Dear Industry Partners,

The end of the year means only one thing: it’s time for Football in Paradise! Join us in welcoming the players, families, staff, bands, cheerleaders and fans of Vanderbilt University and University of Iowa to town for the ReliaQuest Bowl. Join us for a fun-filled Beach Day on Clearwater Beach on Monday, Dec. 29. And, most importantly, no snow or freezing temperatures forecasted for the showdown between the Commodores and Hawkeyes here in the Tampa Bay area.

Don’t forget to sign up for our Annual Industry Partner Summit coming up in early January (link below). This year, we’re taking the show on road to a venue near you. Check out the options and sign up for the location closest to you. We look forward to connecting with you to celebrate our successes, and more importantly, share our strategic roadmap for the year ahead. Don’t forget to RSVP. See you all there!

Lastly, and on behalf of all the Visit St. Pete-Clearwater staff, Happy Holidays! We encourage everyone to enjoy the seasonal fun and attend the many wonderful events happening throughout Pinellas County, from dazzling light displays at the gardens and festive boat parades, to some of our attractions and venues uniquely themed with the holiday spirit. Let’s take the time to celebrate, both with our friends and family, and everything that we achieved together to make St. Pete-Clearwater the incredible destination that it is. 

Visit St. Pete-Clearwater is conducting a resident-focused survey to better understand how residents perceive tourism in their community.  

As a valued member of our community, we’re asking you to share this opportunity with your networks. Help shape the future of tourism in our region - input will directly inform how Visit St. Pete-Clearwater plans for community-minded tourism growth.

Let’s make sure the voices of our residents are heard loud and clear.

Thank you for supporting a thriving, balanced Pinellas County!

The VisitSPC Activations Team offers opportunities for partners to join – for free – at events in the destination throughout the year. Interested partners can check out all the great events lined up and submit their requests by Friday, Jan. 9, 2026 to be considered for their events of interest. These opportunities are based on availability and require approval from the organizer.

For a list of planned activations or for more information, please email Craig Campbell to learn more.

VisitSPC just returned from Germany – one of the destination’s top overseas key markets, successfully completing a strategic Sales and Media Mission in Hamburg, Hanover, Frankfurt and Berlin. Pinellas County Commission Chair Brian Scott, VisitSPC President/CEO Brian Lowack, International Leisure Sales Director Andrea Gabel and Public Relations Director Jason Latimer engaged with leaders from key tour operators along with other tourism professionals, airline partners as well as members of the media, promoting St. Pete-Clearwater to a vital European market for the destination. 

On Nov 13, the VisitSPC Communications team joined VISIT FLORIDA's Media Mission in Mexico City. Mexico City is a vital international market for our destination, and the event allowed us to engage with 30 media outlets and content creators, creating an opportunity to individually connect and present relevant story ideas to promote the destination. 

Vote for Dunedin, nominated as one of America’s Favorite Small Towns by Parade

Vote for Opal Sol, nominated by USAToday's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards under the Best New Hotel category

Opal Sol

Best New Hotel

Join us in welcoming Meetings & Conferences Sales Manager, Kate Postle to the St. Pete-Clearwater team! Kate, who will manage opportunities from markets in the Midwest, joins us with years of meeting planning experience, with both third party meeting planners and corporate meeting planners.

The remarkable TDT collection in Pinellas County for fiscal year 2025 was covered in the following news stories: 

The Tampa Bay Times covered the funding approval for Clearwater's Eddie C. Moore Complex, The Palladium at St. Petersburg College, Clearwater Beach Marina, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Arts Center & Chihuly Collection.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/pinellas/2025/11/18/clearwater-gets-156-million-pinellas-marina-softball-complex/

Fused Magazine (UK) has published a feature on the Lucy Sparrow FloridaRAMA pop up shop:

https://www.fusedmagazine.co.uk/felt-fantasies-in-florida-lucy-sparrow-lands-at-floridarama/

As a result of hosting journalist Divina Infusino this past Oct., Creators Syndicate published the following story about the St. Pete arts scene: St. Petersburg, Florida: An Art Scene Emerges in the Sunshine

It's the most wonderful time of the year for events in St. Pete-Clearwater. From Holiday Events and Boat Parades to Lights & Fireworks, be sure to check them out.

But before you do, remember to submit your event.

The Partner Portal is the gateway to updating your business listing and staff member directory, upload videos, photos, and special offers, share your social media channels, & so much more. Partners with questions about navigating the Partner Portal or that do not have a username or password to log in to the partner portal, can email Contact@VisitSPC.com.