Claire Liparulo performs in downtown Fort Myers at last year's Island Hopper Songwriter Fest. She returns this year to perform in Cape Coral and again in downtown Fort Myers. 

Island Hopper Songwriter Fest takes center stage, Sept. 22-Oct. 1

While our destination breathes a sigh of relief, we have compassion and concern for our fellow Floridians dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia. Our thoughts are with them as they begin the grueling recovery process. 

We are less than a month away until Island Hopper Songwriter Fest takes center stage, Sept. 22-Oct. 1. This is the ninth year for this award-winning event filled with fun and music. The four locations and dates for the 10-day festival are Captiva Island, Sept. 22-24; Cape Coral, Sept. 25-26; downtown Fort Myers, Sept. 27-28; and Fort Myers Beach, Sept. 29-Oct. 1.

Bringing Nashville songwriters to Southwest Florida to perform in intimate settings gives fans the opportunity to interact with the musicians up close and personal. While most shows are free, this year’s Island Hopper will offer more ways to enjoy unique, ticketed live performances:

• Charlie Worsham, country singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist started out at the top, playing the Grand Ole Opry at the age of 12. He’s toured with Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert and Brad Paisley. He just released “How I Learned to Pray,” a collaboration with Luke Combs. Worsham will perform at the Gather Chef’s Dinner on Sept. 25 in Cape Coral.
• Chris Janson will perform along with special guest Kristian Bush of Sugarland at the Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina pool party on Fort Myers Beach on Oct.1.
• Local favorites Sheena Brook and Brian Sutherland will play the Music on the Mound at the Mound House on Fort Myers Beach on Sept. 30.
• Grammy award-winning songwriter Tim James will perform on the Captiva Sunset Cruise on Sept. 24 along with Angie K, who has shared the stage with Big & Rich, Tanya Tucker, Sammy Kershaw, Trace Adkins, Melissa Etheridge and Jake Owen.
• The lineup also includes Clint Daniels. Ben Burgess, Emily Shackelton, Phil O’Donnell and Sonia Leigh. For the full lineup and ticket information, visit islandhopperfest.com or download Island Hopper app.

We look forward to seeing you at Island Hopper. Please stay safe this month and continue to be prepared for weather events. Thank you for all you do. 

Information for hurricane preparedness

Presentation links: 

• National Weather Service
• VCB presentation 
• Hurricane preparedness

Also, if you do not currently have access to the Simpleview Extranet please contact Pam Brown or Erin Junkin. We will get you connected as soon as possible. 

It is important to access and update your information regarding emergency contacts through Simpleview Extranet for your business and generator availability. This is very important to the VCB Team who will be staffed at the Emergency Operations Center during an activation. The team receives many requests for sleeping rooms, dining, parking areas for vehicles/trailers and other unique requests.

Threshold 360 offers free filming of your business

Have you taken advantage of Threshold 360's free filming for industry partners? Don't miss out on this amazing, free opportunity for your tourism business.

In partnership with the VCB, Threshold 360's videos can be used to promote your business in the following ways:

• Uploaded to your Google My Business page
• Sent to potential visitors and clients
• Used in presentations or group proposals
• Added to your listing on VisitFortMyers.com
  
  

September paid media placements

As we persist through recovery phase three (April-September), we continue to invest and launch various media placements to help influence fall leisure visitation, as well as support the groups/meeting business. Here is a snapshot of our paid media placements launching in September.

Consumer:

• Meredith – print page ads in Midwest Living and Southern Living
• Booking.com – destination landing page
• The Local Palate – full page print advertorial

Meetings, weddings, travel trade:

• Bridal Guide – full page ad, print advertorial and native ad feature
• VAX – featured destination native

Sign up for the Sun Saver Passport today!

We would love your Dine, Play, Shop or Sip deals! Sign up for the Sun Saver Passport today by scanning the QR code or clicking the image above. Want to learn more about the pass? Click HERE or email VCB member Vanessa Gomez at vgomez@leegov.com.

