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Island Hopper Songwriter Fest, Fort Myers Beach, 2019

Island Hopper Songwriter Fest returns Sept. 17-26

It's September and that means it is time for Island Hopper Songwriter Fest.

The free 10-day event - except for a few ticketed performances - kicks off on Captiva Island, Sept. 17-19, then moves to historic downtown Fort Myers, Sept. 20-23, and wraps up on Fort Myers Beach, Sept. 24-26. Island Hopper is the largest songwriter festival in Southwest Florida and offers a unique experience to interact with songwriters.

Island Hopper is produced by the VCB, iHeartMedia, Cat Country 107.1 and BMI, the largest music rights organization in the U.S.

We are doing all that we can to produce a safe experience for Island Hopper songwriters, staff and fans. Most of our events will be held outdoors. We are taking all the precautions necessary, which include asking attendees to follow CDC guidelines at all performances.

The lineup this year includes headliners Jimmie Allen and Michael Ray. Allen won this year's Academy of Country Music Award for New Male Artist of the Year. The Delaware native made history as the first Black artist to launch a career with two consecutive No. 1 songs on country radio. "Best Shot," claimed the top spot for three weeks and his second single, "Make Me Want To," climbed the charts in March 2020.

Ray, a Florida native, joins Island Hopper with three No. 1 songs, including "Kiss You in the Morning," "Think a Little Less," and "One That Got Away."

This year more than 60 singer-songwriters from around the country will perform more than 100 shows. The official Island Hopper mobile app, available in the App Store and Google Play, lets users buy tickets for special performances, create a personalized schedule, hotel deals, performance times and more.

We look forward to seeing everyone at Island Hopper and here's to a great September!

ISLAND HOPPER SONGWRITER FEST SCHEDULE

Executive Director

Songs from the Sofa and Sand wins SUNsational Award

Songs from the Sand and Sofa, Island Hopper Songwriter Fest's virtual concert series, won third place in the Virtual Event category at the recent SUNsational Awards.

Florida Festivals & Events Association announced winners at its 27th annual convention and tradeshow.

Songs from the Sofa debuted in May 2020 and all performances are archived on the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest Instagram page. Songs from the Sand debuted in February 2021. Miriam Dotson, VCB communications manager, hosts the monthly events.

Other winners from Lee County include:

Fort Myers Beach International Film Fest won second place in the Instagram category and third place in the Virtual Event category.
ArtFest Fort Myers won first place in the Event Safety/Risk Mitigation Plan for Live Events category and second place in the Hybrid Event category.

COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS

Remembering restaurateur Shannon Yates

Our community and the hospitality industry mourns the passing of Shannon Yates, one of the area’s most influential chefs and restaurant owners, who recently passed away from Covid-19. He got his start in hospitality, working in resorts and went on to become affiliated with popular local restaurants, like Bacchus, Cru, Lush and Nevermind; all successful ventures. His creativity and passion helped shape the culinary scene in the community.

NEWS-PRESS COVERAGE

Southwest Florida International Airport provides nonstop service to 55 destinations by 14 air carriers

New air service

New Air Transat: Montreal (YUL), weekly, seasonal service starts Dec. 16

New Avelo Airlines: New Haven, Connecticut (HVN), weekly, year-round service starts Nov. 11

New Eurowings Discover: Frankfurt, Germany (FRA), weekly, year-round service starts March 28, 2022

New flights

Air Canada

Toronto (YYZ), weekly, resumed Aug. 1

Alaska Airlines

Los Angeles (LAX), daily, resumes Nov. 19
Seattle (SEA), daily, resumes Nov. 19

Frontier Airlines

New Orlando (MCO), daily, starts Nov. 1

Spirit Airlines

New Louisville (SDF), weekly, starts Nov. 17
New Manchester, N.H. (MHT), weekly, starts Nov. 17
New St. Louis (STL), daily, starts Nov. 17

Sun Country

New Duluth, Minn. (DLH), weekly, starts Dec. 17
New Green Bay, Wis. (GRB), weekly, starts Dec. 16
New Milwaukee (MKE), weekly, starts, Dec. 15
New Rochester, Minn. (RST), weekly starts Feb. 3, 2022

United Airlines

New Los Angeles (LAX), daily, starts Dec. 16
New San Francisco (SFO), daily, starts Dec. 16

WestJet

Toronto (YYZ), weekly, resumes Sept. 12

MORE RSW FLIGHT INFO

Florida Attractions 2021 Annual Conference

The VCB was proud to welcome the Florida Attractions Association's annual conference, held Aug. 29-Sept. 1 at The Luminary Hotel & Co. The event brought industry professionals, member attractions and associate member businesses together to discuss pandemic lessons learned and how to continue moving forward in these unique times.

How accessible is your website?

The Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research has a guide to help make website content accessible for all users.

ACCESSIBILITY 101 GUIDE

John Morris releases Wheelchair Accessible Travel Guide to destination

Wheelchair Travel's John Morris is a travel writer and advocate for individuals with disabilities. In June, Morris visited the destination to research this guide. He writes: "Using this guide to wheelchair accessible travel in Fort Myers, you will be prepared to properly vacation in Florida's most impressive Gulf Coast Destination."

2022 Visitor Guide needs your input

The VCB is excited to be working on a new Visitor Guide for 2022 with all-new content and design that will both inspire visitors to choose our destination and help them experience the best of it while they are here.

Please note that any information you submitted in the past through our website will not carry over to this new guide.

Deadline to submit your information: Sept. 8 and thank you!

ACCOMMODATIONS LISTINGS

ATTRACTIONS LISTINGS

All-Electronic tolling goes into full effect Oct. 1

ALL-ELECTRONIC TOLLS FAQ

E Awards celebrate Lee County's top tourism professionals

The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) held its 21^st Annual Elaine McLaughlin Outstanding Hospitality Service Awards today to honor tourism professionals and their extraordinary customer service and dedication.

The “E Awards” ceremony, held at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center & Amphitheater in downtown Fort Myers included approximately 400 guests.

Selected for their exemplary service, the top winners include:

Other Services/Businesses: Christopher Comer, Tree West
Restaurants: Jennifer Kleckner, Casa Bacardi
Transportation: Jennis Phillips and Sherry Kletschka, Transportation Security Administration
Good Samaritan: Officer Jacob Brunick, Lee County Port Authority Police Department
Attractions: Jake Graddy, Holiday Water Sports
Accommodations: Jessica Mazza, Holiday Inn Edison at Midtown
Masked Hero: JoAnn Elardo, Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery
Tourism Boss: Jeff Webb, Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Fort Myers-Colonial
Honor of Distinction: Marina Bloetz, South Seas Island Resort

COMPLETE E AWARDS COVERAGE

Get your deals included on the Sun Saver Passport

Partners, please remember to add your deals on attractions, restaurants and experiences throughout our community. The Sun Saver Passport is available via mobile phones.

Sun Saver Passport by the numbers:

75 partner deals
5,465 passport downloads
491 offers redeemed

Domestic sales activities

Rotating photos include:

(Photos 1-2) July 7-9: Over 700 meeting planners attended PCMA EduCon in Phoenix, Betsy Bush, VCB, participated in education and networking events.
(Photos 3-4) July 20-21: At Midwest Destination Reps Signature Client Event, Jerry Terp, VCB, co-hosted 29 meeting planners at a golf tournament luncheon in Glenview, Ill.
(Photo 5-6) July 25-27: At Destination Southeast, Erin Lester, VCB, conducted one-on-one appointments with 24 meeting planners.

SALES ACTIVITIES & UPCOMING SHOWS