Lynn Hobeck Bates, 941-955-0991 Ext. 103
[email protected]
UPDATED: Visit Sarasota County to open new Visitor Services locations this fall
SARASOTA, Fla. (July 22, 2014) – Visit Sarasota County (VSC) will open several new Visitor Center locations later this year. The current Visitors Center at 701 N. Tamiami Trail in the Historic Chidsey Library Building will close on November 1, 2014. A new Visitors Center will be located at the new The Mall at University Town Center and the second will be located in the heart of downtown Sarasota.
“We have always wanted to have multiple locations throughout the County” says Stephanie Grosskreutz, managing director of Visit Sarasota County. “We are excited for both locations. The Mall location will serve visitors coming into the gateway to our county. The downtown location is wonderful because it is within walking distance to new hotels coming on-line in the area. We will provide the same great information that our current location does just in smaller footprints.”
The Visitors Center at the Mall, located on the University Parkway exit off Interstate 75, will open when the Mall opens on October 16, 2014. VSC will have a shared presence with the Mall customer service staff. The Mall anticipates 14 million visitors in the first year.
The downtown Sarasota Visitors Center will be at 14 Lemon Avenue and is slated to open in early November. This location is a one-year trial location. VSC will be working with the City of Sarasota officials and downtown representatives to secure a permanent location for future years.
VSC will also continue operating its mobile visitor information vehicle. This vehicle tours the entire County and is located at key events and in key areas to provide visitors with information. Additionally, VSC is also working with the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce, Siesta Key Beach Ambassadors, Longboat Key Chamber as well as Downtown Venice Ambassadors to ensure visitors have information about Sarasota County. VSC hopes to continue expand partnerships with local Chambers of Commerce in providing visitor services.
For media inquiries, please contact Lynn Hobeck Bates at 941-955-0991 Ext. 103 or [email protected].
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About Sarasota County
Located on Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, Sarasota County offers a vibrant arts and cultural scene, a diverse array of culinary experiences and a variety of opportunities to take advantage of the clear waters and the great outdoors. Sarasota County provides the quintessential, laid-back beach getaway with numerous sprawling, white-sand beaches, including Siesta Key Beach, named “America’s Best Beach” in 2011 by Stephen Leatherman, aka, Dr. Beach. Dubbed “Home of the American Circus,” Sarasota County served as the headquarters for the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus for 75 years, and visitors can experience its unique circus heritage first-hand by following the circus trail or catching a performance by one of two local circus companies. For more information on visiting Sarasota County, visit www.visitsarasota.org or call (800) 522-9799.
Lynn Hobeck Bates, APR
Communications Manager
Visit Sarasota County
1777 Main Street, Suite 302
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-955-0991 Ext. 103
It is the VSC’s policy that email communication be handled consistently with Florida’s Public Records Law and may be subject to disclosure upon a request.
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