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A Letter From Our President/CEO, Brian Lowack
As we start 2024, we take a moment to appreciate our incredible partners in this destination and applaud together a wonderful 2023 which saw visitors occupy nearly six million hotel rooms throughout the fiscal year which equated to $1.6 billion in accommodations spending. And we’re not done yet - we’re just getting started.
We live, work, and play in one of the most sought out destination in the world and the team at Visit St. Pete/Clearwater knows we have a lot of work to do to continue to promote and celebrate this paradise we all call home.
Our area is teeming with special events and celebrations throughout the whole year to attract visitors near and far, starting right off the bat with this week's Epiphany celebration in Tarpon Springs followed shortly by the WWE Royal Rumble at Tropicana Field on Jan. 27. In 2024 St. Pete/Clearwater will celebrate some momentous anniversaries including the 100th year of the St. Pete Shuffleboard Club, and the 10th anniversary for both Sugar Sand Festival and SHINE Mural Festival! Our arts scene is thriving and our culinary options continue to grow with many new restaurants and entertainment options opening.
It's because of the hard work and dedication of our partners that we seek to work just as hard to promote you and all of Pinellas County.
Happy New Year and cheers to a great 2024!
2023 Marriott International Award Winners!
Congrats to Mainsail Lodging & Development for receiving two prestigious awards; the 2023 J.W. Marriott Jr. Guest Experience Award and Marriott Bonvoy Luminary Award, at Marriott International’s MINA & Full-Service Owners Conference!
Every Day We're Shufflin'
As the calendar turns over, we start the year with a special celebration. The St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, America's oldest and largest shuffleboard club, turns 100 this January! Visit St. Pete/Clearwater is joining the celebration with a special media event in January in New York City to promote the club's heritage and importance in our destination's culture.
WWE Royal Rumble Partner Assets
Looking to advertise for the 2023 WWE Royal Rumble? Check out our partner assets here to encourage visitors to book their stay in St. Pete/Clearwater! These assets highlight Downtown St. Pete, Tropicana Field, America's Best Beaches, and more!
16 Rescued Sea Turtles Land at CMA!
Clearwater Marine Aquarium saved the lives of 16 critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles on Dec. 5. These turtles were severely impacted by the frigid waters of New England, experiencing a condition known as ‘cold-stun’. The Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are the most endangered species of sea turtle, so saving 16 is very impactful to the species! CMA invites guests to visit these rescued sea turtles and witness their journey. Check out the full story here.
VSPC Hits The Airwaves
Have you heard us spreading the news? Visit St. Pete/Clearwater President/CEO Brian Lowack is conducting a series of interviews with WFLA 970 AM host Ryan Gorman touting the great benefits of tourism to our local economy. Check out past episodes and keep an ear out for the next episode in January when Brian is joined by Misty Wells, host of Let's Take it Outside.
St. Pete/Clearwater In The News
Once again, area beaches have been touted as some of the best, as this Condé Nast article Clearwater Beach, Fort De Soto and Caladesi Island. Additionally, the popular pop-culture site Thrillist called out St. Pete for its wonderfully eccentric culture.
St. Paddy's Day!
Do you have any plans to celebrate the luck of the Irish and go green during March? Please email us by Jan. 31 to let us know how you plan to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
Advertising & Brand Activations
To kick off the holiday season and encourage folks to add a trip to St. Pete/Clearwater to their Christmas list, over the first weekend of December the activations team headed north to the epicenter of holiday cheer: New York City!
Through a strategic integrated media partnership with iHeart Radio and their flagship New York City station, 106.7 Lite FM, we hit the streets of New York City alongside Visit St. Pete/Clearwater’s very own “Santa in the Sun” to remind our friends and travelers up north about the beautiful sunshine and endless adventures awaiting them along America’s Best Beaches!
From a guerrilla marketing tour to some of NYC’s top spots including Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and 5th Avenue, to a pop-up event at Lite-FM’s annual Skating in Central Park event on Dec. 3, it’s safe to say America’s Best Beaches are at the top of New Yorkers holiday list! As part of the campaign, we had a premier activation footprint at Central Park’s Wollman Rink where we encouraged attendees to take a picture with our “Santa in the Sun”, enter to win a trip giveaway to St. Pete/Clearwater for 2024 and spin to win free prizes including giveaway items from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
In total, the integrated partnership which spanned radio, podcast streaming, social media, public relations, and influencer marketing reached millions of potential travelers, including 2,000+ attendees at the event!
Community Relations
Visit St. Pete Clearwater is anticipating an exciting year ahead! VSPC invites you to activate with us at events throughout the year, at no cost to you! Jull fill out your information here and indicate areas of interest. These opportunities are based on availability and at the discretion of Visit St. Pete Clearwater. Deadline is Jan. 5.
Visit St. Pete/Clearwater was at CMA's special ceremony to unveil Winter's Garden on Dec. 21, hearing wonderful stories of inspiration and remembering Winter's legacy.
Digital & Data
As 2024 begins, the Digital & Data team have new creative ads in the market! These ads include Expedia Display Ads showcasing beaches and activities in our destination, a Peacock Pause Ad in partnership with NBCUniversal to tap into streaming services, and Nativo articles, using ‘Best Beaches’ and ‘Family Itinerary’ topics to reach our audience through content. Other digital partnerships include, Tripadvisor, Hopper, Undertone, Kargo, and Teads.
Film Commission
‘Tis the busy season at the Visit St. Pete/Clearwater Film Commission! Recent productions include brand photo shoots for DICK’S Sporting Goods, Chevy, Yamaha, and Equipeur, commercials filmed for Bristol Myers, Spectrum, and Vigoro Home Depot, and our beautiful parks have been backdrops for several holiday-themed photo sessions.
Reality TV shows such as HGTV’s Beachfront Bargain Hunt Renovation and House Hunters: All Stars also filmed in Largo, St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg and Clearwater. On Dec. 30, the series First-Time Buyers Club on OWN premiered featuring much of Pinellas County.
Film Festival season is in full swing in Pinellas County. The Sunshine City Film Festival runs Jan. 6 - Jan. 15 at various venues in St. Petersburg. The St. Pete edition of the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (TIGLIFF) takes place Jan. 25 - Jan. 28 at Green Light Cinema. The Dunedin International Film Festival kicks off Feb. 1 in Downtown Dunedin. For passes, scheduled and more information about these and other upcoming local film festivals, check out the Film Commission Website!
Latin America
To close out 2023, LATAM hosted the Ladevi Argentina trade media with Brian Lowack, showcasing St. Pete/Clearwater as a destination for all audiences! The team also hosted Almundo Argentina, marketing clients from the CVC Corp. Group.
In other exciting news, VSPC collaborated with Tampa International Airport to celebrate Copa Airlines’ 10th anniversary of nonstop service between TPA and Panama!
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