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Downtown Fort Myers, March 18, photo by Brian Tietz
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Beach & Shoreline funds $181M in improvements
From Gasparilla Island to Bonita Beach, the Tourist Development Council’s (TDC) Beach & Shoreline funding requests represent a wide swath of Lee County. Using 26.4% of the tourist development tax, these projects help to improve and maintain our beach and shoreline facilities and, as a result, enhance our quality of life as local residents.
Since the Lee Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) approved this program in 1988, over $181 million has been allocated to projects throughout Lee County. On April 20, a TDC Review Workshop will consider the 24 applications for $24.6 million being requested for fiscal year 2022-23. Funding recommendations will be made by the TDC in May and the BoCC will authorize funding in September.
Save the date: Our Tourism Outlook Annual Meeting will be Nov. 10 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. Join us as we kick off the 2022-23 tourism season and get a first look at our new sales and marketing plan. Registration will open closer to the event date.
It's great to see that everyone’s still busy, have a great April and thank you for all that you do!
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Welcome Eurowings Discover to RSW
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Eurowings Discover now offers three flights a week to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). On March 28, Visitor Services Tourism Ambassadors welcomed visitors from Germany on the new airline. Operating from Frankfurt, Germany (FRA), Eurowings Discover is Lufthansa's new leisure airline that flies travelers to beautiful long-haul destinations.
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Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa recognized with “Best Hotels” award
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs has received a Gold Badge in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hotels” awards. The 12th annual Best Hotels rankings evaluate more than 35,000 luxury properties across 400+ destinations in the U.S., Europe, Bermuda, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean. The methodology considers a hotel's star rating and both expert and guest sentiment by collecting annual awards from distinguished travel publications and TripAdvisor user scores, the combination of which helps determine each hotel's rank. hyattregencycoconutpoint.com
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Home 2 Suites Fort Myers receives Hilton award
Home 2 Suites Fort Myers has received the prestigious Conrad Hilton Achievement Award 2021. The honor is an annual award given to the top 1% of hotels in the Home 2 Suites brand. It was received for having high scores in surprise quality assurance inspections from Hilton and its guest comment scores throughout the year. The hotel score ranked fourth out of 461 hotels for 2021. hilton.com
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Shangri-La Springs reopens renovated hotel
Shangri-La Springs has reopened two large suites in the main hotel and six rooms in the Villa Ascona building across from the hotel’s courtyard. The historic hotel is located on 8.5 acres in the heart of downtown Bonita Springs. Built in 1921, it offers a boutique hotel experience including a full menu of spa treatments, organic farm-to-table restaurant, holistic and organic garden, event and destination wedding venue spaces. shangrilasprings.com
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Customer service specialist Juliana Silva
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Juliana Silva is the VCB’s new customer service specialist. In this role, she will act as the public’s first point of contact and will be located on the first floor of the Administration East building.
Silva will assist with administrative support for the VCB, Economic Development and Sports Development offices.
Many of you may remember Silva from her time as a Guests First intern with the VCB in 2016 and 2017. She is a graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) with a bachelor’s degree in resort and hospitality management.
Originally from Brazil, Silva can speak Portuguese and Spanish, and proudly became a U.S. citizen in 2018.
Favorite restaurant in Lee County? I LOVE Blu Sushi - It's dangerous having one within walking distance, LOL.
What should visitors and residents see or do in Lee County? I think everyone should visit Lakes Park, especially on Wednesday for the farmers market. They have the most amazing homemade candles and licorice.
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Tourist Development Council welcomes four new nonvoting members
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Four new members have been added to fill new ex-officio, nonvoting seats on the Tourist Development Council.
The new members include:
- Council member Jim Atterholt, Town of Fort Myers Beach
- Council member Larry Fiesel, Village of Estero
- Council member Mike Gibson, City of Bonita Springs
- Councilwoman Gloria Tate, City of Cape Coral
The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted in January to add the four seats to allow each of the municipalities a seat on the TDC. These four additional members will represent the incorporated municipalities not currently serving on the TDC in one of the two municipal rotating seats. The rotation of voting-member seats will not be affected.
The nine voting seats are composed of three elected officials, three representatives from accommodations collecting the tourist tax and three representatives from tourism-related industries, as directed by Florida Statutes.
The TDC was established as an advisory board to the BoCC in 1983 to increase off-season tourism in Lee County.
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Fort Myers Discovery Challenge rolls out April 1
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Rotating photos include:
- (Photo 1) Feb. 4-6: Travel & Adventure Show, Chicago, Shelley Crant, Florida Travel Marketing, showcased the destination and about 7,000 consumers and travel advisors attended.
- (Photo 2) Feb. 15-17: New York City sales calls, Betsy Bush, VCB, with Bill Goodman, director of global sales, ConferenceDirect, and Pat Furlong, CEO, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy.
- (Photo 3) Feb. 27: AAA Lehigh Valley Vacation Expo, Holly Morris, FTM, about 4,700 consumers and travel advisors attended the one-day trade show in Bethlehem, Pa.
- (Photo 4) March 22: Germany's Travel Industry Club hosted a webinar that focused on global tourism recovery. VCB Executive Director Tamara Pigott served as a guest panelist and discussed Lee County's strong rebound post-pandemic. TIC is a network of global travel industry professionals focused on tourism's economic impact.
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Congratulations to VCB's Joan Barkowski for '40 Under 40' award
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Joan Barkowski, VCB sales coordinator, was recently honored with the Connect BIZBASH 40 Under 40 Award for 2022. The honor highlights the top young professionals in the events industry.
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Public relations activities
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Rotating photos include:
- (Photo 1) March 5: (Center) Francesca Donlan, VCB, at the Boston Travel & Adventure Show with Shelley Crant, Florida Travel Market.
- (Photo 2): March 13: Jackie Parker, VCB, with writers Jason McGee Chaves and Weilin Cheng at the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show.
- (Photo 3) March 15: Jackie Parker, VCB, with writers attending the Spring in Fort Myers press trip at JetBlue Park.
- (Photos 4-5) March 18: Miriam Dotson, VCB, with travel expert Peter Greenberg and introducing keynote speakers at the New York City Travel & Adventure Show.
- (Photo 6) March 29: Nancy MacPhee, VCB, with "Audiotravels" podcast host Henry Barchet of Germany in destination for a sustainability press trip.
- (Photo 7) March 31: Jason Boeckman, Annie Banion and Taylor Wilson, VCB, at Florida Gulf Coast University's Communications Career and Internship Fair.
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PR/Communications results
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Join us at Travel Rally May 3
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Calling all CGSP graduates
The VCB invites you to celebrate your commitment to the Guests First program and our achievement of 1,000+ Certified Guest Service Professionals. Be sure to RSVP for our Guests First VIP Experience as we roll out the red carpet for you. You'll receive a special CGSP gift, enjoy sweet treats and make memories in our photo booth in the Guests First VIP Experience area.
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22nd annual E Awards call for entries
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The upcoming E Awards is officially open for nominations and we want to hear about the outstanding customer service your staff provides to your guests.
E Awards
When: 8-10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 8
Where: Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, 5001 Coconut Road, Bonita Springs
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2022 TDC meeting schedule
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Keep your guests in the loop with What To Do
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What To Do gives your guests a quick guide to weekly events in Lee County.
Be sure to display this flyer with our new QR code so everyone can have instant access, all the time.
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Partners: Send us your deals and events
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2201 Second Street, Suite 600
Fort Myers, Florida 33901
Toll Free 800.237.6444 | Local 239.338.3500
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