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Hurricanes hit tourist development tax revenues

Hurricanes hit tourist development tax revenues

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

BRADENTON – Featuring two new members and a new chairperson, the reconfigured Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) recently met for the first time this year.

On Feb. 24, the council welcomed Holmes Beach City Commissioner Dan Diggins and Palmetto Marriott Resort Managing Director Tony DeRusso to the council now chaired by County Commis­sioner Amanda Ballard and steered at times by Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (BACVB) Executive Director Elliott Falcione.

Topics of discussion included the post-hurricane decline in tourist development tax revenues, post-hurricane tourism mar­keting efforts and a request to use $570,000 in tourist tax revenues for the Gulf Islands Ferry operations.

Tourist tax revenues

Michele Shulz, Director of Field Services and the Col­lections Department for the Manatee County Tax Collector, provided an update on the tax revenues generated by the 6% tourist development tax levied on hotel, motel, resort and short-term vacation rental stays (including Airbnb and Vrbo rentals) of six months or less in Manatee County. A significant portion of tourist tax revenues is generated on Anna Maria Island.

Hurricanes hit tourist development tax revenues
Michele Shulz provided an update on the hurricane-impacted tourist development tax revenues. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

In November, Manatee County voters approved increasing the 5% tourist tax to 6%. The increase took effect on Jan. 1 and is expected to generate an additional $7.8 million in tourist tax revenues during the current fiscal year. The 6% tax is paid by lodging guests, collected by the lodging providers and remitted to the tax collector’s office monthly.

TDC members review pro­posed tourist tax expenditures and make recommendations to the county commission that controls the use of the tax revenues, which, by state statute, can only be used to promote tourism and fund tourism-related projects and improvements.

Last year, tourist tax revenues exceeded $30 million for the first time.

“Out of 67 counties, we feel like we’re now in that elite group,” Shulz said. “That’s a testament to Elliott and all the work he’s been doing.”

She then addressed the hurricane impact on tourist tax revenues and said the county collected $1.21 million in November and $1.83 million in December.

“For November, we were down 17.71% and for Decem­ber we were down 16.6%. I think January through April’s really going to tell the tale on how those areas are recovering that were really hard hit,” she said.

Shulz said the tax collector’s office had 8,645 active tourist development tax accounts in its system. She said about 100 accounts were deactivated be­tween October and December because account holders were unable to rent their properties but 200 new accounts opened up.

“It’s a very fluid number. In a week, we might have a different number,” she said, noting that short-term rental units continue to come online as repairs are completed.

Comparing January 2024 to January 2025, Shulz said tourist tax collections countywide decreased about 9.3%, from $2.64 million to $2.4 million. She said the 1% tax increase and tourist tax revenues generated elsewhere in unincorporated Manatee County helped lessen the revenue gap.

Post-hurricane marketing

Falcione said he’s often asked why the BACVB con­tinues to market Anna Maria Island and Bradenton when these areas are already so well-known on a national and a global level.

“My consistent response is to prepare for the next adver­sarial occurrence,” he said.

He mentioned the severe red tide outbreak in 2017 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 as past adverse events that have impacted tourism.

Regarding the back-to-back hurricanes, Falcione said, “It could have been a lot worse.”

BACVB Marketing and Communications Director Kolby Gayson then discussed the tourism-related marketing strategies employed as recov­ery efforts continue.

Hurricanes hit tourist development tax revenues
Kolby Gayson discussed Manatee County’s post-hurricane marketing efforts. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“These storms left us with a wake of damage we had not seen before. It left our barrier islands with devastation we have never experienced,” Gayson said.

Gayson said she and her team focused on three main points: Perception, messag­ing and how to recover lost visitation.

Gayson said two particular images symbolize the hur­ricane damage on Anna Maria Island: the fallen yellow multi-story home in Bradenton Beach and the destroyed Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria.

“This yellow house was on its pillars after Helene. Milton came through and knocked it off. Still to this day, people  love to take pictures of it. This one image continues to perpetuate a negative image of destruction,” Gayson said.

She then referenced the Rod & Reel Pier that was badly dam­aged by Hurricane Helene and destroyed by Hurricane Milton.

Hurricanes hit tourist development tax revenues
The iconic Rod & Reel Pier was destroyed by the back-to-back hurricanes. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“You have a landmark that also is no longer in existence. That is something that has an emotional connection to visitors. When they see that it’s gone, they associate that with the state of the entirety of the destination,” Gayson said.

She noted the county used and uses social media influenc­ers and out of state media outlets and publications to help promote the current status of the Island and the Island businesses.

Ferry expenditures

The TDC members unanimously recommended county commission approval of Falcione’s request to spend up to $570,000 in tourist tax revenues for county-contracted Gulf Islands Ferry operations.

