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A spring training matchup between the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins brings big-league energy to Fort Myers. The game was played at Lee Health Sports Complex/Hammond Stadium, the Twins’ spring home, while the Red Sox play their home games at nearby JetBlue Park.
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Busy month with spring training, SWFL Ag Expo
Spring training is in full swing in Fort Myers, where the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins once again call our community home for the preseason. As members of baseball’s Grapefruit League, the Red Sox take the field at JetBlue Park while the Twins play at the Lee Health Sports Complex at Hammond Stadium.
The two teams will close out spring training facing each another at Hammond Stadium on March 24.
This marks the Twins’ 36th season in Fort Myers. The Red Sox have trained here since 1993, spending their first 19 seasons at City of Palms Park before moving to JetBlue Park.
Spring training coincides with our busiest and most vibrant time of year. We are grateful for our industry partners whose warm welcomes and outstanding hospitality create memorable experiences for visitors escaping winter up north. Here’s to a strong season on and off the field.
Southwest Florida Ag Expo wraps up March 8
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The Southwest Florida Ag Expo is underway at Mike Greenwell Regional Park, carrying this year’s theme, “Roots ’n’ Rides: A Celebration of Tradition.” The annual event's theme honors the area’s agricultural heritage while delivering thrills, entertainment and food for all ages. The VCB's own Miriam Dotson serves again this year as spokesperson for the event.
Together, these signature events showcase the energy, heritage and hospitality that define our destination this time of year, creating meaningful experiences for both residents and visitors alike. For a complete schedule of events, special promotions, ticket information and entertainment details, visit www.swflagexpo.com or follow the SWFL Ag Expo on Facebook at www.facebook.com/swflagexpo.
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TDC welcomes Scott Safford as new member
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The Lee Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) recently appointed Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Scott Safford to the Lee County Tourist Development Council (TDC).
Safford will serve as an ex-officio member of the TDC.
Safford and his wife, Jacki Liszak, president/CEO of Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, are the owners of Sea Gypsy Vacation Rentals on Fort Myers Beach. They have owned this rental company since 2012.
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“Scott has a deep connection to Fort Myers Beach and a strong grasp of how tourism impacts our local community,” said Cecil Pendergrass, who chairs the Lee Board of County Commissioners and the TDC. “That combination of community involvement and industry knowledge will serve the TDC well.”
The nine voting seats of the TDC are composed of three elected officials, three representatives from accommodations collecting the tourist tax and three representatives from tourism-related industries, as directed by Florida Statutes.
In 2022, the BoCC voted to add four ex-officio nonvoting seats to allow each of the municipalities a seat on the TDC. These four additional members represent the incorporated municipalities not currently serving on the TDC in one of the two municipal rotating seats.
The TDC was established as an advisory board to the BoCC in 1983 to increase off-season tourism in Lee County.
For more information about the TDC, visit leevcb.com and leegov.com/bocc
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Lee County VCB promotes Amanda Auer to Director of Operations
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The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) is pleased to announce the promotion of Amanda Auer to Director of Operations.
Since joining the VCB in 2012 as an administrative assistant, Auer has advanced through multiple positions within the operations department, consistently expanding her responsibilities and impact.
In her new role, Auer will supervise the operations team, oversee the VCB's fiscal department and budget processes, and provide executive-level operations support.
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Her responsibilities include managing the organization's compliance with Destinations International standards to maintain DMO accreditation, serving as liaison to the Tourist Development Council (TDC), and supervising TDC meetings and tourist tax collection analysis.
Auer holds a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
She lives in Fort Myers with her husband, Mike, their twin daughters and three dogs — two doodles and a retired greyhound.
To connect with Auer, reach out to her at aauer@leegov.com.
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Industry Partner Survey: What's in the works for America's 250th? Let us know!
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This year, the U.S. will celebrate its 250th anniversary. The VCB is gathering input from our tourism & hospitality partners to find out what’s being planned and how we can support destination-wide efforts.
Deadline to take the survey is March 6. Thank you for your input.
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It's forever home time for those adopted mangroves
If you adopted a mangrove at our Annual Meeting back in November, it’s time for the next exciting step — planting it in its forever home.
