Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
 
May 2017
 
FROM THE BUREAU
 
This month at the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB), we are pleased to announce the addition of four new super-talented staff members. I would like to take a moment to introduce them and welcome them to our team!

When you have a chance, please say hello to our new staffers and feel free to reach out to them to assist you with your tourism needs. We are thrilled to have them on the VCB team!

Tamara Pigott, executive director
 

 
NEWS
 
Lee County's February Bed Tax Collection
The preliminary resort tax collected for February 2017 was $4,777,710 a 3.4 percent decrease over February 2016 preliminary collections of $4,945,284. Fiscal year-to-date preliminary tourist tax collections are $17,168,965, a decrease of 3.3 percent year-over-year.


  
 
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
During February 2017, 946,079 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). Figures represent a decrease of 4.4 percent compared to February 2016. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is down 3.7 percent from the same period last year.
To view past TDC meetings and recaps, visit leevcb.com

Welcome to 'Culinary Corner' with Karen Feldman
We welcome culinary consultant Karen Feldman as a contributing writer to our website. Feldman has been a devoted food lover her whole life, born into a family of foodies before being one was cool. She has spent the past two decades writing about the restaurant scene and reviewing restaurants in the region, first for The News-Press and more recently for Florida Weekly. Be sure to check out Feldman's column Outdoor dining season in sunny Southwest Florida.

 
 
Beach Conditions
Currently, detected in low concentrations near Pine Island Sound is Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism. Click here to access Red Tide status reports and fact sheets to share with staff and visitors.

The VCB encourages visitors and guests to continue utilizing the beach conditions page on www.FortMyers-Sanibel.com. The page includes links to beach cams, the Florida Healthy Beaches Program, current beach conditions and user-generated beach photos.
 
Zika Update
Here is the latest information from the Zika virus telephone conference call in April conducted by Gov. Rick Scott.
  • The rainy season will create more mosquito activity.
  • There are no Zika zones at this time.
  • Government, health departments and other agencies will spread the word about Zika precautions, which include wearing protective clothing, like long-sleeve shirts, to keep skin covered, wearing mosquito repellent and eliminating pools of standing water.
  • Fewer travel-related Zika incidences have been reported compared to this time last year.
  • So far, only two cases of locally acquired Zika were reported in 2016. Currently, there are no active local transmissions.
  • One of the most successful strategies includes hotels providing mosquito repellent and Zika-precaution messaging in hotel rooms.
 
 
SAVE THE DATE

The next Tourism Development Council meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, May 11. The meeting will be held in the Lee County Administration East Building, 2201 Second Street, Conference Room 118, Fort Myers.
 
 
 
 

T"Using better and more effective online content" will be topic of the Reputation Management Master Workshop from 2-5 p.m. Thursday, June 15, at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Myers Airport/FGCU. The presenter will be Jim Brody, president of Sense of Place.
 
 
 
 
 
ROAD WARRIORS
 

 
 
Talking Florida road trips in Sao Paolo, Brazil
The VCB's Stefanie Zinke, international tourism sales manager, attended the Visit Florida Media event in Sao Paulo, Brazil, during WTM Latin America. Twenty-five travel writers, journalists, bloggers and trade publications attended to learn more about Florida road trip destinations.

Zinke was also interviewed by LADEVI Ediciones, a trade publication for Latin America. She discussed the area's culinary assets.
 
 
The VCB heads north to Canada
Cindy Hinson, VCB communications manager, attended the Air Canada Roadshow in Toronto, presented by Visit Florida, April 16. Hinson (left) joins Jeanette Faria, account manager with VoX International. Hinson made several media calls and did a lunch and learn session to tell travel industry folks about the amazing things going on in Southwest Florida.
 
 
Music City welcome the VCB
The VCB team of Cindy Hinson, VCB communications manager, and Shelley Crant, VCB sales and public relations manager, at the Nashville Southern Women's Show.
 
 
The VCB heads north to Canada
Holly Morris and Shelley Crant represent the VCB at the American Society of Travel Agents Mid America Trade Show. They also visited Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Indianapolis, and educated travel agents in these key target markets about the destination.
 
 
The VCB wows the Lone Star State
The VCB's Linda White at the Peninsula Trade Show roundtable presentation with travel agents in Texas, April 3-6. Our VCB team of White and Shelley Crant spent four nights in row in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston.
 
 
The VCB makes the most of Kansas City visit
Jerry Terp, Midwest region sales manager for the VCB, helped host a HelmsBriscoe dinner in Kansas City on April 3. Also in Kansas City, the VCB was part of the destination celebration on April 4, in conjunction with global meetings Industry Day. About 44 destination reps and hotels with more than 80 meeting planners.
 
