South Beach Bridge, Lovers Key State Park

Strong partnerships, big wins and plenty to be thankful for

It’s only a few days away! Please mark your calendars for our 2025 Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in its newly renovated meetings & events space. The morning begins with a breakfast buffet at 8:30 a.m., followed by the program from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m.

We’re excited to welcome Fred Dixon, President and CEO of Brand USA, as our keynote speaker. In addition, two of our international contractors — representing the UK and Canada — will be available for 10-minute one-on-one partner sessions, alongside Charm Evans, VCB global sales manager. Those meetings are fully booked, a great sign of the strong interest in our international markets and the enthusiasm of our industry partners to connect and collaborate.

The morning will also include the presentation of the Junonia Award, which honors individuals who have positively impacted our tourism community through exceptional leadership, dedication and unique talents.

College basketball tourneys return 

Thanksgiving week brings the 8th annual Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off, Nov. 24-27, at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of FSW. The sold-out Michigan State vs. North Carolina matchup will be televised nationally on FOX Sports, while tickets remain for other games. Rounding out the tournament field are St. Bonaventure, East Carolina, Bowling Green, Bucknell, Buffalo and VMI.

The Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off, Nov. 28-29, also at FSW, features Butler, Dayton, Kansas, Georgia, Abilene Christian, Northwestern, Missouri and Bradley.

Plus, Coconut Hoops, formerly the Gulf Coast Showcase, will be at Alico Arena at FGCU with men's games Nov. 24-26 and women's games Nov. 28-30. Men's teams include Troy, Toledo, Belmont, Saint Francis, Kennesaw State, Rice, Oral Roberts and FGCU. Women's teams include Iowa State, Marquette, Indiana, Gonzaga, FSU, Missouri State, Oklahoma and Coppin State. 

Island Hopper recap
While final numbers for the 11th Island Hopper Songwriter Fest are still being tallied, early reports indicate:

• Food and beverage sales and room night generation were up across the board, providing a much-needed boost during a slow September.

• Attendance reached 14,828, a 39% increase over 2024.

• Nine ticketed events were held — eight sold out.

• Weather was near perfect, with only two brief rain showers during the 10-day event.

Save the date: Sept. 18–27, 2026

A season of thankfulness
As we approach the Thanksgiving season, I’m reminded of the incredible resilience and hospitality of our tourism community. Each of you plays an important role in sharing the beauty, warmth and welcoming spirit of Southwest Florida with visitors from around the world. Thank you for your continued partnership, collaboration and dedication to keeping our destination thriving.

Our hearts go out to the people of Jamaica as they recover from Hurricane Melissa. Here in Southwest Florida, we understand the long road to rebuilding after a storm. 

You asked, we delivered: Stage Lights & City Nights Sweepstakes

Thank you to our partners participating in Stage Lights & City Nights Sweepstakes. This fall promotion features a two-night stay at Luminary Hotel & Co., plus dining and arts experiences.

This campaign grew from our August listening sessions, where partners expressed interest in joint promotions. The sweepstakes is running on VisitFortMyers.com, email and social media, and each entry expands our reach to potential visitors.

We look forward to more collaborations, so keep the ideas coming.

84.7% of hotels in Lee County are open for business

Dashboard now includes visitors response to survey

Explore the Symphony dashboard, developed by the VCB in partnership with Tourism Economics. The dashboard combines all our destination data sources to make data insights more user-friendly and interactive.

New to the dashboard: We recently added a Visitor Profile and Economic Impact Summary section to the dashboard (see above) that shows how visitors view our destination.

Key insights:

• Hotel performance: Hotel room supply and demand increased year-over-year in August by 11.1% and 8.5%, respectively, with revenue up 15.9% compared to August 2024, totaling $26.4 million. Source: STR
  
  
• Visitor behavior: Visitors averaged a 5.1-day length of stay in August 2025 with over 53.1% of them being repeat visitors. Overnight stays accounted for 88.3% of visits with 67.4% originating from more than 500 miles away. Source: Near
  
  
• Booking pace: Total rooms sold in September were down 10.2% year-over-year. October’s total booking pace is slightly down at 0.5% compared to the same time last year. Source: Amadeus
  
  
• Visitor spending: Domestic Visa card spending reached $88.3 million, a 13.6% increase over last year in August 2025. International Visa card spending increased by 4.2%, totaling $6.5 million. Source: Visa Destination Insights
  

New VCB staff: Nyell Philp, Visitor Services coordinator

The VCB welcomes Nyell Philp as its new Visitor Services coordinator.

In this role, Nyell will use her customer service skills to assist visitors and the traveling public at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW).

Nyell most recently worked with Lee County Parks & Recreation at the Wa-Ke Hatchee Park and Recreation Center where she planned and managed summer camp events, after-school programs and coordinated event volunteers.

Prior to her role at Parks & Rec, Nyell served as a human resources and customer service manager at Target with a strong commitment to both internal team development and external customer satisfaction.

Originally from Long Island, New York, Nyell moved to Lee County as a child and has loved this area ever since. She especially enjoys outdoor activities like walks on the beach and exploring our beautiful parks.

Currently, Nyell is pursuing her associate’s degree in business management part time at Florida SouthWestern State College.

Nancy MacPhee and Candice Coco celebrate 35 and 15 years of service

Kind Traveler provides guests a way to give back

The VCB is proud to be the first destination marketing organization in Florida to partner with Kind Traveler, a socially conscious booking platform that gives back to the community. This collaboration supports several of our local conservation partners. 

Confirmed participating hotels and their associated nonprofit partners include: 

• Sanibel Siesta Beach Resort and CROW
  
• Sea Gypsy Vacation Rentals and Keep Lee County Beautiful
• 'Tween Waters Inn & Marina and CROW

Lodging partners are encouraged to join the launch of Kind Traveler’s Every Stay Gives Back program and showcase your property’s commitment to Lee County’s future.

As part of the program, your property will be featured on this landing page. 

Captiva Island Inn kicks off construction and other news

• Construction begins on new Captiva Island Inn
  
  
• Lee Civic Center complex will become Mike Greenwell Regional Park
  
  
• Cape Coral Yacht Club cost estimated at $225 million 
  
  
• Excitement builds over Fort Myers Beach Pier project
  
  
• Sanibel to host its second Love Sanibel Community Gathering on Nov. 2
  
  
• The science and spirit of Six Mile Cypress Slough
  
  
• Mucky Duck rebuild clears key hurdle on Captiva Island
  

• Sanibel-themed board game gets local preview Dec. 10
  
  
• Babcock Ranch sets model for eco-friendly growth
  
  
• Fort Myers Beach's Times Square to get first new building post-Hurricane Ian
  
  
• New machine learning model predicts red tide in Southwest Florida
  
  
• Lee Co. may rebuild Ian-damaged site once home to Florida's largest shrimping fleet
  
  
• Changes may affect out-of-county and out-of-state use for those using LeeWay transponders
  
  
• Fort Myers eyes revival of historic Hall of 50 States
  
  
• Fort Myers reviews marketing plan for culinary district
  
  
• Green Cup Cafe returns to downtown Fort Myers
  
  
• La Ola Surfside closes Bell Tower restaurant in south Fort Myers
  
  
• Raising Cane's plans first Southwest Florida location
  
  
• Bonita Fish Co. set to open Nov. 3 at Fisherman's Wharf
  
  
• Horizon Council gives awards to businesses of the year

The Bubble Room

Industry partners interested in participating in the Industry Partner Spotlight should contact Ray Sarracino, VCB communications director, for consideration. 

Domestic sales activities

Rotating photos include:

• (Photos 1-2) Smart Woman Summit & Awards Gala, Sept. 11-12: Erin Lester, VCB, attended the Smart Woman Summit and Gala, hosted by Smart Meetings, which brings together top female leaders in the meetings industry. She was honored with the Stellar Performer Award, recognizing her achievements and helping raise Lee County’s visibility within the meetings community.

• (Photos 3-4) Tallahassee Sales Calls & Client Event, Sept. 24-25: Erin Lester and Jami Smith, VCB, welcomed meeting planner clients during a KitchenAble event with partners Tamara Parker, Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa, and Cathy Lazarus, Margaritaville Fort Myers Beach. The event strengthened relationships and encouraged future engagement.

• (Photo 5) Association of Meeting Professionals, Sept. 29: Betsy Bush, VCB, connected with Brendon Winters, Freeman Exhibit Services, at this networking and awards event in Alexandria, Virginia, honoring the unsung heroes of the industry.

VCB's Jennifer Walla named to TravelPulse 40 Under 40 list

Congratulations to the VCB's Jennifer Walla for being selected for this year's TravelPulse 40 Under 40 list. 

This prestigious honor recognizes the achievements of young professionals who are making significant contributions to the travel industry.

Jennifer is Leisure Sales Coordinator for the VCB and has been with the team for 7.5 years. She trains travel advisors and cultivates relationships that elevate the destination. 

International sales activities

Rotating photos include:

• (Photos 1-2) Toronto Life/Hollywood North Opening Toronto International Film Festival, Toronto, Sept. 4: For the second consecutive year, Fort Myers served as the exclusive travel sponsor for the Hello! Canada & Toronto Life magazine Hollywood North Party, the official kickoff to the Toronto International Film Festival. Jeanette Faria, VCB Canada, hosted 30 key travel trade partners, media and influencer partners for a reception and presentation highlighting the 2025-26 winter season. Click here for coverage
  
  
• (Photo 3) Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors (ACTA) Toronto, Sept. 11: Jeanette Faria, VCB Canada, attended the summit breakout sessions and trade show component. There were over 500 travel advisors in attendance. 
  
  
• (Photo 4) Visit USA Switzerland Roadshow, Sept. 16-18: Nadia Bourgault, VCB Germany, participated in the annual roadshow across the five German-speaking cities throughout Switzerland. The event attracted over 100 travel agents.
  
