Sarasota County’s tourism organization, Visit Sarasota County (VSC), has appointed Suzanne Hackman as the new Director of Sales and Industry Relations. In her role, Hackman is tasked with devising sales strategies to draw in overnight visitors to Sarasota County and overseeing the management of relationships with local businesses and partners.

Hackman brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the fields of meetings, events, and destination marketing organizations (DMOs). Her most recent role was as the Regional Director of Sales at PRA Business Events. Prior to this, she served as the Vice President of Sales and Business Development at Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater, where she dedicated over 17 years of her career.

Erin Duggan, the President and CEO of Visit Sarasota County (VSC), expressed their utmost delight in Suzanne’s addition to their team. According to Duggan, Suzanne’s exceptional skills and extensive knowledge of the region will greatly benefit VSC in attracting crucial meetings and events that drive tourism.

Hackman holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and human resource management, which was earned from the University of South Florida. Additionally, they have obtained the Certified Destination Management Executive (CMDE) certification and are affiliated with various professional organizations such as the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), and Society of Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE).