The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau's (VCB) weekly newsletter is your resource for news and best practices to help you navigate COVID-19.

Meetings Today webinar features destination 

The VCB participated in a recent Meetings Today webinar "Natural Settings Improve Meetings Performance." Check out the presentation by VCB Sales Director Jill Vance at the 17:42 mark. 

VCB webinar: The outlook for Canada

Oct. 1 social media webinar #2: Emerging trends & content strategy 101

Please join us for the second session in our social media webinar series. Learn about new and emerging trends and how to adapt your social media content strategy to align with best practices and innovations. 

If you can’t attend, sign up anyway and we will send you the presentation and recording. The webinars are produced by the VCB's Marketing Team. 

Save the date for our third webinar

Oct. 15: Deep dive in social media advertising 

Sept. 13-19 STR Report for Lee County

Occupancy: 42.3%, down 14.8%
ADR (Average Daily Rate): $100.64, up 1.9%
RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room): $42.85, down 13.2%

Pushing the Envelope seeks drop-off locations for food drive

Pushing the Envelope Inc.'s (PTE) 10th Annual CAN IT! Campaign food drive is slated to launch on Oct. 15. Designed to help area residents in need, PTE coordinates the food drive through Community Cooperative (CCI) and is trying to collect 2,000 non-perishable food items this year. 

As a CAN IT! 2020 partner, PTE will recognize your business as a supporter and drop-off location in all publicity, social media posts and on the website. 

Shell Club gives students grants

The Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club awarded two University of South Florida graduates over $6,800 in separate grants. The club awards grants from the proceeds of its annual Shell Show. They are given in the fields of conchology and malacology, as well as conservation and water quality, primarily in Southwest Florida.

PPE distribution Sept. 30 in Estero

Another round of distribution of LeeCARES Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is planned for businesses.

The business distribution site, will operate from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weather permitting on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at Estero Recreation Center, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd.

No advance registration is necessary. The person representing the business will be asked for the business name, address and EIN number (Employer Identification Number). Only businesses with Lee County addresses will be eligible to receive PPE.

Visit www.LeeCARES.com and Facebook @leecountyflbocc.

Healthy Minds offers free mental health screenings

Behavioral health organizations across Lee and Collier counties have partnered to launch Healthy Minds to address the increased need for local support in addressing the mental and emotional effects of COVID-19. 

Healthy Minds will offer educational events and complimentary screenings, providing accessible, convenient tips and resources at no cost for those who are experiencing new or increased feelings of anxiety, depression, stress, substance use and more.

• J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge: Effective 10.1.20, fee increases to $10 for Wildlife Drive
• 9.24.20 Inside Travel Report: J.D. Power names top U.S. airports for traveler satisfaction
• 9.28.20 News-Press: Tourism looks a little healthier in Southwest Florida, but recovery could be a long way off
• Florida Department of Health: Dashboard
• Longwoods International: COVID-19 Travel Sentiment Study, Wave 21 
• 2020 Census: Questionnaire, deadline for Lee County residents is 9.30.20.

Cover photo: "Water is the Source of Life" mural in downtown Fort Myers. Visit Fort Myers Mural Society's Facebook page to learn about the mural and the group's selfie contest.