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Kind Traveler provides guests a way to give back
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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:
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Recent property ribbon cuttings & news items
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Industry partners: Score big this summer with a spot on the World Cup deals page
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Want to be part of the VCB's World Cup deals page? Industry partners are invited to submit special offers by contacting the VCB's Angela Mitchell, content marketing manager, at amitchell2@leegov.com
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Threshold 360 offers free filming of your business
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The VCB has partnered with Threshold 360 to offer free filming of your tourism business for a virtual tour.
Limited spaces are available so don't miss out on this amazing opportunity. Contact the VCB's Alison Giesen, destination development coordinator, at agiesen@leegov.com
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International sales activities
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Ferien-Messe Wien, Vienna, Austria, Jan. 15-18: The German VCB team attended this consumer fair with about 86,000 visitors in attendance over four days, representing a 21% increase compared to last year.
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Domestic sales activities
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Rotating photos include:
- (Photos 1-2) American Bus Association (ABA) Marketplace, Jan. 10-13: Candice Cocco, VCB, represented the destination at ABA’s 100th anniversary marketplace in Reno, Nevada, connecting with motorcoach and group travel buyers from across the country.
- (Photos 3-4) Professional Conference Managers Association (PCMA) Convening Leaders, Jan. 11-14: Betsy Bush, VCB, met with association planners in Philadelphia at PCMA, one of the leading conferences for the meetings market.
- (Photo 5) SmithBucklin Presentation, Jan. 22: Lauren Hyps, VCB, joined six Florida destinations for a Florida Road Trip-themed luncheon presentation in Chicago.
- (Photo 6) Simon Malls – Coconut Point Lunch and Learn, Jan. 22: The VCB team joined industry partners for a lunch and learn at Coconut Point focused on group business opportunities.
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Communications team activities
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Rotating panels include:
- (Panel 1) Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure & Conde Nast Traveler, Feb. 5-7: From left, Olivia Honaker and her mother and travel writer Carrie Honaker, took a guided tour of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve with volunteer Theresa Roake. She also took a guided tour of Edison and Ford Winter Estates with Breanna Alexander, marketing & public relations coordinator. Honaker has already filed "The Best Places to Live in Florida for Beach Bums, Nature Lovers and History Buffs" for Conde Nast Traveler. Her T+L assignments include a Fort Myers destination guide, best quiet beach towns and best weekend getaways. Previously, she wrote a guide to Bonita Springs for Travel + Leisure.
- (Panel 2) Holger Jacobs, fvw|TravelTalk, Feb. 5-8: German travel editor Holger Jacobs experienced a sunrise from the rooftop of Shalimar Beach Resort, toured the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium and enjoyed lunch at Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille with the VCB's Miriam Dotson.
- (Panel 3) Allison Arthur, Dishing Jackson Hole & Park City, Feb. 8-11: Allison Arthur takes a culinary focus during her visit and takes a photo of a lobster roll during her lunch at Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille on Sanibel and another photo of stoned crab claws. Her visit was in support of Delta's new flight from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW).
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Communications team earned media results
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March paid media placements
Our March launches will wrap up our spring flight with a variety of media placements targeting consumer, meeting planners, travel advisors, weddings and international audiences aimed at driving spring and summer travel.
Below is a snapshot of our upcoming paid media placements launching this month:
Consumer
- Midwest Golf Magazine – dedicated email
- WGCU – video
Meetings, weddings, travel trade:
- Expedia TAAP – custom content
- Florida Trend – print, enewsletter
- Honeyfund – dedicated emails, social
International – Canada
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Visitor Services activities
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Our volunteer Tourism Ambassadors assisted at ArtFest Fort Myers.
Where in Southwest Florida have our Tourism Ambassadors been? They enjoyed their visit and learned all about the Drury Inn & Suites Fort Myers Airport FGCU and Sun Harvest Citrus.
We are truly thankful to our industry partners for hosting our volunteers.
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VCB's Crystal Wanke earns National Instructional Design Certification
Crystal Wanke, VCB customer service hospitality specialist, recently completed her Instructional Design Certification at the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers Conference in New Orleans. The nationally recognized program strengthens her expertise in learning strategy and training evaluation, enhancing the continued growth of our Guests First Customer Service Training Program and supporting our commitment to delivering exceptional service destinationwide.
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Go out and support these TDC-funded events
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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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