Falcione seeks $350,000 for operational costs for the ferry operations that will soon include a larger third ferry boat that’s expected to begin service in July. He also seeks $120,000 to upgrade the Riverwalk Day Dock in downtown Bradenton for the overnight docking of the third ferry boat and up to $100,000 for renovations to the floating dock at the Bradenton Beach Pier that serves as a ferry landing.

Hurricanes hit tourist development tax revenues
Holmes Beach City Commissioner Dan Diggins and Cedar Cove Resort manager Eric Cairns serve as TDC members. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

When welcoming Diggins to the council at the beginning of the meeting, Falcione referenced the ongoing efforts to implement a Gulf Islands Ferry stop in Holmes Beach.

“Dan was an incredible steward working with our team to try to accommodate the water ferry in Holmes Beach. He hasn’t given up yet and we haven’t given up yet. We’re excited that you’re on the TDC,” Falcione said.

Ferry service to Anna Maria is discontinued until the hurricane-damaged City Pier is repaired and reopened or the county installs a standalone ferry landing between the pier and the Lake La Vista jetty.

Related coverage:

Diggins, DeRusso join Tourist Development Council

TDC discusses post-hurricane marketing

 

Bed tax increase to be decided by voters

Voters to decide tourist tax increase

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Business, Featured, Taxes.

MANATEE COUNTY – County commissioners were set to vote on whether to increase the county’s tourist tax, also known as the bed tax, from 5% to 6% at their April 23 meeting, but the item was removed from the agenda due to a recent change in state law.

The Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) unanimously recommended that the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) increase the tax at its April 15 meeting, but neither body was aware of 2023 legislation that gave voters the power to levy an increase in the tax.

“So, what happened was we met the revenue criteria for calendar year 2023” to increase the tax, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director (CVB) and TDC member Elliott Falcione said. “The short-term rental tax has to generate $30 million and we generated $30,091,000, making us eligible to increase the tax from 5% to 6%, which is the maximum allowed in Florida.”

Falcione said after meeting the criteria, a request was sent through the county’s Office of Financial Management to the Florida Department of Revenue, which issued a letter certifying that the county had met the required criteria. The county attorney’s office then drew up a new ordinance to reflect the increase to 6%.

“On the Friday before the Tuesday, April 23 BCC meeting, the Department of Revenue notified the county that the Florida statute on tourism changed in 2023,” Falcione said. “It now requires any additional bed tax levy to go through a referendum process and can no longer be voted on by the BCC. It took the vote out of the hands of the BCC and now requires the residents to make the decision by a vote.”

Once the county was made aware of this change, the vote was removed from the BCC’s April 23 agenda. Falcione said without being notified of the change, it would be difficult to find it without reading every section and subsection of Florida Statute 125.01.04, which is more than 8,000 words long.

“I really wish the state would have notified at least the tourism director, the BCC, or the county administrator when this law passed in 2023,” Falcione said. “Unless I missed an email, this was the first we were made aware of the change, so therefore the county administrator made a prudent move to remove the vote from the agenda until we sort things out.”

Falcione also said that Manatee County would be the first county in Florida to be subjected to the new law, as no other county has reached the required criteria to increase the tax since the change was made. He believes had another county hit this roadblock before Manatee, word would have reached his office and the TDC would not have moved forward with a recommendation to the BCC.

How and when the voter referendum will take place has not yet been decided.

“We’re still trying to sort through everything,” Falcione said. “The attorney’s office is gathering information and we’re going through our protocol. When we get with the county commissioners, we want to make sure we are 100% accurate with the steps required and the options they have to consider this.”

Currently, neighboring counties of Sarasota, Hillsborough and Pinellas are all at the 6% maximum tourist tax. Falcione stresses that none of this tax is paid by residents of the county, but residents benefit from the tax, which goes to maintaining, upgrading and marketing attractions such as city piers, the new water taxi, beach parking lots and Anna Maria Bayfront Park, with a large portion going to beach renourishment.

Falcione says the TDC will not spend tax proceeds to promote the area during the busy spring season.

Water taxi expected to launch soon

Water taxi expected to launch soon

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

BRADENTON – An open house held on June 27 at the Manatee Performing Arts Center by the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) offered answers to many of the questions regarding the long-awaited ferry service between Anna Maria Island and Bradenton.

On April 23, CVB Executive Director Elliott Falcione said the hope was to have the boats operational by July, potentially by the Fourth of July weekend, a goal that was missed. The new, more conservative estimate is to have the boats running with passengers onboard by the end of the summer.

