Visit Sarasota County has launched a new campaign, “Fun in the 941: The Local Bite,” to encourage both residents and visitors to support local restaurants. The initiative, which runs from October 20 through December 20, aims to drive business to area eateries ahead of Sarasota County’s busy tourism season.
Participating restaurants are offering various dining promotions, including happy hours, seasonal menus, chef’s specials, prix fixe meals, and other limited-time deals. These offers are being highlighted on the campaign website Funinthe941.com and across Visit Sarasota County’s social media platforms. In addition to online promotion, the tourism bureau plans a regional influencer push and other digital and in-person marketing efforts during the holiday period.
“While local restaurants have long taken part in our Fun in the 941 deals program, we’re hoping to create not just a moment but an occasion for people to dine out, dine often, and dine locally,” said Erin Duggan, President and CEO at Visit Sarasota County. “This campaign was inspired by feedback we’ve been hearing from our dining partners, and we wanted to be responsive. The holiday season couldn’t be a better time to drive interest and appetites, from trick-or-treating to tree lighting and all the shopping sprees in between.”
The new campaign follows Savor Sarasota, Visit Sarasota County’s annual restaurant week event that celebrated its 20th anniversary this past June. More than 60 restaurants participated in Savor Sarasota this year, resulting in $1.2 million in revenue during what is typically a slow period for tourism.
Residents are encouraged to share their dining experiences on Instagram using #SavorThe941 and tagging @VisitSarasotaCounty. Restaurants interested in joining the campaign can reach out via partnership@visitsarasota.org.
For more information or to view participating restaurants and current promotions, visit www.funinthe941.com.
Visit Sarasota County serves as the county’s official tourism marketing entity. It coordinates programs with over 450 partners aimed at keeping local businesses open and residents employed throughout the year. Tourism is noted as the top industry for Sarasota County.
