|
to view this message in a browser window.
A Letter From President/CEO, Brian Lowack
I’m not sure we could have asked for more beautiful weather during our peak spring months, what a March! As we head into May, it’s a wonderful time of year to enjoy these milder temperatures by exploring the outdoors. While our destination may be best-known for our stunning beaches, people visiting Pinellas County have many options to connect with nature, embrace their inner adventurer and make strides towards a more active and healthier lifestyle.
May is National Bike Month and there is no better way to celebrate than by venturing out along the 75 miles of scenic paved trails through our destination. The collective Pinellas Trail and its many extensions offer an incredible way for residents and visitors to cycle their way into a nature adventure while also visiting many of our municipalities, as well as Fort De Soto and Honeymoon Island State Parks. And to beat the heat, stop for a cold brew at one of the many Gulp Coast breweries, easily accessible by the trail and the perfect pitstop for a refreshing thirst-quenching break.
But there is so much more! Our area offers a variety of outdoor activities, all available to boost mental and physical well-being. Nature enthusiasts can hike at our pristine nature preserves, enjoy a beach-side yoga session at sunset, zipline above treetops and paddle through our emerald-green waters as they kayak through mangroves. And the list goes on.
The natural beauty that surrounds us makes for picture-perfect filming locations and grounds for world-class sporting events. The Visit St. Pete-Clearwater team continues our unwavering commitment to highlight these beautiful attributes that make our destination shine.
Now, do yourself a favor this month: get out and enjoy the outdoors.
Dali Day Set for May 11!
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater is teaming up with The Dali Museum to celebrate what would have been the artist’s 120th birthday on Saturday, May 11. Special entry price and a birthday celebration are on hand for the big day with additional Dalinian-themed activities. If you are interested in joining in on the fun, please send us an email with how you plan to recognize the special day – either through a special rate/package, menu item, or activity.
Welcome Home!
This month, we welcomed some new friends to the Tampa Bay Area! The Clearwater Marine Aquarium welcomed a new river otter, Opie, to one side of the Otter Oasis habitat. CMA is thrilled for Opie to explore his new home! At ZooTampa, a rare and endangered Pygmy Hippo Calf was born! The birth marks the fifth endangered Pygmy Hippo calf born at the Zoo. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay also welcomed a critically endangered bornean orangutan. This birth is part of the park's participation in the Association of Zoos and Aquarium's Species Survival Plan, which aims at cooperatively managing and ensuring the survival of specific species populations.
15 Best White-Sand Beaches in the World
Congratulations to Clearwater Beach for making the list for the "15 Best White-Sand Beaches in the World" according to Travel + Leisure! This list ranges from the U.S., Italy, Maldives, Australia and more! Ranking in at #12, Clearwater Beach was referenced for its "beautiful Gulf of Mexico waters and white, sandy shores, making it perfect for water sports and sunbathing."
Arts Alive! Podcast with Lisa Dozois
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater's Film Commissioner Lisa Dozios, has been featured on the Arts Alive! Podcast by the St. Pete Catalyst. The conversation covered the history of movie-making in Florida, the benefits to city, county and region when filmmakers come to the area to work, and her role as the film commissioner.
New TPA - Amsterdam Nonstop Route Announced
Tampa International Airport and Delta Air Lines will offer nonstop seasonal service between Amsterdam and Tampa Bay starting this fall. The route is scheduled to start October 26 and run through March 29, 2025.
Cast Your Vote for USA TODAY 10Best Awards!
USA TODAY 10Best readers can vote on their favorites, once per day, from every device for the following categories:
Best Beach in Florida
Best Boat Tour
FRLA Training Opportunity
Join FRLA’s Pinellas & Hillsborough Chapters for this timely and entertaining program that provides not only an interactive multi-media experience but also immediate “take-home” action items to embrace the NEW workforce revolution in today’s challenging work environment. Deadline to register is May 24.
Submit Your Content!
Have a deal, discount, or special offer? Submit your deal to have a chance to be featured on the VSPC website!
Submit your events for the opportunity to be featured on VSPC's website and keep visitors up to date with the latest news and events across the destination!
The St. Pete-Clearwater Film Commission is a central resource for film, TV, commercial, and other digital media projects filming in the destination. Submit your location to be a part of their database for the opportunity to be scouted by professional Location Scouts and Producers looking for places to film their next project!
The Latin America Department and Brand Activations team collaborated with St. Pete Pride organizers, to attend Miami Beach Pride. The purpose of this activation was to engage the Miami Beach LGBTQ+ & LATAM audiences and encourage visitation for St. Pete Pride in June 2024 by curating a VIP package which festival goers in Miami Beach entered to win at the activation site.
Miami Beach Pride is a multi-day celebration of arts and culture including an incredible 2-day Festival and Parade, featuring special events, family-friendly community activations, social mixers and world-class entertainment. MBP is the leading LGBTQ+ cultural arts organization in South Florida regularly attracting 170K + attendees.
Advertising & Brand Activations
In conjunction with the Advertising and Brand Activations team, VSPC hosted a 20ft x 30ft activation at the Total Solar Eclipse event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on April 8. More than 50,000 guests from all 50 states as well as 33 different countries attended this event. The total eclipse was a rare once-in-a-lifetime event, we raised awareness through our activation how the sun is always shining in St. Pete/Clearwater and invited consumers to stop by our activation to experience a “Pit Stop in the St. Pete/Clearwater Sun” and learn about our amazing destination.
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater initiated its first “Name, image, and likeness” (NIL) deal in collaboration with Zach Edey, Purdue Boilermakers Men’s Basketball star. Leveraging Zach's status as a 2× National college player of the year (2023, 2024), Visit St. Pete-Clearwater capitalized on his strong personal brand displaying a life-size cut-out at the event to create heightened attention and photo opportunities in front of a beautiful beach backdrop. The event received a great amount of publicity with major news media outlets in attendance including CNN, ABC, and NBC News, among others.
Brand Ambassador Appreciation!
To celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Week our Brand Engagement Team highlighted Visit St. Pete-Clearwater's Brand Ambassadors by celebrating their time and dedication to our destination. The day started with a tour given by founder and president Peter Clark of Tampa Bay Watch to learn more about our ecofriendly initiatives in Pinellas County. Next was an enlightening tour of our St. Pete Fairgrounds and a celebratory picnic held at the new Hammock Hall at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve. It was an amazing time of fellowship and gratitude towards our Brand Ambassador team. If anyone is interested in joining the Brand Ambassador team please click here.
Global Travel & Leisure
The Global Travel & Leisure department attended the TravelBrands Agent Appreciation Events in Toronto and Montreal with about advisors 800 total. Other Florida destinations included VoX International (Visit Florida's Canadian Marketing Agency), Visit Tampa Bay, Greater Miami CVB, Visit Fort Myers, Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Studios Florida, Experience Kissimmee, and Visit Orlando. Since Canada is the largest international market for St. Pete/Clearwater, the Leisure Travel Department also attended the Ottawa Travel Show in the capital city.
LGBTQ+ Campaign in the UK
The UK team have officially kickstarted a month-long campaign with the UK’s most popular LGBTQ+ radio station, Gaydio! This involved presenters from Gaydio visiting St. Pete/Clearwater to experience the best of our area, and interview prominent LGBTQ+ figures, to show off the inclusive and diverse community that we have. Following a three hour show on Saturday, with interviews played to their 535,000 weekly listeners, a competition has been opened for listeners to try and win a 7-night holiday for two, to experience the destination for themselves.
|
|