Although construction of the two 49-passenger pontoon boats is almost complete, they still require plenty of testing to get all Coast Guard certifications and permits issued. In addition, the city of Anna Maria has not yet reached an interlocal agreement with the county regarding the use of the Anna Maria City Pier as the northernmost stop on the Island.

The current plan is to have the water taxis depart downtown Bradenton and dock at the Anna Maria City Pier in Anna Maria and the Bradenton Beach Pier and South Coquina Boat Ramp in Bradenton Beach. Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy says there are things in the county’s proposed agreement that are of concern, and they are waiting for a revised proposal that makes better business sense for the city. Regardless, the project continues to move forward.

“I just got the call that boats will be splashing in the water in about two weeks,” Gulf Coast Water Taxi owner Trisha Rodriguez said. “Now that is without any Coast Guard validation and without any sea trials being done. It’s going to take a couple of weeks, if not a couple of months to get all of those sea trials completed. Most importantly regarding the timeline is that the docks have to be ready, and they are not ready now. The issue right now is we don’t have anywhere to go to, even if we were ready now, the docks have to be ready for the boats and they aren’t at this time.”

Rodriguez says that before the service begins there will be some trips for media and partners of the project to ride and see how the boats will operate. Dates for those trips have not yet been set. As for where the boats will be kept between splashdown in Bradenton and the start of the service, Rodriguez said that is being negotiated currently and they should have an answer in the next few days.

The open house also answered many of the basic questions many have had regarding the service once it is operational, including:

Days and hours of operation

Initially the Gulf Islands Ferry will operate every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. year-round. The captain of the boat will have complete authority over stopping service due to weather issues. During the stormy summer months, there will be times service will be suspended for safety reasons.

Cost

Tickets will be $8 for a one-way ride, $5 for children 4-12 and $6 for seniors. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or they can be purchased when boarding the boat if space is available.

Trip length

Assuming the city of Anna Maria reaches an agreement for use of the pier, the service will depart the downtown Bradenton Riverwalk near the Green Bridge with a 35-minute ride to Anna Maria City Pier. Exact times to the Bradenton Beach Pier and South Coquina Boat Ramp will be determined after sea trials begin in the next few weeks. This information will be updated frequently at www.gulfislandferry.com.

Where to park

In Bradenton, free parking is available at the City Centre Parking Facility at Third Avenue West between 10th and 12th Streets. On the Island, there is public parking at Coquina Beach, Cortez Beach and the Bridge Street area in Bradenton Beach. In Anna Maria, there is also free public parking near the city pier along the bay and on Pine Avenue. Parking on AMI can be very limited and part of the reason county officials have shown so much support for this project is because they hope people coming from Bradenton will use the service instead of bringing a car to the Island. The Island has a free trolley service as well as privately-owned transportation services that make getting around fairly easy without a personal vehicle.

Pet policy

Leashed, well-behaved pets are allowed onboard as long as they don’t bother other guests and all service pets are welcome. It should be noted that pets are prohibited on all Anna Maria Island beaches.

Restrooms

There is one restroom on each vessel.

Beach gear

Most commonly used beach gear and coolers are permitted on the boats, but due to U.S. Coast Guard regulations, bicycles will not be permitted on the water taxi.

Private charters

If arrangements are made at least two weeks in advance, most large groups can be accommodated. To schedule, email kristi@gulfcoastwatertaxi.com.

Wi-Fi

Complimentary Wi-Fi will be available on both water taxis; however, it should be noted that there will be dead spots along the route and full boats could experience bandwidth issues.

For updates and more information on the water taxi service, visit www.gulfcoastwatertaxi.com.

 

TDC recommends funding for water taxi

TDC recommends funding for water taxi

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Community News, Transportation.

BRADENTON – Among the many agenda items up for discussion at the April 24 Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) meeting, the soon-to-be operational water taxi service was an issue all TDC members were enthusiastic about.

The water taxi service, planned to begin operation in July, will link Anna Maria Island and Bradenton in an effort to alleviate some traffic congestion and parking issues.

Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Executive Director Elliott Falcione told TDC members last week that everything was going well with the construction of the boats, the three cities that will be on the ferry route and all other aspects of the project.

“The boats are coming along very well and should be complete by mid-to-late June and there will be some branding on them as well,” Falcione said. “We are about 90% there on an operation agreement between Manatee County and the water ferry operator. We hope to bring that to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) in mid-to-late May.”

Falcione said the three cities that will be on the route will be Bradenton, Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach. He said that all three cities have drafted interlocal agreements and the TDC will bring those to the BCC at the same time as the operations agreement.

“If the stars align, and I hope they will, it’s been a long time coming, we’re hoping to start a Friday, Saturday and Sunday service in the month of July,” Falcione said. “Would July Fourth be the perfect scenario, absolutely, and we’re going to try to get there.”

