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Dear Partners,
With Phillies and Jays gear all around us, the roar of engines zipping through the streets of St. Pete, the softball mitts popping in Clearwater and the return of spring break visitors throughout the county, it’s so exciting to see (and hear) our destination spring into action – literally – as residents and visitors alike experience St. Pete-Clearwater!
Even more important are the financial contributions this season brings to our local shops, restaurants, hotels and experience providers through millions of dollars in direct spend but also enormous tax contributions that get immediately reinvested into cities and infrastructure throughout the county, and ultimately leading to thousands of dollars in annual property tax savings for Pinellas County households.
We continue to have a lot to celebrate with Clearwater Beach regaining its title as the best beach in Florida and one of the best in the world by Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice. And we celebrate the return of the iconic Seahorse Restaurant in Pass-a-Grille and the inauguration of The Royal Ballroom at The Don CeSar.
While this local excitement takes center stage, VisitSPC hasn't skipped a beat in promoting our slice of paradise on the world stage. As I write this, our International Sales team and Communications team are bringing the St. Pete-Clearwater sunshine to ITB Berlin to connect with global trade professionals, agents, operators, and media. And later this month, our efforts will shift to Latin America, as we continue to grow and strengthen our presence in Brazil and Mexico, two key markets for our region.
I encourage you all to get out there and embrace this spectacular event season, support our local partners, enjoy the outdoors and the current spectacular weather, and enjoy everything that makes us the home to America’s Favorite Beaches & so much more.
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VisitSPC Partners with Wheel the World |
VisitSPC partnered with Wheel the World Academy to offer an online training program designed for tourism professionals to improve accessibility, and understand the needs of people with disabilities
This online training program ($150 value) is available to our partners free of charge!
Completing this program will completely transform the way you welcome your guests! This opportunity is available to any employee of your organization wanting to learn more. Upon completion, they will they earn a certificate and, for a limited time, VisitSPC will proudly offer a free pair of tickets to Sugar Sand Festival for the first 75 who complete the training prior to March 27.
To receive a link for the training and to get started, please email Kylie Diaz at Kylie@visitspc.com.
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2026 Cooperative Advertising Program |
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SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENDED: March 6 |
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Tourism partners have the opportunity to participate in top-performing campaigns across social, digital, email and print platforms — leveraging collective buying power to maximize reach and efficiency.
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- Download the 2026 Cooperative Advertising Program Media Kit here
- Submit your program selections by Friday, March 6 at 11:59 p.m. ET here
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2026–2027 Gulf to Bay Destination Magazine |
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Gulf to Bay sales deadline: April 3 |
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Our award-winning destination magazine publishes in late August 2026 with a circulation of 500,000 copies — delivered to high-value households nationwide and inserted into targeted feeder markets. Reach readers for less than $20 per thousand.
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- Download the 2026–2027 Gulf to Bay Media Kit here
- Contact Jennifer Bonin at Times Total Media (Jbonin@tampabay.com)
- Sales deadline: Friday, April 3
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If you have any questions, please reach out to Coop@VisitSPC.com. We look forward to partnering with you to make 2026–2027 another strong year for St. Pete-Clearwater.
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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, March 27, 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.
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Highlighting the sporting scene in St. Pete-Clearwater, the Communications Team recently hosted a group of journalists and content creators from the U.K. and Brazil.
Joining us from Brazil, André Coutinho of Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação and content creator Carolina Grabova, captured the high-octane energy of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg alongside many experiences in St. Pete-Clearwater.
During André’s visit, nationwide coverage reached the states of São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, Vitória, Brasília, Curitiba and Porto Alegre, showcasing our beaches, restaurants, attractions, and one of the destination's world-class events to millions of Brazilian viewers and listeners. Complementing this, Carolina shared her unique experience with her followers, including racing through the streets of St. Pete on a 2-seater IndyCar through the IndyCar Experience.
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To further amplify the sporting events in our destination, journalists from Motorsports.com, The Scottish Sun, Daily Express/Daily Star, and Irish Daily Star/Irish Mirror/Sunday Mirror experienced a wide array of experiences including a Toronto Blue Jays Spring Training game, the iconic St. Pete Shuffleboard Club, the new addition of St. Pete Athletic, and many other activities in St. Pete-Clearwater, including exploring the outdoors and enjoying the incredible culinary offering.
Thank you to the following partners who, aside from welcoming and entertaining our guests, made this high-impact/high-visibility initiative possible :
Fenway Hotel, TradeWinds Resort, Sheraton Sand Key Resort, Crown & Bull, TD Ballpark, The Living Room, Kafe Racer, Wild Iris Café, Pisces Sushi and Global Bistro, Dunedin Brewery, Cueni Brewing Co., The Black Pearl, St. Nicholas Boat Tours, Hellas Restaurant, The Helm Provisions & Coastal Fare, Perry's Porch, Get Up and Go Kayaking, Morean Glass Studio, Fortu, The James Museum, St. Petersburg Museum of History, The Library, St. Pete Athletic, St. Pete Shuffleboard Club, Jimmy B's at the Beachcomber Resort, In Between Days, The Mandarin Hide and Bacchus Wine Bistro.
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Time to Tee Up your Tickets for the Valspar Championship |
The PGA TOUR’s official event on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the Valspar Championship, takes place March 16-22 at the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor. Featuring 132 of the world’s finest golfers, including defending champion Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, Tom Kim and many others, the most colorful PGA tournament offers a tremendous competition as well as:
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- fan-friendly activities and amenities
- variety of food options
- seating areas to enjoy the action
- expo areas
- celebrity meet & greets
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On Saturday night, country stars Lee Brice and Tyler Hubbard will perform live for all those in attendance.
Owned and operated by Copperhead Charities, the tournament annually donates $1 million+ into the Tampa Bay community and generates over $75 million in economic impact including 22,000+ room nights. Broadcast in 175 countries via NBC Sports and Golf Channel, the tournament attracts over 3.7 million viewers daily average. Kids 15 and under free with ticketed adult.
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Last month, VisitSPC's agency of record in the U.K., Rooster, participated in TravelMedia.ie's Meet the Media Dublin, engaging with 26 leading Irish journalists and content creators. Through one-to-one meetings, St. Pete-Clearwater's beaches, arts, dining, and sports were highlighted and presented as story angles, tapping into a strong Irish appetite for travel to the U.S.
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Spring and Preseason Training in the Destination |
Building on its storied baseball legacy, St. Pete-Clearwater is rapidly evolving into a premier MLS preseason destination through strategic marketing partnerships and on-site activations with the Philadelphia Union, FC Cincinnati, and CF Montréal. This growth was highlighted by recent exhibition matches at Al Lang Stadium in St. Pete, where the Philadelphia Union and CF Montréal faced the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Feb. 7 and 14, respectively, offering a perfect opportunity for visiting fans to follow their teams, right here in Pinellas County.
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The historic Seahorse Restaurant in Pass-a-Grille has officially reopened its doors. The 87-year-old landmark - a local treasure since 1938 - has been renovated and is once again serving delicious dishes in the quaint and laidback community of Pass-A-Grille.
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The Dalí Museum was recently voted as one of the Top 5 Best Art Museums in the U.S. by the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. This prestigious recognition highlights the museum’s unique blend of surrealist masterpieces and cutting-edge technology, including the immersive "Dalí Alive 360°" experience.
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The Don CeSar has been crowned as the #1 hotel in St. Pete Beach, earning the prestigious Gold Badge in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Hotels in St. Pete Beach rankings.
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The Sprowls Horizon Sports Park has officially opened in Pinellas Park. The 40-acre campus features six MLB-inspired fields suited for baseball and softball, an outdoor ball hockey rink, and a full-sized multipurpose field for soccer, lacrosse, and flag football, offering an action-packed day for all!
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Photo credit: Sprowls Horizon Sports Park
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St. Pete-Clearwater, In The News! |
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Events and Things To Do in St. Pete-Clearwater |
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Update Your Business Listing |
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.
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