yeah,
So we're looking forward to our twentieth anniversary June first
(20:20):
through the fourteenth, twenty twenty five, and if you are
looking for a summer trip to eat your way through Sarasota,
this would be it.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
I love that, you know, hearing you talk about that too.
In my mind whenever I think of summer, I'm thinking
of beaches. But I imagine that that might be the
slower season for you guys in Sarasota because it is
warmer down there and people maybe are trying to find
some slightly cooler temperatures in some places. Yeah, we are.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Our peak season in Sarasota is usually from Thanksgiving until Easter.
So whenever, whenever that is, that's when we really see
the high visitation, with the highest being probably February March.
And then outside of that, that's when you're gonna come
and get you know, the the good the good deals
(21:09):
on the hotels, the shorter lines at the restaurants and so.
But there is always something year round. So the June
the June Saber Sarasota event is something that is coveted
for people who know to come here during the summertime.
And then of course there are plenty of things to
(21:30):
do in our peak season of February in March as well.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Yeah, and we talked about a few events that you
have going on, but you've got awesome things going on
year round. Like I saw on your website, you've got
ghost tours, uh that go through the Sarasota ghost tours.
That sounds like a whole lot of fun. Tell me
more about that.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
So we have trolley tours in Sarasota that will do
everything from we have an Amish area of town that
a lot of people don't know about. But one of
the restaurants had their peanut butter pie on I want
to say it was the Food Channel. It's like one
(22:07):
of the best pies. So the Amish restaurants there are phenomenal.
It's a it's a very you know, one to two
block area of town. And so the trolley will take
you on an Amish tour and tell you all about
the Amish area of Sarasota, which is one of those
again undiscovered I had no idea this was here type things.
(22:30):
And then you know everything from the ghost tours to
the general overview of the area tour to history tours,
and then holiday tours are big as well to drive
around and see all the holiday lights and the holiday
boat parades are really fun too.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
You've got that water right there. Yeah, Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
We have a Sarasota a Holiday Holiday of Lights boat
tour parade, and then we have a Venice boat parade
as well.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
That sounds so cool, and I just think outdoors must
be a big thing for you guys too. I'm sure
you've got lots of we know, beaches, I'm sure you
have parks. You mentioned this trail, the Legacy Trail as well.
Outdoor activities must be a big part of your community.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Oh for sure. Definitely, the Legacy Trail is the biking
walking trail that you can't miss when you go. It's
definitely a must do for somebody who wants to be outside.
We also have two state parks in Sarasota County, the
Mayaca River State Park and the Oscar Sheer State Park,
(23:45):
which both offer camping, canoeing, hiking if you want to
see wildlife up close and personal. Mayaka River State Park
is flushed with alligators all over the place, so it's
a lot of fun. There's a tree top canopy walkway
for children and adults to get above get high in
(24:08):
the trees and kind of see the skyline, and so
it's a lot of fun for people. So definitely a
lot of outdoor opportunities for people as well.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
It really sounds like Sarasota County is a pretty well
rounded place to go with the whole family, and lots
of different options for things to do.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Absolutely, there's something for everybody. And I know that sounds
very cachet, but there is something for everybody here.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Truly, No, I actually believe you, and I do hear
people say that from time to time, but after conversations
I'm always like, I don't know if there really is.
But this time, I genuinely believe that there is something
for everybody in Sarazona County. Kelly, Harry, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
I would also like to add, you know, we talked
about Orlando and Miami and what we find. You know,
for families in particular who go to Orlando, you start
your trip in Orlando, and you do the theme parks
and you see all of that. But I would say
that Sarasota is a really nice end to that type
(25:11):
of vacation in the way that when you come here
you can just come and unwind and relax and truly
just you know, decompress from the theme parks before you
go home. We do have an airport in the area,
the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. We have over sixty NonStop
(25:31):
flights domestically on all the major carriers, so it definitely
easy to get to Sarasota. The airport is eight miles
from the city center, and then we are about an
hour and a half away from Orlando as well, so
we're very very easy to get to. Also.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
I have to tell you, I'm glad you said that,
because growing up, the only vacation my family ever took
outside of like a little drive here and there, the
only vacation we took was to Orlando, and we would spend,
you know, every couple of years, we would do a
full week there, and I would always think, we got
to do something else while we're here, like there's got
to be something else that we can see, or I want,
(26:11):
you know, one day of just relaxing on the beach
kind of thing, and my family never did it. And
like that right there, what you described is kind of
what I have been hoping for in my youth of like,
you know, do four or five days in Orlando and
then you pop over and do two or three days
at the beach at Sarasota County and just chill and
enjoy yourselves. Like I wish my parents were hearing this
conversation twenty years ago. It would have been a lot
(26:33):
easier for me.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
It's the perfect combination. I mean they the two destinations
complement each other so well because Orlando has one thing
and we have the other. So definitely a good combination trip.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
That is so true. Well, Kelly Harve, the vice president
of Marketing and Communications that visit Sarasota County one more time.
Where do people go to see all the information and
start planning their trip?
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Is it Sarasota dot com?
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Nice and easy? Thank you so much for your time, Kelly.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Did we miss anything? Is there anything you wanted to
get in at all? Or do you feel pretty good?
Speaker 1 (27:13):
I think we covered it. Do you think I was
Do you think I got it?
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Got it? You were fantastic. I always just like to
ask that question because you you obviously know what you're
promoting better than I do, so I always like to
make sure that I asked that in case there was
something you were like, oh, you know what I really
wanted to But I mean, I think we got a
pretty good comprehensive look at Sarasota County.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Yeah,
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Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!