The main focus of the TDC’s discussion was a subsidy to fund the water taxi service for the first year of operation. Falcione said earlier ideas to subsidize the service included the Coquina Beach Market and beach concessions, but those options were no longer on the table. He said the only option for year one would be to use tourism tax proceeds.

Falcione asked the TDC for a recommendation of $400,000 to carry the service for the first year, as well as $25,000 for marketing efforts. After the first year, he said they would look into grant opportunities and other funding sources so the program could ween off of the tourism tax funding. The $400,000 is to fill the gap between projected first-year total operating costs and first-year income from paid water taxi rider fares, which will be in the $8 to $10 range per rider, depending on whether it is a one-way trip or a hopper pass that would be good for the day. Plans are still in place for Island workers to use the service for free to get to and from work, which could help with parking issues.

Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown moved to recommend the $425,000 subsidy as discussed, and Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover-Bryant seconded. The motion was passed unanimously and will be presented to the BCC later this month.

SRQ works to meet demand

SRQ works to meet demand

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

ANNA MARIA – Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), one of the primary arrival points for people visiting Anna Maria Island, continues working to improve the facility to boost air travel.

Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority Executive Vice President Mark Stuckey addressed the Aug. 15 meeting of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) with an update on the airport’s progress, crediting the relationship with the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) as being a big help in adding new flights and destinations.

“The tourist tax has been used as one of the incentives to ensure that when an airline adds new service to a new destination, a certain amount of marketing money will be dedicated to be spent in that city to promote the destination here and to let them know about the new route,” Stuckey said. “That’s had a huge impact. We’ve gone from six airlines and 12 non-stop destinations back in 2018 to 11 airlines and 53 non-stop destinations today.”

Stuckey said last year SRQ had 3,163,533 passengers, a 163% increase from 2020 and an over 60% increase from 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic slowed air travel. Year-to-date, 2,093,000 passengers have flown through SRQ. The projection for the number of travelers through the airport is 3,700,000, which would make it another record-breaking year if that goal is met. Stuckey said that issues with pilot shortages and rises in fuel prices were factored into projected numbers.

In the past two years, many capital projects have been completed at SRQ, including increasing fuel storage capacity, adding additional security checkpoints to speed up the traveler screening process, parking improvements and other general facility improvements. Despite what’s already been accomplished, Stuckey said there are more projects planned to keep up with the rapid growth.

“We have approximately $200 million worth of projects and we expect all of them to break ground by the end of the year,” Stuckey said.

Those projects include a new, $10 million ground transportation area at the end of the terminal where taxis, Uber, Lyft, MCAT and other ground transportation services pick up passengers.

Another project is a consolidated rental car facility. Anticipated to cost about $40 million, the new facility would have all rental car companies at the airport located on a single lot. Other planned additions include new parking lots, a park and ride lot and additional aircraft parking. The list of improvements also includes some behind-the-scenes projects to help make some airport day-to-day operations more efficient.

The largest of the upcoming projects is the anticipated $70 million construction of a new five-gate, ground-level terminal to cater to airlines like Allegiant who prefer ground-level boarding options and allow other carriers to expand as needed to service additional flights.

Upcoming flight additions include Allegiant’s non-stop service to Minneapolis in October, Air Canada returning in October and Breeze Airways extending service to White Plains, New York.

As a token of appreciation for his department’s assistance with the Breeze Airways deal, Stuckey presented a model Breeze Airways jet to CVB Executive Director Elliott Falcione.

Water taxi plan to be presented to county commissioners

Water taxi plan headed to county commissioners

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Manatee County.

ANNA MARIA – Elliott Falcione hopes to present Manatee County Commissioners with a proposed water taxi plan on Tuesday, Sept. 13.

Falcione, the director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, made that announcement when appearing before the Anna Maria City Commission on Aug. 11.

Without naming the water taxi company to potentially be contracted by the county, Falcione said the county has an experienced, Florida-based water taxi company in mind. If county commissioners approve the proposed water taxi plan, service between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island could begin as early as February.

Water taxi proposal headed to county commission in September

Elliott Falcione provided Anna Maria Commissioners with a water taxi update on Aug. 11. – Joe Hendricks | SunFalcione said the county might request additional water taxi service during peak visitation periods and major holidays, and service might eventually be expanded

to five or seven days per week. He also said service might one day be expanded to include Longboat Key, Sarasota and/or Palmetto, where an eight-story hotel is currently being built near the convention center.

Falcione told the Anna Maria Commission the estimated trip from downtown Bradenton to the Anna Maria City Pier would take about 30 minutes, and another 20 minutes to travel from the City Pier to the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach.