 
Minneapolis wowed by the VCB
At Destination Celebration in Minneapolis on April 5, there were about 48 destinations and more than 100 meeting planners in attendance. This was the first year Minneapolis hosted the global meetings Industry Day celebration at the Minneapolis Convention Center on April 6 and it was a huge success!
 
 
The VCB attends National Hurricane Conference in New Orleans
The VCB was part of a contingent from Lee and Glades counties that attended the National Hurricane Conference in New Orleans, April 17-20. Left to right: Angela Colegrove, Glades County director of emergency management; Gerald Campbell, Florida Gulf Coast University emergency manager; Marisa Shivers, Glades County emergency manager; Celeste Fournier, Lee County EOC emergency management coordinator; Pam Brown, VCB conference and event manager; John Wilson, FEMA disaster reservist; and Debbie Quimby, Lee County EOC special needs program specialist.
 
 
Marketing and PR Catch-Up
 
Stay connected with the VCB
 
Let us Celebrate your Success
Do not be left out! Share your achievements, awards and recognitions with the VCB by sending the information to Jackie Parker, VCB communications manager.
 
Stay Current!
 
Have any job openings? Hospitality job opportunities can be posted on LeeVCB.com. Submit your job postings to Amanda Auer.
 
 
GUESTS FIRST
 
 
J. W. Marriott once said, "If your customers are treated right, they'll come back." He was right! Guests do not only look forward to great deals with beautiful surroundings but also the chance to have a meaningful travel experience with sincere service.

The summer schedule for Guests First 
classes will kick off the first week of June, said Nicole King-Smith, tourism & hospitality training manager. The schedule is being finalized and an exact date has not been set, so stay tuned.
 

 
 
 
INDUSTRY PARTNER NEWS
 
Sanibel Sea School Receives TripAdvisor Award
Sanibel Sea School was recently awarded first place in its TripAdvisor category for Sanibel Island. Listed under Classes and Workshops, the 501c3 nonprofit organization currently has 218 five-star reviews from past clients, and its educational ocean experiences for kids and families are a favorite activity among visitors to our area. TripAdvisor provided Sanibel Sea School with an engraved plaque to commemorate the occasion.

Dr. Bruce Neill, Sanibel Sea School's executive director, and marine educator Spencer Richardson pose for a photo with the nonprofit's TripAdvisor award.

 
 
Bike to Tarpon Bay Explorers and get a freebie for being green
Visitors who bike to Tarpon Bay Explorers for their tour, rental or shopping will receive a free gift.

"A free gift initiative will hopefully entice people to take an eco-friendly route. It's really a win-win situation," said Wendy Schnapp, general manager and part owner. "The environment wins by reducing carbon dioxide into the. Plus, sometimes biking takes less time to travel to parts of the island than driving."

Tarpon Bay Explorers is the concession to the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
 
 
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT US
 
 
Twitter
@KristinM1
Already missing #FtMyersSanibel ... until next time ...
 
 
 
Facebook
Christine M. Sullivan
Sunset on Fort Myers Beach
 
 
 
Instagram
@Melaniemoraga
Every seashell has a story #roamflorida #coastaldecor #exploreflorida #ftmyerssanibel #fun in florida
 
 
 
SHOUT OUTS
 

Real Simple magazine mentioned South Seas Island Resort in https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/travel/kids-club-tips.
 
Kayak Angler magazine mentioned the Lazy Flamingo, Sandy Hook Fish and Rib House, and Tarpon Lodge in Paddling Inn to Inn.
 
About Travel mentioned Imaginarium in 10 Fun Things to do with Kids in Fort Myers Beach.
 
The New York Post mentioned Bert's Bar & Grill and Lovegrove Gallery & Gardens in 8 Amazing American Streets You've Never Heard of.
 
 
IMPORTANT LINKS
 
Consumer Website
Industry Website
Co-op Website
Industry Facebook
Industry YouTube
  Consumer Facebook
YouTube
VisitFlorida
Brand USA
  Discover America
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
 
 
CHAMBERS
 
Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce
Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce
Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce
Estero Chamber of Commerce
  Greater Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce
Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce
Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce
Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce
  North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce
Sanibel & Captiva Island Chamber of Commerce
 
This email was sent by Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau
2201 Second Street, Suite 600 Fort Myers FL, 33901,
Manage Subscriptions | Update Profile | Unsubscribe
We respect your right to privacy - view our policy.