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A Message From President/CEO Brian Lowack
The holidays are right around the corner and, with the change in weather and some decorations already in place, it is perfectly evident that St. Pete-Clearwater is Still Shining. Now more than ever, we wanted to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude and celebrate your continued partnership.
While the year draws to a close, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater has remained steadfast about spreading the news about our destination. A recent highlight was the hosting of Brazilian travel agents, which provided an incredible opportunity to showcase the beauty and diversity of our destination as well as celebrating their annual sales event. The meetings team, in partnership with our accommodations partners, has been visiting events in key markets in the U.S. and engaging with clients to ensure our destination remains top-of-mind for meetings, conventions and events. And we were able to meet virtually with more than 75 tour operators in the UK to let them know we are Still Shining and our beaches are eager to welcome them back!
Arriving air service to the Tampa Bay area continues to expand internationally. Increased airlift from Canada is set to bringing more of our neighboring visitors to our shores, while Delta Airlines extended its air service from Amsterdam to TPA – for a second time – now connecting our destination to Eastern European travelers through October.
Our destination’s sunshine will make its way to the Winter Village in Toronto, where VisitSPC will be part of this year’s activation and engage with members of the media and travel professionals. Additionally, we are excited to officially launch our new partnership with Ripe, allowing visitors to plan – and book – their travels to our destination directly on VisitSPC’s website.
We look forward to working together to make 2024 another successful year for St. Pete-Clearwater & cannot wait for what’s ahead in 2025.
Still Shining Story Highlight:
Sloppy Joe's on the Beach
Still Shining Story Highlight:
Sunken Gardens
Sloppy Joe’s on the Beach is Still Shining, and has emerged stronger than ever. The beloved restaurant, located at the Bilmar Beach Resort, quickly bounced back thanks to the resilience of its dedicated staff and the unwavering support of the community.
Sloppy Joe’s, built on a raised foundation, received a passionate team that quickly mobilized to clear debris and prepare the restaurant for reopening. Within 48 hours, the doors were open, and the warm, familiar atmosphere was ready as always to welcome guests.
St. Pete’s beloved Sunken Gardens has bloomed and emerged more vibrant than ever. The gardens, renowned for their lush tropical plants and serene ambiance, suffered significant damage from the storms. However, through the combined efforts of staff and volunteers, the debris was cleared, and the paths were restored. Sunken Gardens is Still Shining and welcomes visitors to experience its renewed beauty.
Click on the image to hear from curator Dwayne Biggs about the gardens' story of resilience and renaissance.
Don't forget to RSVP for our Annual Industry Partner Summit!
Allegiant Airlines is adding a new non-stop route from Colorado Springs (COS) to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) starting in February 2025. This expansion will increase the airline's network to 51 cities and its direct connections to 66 destinations.
Delta Air Lines nonstop seasonal service between Amsterdam and Tampa Bay, which started service on Oct. 26 has extended into October 2025. The extension further expands the window of opportunity for travelers looking to make summer vacations and selecting the Tampa Bay region as their next destination.
Porter Airlines announced expanded service from Canada to Tampa International Airport (TPA) this winter season. New destinations include Ottawa (YOW), which already started on Nov. 22 offering up to 4 flights per week, as well as Halifax (YHZ), starting Dec. 5th and operating 3 flights per week.
Porter is also doubling its service from Toronto (YYZ), offering twice-daily flights starting Dec. 13.
WestJet has just announced a brand-new seasonal nonstop flight from Tampa International Airport (TPA) to Vancouver, British Columbia (YVR). This new route will start on June 14, 2025, and run weekly on Saturdays through October 25, 2025.
Additionally, WestJet has expanded service from TPA to Calgary from seasonal to year round.
Introducing the New (and Free) Booking Engine on VisitSPC.com - Launching Soon!
| VisitSPC will shortly introduce an exciting new partnership with Ripe, a platform that will encourage travelers planning their next trip to St. Pete-Clearwater to book their stay directly on our website |
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Visit St. Pete-Clearwater hosted a group of 26 travel agents in a familiarization tour to experience the destination firsthand, providing them with valuable insights and knowledge to effectively promote and sell St. Pete-Clearwater to their clients.
Additionally, BWT Operadora – part of the familiarization tour - celebrated their annual sales awards ceremony in St. Pete-Clearwater, marking the first time in three years where the prestigious event takes place in the U.S. The Sales Awards recognizes the agencies that had outstanding performance throughout the year.
A new year awaits with multiple events and opportunities for partners to join, at no cost to you. Contact the VSPC Activations Team by submitting your requests here and indicate events of interest. These opportunities are based on availability/discretion of VSPC and subject to organizer approval. Deadline is Friday, Dec. 13.
Contact Craig Campbell to learn more about attending an upcoming VisitSPC-supported event.
In our recent efforts to attract more meetings and events to St. Pete-Clearwater, the Meetings Team has been actively engaging with key clients in Dallas, Austin, Washington D.C., and Maryland. With the support of our partners, such as The Don CeSar, Sheraton Sand Key Resort, and Tradewinds Island Grand Resort, we've been highlighting the unique offerings of our destination and building strong relationships with potential clients.
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater partnered with Travelzoo, a global deals publisher with 30 million members worldwide, to promote our region and help drive more visitors to our hotels and attractions. We will have a Partner Promotion page on their website and will be promoted on their media network from Jan. 13 through March 30, 2025.
Through Dec. 12, 2024, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater Partners have the opportunity to submit an offer for consideration, for a chance to be included on this dedicated page.
Space on the page is limited, but we encourage you to fill out the partner submission form or speak to your existing client team. Offer approval will be limited. Incomplete offer submissions will be disregarded. If you have any questions, contact Camille Guzman at cguzman@travelzoo.com.
Participate in a survey providing feedback on waterborne transportation services in Tampa Bay for a chance to win a $250 gift card! Forward Pinellas is seeking feedback from individuals whether you have ridden ferry services in the Tampa Bay area or not and is looking at ways to improve future services in the area.
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.
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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
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Click here to vote. Entries accepted through Feb. 24.
St. Pete-Clearwater, Still Shining!
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