Commissioner Mark Short estimated a round trip from downtown Bradenton and back would take about two hours and result in each boat making approximately four round trips per day.

Short said it’s important that the county-run Island trolley system be able
to accommodate the additional ridership created when dozens of water taxi passengers arrive at the City Pier and require additional ground transport to their desired destinations elsewhere on the Island.

Falcione said the water taxi fare might be in the $8-$10 range but those details are still being worked out. Falcione said Manatee County will subsidize some of the costs associated with the privately contracted water taxi service and those financial details are being handled by County Administrator Scott Hopes.

In reference to previous suggestions made by Mayor Dan Murphy and Commissioner Jon Crane, Falcione said restaurant, lodging and other service industry employees would be able to ride the water taxis for free, with some proof of employment needed.

Crane said it’s great that service workers would ride for free, but he’s concerned about the water taxis only running three days a week. He suggested expanding the days of service before expanding service to additional locations.

Falcione acknowledged that a water taxi service that runs three days a week and ends at 9:30 p.m. will not fully meet the transportation needs of the Island’s service industry employees – some of whom work until 11 p.m. or later.

Murphy said he loves the idea of service workers riding for free because they make up a significant percentage of those who travel by car from the mainland to the Island.

“One of the primary concerns of our residents, and our commissioners as
well, is that a water taxi should reduce congestion. It should have a positive impact on what’s coming across that bridge. If you can make it advantageous for them (the employees), I think you’ll really bring a great benefit to this Island,” Murphy said.

Commissioner Robert Kingan said service workers will also need free parking to make the service viable for them.

Falcione said county staff is working on that and there’s a parking garage in downtown Bradenton within walking distance of the Bradenton day dock.

Water taxi proposal headed to county commission in September
The county-contracted water taxis are expected to resemble the boat shown in this photo provided by Elliott Falcione. – Manatee County | Submitted

When acknowledging the water taxis will also be used by tourists to travel between Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach, Falcione said, “There’s going to be people from Iowa or Indiana that just want to do it for entertainment purposes.”

Reiterating a point he’s made during previous discussions, Falcione said past research indicates 60% of the visitors who stayed in three downtown Bradenton hotels took day trips to Anna Maria Island during their visits.

Commission Chair Carol Carter
asked if the water taxi service would be marketed to visitors coming from nearby Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Falcione said that Convention and Visitors Bureau Marketing and Communications Director Kolby Gayson has already been tasked with making visitors and locals aware of the water taxi service and any associated parking accommodations.

Falcione sought and received informal city commission consensus authorizing the mayor to draft an interlocal agreement for the county’s use of the City Pier as a water taxi stop. Murphy said he would provide the city commission with a draft agreement for preliminary discussion on Thursday, Aug. 25.

State of tourism looking good

Tourism looking healthy

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

ANNA MARIA – Every other month, Research Data Services’ Anne Wittine addresses the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) to update them on the state of tourism not only for the Island, but Manatee County as a whole. At last week’s TDC meeting, held at The Center of Anna Maria Island, there was plenty of good news.

During the time Canada, Europe and many northern states were on strict COVID-19 travel restrictions, Wittine credits the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) for transitioning their efforts to local “drive” markets. These are markets in the state of Florida and nearby southern states with people likely to drive to this area for a vacation. The efforts paid off, as Island visitors actually increased in most categories during the worst of the pandemic. 

While U.S. air travel has not recovered at the rate expected by many experts, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) was up 148% for the month of October as compared to October 2020. More surprising is that during the same time period, SRQ was up 78% from 2019, which was pre-COVID, the highest number of any airport in Florida. While the numbers vary from month to month, SRQ has been the state’s top-performing airport for most of 2021. 

The October visitation numbers are up from last year as well. The total number of visitors was up 13.9%, room nights were up 14.1% and economic impact was up 29.1%. 

“Last year we were attracting people from that local drive radius, and they came for shorter stays and spent less money,” said Wittine. “What we’re seeing now is people coming from farther away and staying longer. A pivot back to people from the Midwest and Northeast coming down and spending money.”

Visitors from the Northeast have risen from October 2020 to October 2021 from 5,450 to 10,090, an increase of 85.1%. The Midwest was the second-largest increased visitor origin for the same time period with a 44.5% increase to 10,910. Wittine also reports that October will be the last report not to include Europe and Canada, since those countries now allow travel to the U.S.

Wittine always includes a travel sentiment survey in her reports. This data gives the TDC an idea of how people feel about travel, how likely they are to visit the area and any concerns about health and safety. When asked to describe their feelings about travel in general using only one word, some of the most popular sentiments included cautious, hopeful, ready, hesitant and optimistic.

