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12/13/24

A Message From President/CEO Brian Lowack

What a remarkable difference a month makes. It has been nothing short of incredible to see our community roll up their sleeves and work around the clock to get the destination back up and running in the wake of last month’s storms. With businesses resuming operations, exciting events taking place, America's Favorite Beaches welcoming visitors, and through remarkable stories of resilience, St. Pete-Clearwater is Still Shining.

While each of you have been working hard to get your business back on track, our team has been busy showcasing our culinary scene at the NYC Wine & Food Festival, strengthening and developing our business relationships at Brand USA's Travel Week in London, and celebrating the return of Delta's flight from Amsterdam to Tampa, as well as sales and trade events in Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., Mexico, Brazil and Colombia. We understand the importance of driving visitation as quickly as possible and so have expanded our “Still Shining” advertising campaign, locally, nationally and internationally.

I want you to know that Visit St. Pete-Clearwater has your back, and is committed to making sure domestic and international visitors know that St. Pete-Clearwater is Still Shining.

Story Highlight: Grove Surf Café

Grove Surf Cafe in St. Pete Beach faced unexpected storm damage and the team, friends, family, and volunteers are hard at work to reopen. Meanwhile, their Indian Rocks Beach location has offered a comforting sense of routine, with loyal customers stopping by!

Watch their inspiring story by clicking on the image.

You won’t be able to miss our Still Shining billboards going up this week all over the Greater Tampa Bay region - stretching north into Pasco County, south to Bradenton and east out to Lakeland - letting the area know we are ready to welcome them back to America’s Favorite Beaches.

Tom Jewsbury was named this year’s Aviation Professional of the Year by the Florida Department of Transportation at the 2024 55th Annual Florida Airports Council Conference.

Devoting his entire career to the airport industry, Tom celebrates his 30^th year at the St.Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), serving the last nine years as Executive Director.

Congratulations, Tom! 

St. Pete-Clearwater Shines Bright in London

We brought a taste of sunshine and beach vibes to London during Brand USA Travel Week. Our 70+ meetings with key industry players highlighted why St. Pete-Clearwater is Still Shining and remains a top destination for international travelers. In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the St. Pete Shuffleboard Club, we hosted a shuffleboard soirée at Electric Shuffle in downtown London, connecting with 50+ new friends and partners in our vital UK market.

Visit St. Pete Clearwater was in Amsterdam to commemorate the return of the Delta Air Lines nonstop service from Schiphol International Airport (AMS) to Tampa International Airport (TPA). The seasonal route, originally offering service through May, has now extended to bring visitors from Eastern Europe four times in a week through October!

Visit St. Pete-Clearwater made a splash at the prestigious New York City Wine & Food Festival! As a presenting sponsor, we hosted a media and meetings VIP networking session, showcasing our award-winning beaches and vibrant dining scene.

Our activation was a hit with attendees, including celebrity food stylists like Marc Murphy and Scot Louie. The America's Best Beaches Lounge, Let's Shine selfie station, and signature cocktails were a huge draw, reminding our top out-of-state market why St. Pete-Clearwater is the perfect destination for a foodie getaway.

FilmSPC Launches Updated Incentive Program

St. Pete-Clearwater Film Commission’s Screen Industry Incentive Program is live and accepting applications. The cash rebate incentive combined with our picturesque locations, production-friendly communities and skilled crew make Pinellas County a premier destination for film, TV and digital media production. Program highlights include:

• Increased base incentive to 15% of qualified local spend with potential uplifts up to 30%
• Increased per project cap to $300,000
• Expanded eligible project types
• Simplified program objective: drive tourism and effectively promote Pinellas County

Cast your votes!

The Florida Botanical Gardens have been nominated in USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards under the Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights category. Cast your vote today - deadline is Dec. 2!

Congratulations to our destination hotels nominated among the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2025! The overall destination is also nominated as one of the Top Cities in the U.S. and Tampa International Airport among the best airports. By completing a survey, you are entered to win a trip giveaway. 

Hotels available to support: Clearwater Marriott Suites on Sand Key Fenway Hotel JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa Opal Sands Resort Sandpearl Resort The Don CeSar The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach

Click here to vote. Entries accepted through Feb. 24.

St. Pete-Clearwater, Still Shining!

The St. Pete-Clearwater community is strong and resilient. 

Click on the Still Shining image to download and show your support. 

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