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Dear Partners,
After starting the year with a record-high TDT collection in January, the springtime rush is upon us and our destination continues to show off how amazing it really is. From the greens at Innisbrook Resort hosting the Valspar Championship (congratulations to Matt Fitzpatrick on the win) to the return of the Rays at Tropicana Field and the breathtaking sand-sculpting masterpieces at the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival, the natural beauty and unique experiences shine bright for our visitors and those watching television around the country.
Such momentum certainly doesn't stop at our shores or scoreboards, as our destination was announced as a host for the 2027 The Ocean Race. The only stop in the United States, adds another highly prestigious international event that will makes waves on the global stage, putting St. Pete-Clearwater in the spotlight like never before.
Lastly, today marks the first day to vote for the Best of St. Pete-Clearwater! VisitSPC.com/BestOf is the starting point to recognize (and vote for) the Best of the Best all-around America’s Favorite Beaches, and we look forward to celebrating our industry champions when the results are in – later this August – at this year’s Besties.
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Best of St. Pete-Clearwater |
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It is time to crown the Best of the Best in Pinellas County! The online polls are available at VisitSPC.com/BestOf, now through May 10.
Remember, everyone can vote once per device per day. Online voting will determine the winner of each category, so we encourage you to share with your staff and patrons.
Voting closes Sunday, May 10 at 11:59 p.m. — let’s get those votes in! Good luck and thank you for being part of what makes St. Pete-Clearwater the best!
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Wheel the World Online Training Program |
VisitSPC has partnered with Wheel the World Academy to offer a free online training program for our partners (a $150 value)! This partnership with Wheel of the World is designed for tourism professionals to improve accessibility, and understand the needs of people with disabilities.
Completing this program will completely transform the way you welcome your guests and unify our destination with best practices for welcoming guests with challenges! This opportunity is available to any employee of your organization wanting to learn more. To receive a link for the training and to get started, please email Kylie Diaz at Kylie@visitspc.com.
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Sports Score Big in Pinellas County |
Sports tourism has been a strong driver to start the current Fiscal Year resulting in $30 million in direct spending. Our destination has hosted 53 major sporting events during since the start of October, drawing athletes and fans from around the globe to the local area which reinforces the vital role of sports tourism and generated an economic surge that highlights the county's growing status as a premier destination for athletic competitions – a benefit for local businesses all around Pinellas County.
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Pinellas County Arts Tourism Funding Program |
Pinellas County has launched a new $500,000 Arts Tourism Funding Program to cement the region as a premier cultural destination. Funded by VisitSPC, and directed by Creative Pinellas along with outreach and event support provided by St. Petersburg Arts Alliance and Clearwater Arts Alliance, this initiative supports individual artists and organizations in creating immersive arts-centric experiences. Designed to drive visitation during the Fall shoulder season, the program offers grants from $5,000 to $50,000.
Applications are open through May 31, 2026.
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Major Motion Picture - The Statement - films in St. Pete Beach |
Filming for The Statement begins today at the iconic The Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach. A major production directed by Oscar-winner Tom McCarthy. Centered at the historic Don CeSar, the film recreates a pivotal 1980 climate summit. This project is a massive win for the community, injecting vital economic activity through local hiring and tourism. Beyond the glitz of stars like Golden Globe nominee Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Golden Globe winner Evan Peters (American Horror Story), Oscar nominees Amy Ryan (Birdman) and Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers), Emmy winners John Turturro (Severance) and Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), and Actor Award nominee Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty), it proves Pinellas County is a premier destination for high-caliber film productions.
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Red Bull Cliff Diving Coming to St. Pete |
The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series is making its high-octane Gulf Coast debut at the St. Pete Pier on June 5 and 6, 2026, bringing a world-class display of gravity-defying athleticism to Florida’s "Sunshine City." This adrenaline-fueled spectacle — the only U.S. stop on the 2026 world tour—will feature elite divers executing complex somersaults and multi-axis twists as they dive off The St. Pete Pier into Tampa Bay in front of thousands.
The event will stream live on Red Bull TV on June 6 at 1 p.m. EDT
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St. Pete-Clearwater Dining Featured at James Beard Foundation Event in Philly |
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Visit St. Pete-Clearwater flexed the culinary muscles of America’s Favorite Beaches in Philadelphia this March at The James Beard Foundation Taste America event at the beautiful Bellevue Hotel in the heart of Philly.
Chef Justin from In Between Days showcased one special bite - Lilikoi Ehu Musubi with cured Hawai’ian red snapper, passionfruit nori mayo, sushi rice, serrano and sweet onion - to the more than 400 attendees to define the VisitSPC emerging culinary scene and put the Philly faithful on notice that they can enjoy their Phillies spring training, award-winning beaches AND delicious dining experiences when they visit St. Pete-Clearwater!
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Promoting America's Favorite Beaches in Key International Markets |
It has been a busy month of global engagement for the Visit St. Pete-Clearwater team as we successfully wrapped up a series of high-profile activations at IMM Berlin, IMM London, ITB Berlin, Unite USA, a Sales Mission to Amsterdam, alongside a strategic Mexico Media Mission in partnership with VISIT FLORIDA.
These premier industry events—ranging from the International Media Marketplace (IMM), which facilitates direct connections between travel brands and top-tier journalists, to ITB Berlin, the world’s leading travel trade show—serve as vital platforms for our team to network with tourism professionals, airlines, tour operators, and travel agents. By maintaining a strong presence in these key domestic and international markets, we are able to share the unique story of our destination with the ultimate goal of increasing overnight visitation.
Looking ahead, our team is preparing to keep this momentum going as the Sales team in the U.K. carries out a travel trade roadshow in London on April 20 and Manchester on April 21, while the Communications team travels to IMM Brazil later this month to further strengthen our relationships within the South American travel sector.
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Home Run Partnership: Showcasing St. Pete-Clearwater |
The St. Pete-Clearwater Sports Commission partnered with five Pennsylvania Sports Commissions to host 10 clients in Pinellas County. Each destination represented has a direct affiliation with the Phillies, either through Major League or Minor League connections. Through this initiative, the St. Pete-Clearwater Sports Commission was able to showcase Pinellas County as a premier sports destination, create future business opportunities, and strengthen our relationship with event organizers and Pennsylvania Sports Commissions.
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Update to British Airways Route into TPA |
Starting Oct. 25, British Airways is upgrading its service into Tampa Bay by shifting their nonstop flights into Tampa International Airport (TPA) to depart from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) instead of London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Opening up to more than 40 global destinations, travelers will also enjoy an upgraded aircraft, a modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
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St. Pete’s Webb’s City Cellar (by Green Bench Brewing Co.) took the crown for the Best Florida Beer at the 2026 Best Florida Beer Professional Championship! for their Wilbur ale.
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Innisbrook Resort was named among the Top 10 Best Golf Resorts in the U.S. by USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards, the only Florida Resort to be included in the list.
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The "Good Vibes" have officially returned to Shore Blvd! Following an extensive 16-month renovation, Hurricane Eddie’s in Gulfport celebrated its grand reopening on March 12, 2026. The iconic waterfront spot is back with a fresh interior, live music, and all your favorite weekly events.
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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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