‘Love It Like A Local’ marketing campaign kicks off

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

BRADENTON – The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) today announced the launch of a marketing campaign, “Love It Like A Local,” designed to encourage tourists to visit responsibly at area beaches.

The ongoing Anna Maria Island Sun feature – “Live Like a Local – Respect Wildlife” – has been published for nearly 10 years in our print and digital editions in partnership with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.

Anna Maria Island beaches historically attract a large number of in-state families in the summer, according to CVB Marketing and Communications Director Kelly Clark, who introduced the campaign at Monday’s Manatee County Tourist Development Council meeting.

“One of our objectives is to address a serious concern in a positive, lighthearted way. We didn’t want to sound like we were lecturing people, or outright telling people to behave themselves,” said Clark, who stressed the importance of getting this message out to visitors before the height of summer vacations.

The campaign focuses on four main pillars of preservation: Respect for wildlife, sustainability, cleanliness and appreciation for the shores and land. The CVB said it will use its social media channels to share a series of tips in a lighthearted manner. Topics will include various reminders on issues such as dimming lights during sea turtle nesting season, picking up trash, respect for local residents and their way of life, and keeping a safe distance from native wildlife.

Social media posts will direct the viewer to LoveItLikeLocals.com, where they can learn more about the campaign through interactive components. There are short, sharable videos about responsible visiting that are designed to be informative for children as well as parents. There also are activities specifically designed for children, to teach them what it means to be a responsible visitor.

The CVB has also introduced a “Final Exam” to the site. Intended to be far more fun than difficult, completion of the exam will enter the visitor into a drawing to win a branded prize they can use when they visit, such as eco-friendly straws, reef-safe sunscreen, water bottles and more.

The campaign kicks off April 22, which by no coincidence is also Earth Day. The initial phase of the campaign will culminate in September, with one lucky visitor being officially designated as an Honorary Local, which also comes with a free four-night trip to return to Anna Maria Island. To win, the visitor must post a picture of themselves while visiting the Island, putting the tips they’ve learned to use. Using the hashtag #LoveItLikeALocal and tagging @Visit_Bradenton, they need to show how they are “walking the walk.”

“This will be the longest campaign we will ever have, because we don’t plan on it ending. This is going to resonate in the marketplace really strong. Our residents are going to embrace visitors even more because of that,” said CVB Director Elliott Falcione. “No one loves this destination more than the locals who call it home. As the destination’s tourism arm, it is our job to communicate the importance of having respect for the destination and its residents when visiting. We know that this is a cause all locals can get behind, and invite Bradenton Area residents and businesses (hotels, restaurants, activities) to join us in our efforts to spread the word,” added Falcione.

The CVB says in addition to media relations and social media efforts, the campaign will also be promoted through digital advertising, first targeting potential visitors in-state during the summer, followed by those in top markets in the Northeast and Midwest in the fall. Additional resources will be shared with local businesses looking to promote and support the effort in upcoming weeks.

City officials question ‘Make a Break For It’ ad

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Business, Featured, Tourism.

BRADENTON BEACH – City officials expressed concerns about an advertisement the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) recently ran in the Miami Herald that encouraged south Floridians to “make a break” for Anna Maria Island.

Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie and Bradenton Beach Police Department Lt. John Cosby commented on the CVB ad during the city commission’s Tuesday, July 14 weekly emergency special city commission meeting.

“I let her know that I was disheartened that an ad was going out to encourage people from other communities to come here.” – John Chappie, Bradenton Beach Mayor

The CVB ad ran in the Sunday, July 5 Miami Herald. The ad pictured a couple walking on a beach and featured the same “Make a Break For It” online promotional language that still appears at the CVB website.

“This is it, your chance to escape. If you’re ready for a break from staying inside your home, we have a destination perfect for those ready to break free. Enjoy the wide-open freedom of a serene island beach, the sprawling splendor of nature preserves, and the thrill of outdoor activities on Florida’s West Coast. It’s finally time to plan your escape to Bradenton/Anna Maria Island/Longboat Key, and Make a Break For It,” the Miami Herald ad said.

The ad ran during the same weekend that beaches in Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Broward counties were closed for the holiday weekend due to COVID-19 cases increasing in south Florida.

Chappie said he called County Administrator Cheri Coryea about the ad.

“I let her know that I was disheartened that an ad was going out to encourage people from other communities to come here,” Chappie told the commission.

“Apparently, it was a package deal that was purchased a while back. We can’t do that, not now. She understood and they will be talking about it. I also told her that if you’re doing stuff like that at the very least you should own the new reality and highly recommend that if you want to visit our communities you need to mask up,” he said.

Cosby also commented on the ad.