  
• (Photo 5) Air Canada Vacations Product Launch, Montreal, Sept. 16: Jeanette Faria, VCB Canada, attended the sold-out event which had a record attendance of more than 1,300 travel advisors. 
  
  
• (Photos 6-7) VISIT FLORIDA’s Florida Huddle, London, Sept. 23: The VCB’s UK team represented the destination at the event's Signature Dinner in London, where Fort Myers was highlighted through a themed beverage inspired by the area's natural beauty. VISIT FLORIDA President & CEO Bryan Griffin joined a mixologist to craft the "Captiva Cooler," a refreshing drink inspired by the destination’s white-sand beaches and breathtaking sunsets. The evening provided a memorable opportunity to showcase the warmth and welcoming spirit of the Fort Myers area.
  
  
• (Photos 8-9) Selling Travel North America Events, London, England, Sept. 29: Charis McDowall, VCB UK, attended a speed-dating style training event for 40 London-based travel agents. 

November sales events

Communications team activities

Rotating photos include: 

• (Panel 1) Terry Ward, freelance, Oct. 4-5: Travel writer Terry Ward made a quick visit to the destination for an overnight family getaway on Cabbage Key. Capt. Brian Holaway took them to Cabbage Key and gave them a nature & history tour of Pine Island Sound along the way.
  Click here to see her coverage on Instagram.
  
  Thank you to our industry partners, who were also part of this visit, including:
  
  • MudBugs
  • Magic Bus Ice Cream & Caffeine
    
    

• (Panel 2) Lisa Hodge, The Scottish Sun, Oct. 14-17: In partnership with VISIT FLORIDA, travel writer Lisa Hodge and family experienced the destination, including a welcome dinner at Snug Harbor and a fishing excursion with Go & Get It Charters.
  
  Thank you to our industry partners, who were also part of this visit, including:

• • Bailey Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium
  • The Bubble Room
  • Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grill
  • The Green Flash Restaurant
  • J.N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge
  • The Original Cheeburger Cheeburger
  • Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina
  • Snug Harbor
  • Sundial Beach Resort & Spa
  • Tarpon Bay Explorers
    
    
• (Panel 3) Ana Paula Garrido, Oct. 17-19: The Brazilian travel writer for markets in Brazil & Canada made a stop at The Bubble Room on Captiva and Lovegrove Studios in downtown Fort Myers. 
  
  Thank you to our industry partners, who were also a part of this visit, including: 
  
  
  • Captiva Cruises
  • Edison and Ford Winter Estates
  • Fancy's Southern Kitchen
  • Kay Casperson Lifestyle Spa
  • Oxbow Bar & Grill
  • Sanibel Lighthouse
  • Sundial Beach Resort & Spa
    
    
• (Panel 4) Paul Rubio, Conde Nast Traveler, Oct. 19-21: Freelance travel writer Paul Rubio visited Boca Grande and experienced The Gasparilla Inn for coverage in an upcoming issue of Conde Nast Traveler. 
  
  
• (Panel 5) VISIT FLORIDA Domestic Media Mission, Oct. 13-16: Miriam Dotson, VCB, was part of a six-destination media mission that visited Nashville and New York City and met with domestic travel media. Media in these markets had the opportunity to try Florida-inspired bites and interactive experiences, including a flower-bouquet activity that showcased the tropical climate with blooms sourced straight from the Sunshine State.

2 new Shellcast podcast episodes feature Tony Lapi's new book & Fort Myers Tip-Off Preview

Communications team earned media results

November paid media placements

In FY25/26 Q1, we are focused on driving winter visitation to the destination through a mix of traditional video, display, print and native advertising, complemented by rich media, enewsletters and dedicated email. Here is a snapshot of our upcoming paid media placements launching in November. 

Consumer

• Tripadvisor – display
• Expedia – display
• Sojern – display

Meetings, weddings, travel trade:

• TravelDesk, meeting planners – rich media, display
• TravelDesk, travel advisors & weddings – display
• Corporate & Incentive Travel, meeting planners – dedicated email
• Northstar Meetings Group, meeting planners – dedicated email
• Association Convention & Facilities, meeting planners – print, dedicated email, display, enewsletter
• Florida Trend, meeting planners – print
• Northstar Travel Weekly, travel advisors – print, webinar
• FSAE Source, meeting planners – native
• Meetings Today, meeting planners – display

Visitor Services activities

Where in Southwest Florida have our Tourism Ambassadors been?

They enjoyed their visits to:

• Big City Kids
• Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Bonita Springs
• Edison and Ford Winter Estates

A big thank you to our destination industry partner for hosting our volunteers.

Go out and support these TDC-funded events

ECHO International Agriculture Conference, Nov. 11-13

Edison and Ford Winter Estates celebrates 50 years of Holiday Nights with Golden Jubilee, Nov. 28-Jan. 4

35th Annual American Sand Sculpting Championship, Fort Myers Beach, Nov. 20-24