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Tourism

Business, Real estate | Development, Tourism

July 2025 tourist tax collections

Sep 26, 2025 – Joe Hendricks
January 29, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Diggins, DeRusso join Tourist Development Council

Diggins, DeRusso join Tourist Development Council

MANATEE COUNTY – Anna Maria Island once again has an elected city official serving on the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC). The last elected Island official to sit on the TDC was for…
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January 25, 2025
By Joe Hendricks
Kaleta seeks Tourist Development Council appointment

Kaleta seeks appointment to Tourist Development Council

MANATEE COUNTY – Anna Maria Island developer Shawn Kaleta is among the seven applicants seeking appointment to the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC). Kaleta is one of four applicants…
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August 26, 2024
By Leslie Lake

Tourism visitation flat, room rates up

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Visitor numbers are down slightly in the Bradenton area from last year, but higher room rates are pointing to confidence in the market, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bure…
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August 26, 2024
By Leslie Lake
TDC members explain benefits of tourist tax increase

TDC members explain benefits of tourist tax increase

ANNA MARIA – A referendum to raise the Manatee County tourist tax from 5% to 6% will be on the November ballot, and the county’s chief tourism official spoke about the benefits and misperceptions of…
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August 5, 2024
By Jason Schaffer
Tourist tax increase will be on November ballot

Tourist tax increase will be on November ballot

BRADENTON – The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted 4-1 at a July 30 meeting to place a referendum on the Nov. 5 general election ballot to raise the tourist development tax to…
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June 19, 2024
By Jason Schaffer
Tourist tax increase one step closer to ballot

Tourist tax increase one step closer to ballot

ANNA MARIA – The Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) again discussed raising the tourist tax at its June 10 meeting at The Center of Anna Maria Island. A revised Manatee County ordinanc…
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June 19, 2024
By Jason Schaffer
Data shows tourism drop after spring break

Data shows tourism drop after spring break

ANNA MARIA – Tampa-based Research Data Services (RDS) consultant Ann Wittine presented her state of tourism update to the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) on June 10, pointing out the…
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May 13, 2024
By Jason Schaffer
March tourism numbers soar

March tourism numbers soar

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – March tourism numbers are up from last year in all three Island cities, significantly so in the City of Anna Maria. Each month, the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office reports…
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May 6, 2024
By Joe Hendricks
Ferry service to Longboat Key discussed

Ferry service to Longboat Key discussed

LONGBOAT KEY – Gulf Islands Ferry service may one day be expanded to the north end of Long­boat Key, but that isn’t expected to happen in the immediate future. Future ferry service was one of the…
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April 22, 2024
By Jason Schaffer

TDC recommends raising tourist tax

BRADENTON – A visit to Manatee County could soon cost tourists more, as the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) voted unanimously to recommend raising the county’s tourism tax from 5% to…
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Upcoming Events

April 9, 2025
11:45 am

The Off-Stage Ladies of the Island Players, April luncheon meeting