“During the week of the Fourth of July, we had people showing up at the beach at 3 o’clock in the morning. They left Miami, drove over here and were planning to sleep in their vehicles until the sun came up and then go to the beach. We do not allow parking at beaches overnight, so we spent a lot of time moving people out of those beach areas. They were not staying in hotels. They came up strictly for the day. People are coming here on their own. I don’t know how much we have to advertise it,” Cosby said.

Commissioner Ralph Cole expressed concerns about beach closings elsewhere in the state impacting Anna Maria Island beaches.

“When the other counties close their beaches down, it puts a big burden on the rest of the counties around the state, especially on the super busy weekends. I’d really like to see them rethink their ideas of closing their beaches down,” Cole said.

“Over the Fourth of July, we got a lot of people from Broward County and Dade County because they closed their beaches. Those people probably would have stayed put had they had the opportunity to go to their beaches. I think everybody in the state needs to work together. I was kind of disappointed that they closed the beaches on the other coast,” Cole said.

When contacted about the Miami Herald ad, CVB Director Elliott Falcione said via email, “We were given a free advertisement from the Bradenton Herald in the Miami Herald for Sunday, July 5th as part of an added value buy. However, we have not been targeting Miami/Fort Lauderdale with our digital advertising since we relaunched our drive market around June 1st.”

When asked if the CVB was running any promotions in Brazil, another area hard hit by the coronavirus, Falcione said, “The CVB has never placed advertising in Brazil and has no plans anytime in the future.”

As of Monday, the “Make a Break For It” campaign was still active at the CVB website: www.bradentongulfislands.com/make-a-break-for-it.

Bradenton Beach City Commission now recommends masks

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – The Bradenton Beach City Commission now recommends, but does not require, that masks or face coverings be worn in Bradenton Beach.

The Bradenton Beach Commission engaged in its first public mask/face covering discussion during its weekly special emergency city commission meeting this morning.

During the meeting, Mayor John Chappie and Lt. John Cosby, from the Bradenton Beach Police Department, also expressed concerns about an ad that recently appeared in the Miami Herald encouraging people to come to Anna Maria Island.

Mask discussion

The mask discussion was inspired by public comments made by resident Connie Morrow.

“One of the things I’ve noticed is that the commission has not discussed wearing masks. I would appreciate it if the members of the commission would discuss the pros and cons of wearing masks – or putting out a strong recommendation for people to wear masks in Bradenton Beach, especially given the continued increase (in COVID-19 cases). I’d like to know what your thinking is,” Morrow said.

Vice Mayor Jake Spooner responded first.

“Thank you, Mrs. Morrow. I know it’s a touchy subject for some. It’s not for me. I would definitely do what you’re saying – that we highly recommend everyone wear a mask. I know there’s certain issues with enforcement and things along that line, and I’m sure everybody has their own opinions and views on it, but I highly recommend everyone visiting or living in the city of Bradenton Beach please wear a mask and please follow all CDC and WHO guidelines. That’s the best we have to try and get control of the situation,” Spooner said.

Commissioner Jan Vosburgh held a slightly different view.

“From what I see, everybody is wearing masks. I don’t see people not wearing masks at the Publix. I still feel we should go by the county and the state, whatever they recommend,” she said.

Mayor John Chappie spoke next.

“I agree with Connie. I like the idea of the strong message. I think the program the county is starting, ‘Mask Up Manatee,’ is sending out a strong message,” he said.

Chappie said the city should put out a similar message, and he and City Clerk Terri Sanclemente could put together a public service announcement along those lines. He also said the Mask Up signs, when received from the county, will be distributed to Bradenton Beach businesses.

Chappie also suggested placing a mask message banner at the entrance to the city, at the west end of the Cortez Bridge.

Chappie noted one-third of the city consists of county-owned beaches (and boat ramps) and that attracts a lot of visitors who drive in from Hillsborough County and Polk County.

“Anything we can do to try to get them to be personally responsible is important,” Chappie said.

Spooner said he likes the “Mask Up” catchphrase because it’s short and catchy.

Commissioner Marilyn Maro said she liked Morrow’s suggestion about issuing a city recommendation. Maro said she’s observed many people in Bradenton Beach wearing masks, but she’d like to see the vacation rental management companies provide their guests with a written message that encourages them to wear masks when they are out in public.

Commissioner Ralph Cole then shared his view on masks.

“I believe that there are certain situations that you should mask up, especially people that are more susceptible and have the underlying conditions,” he said. “Everybody that needs to wear a mask should wear a mask and protect yourself.”

Cole said he would like the public service announcement to encourage the proper disposal of disposable masks.