Automobile collection at Edison and Ford Winter Estates

If you're an industry partner and would like to be considered for a VCB Partner Spotlight, please contact Miriam Dotson, VCB communications manager, at mdotson@leegov.com

Guests First fall session registration now available

Domestic sales activities

Rotating photos include:

• (Photo 1) Florida Society of Association Executives Annual Conference, July 12-14: (From left) Ani Farrell, Crowne Plaza Ft. Myers Gulf Coast; Megan Dunphy, Luminary Hotel & Co.; Tamara Parker, Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort; Cori Cramsey and Tracy Ryan, Luminary Hotel & Co.; Erin Lester, VCB; Sandra Keneven, Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, and Nicole Logan, Crowne Plaza Ft. Myers Gulf Coast. Lee County was the destination host of almost 500 conference attendees. The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort was the conference host and the Luminary Hotel & Co. hosted the welcome reception.
  
  
• (Photo 2) GPS Destination Events, July 18-19: Erin Lester, VCB, attended GPS Events in Tampa and Fort Lauderdale. About 50 meeting planners attended.
  
  
• (Photos 3-5) West Coast Florida Travel Agency Sales Mission, July 25-27: Jennifer Walla, VCB; Dony Rosa Rivera, Pink Shell Beach Resort, and Susan Cecere, Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, conducted sales calls to 35 travel agencies and AAA offices from Port Charlotte to Spring Hill.

September sales events

Communications team activities

Nordic press trip, Aug. 26-31: Bjorn Moholdt, travel writer for Kapital REISE, Norway's largest magazine for business trips and holidays, visited the destination and one of his many experiences included making shell earrings at the weekly Shell Crafters class at The Community House on Sanibel Island. We thank our industry partners for giving travel writers memorable experiences to write about.  

Communications earned media results

Shellcast previews Island Hopper with Kristian Bush

E Awards celebrate hospitality industry and top tourism professionals

Thank you to all who attended the 23rd Annual Elaine McLaughlin Outstanding Hospitality Service Awards (E Awards) on Aug. 24 at the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village. For complete list of winners, click here. 

Rotating photo captions include:

1. Lee County Commissioners Brian Hamman and Cecil Pendergrass congratulate Traci Fixler (center) of the Lee County Port Authority Police for receiving the Honor of Distinction.  

2. Hamman and Pendergrass congratulate Ammie Plummer (center) of Hampton Inn Bonita Springs Naples North for winning the top award in the Accommodations category.  

3. Hamman and Pendergrass congratulate Kathy Arthur (center) of Edison and Ford Winter Estates for winning the top award in the Attractions category.  

4. Hamman and Pendergrass congratulate Jay Frias (center) of Hampton Inn & Suites Fort Myers-Estero/FGCU for winning the top award in the Best Tourism category.  

5. Hamman and Pendergrass congratulate Brian Price and Tim Gard of Lee County Parks & Recreation for winning the top award in the Good Samaritan category.

6. This painting by Leoma Lovegrove was awarded to Noah and Josh Steward of Adventures in Paradise for winning the top award in the Hurricane Hero. The Stewards were unable to attend. Lovegrove created the painting at the E Awards. 

7. Pendergrass congratulates Glicelle Torres of Home Depot for winning the top award in the Other Services/Business category.  

8. Pendergrass congratulates Marshall Barnhart of Dudley’s Beachside BBQ for winning the top award in the Restaurants category.  

9. Hamman and Pendergrass congratulate Ron Smith (center) of United Airlines for winning the top award in the Transportation category.  

10. Tamara Pigott, Lee County VCB executive director, chats with nominees.  

11. Michelle French of the Westin Cape Coral at Marina Village was one of 590 hospitality industry employees nominated and honored at the E Awards.

Vanessa Gomez, marketing specialist

The VCB welcomes Vanessa Gomez as its new marketing specialist.

Gomez will assist the VCB with marketing initiatives and events, including the upcoming Island Hopper Songwriter Fest.

Gomez is a 2023 graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University with a major in communications. Her plans include graduate school to pursue a master's degree in business with a focus in digital marketing.

She is a Lee County native, born and raised in Cape Coral, and is a graduate of Ida S. Baker High School.

Get to know Vanessa:

What is your ideal daycation in Lee County?
Waking up and getting Starbucks, then heading to Sanibel Lighthouse with lunch and snacks, looking for shells and getting some sun, then ending the day with some Yucatan shrimp tacos from Doc Ford’s.

What are some of your hobbies?
Spending time with family, filming content for my Instagram account, gardening, baking and shopping.

Favorite ice cream spot?
Cape Creamery