Creating a Stronger Community: Tourism Takes Off with Collaboration

March 16, 2022 – Sarasota

This month, representatives from Visit Sarasota County and the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) will come together to present “Creating a Stronger Community: Tourism Takes Off With Collaboration.” The event, which is hosted by theCentral West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (CWC-FPRA), will take place on March 23, 2022, from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm at the SRQ Airport (6000 Airport Circle, Sarasota). Featured speakers will include Erin Duggan, Vice President of Visit Sarasota County, and Rick Piccolo, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

Attendees of the program will hear Duggan and Piccolo discuss how communications, strategy, and an effective partnership have helped the airport’s airline incentive program – to make SRQ a desirable place for new and existing airlines – take off. Duggan will also share how Visit Sarasota County markets the region year-round and how local marketing professionals can benefit from the organization’s programming.

“Public relations and marketing go hand-in-hand, especially in the tourism arena,” says Melanie Reda, APR, CPRC, president of the CWC-FPRA. “Our chapter is excited to host this discussion on how Visit Sarasota County and the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport are working together and how other organizations throughout the county can get benefit from this collaboration.”

Duggan has been with Visit Sarasota County since 2005. As vice president of the organization, she leads a team of marketing professionals and helps shape the strategic direction of media relations, communication, media placement, research and intellectual property management to ensure that Sarasota County is seen as a must-experience travel destination to potential visitors across the globe. 

Piccolo has more than 49 years of experience in the aviation industry and has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport since 1995. He began his career as a janitor at the Buffalo International Airport and, after earning a BS degree in Business Administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo, held several airport positions including Building Superintendent, Property Manager, Assistant to Airport Manager and Assistant Director of Operations. Locally, he worked in the Operations Department at Tampa International Airport. Prior to his position at SRQ, he was the Assistant Airport Director at the St. Petersburg Clearwater International Airport.  

 Attendees have the option to attend the event in person or virtually. Tickets for the in-person program are $25 for FPRA members and $35 for guests; tickets for the virtual program are $10 for FPRA members and $15 for guests. To register, visit cwcfpra.com/events. This event is sponsored by Next-Mark.

The Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association meets monthly for professional development luncheons and networking. These events are designed to expose attendees to current public relations practices and developments in the communications industry. Visit www.cwcfpra.com for more information.