“Encourage people not to throw masks on the beach and on the ground, leaving a contaminated mask laying around. I’m finding several masks every day dug into the sand,” he said.

Chappie said he’s seen a lot of discarded masks lying around too.

Regarding the coronavirus and the city’s response, Cole said, “It’s out there. It’s something we’re going to have to live with. We should not go above what the CDC does, what the state recommends and the county.”

Lt. John Cosby, from the Bradenton Beach Police Department, said the city has three sandwich board signs that could be placed along Bridge Street with new inserts that encourage people to wear masks.

Bradenton Beach City Commission now recommends masks
Visitors to Bradenton Beach City Hall are required to wear masks or face coverings. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

COVID-19 heavily impacting tourism

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

The coronavirus pandemic has sickened the local tourism industry, but local officials plan to ask the state for a shot in the arm by moderating some vacation rental restrictions, the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) learned on Monday.

April visitation to the county was down 82.3%, occupancy was down 83.4% and the average daily rate was down 26.4% from the previous April, said Anne Wittine, of Research Data Services, the county’s tourism consultant.

However, she said, “It is a testament to the strength of Manatee’s tourism industry… that year to date we are only down 12.1% in visitation and 11.7% in economic impact.”

A new traveler sentiment survey indicates that optimism about traveling has been down due to concerns about health, she said.

The first week of June, 34% of those surveyed said they thought the state was reopening from COVID-19 shutdowns too quickly; the second week of June, as coronavirus cases spiked, that sentiment increased to 42%.

People surveyed are feeling less safe from the first to the second week of June about dining in a restaurant, shopping, participating in outdoor recreation, going to indoor attractions, visiting friends and relatives, going to the beach, going to theme parks and visiting a new destination, she told the TDC.

Among the biggest concerns about traveling during COVID-19 were not being able to return home, being quarantined away from home and flight cancellations.

A survey question, “Is this a destination you would be interested in visiting?” resulted in a loss of confidence from 28.9% the last week in May to 22.7% the second week of June.

However, Wittine said there is reason for optimism that sentiments are turning around.

“We asked people what one word is that would describe their feelings about tourism,” she said. The first week of June, people were saying, “Absolutely no,” but by the second week, the majority sentiment had changed to “cautious,” she said.

Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Director Elliott Falcione said that many visitors to the area are making 12- to 14-hour drives to come here with their family, a slight difference in the county’s typical visitor profile of older couples.

Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore commented that the survey shows the hesitancy of visitors to come to the county, probably due to the spike in COVID-19 cases.

“It’s telling me that people aren’t ready yet, but I think we need to stay in their faces,” she said.

CVB to request change in COVID guidelines

On Tuesday, June 16, the CVB was scheduled to ask the Manatee County Commission to amend county vacation rental guidelines on COVID-19 to allow visitors from certain states that are currently prohibited, Falcione said.

“It will give our vacation rentals a lot of flexibility,” he said.

Under current guidelines, visitors from states that have 700 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people are restricted, he said.

If the commission approves the amendment, the county administrator could ask the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation to eliminate that restriction and instead limit the restricted areas to those identified by the governor as high risk (currently New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Louisiana).

Reservations would be required to be longer than the quarantine period established by the state and groups of visitors would still be limited to no more than 10 people, or fewer depending on municipal occupancy limits, according to the recommendation.

The next TDC meeting is scheduled on Monday, Aug. 17 at 9 a.m., tentatively at Holmes Beach City Hall.

In other business:

  • John Horne, of the Anna Maria Oyster Bar and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, reported that some local restaurants have not yet opened for various reasons, including concerns about being profitable at 50% capacity. He thanked Gov. Ron DeSantis for allowing expanded outdoor dining, municipalities for relaxing their criteria on signage to allow restaurants to advertise that they’re open, and the CVB for lobbying to get short-term vacation rentals open.
  • Mark Stuckey, of the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport, reported that traffic has increased from 10,000 to 40,000 passengers since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, but traffic is down 21% year to date. Airlines are requiring passengers to wear masks at all times and the airport has installed Plexiglas windows and increased sanitization measures to protect passengers, he said.
  • CVB website manager Emily Knight reported that the CVB stopped advertising for tourism on its website on March 16 due to European borders closing, causing website traffic to drop; traffic rebounded when beaches were reopened in May. A COVID-19 page was added to advise prospective visitors about updates and a “Bring Bradenton Home” page was added to let people virtually experience the destination. In April, a message was launched that “The Bradenton Area Misses You Too.”
  • Sean Walter, of the CVB’s sports marketing program, reported 40 canceled events due to COVID-19, a loss of $35 million. However, 20 tentative events have been scheduled at Premiere Sports Campus from 2020-2022. