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Dear Partners,
Last week, our local culinary scene was recognized by the MICHELIN Guide yet again, with Elliott Aster and in between days joining Fortu, IL Ritorno, Sushi Sho Rexley and The Tides Market in this year’s Guide selection. Congratulations to all the restauranters, chefs, front of house and back of house staff on being recognized for their skills, hospitality, and attention to detail. Their dedication to creating unforgettable culinary experiences for their guests is an integral part of our destination’s appeal to visitors.
This weekend, we’re “diving” into the action as the only North American host for the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. With a 90-foot-high platform on the St. Pete Pier, this spectacular event furthers our reputation as a premier event destination. In the blink of an eye, The Ocean Race will anchor here as another U.S.-only high-caliber event stop that will bring big crowds and big impact to our destination in May of 2027.
As I previously shared, the VisitSPC team took advantage of this year's IPW to carry out an exciting familiarization tour, hosting a diverse group of media and trade professionals from various countries who explored the best of the St. Pete-Clearwater area before heading to the tradeshow. And with that momentum, the team maximized destination visibility by conducting more than 140 appointments with tour operators, travel agents, and members of the media to keep our vibrant Beach.Culture. top-of-mind globally.
The unofficial holiday in Pinellas County, 727 Day, is right around the corner so remember to submit your deals to be part of the celebration. Through these 727-specific offers, we get to show our appreciation for our residents while driving traffic and engagement throughout the destination. 727 Day has become an integral piece of our From Visitors With Love campaign where we highlight the value of tourism to our local communities and residents.
Our beaches continue to rack up accolades ranking among the top beaches in Florida and shining among the best in the U.S. These honors provide the perfect platform to launch our new Beach.Culture. campaign allowing us to share that not only do we have award-winning sandy beaches, but incredible experiences that make up America’s Favorite Beaches. Let’s have a great summer together!
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Six St. Pete-Clearwater Dining Spots Included in the MICHELIN Guide Florida
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The St. Pete-Clearwater food scene continues to expand with even more restaurants being recognized by the MICHELIN Guide. An expanded list of St. Pete-Clearwater dining hotspots now includes a total of six restaurants.
Two local gems that officially earned the prestigious MICHELIN Recommended status in this year's selection are:
- Elliott Aster (St. Pete): Helmed by Chef Lee Wolen
- in between days (St. Pete): Led by Chef Justin Shwetzer
They join an elite group of neighborhood favorites that successfully retained their Recommended status this year, including Fortu, IL Ritorno, and Sushi Sho Rexley in St. Pete, alongside The Tides Market in Safety Harbor.
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This year's 727 Day is ready to return as a full weekend-long celebration!
As part of the "From Visitors with Love" campaign, 727 Day serves as a massive thank you to Pinellas County locals while shining a light on how much tourism fuels the local economy. To make this extended weekend memorable, the goal is to roll out exclusive local promotions via 727day.com, and businesses are encouraged to submit creative, themed offers—such as $7.27 admission fees, $7.27 discounts, or special buy-one-get-one deals—using the online sign-up form.
Participating in this community-wide event is completely free, offering a fantastic opportunity to boost your brand's visibility. The entire celebration, along with the featured business deals, will be heavily marketed through local media outlets, social media campaigns, and strategic community partnerships to guarantee widespread engagement. It is a seamless way to connect with residents and show appreciation for their role in making the region thrive.
727 Day has a proven track record of driving engagement. Last year, 137 participating partners received at least one redemption, ensuring widespread visibility and direct foot traffic across the board. The initiative saw an incredible 8,577 mobile passport sign-ups and 4,815 total redemptions.
To ensure your business is included in this major promotional push, make sure to submit your unique offers before the deadline on Friday, June 27. Taking advantage of this free marketing window allows you to join forces with other local establishments in giving back to the community while driving traffic straight to your door.
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Tampa Bay Restaurant Month |
Tampa Bay Restaurant Month is running from June 1–30, 2026.
From Tarpon Springs to St. Pete, several restaurants are offering multi-course prix fixe menus, lunch specials starting at $25, dinners from $35, and unique drink pairings, with a portion of the proceeds going directly to Feeding Tampa Bay.
To make it a true getaway, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater's efforts are focused on pairing these culinary experiences with exclusive hotel specials, encouraging visitors to turn dinner into an overnight stay and explore the local dining scene to its absolute fullest.
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St. Pete-Clearwater has officially been selected among the Best Discovery CVBs for 2026 by Smart Meetings. This prestigious recognition highlights our destination's perfect blend of world-class meeting venues, affordable options, and vibrant, sun-drenched experiences that planners are searching for.
Joining the winning roster is the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach which was recognized under the Best Ballroom category. Additionally, the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Suites stood out as an exceptional Coastal/Beach Hotel, while The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection got the spotlight as a a Featured Winner.
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The Meetings & Conferences Team recently capitalized on a major opportunity to position our destination directly in front of the industry's most powerful decision-makers at the HelmsBriscoe Annual Conference in Los Angeles. St. Pete-Clearwater's presence was vital to showcase the destination's premier venue offerings and negotiate future high-yield contracts.
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At IPW 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the Global Leisure Sales team maximized its impact by conducting nearly 100 one-on-one meetings with tour operators and travel agents. This high-level engagement allowed the team to secure crucial partnerships with key industry decision-makers. Additionally, our PR & Communications team connected with more than 45 domestic and international media professionals and content creators, creating media exposure and storytelling opportunities for St. Pete-Clearwater.
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Allegiant Expands Network with New Routes Landing at St. Pete-Clearwater Intl' Airport |
Allegiant is expanding its nonstop service into St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) with new rotes from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PHL) and Columbia, Missouri (COU), launching Oct. 2 and Nov. 19, 2026, respectively.
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America's Favorite Beaches Awarded
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St. Pete-Clearwater Beaches selected as the Best Beaches in Florida by USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards are:
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Caladesi Island Selected as one of the
Top Beaches in the U.S. by Dr. Beach
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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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