NEWS RELEASE

Nov. 9, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Ray Sarracino, Jackie Parker, Miriam Dotson 239-338-3500

Captiva Cruises receives Junonia Award for its positive impact on local tourism community
Lee County VCB unveils new sales & marketing plan – themed “The Path Forward” – at Tourism Outlook Annual Meeting

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) presented its annual Junonia Award to the owners of Captiva Cruises today at its Tourism Outlook Annual Meeting at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa in Fort Myers.

Captiva Cruises is a family-owned and operated cruise excursion service that is recognized as a leader in the Florida ecotourism industry. Owners Capt. Bob Rando, Jenny Rando, Capt. Brad Junghans and Leslie Junghans have lived in Southwest Florida and have worked on Captiva Island their entire adult lives.

Under the leadership of founder Paul McCarthy, a known conservationist recognized for tourism and eco-innovation, they have helped cultivate the growth of Captiva Cruises for nearly 30 years. Together, they took over the business in 2018.

Each have an important role to play in the daily operations at Captiva Cruises. Jenny Rando serves as office manager, Leslie Junghans handles social media and marketing, Capt. Brad Junghans is the general manager and Capt. Bob Rando is the charge captain. Between the four they have more than 70 years with the company.

“Captiva Cruises’ vessel, The Lady Chadwick, made her first trip to Cabbage Key last month, marking the first time since Hurricane Ian that their full fleet of vessels is once again operational,” said Tamara Pigott, executive director of the Lee County VCB. “Captiva Cruises continues to attract visitors, giving them the opportunity to experience the beauty and learn about the history of Southwest Florida.” 

The four took care of their staff during the pandemic and after Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in Lee County on Sept. 28, 2022. Once the storm passed, they ensured everyone was safe and had a place to stay.

“They gathered our whole team to help each other and gut the houses that were destroyed, move belongings that could be saved and begin the long healing process,” a Captiva Cruises employee said. “They brought the whole team together. They were there to lead us through one of the most difficult times many of us had seen. During this entire time there were so many uncertainties about their business. They have constantly stayed positive and let us know that we all have a position here and that we are all working toward the same goal of restoring Captiva Cruises.”

Created in 2006, the VCB’s Junonia Award recognizes individuals who positively impact Lee County’s tourism community by demonstrating unique capabilities, leadership, commitment and dedication. The award is named for the junonia, a treasured shell known for its rarity and exceptional quality that is on every sea sheller’s bucket list.

Due to Hurricane Ian, the VCB did not hold an Annual Meeting in 2022. At the 2021 Annual Meeting, the VCB presented its annual Junonia Award to former Sanibel City Manager Judie Zimomra.

In addition to the Junonia Award, the VCB unveiled its new sales and marketing plan – themed “The Path Forward – to industry partners, along with a new “Sand Dollar Sense” video explaining the value of tourism locally. The meeting also featured the new destination anthem, which was revealed in a music video performed by Brian Sutherland and Clint Daniels. Both singer-songwriters performed recently at VCB’s Island Hopper Songwriter Fest.  

Keynote speaker Peter Greenberg, travel editor for CBS News, described his experience producing a special report about the destination’s hurricane recovery as well as travel trends from around the globe.

The VCB is funded by a 5% tourist tax collected from tourists on accommodations rented for six months or less. The allocation of bed tax funds is applied as 20% for sports facilities, 26.4% for beach and shoreline and 53.6% for tourism marketing.

Click here for links to today's presentations. 

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*Click here for photo of 2023 Junonia Award winners

Caption and please credit Lee County VCB: Tamara Pigott, executive director of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, with 2023 Junonia Award recipients, the owners of Captiva Cruises, Capt. Bob Rando, Jenny Rando, Leslie Junghans and Capt. Brad Junghans.