Dear Industry Partners,

As we settle into August, I reflect on what has been a remarkable first six months of the calendar year for St. Pete-Clearwater. With strong momentum, I look forward to the second half of the year as we continue to welcome new and returning visitors to our destination's unique Beach.Culture.

It was incredible to see the destination showoff during this year’s 727 Day celebration. Thanks to our partners, residents had access to more than 150 deals countywide, alongside community activations including the 727 Day shirt giveaway at the Tampa Bay Rays game, the Tampa Bay Ice Cream Festival at the St. Pete Pier, and a morning kickoff on the big day courtesy of our friends at Kahwa Coffee. We are already looking forward to making next year's 727 Day celebration even bigger, underscoring tourism's vital role for our community. I think I’ve even met some local collectors of the annual 727 Day shirts. A big shoutout to local artist Clancy Riehm who designed this year’s edition!

The team and I recently returned from Toronto as part of our ongoing effort of actively promoting our slice of paradise to key Canadian media and travel trade partners, ensuring St. Pete-Clearwater stays top-of-mind for year-round travel. Back home, it was fantastic connecting with many of you during our latest Coffee Chat with the CEO. For those who were able to make it, thank you! It was a wonderful opportunity to hear directly from you, share ideas, and discuss how we can continue to elevate our community, together.

Get ready to celebrate the very best that St. Pete-Clearwater has to offer at the highly anticipated 2026 Besties Awards! This annual event recognizes the top businesses and experiences across 38 exciting categories - ranging from Best Beach Bar to Best Downtown Hotel - based on more than 87,000 votes from locals and visitors.

Join us as we announce the winners, unveil the next edition of the Gulf to Bay destination magazine, and celebrate the heart of our hospitality industry.

Event Details:

When: Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: The St. Petersburg Coliseum

Don't miss out on this incredible evening of celebration and networking. Register now and secure your spot to be a part of the festivities.

For an even more exclusive experience at the 2026 Besties Awards, treat yourself and your team to our exclusive VIP table options. Celebrate the Best of St. Pete-Clearwater & enjoy preferred seating, two bottles of domestic champagne and a charcuterie board.

Join HSMAI's Florida Gulf Coast Chapter and the region's official destination marketing organizations (DMOs) for an exclusive panel discussion exploring how strategic partnerships build economic strength and destination resilience across our community.

Space is limited. Secure your seat today. 

On Sept. 2, the Sandpearl Resort will once again host the 7th Annual Pinellas ROSE Awards—a premier celebration dedicated to honoring the exceptional hospitality of Pinellas County.

This prestigious event honors frontline hospitality professionals who embody the spirit of service excellence, creating unforgettable experiences for every visitor. Recognition spans across the entire industry, highlighting standout individuals in hotels (including front desk, housekeeping, valet, bellmen, security, maintenance, and engineering), restaurants (such as chefs, cooks, kitchen staff, hostesses, bartenders, and servers), customer-facing attraction roles, and other vital positions like volunteers and greeters who work directly with visitors.

Do you work with a hospitality hero who consistently goes above and beyond? Celebrate and recognize their dedication and exceptional service by submitting your nomination.

Nomination deadline - Aug. 7, 2026

St. Pete-Clearwater recently hosted key Canadian clients, tour operators, media, and content creators for an exciting evening at the Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays game.

Canada continues to be our top international origin market, deeply rooted in a 50-year relationship with the City of Dunedin—the longtime spring training home of the Blue Jays. Events like these allow us to strengthen vital industry partnerships while celebrating the unique connections that make our region a premier destination for Canadian travelers.

Midwest & West Sales Manager Kate Postle recently hosted a highly successful client event in Minneapolis, Minn., bringing together local clients and meeting planners with our valued Hotel Industry Partners for an evening of strategic networking and a Minnesota Twins baseball game. Part of the initiative included a targeted presentation at the headquarters of Prestige Global Meeting Source — one of the industry's most trusted names in site selection and event services — allowing us to highlight the unique advantages of hosting meetings in St. Pete-Clearwater, keeping our destination top-of-mind for major site-selection agencies, driving future group and meetings business.

A new express bus service is slated to start service this fall, directly connecting downtown St. Pete to Tampa International Airport (TPA). Operated by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), the 727 Airport Express will run seven days a week every 75 minutes at a $2.25 one-way fare. The route will feature nine stops in downtown St. Pete—offering connections to the SunRunner and America's Favorite Beaches.

Tampa International Airport has announced new nonstop route additions via Breeze Airways, expanding flight options into the Tampa Bay area. Beginning Jan. 5, Breeze will launch daily nonstop service from TPA to Las Vegas (LAS), followed by twice-weekly nonstop flights to New York’s Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) starting Jan. 6. The route additions officially bring Breeze into a tie with Southwest Airlines for the highest number of total destinations served out of TPA.

The City of Dunedin has been named the Southeast regional winner in Parade Magazine’s America’s Favorite Small Towns 2026.

The gateway to Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Parks, Spring Training home for the Toronto Blue Jays, and the host of the annual Highland Games was selected for its strong community connection, historical character, and extensive trail access.

The Sirata Beach Resort, a Tapestry Collection by Hilton, celebrated their ribbon-cutting ceremony and is officially welcoming guests to the revamped property. 

A huge congratulations to Allelo, which was recently voted the #5 Wine Bar in the Country in USA Today’s 10Best Readers' Choice Awards! It is the only wine bar in the entire state of Florida to earn a spot on the list. 

Travel + Leisure has officially announced its World’s Best Awards, recognizing Opal Sands as one of the Best Resorts in Florida. Additionally, Opal Collection earned a spot among the Best Hotel Brands in the World.

The Don CeSar

Best Hotel Fitness Center - USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

The ANNIKA by Gainbridge

Best Professional Sporting Event - SportsTravel Awards

Voting closes Aug. 28, 2026

Following a visit in May, Jennifer Juergens profiled the advantages of hosting a group event in the destination in Incentives Today, a biannual magazine developed by Meetings Today in partnership with the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) (page 44): Incentives Today Spring/ Summer 2026

Sarah Phinney shared some of her meaningful travel spots at Great Day Live: https://www.wtsp.com/video/features/great-day-live/engaging-and-educational-spots-around-pinellas-county/67-b5f88670-b402-47fa-8fa1-9518c179c145

Content Creators Emily and Ester recapped their journey through St. Pete-Clearwater:

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.