Looking forward to see you at Annual Meeting on Nov. 9, and courtside for college basketball

“The Path Forward” is the theme for our Tourism Outlook Annual Meeting. After the year our destination has experienced, we are all looking ahead to the future with gratitude and a sense of thanksgiving.

NEW LOCATION: Please join us Thursday, Nov. 9, at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m., doors open to ballroom and breakfast begins at 8 a.m., our program begins at 9 a.m., and will wrap up at 11:30 a.m.

Peter Greenberg at Annual Meeting
Our keynote speaker will be “The Travel Detective” Peter Greenberg. The multiple Emmy-award winner is travel editor for CBS News and has been a good friend to the destination. He and his crew visited before and after Hurricane Ian, putting together an episode chronicling the rebuilding taking place.

Men’s and women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off

During Thanksgiving week, bring your family and friends to Suncoast Credit Union Arena at Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers for the men’s and women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off tournaments. On the men’s side, see Wisconsin, Virginia, West Virginia, SMU, Appalachian State, Murray State and UNC Wilmington on the court. Nov. 20-22, tickets at fortmyerstipoff.com

And don’t miss Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off Nov. 23-25. Spend Nov. 23, Thanksgiving Day, watching power conference programs Oklahoma vs. Princeton and Tennessee vs. Indiana. Teams from Arkansas, Boston College, Marquette and Wisconsin round out the event. Added bonus: The Tennessee vs. Indiana game will be broadcast nationally at 6 p.m., Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, on FOX. Tickets at womensfortmyerstipoff.com

Men’s and women’s Gulf Coast Showcase

Eight men’s teams visit Nov. 20‐22, for the Gulf Coast Showcase at Hertz Arena in Estero. The event includes 2023 NCAA tournament participants Iona and Louisiana, along with 2023 Colonial Athletic Association regular‐season champion and NIT participant, Hofstra. The field also includes Buffalo, High Point, Illinois State, Long Beach State and Wright State. Tickets and schedules at hertzarena.com/events/2023-mens-gulf-coast-showcase

And the women’s Clean Simple Eats Gulf Coast Showcase at Hertz Arena Nov. 24-26, features an eight-team bracket: Florida Gulf Coast University, University of Iowa, Kansas State University, Purdue Fort Wayne University, University of Delaware, University of North Carolina, University of Vermont and Western Kentucky. Tickets and schedules at hertzarena.com/events/2023-womens-gulf-coast-showcase

It's lining up to be a busy month. There is so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. We are grateful to work with you and we wish all of our industry partners and their families a happy and safe holiday.

Railroad Museum of South Florida, Lakes Park

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

November paid media placements

Our efforts in FY23/24 Q1 are largely to influence winter visitation, as well as to support the groups/meetings business. Here is a snapshot of our paid media placements launching in November. 

Consumer:

• Travel Desk – partner site retargeting
• Travelzoo-US – custom content
• Shermans travel – sponsored email

Meetings, weddings, travel trade:

• TravelDesk-Groups – display, co-op digital display
• Association of Convention & Facilities – print ad
• The Knot-Co-op – custom content, co-op digital display
• Mobilefuse – co-op geofencing display
• Wellness Travel University – custom course
• Travel Weekly – print ad, advertorial, webinar sponsor
• Bridal Guide – eNewsletter feature, custom content

International:

• Expedia UK – display and native VRBO, display
• Expedia Canada – display VRBO, display, native, co-op digital display
• Expedia Germany – display, native, display and native FEWO-direkt, display co-op

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.

Guests First fall session registration now available

VCB receives AHLEI Recognition, Oct. 12: The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institution has recognized the VCB as a Certified Guest Service Property. (From left) Dr. Nicole King-Smith, Guests First training manager; Tamara Pigott, VCB executive director; and Crystal Wanke, Guests First training coordinator.

Domestic sales activities

Rotating photos include:

• (Photo 1) Association of Meeting Professionals Annual Meeting, Sept. 11: Betsy Bush, VCB, networked with about 75 meeting professionals at this event in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.
  
  
• (Photo 2) Minnesota Twins Client Event, Sept. 13: Jerry Terp, VCB, and Alyssa Stander, Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa, hosted 15 greater Minneapolis meeting planners at Twins Stadium in Minneapolis.
  
  
• (Photo 3) Tallahassee Sales Calls and Client Event, Sept. 19-22: (From left) Tracy Ryan, Luminary Hotel & Co.; Sandra Keneven, Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village; Erin Lester, VCB; and meeting planners with The Florida Bar during a sales call promoting the destination.

International sales activities

Rotating photos include:

• (Photo 1) 2023 Air Canada Vacations Showcase, Sept. 6 and 19: The Canada VCB team participated in the Air Canada Vacations (ACV)  #ACVDreamMakers Sun Collection product launch events in Halifax and Montreal.
  
  
• (Photo 2) 2023 Visit USA Germany Cinema Roadshow, Sept. 12: Nadia Bourgault of the German VCB-Team, provided destination updates to 33 travel agents in a movie theater setting. The information given included: the renaming and direct flight of the now Discover Airlines, status of nature and wildlife, beach reopenings, activities such as kayaking and boating, accommodations open and upcoming openings such as the Margaritaville and golfing in the region.
  
  
• (Photo 3) 2023 Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors (ACTA) Summit, Sept. 14: The Canada VCB team attended the summit and trade show  at the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies’ (ACTA) 2023 Eastern Canada Travel Industry Summit in Toronto with more than 500 registrants, which included almost 100 suppliers. The full-day event included the announcement of a name change that showcases the evolving landscape and modernizes the name to reflect all the members. Panel discussions included topics on the latest trends and strategies for 2024, forecasts for the Canadian economy and how it affects travel, looking at global trends to grow business and a trade show.
  
  
• (Photo 4) 2023 Visit USA Switzerland Roadshow, Sept. 18-21: Over the course of three days, the German VCB-Team visited five Swiss cities: St. Gallen, Zurich, Bern, Basel and Lucerne. The workshops sessions included presentations to agents on destination information including Discover Airlines direct flight from Frankfurt to Fort Myers, restaurant and accommodation updates, outdoor activities including the destination golf guide in partnership with Matador.

November sales events

Communications team activities

Instagram influencer and photographer Michael Meyers, Oct. 23-25: Meyers is a travel content creator and photographer who has cultivated a highly engaging following on Instagram. As part of a VISIT FLORIDA visit, Meyers focused on capturing unique landscapes in a continued effort to position the destination as an ideal place for travel, highlighting the natural scenery and experiences. Here are a few of his photos of Lovers Key State Park, our beaches and Meyers at J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. 

Communications earned media results

Visitor Services activities

FAMs: Our volunteer Tourism Ambassadors enjoyed FAMs on the inaugural public sailing of Captiva Cruises Lady Chadwick, lunch at Cabbage Key and a tour of the Drury Inn in October. The goal is for the ambassadors to experience destination activities and properties to make recommendations to the traveling public at RSW.

MCI Exercise: Tourism Ambassadors and Visitor Services staff participated with the Port Authority in a small Mass Casualty Exercise at RSW. This specific exercise was to practice assisting family members locate loved ones in the event of an emergency.

Island Hopper: Tourism Ambassadors attended Island Hopper Songwriter Fest to educate attendees on the destination and conduct surveys.

Information for hurricane preparedness

Presentation links: 

• National Weather Service
• VCB presentation 
• Hurricane preparedness

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.

Know before you go: Veterans Day event to temporarily close Midpoint Bridge, Nov. 11

The Midpoint Madness Veterans Day 5K Run/Walk will close the Midpoint Bridge from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11.

Motorists are encouraged to use the Cape Coral Bridge or the U.S. 41 and Business 41 bridges as alternate routes. Lee County Department of Transportation will place message boards on Wednesday, Nov. 1, to alert motorists of the closure. 

For information about the annual Veterans Day event, contact the YMCA of Southwest Florida-Fort Myers at ymcaswfl.org/. Pre- and post-race activities will be at Royal Palm Square at the base of the Midpoint Bridge in Fort Myers at 1400 Colonial Blvd. The race begins at 8 a.m.