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Port Boca Grande Lighthouse and Museum, Gasparilla Island
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Welcome to a new year, full of possibilities
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As we welcome 2023 and look to better days ahead, I remain in awe of the resiliency and strength of this community. And I am grateful for the positive news that we continue to receive each day about openings of our accommodations, attractions, restaurants and parks.
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The latest figures indicate that 65% of Lee County’s guest rooms are now open for a total of 9,302 rooms. A list of openings may be found at visitfortmyers.com/open.
In addition to more openings, we look forward to the 50th Annual Fort Myers Boat Show, Jan. 5-8, on the downtown riverfront, along with
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the 38th Annual Cape Coral Festival of the Arts on Jan. 14-15 and the return of the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins for spring training beginning in late February.
Co-op Advertising Program returns
As part of our recovery efforts, the Co-op Advertising Program will celebrate its formal reintroduction this month. Programs will continue to phase in through April 2023. Please be sure to take advantage of this program and scroll down for more information.
Our guests are always first
Our visitors tell us that guest service is one of the main reasons they visit. They often cite specific employees that make their vacation a special memory. And it’s one of the reasons they return. As we prepare to welcome the return of our guests, frontline and management professionals throughout Lee County are invited to sign up for the winter sessions of Guests First beginning Jan. 11.
New in 2023: The free educational program offers customer service skills training in-person and for the first time, participants will have the option of taking the course virtually.
The program consists of eight modules, each lasting 2.5 hours. Those completing the program and passing the American Hotel Lodging & Education Institute (AHLEI) examination will earn the globally recognized credentials of a Certified Guest Service Professional (CGSP). To register, visit guestsfirst.com. For questions contact guestsfirst@leegov.com and scroll for more information.
We are hopeful that you will continue moving forward and please let us know how we can help you make 2023 a year to remember.
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VCB launches Partner Spotlight video series
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In our new monthly "Partner Spotlight" series, learn about The Perfect Cup on Matlacha. To be considered for an upcoming Partner Spotlight, please contact Miriam Dotson, VCB communications manager, at mdotson@leegov.com
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VCB's Co-op Advertising Program returns
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The VCB is excited to announce the return of our Co-op Advertising Program. Due to Hurricane Ian, programs were either canceled or put on pause while we worked to assess impact. As part of our recovery efforts, the Co-op Program will celebrate its formal reintroduction this month. Programs will continue to phase in through April 2023.
Questions about Co-op? Please contact Joshua Lambert at jlambert@mmgy.com.
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We're excited to announce the return of the business listings to VisitFortMyers.com. If you don't see your listing, please follow these steps to get your listing online:
- Access the industry portal here. Questions about your account or credentials? Please contact Bryelle Benzing, VCB marketing manager, at bbenzing@leegov.com.
- Listings associated with your account will appear under All Content.
- Once you've identified the listing you'd like to review and update, select Edit under Operations.
- Review each tab (business content, contact info, social media, photos, hours of operations, etc.) to ensure current accuracy and make any desired revisions.
- Once complete, select Needs Review from the status dropdown and click Save at the bottom of the page. This will notify a website administrator that your listing is ready for review to be published.
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Updates from the Performance Dashboard
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The VCB's Industry Insights Dashboard provides our partners with the latest Lee County-specific travel data. Partners can use this information to make informed marketing decisions, resource planning, revenue forecasting and more.
Current insights:
- The top out-of-state origin markets for November were Chicago, New York, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Boston and Detroit. We saw a 29.4% decrease in the total number of visitors for November 2022 compared to November 2021. Source: Arrivalist
- Hotel bookings made in November for the next 12 months are showing positive increases in volume and booking windows are following similar trends as the previous two years. Source: Sojern
- Hotel searches for the next 12 months indicate that travelers are looking slightly more into the short term than in prior years and top search origin markets for travel within the next 12 months are Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Atlantic City. Source: Sojern
- From October to November, we saw a 44% increase in 2023 hotel demand. Source: TripAdvisor
- In November, new users to the destination website from outside of Florida originated from Atlanta, Chicago, Washington D.C., New York and Columbus. Source: Google Analytics
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Registration open for Guests First classes
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Rotating photos include:
- (Photos 1-2) Midwest Holiday Client Event, Minneapolis, Nov. 3: Jerry Terp, VCB, co-hosted with four CVBs and promoted the destination at Bachman's Floral. Planners had the chance to make holiday planters.
- (Photo 3) HPN Partner Conference, Denver, Nov. 14-17: Jerry Terp, VCB, conducted one-on-one appointments with planners, networked and attended education events.
- (Photo 4) American Express INTERaction, Houston, Nov. 17-20: Betsy Bush, VCB, conducted one-on-one appointments with planners, networked and attended education events.
- (Photo 5) Connect DC, Washington, Nov. 28-29: Betsy Bush, VCB, conducted appointments with over 20 meeting planners who book meetings in Florida for both the corporate and association markets.
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Public Relations / Communications update
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Recent earned media coverage from Susan Glaser, travel editor, Cleveland Plain Dealer
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Shellcast podcasts feature recovery efforts
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Shellcast, the VCB's award-winning podcast is available on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Visitor Services Tourism Ambassadors celebrate the holidays
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Visitor Services celebrated the holidays with its Tourism Ambassadors at Buckingham Farms on Dec. 1. With delicious farm to table lunch, a beautiful location and a “Do you want to build a snowperson?” contest, a jolly time was had by all.
Rotating photos include:
(Photo 1) Cathy R., Lana K., Vera O. and Lana R.
(Photo 2) Ron F., Dawn M. and Alan S.
(Photo 3) Jim B., Bill S., Joyce R., Eleanor D. and Susan B.
(Photo 4) VCB and Sports Development staff enjoying the holiday festivities.
(Photo 5) "Do you want to build a snowperson?" contest
(Photo 6) David O., Bud S., Claire and John Z.
(Photo 7) Grace M., Rita D., Veronica M. and Ronni H.
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VCB holiday luncheon hosted by Destinations International
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Thank you to Don Welsh, president, CEO & Foundation executive director of Destinations International, Santiago Corrada, president & CEO of Visit Tampa Bay, and Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, for visiting the VCB office Dec. 16 and hosting a holiday luncheon for the staff. We are grateful to our colleagues throughout Florida who have supported us in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Thank you!
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Nicholas Gallant,
operations coordinator
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Crystal Wanke,
customer service specialist
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VCB marketing director speaks at Jan. 18 chamber luncheon
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Brian Ososky, VCB marketing director, will be the guest speaker at the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, at Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Myers Estero.
Ososky will share insights on how the VCB has shifted gears since Hurricane Ian and provide an update on the current tourism landscape in Lee County. The hotel is located at 10450 Corkscrew Commons Drive, admission is $25 for Chamber members and $35 for future members and includes lunch.
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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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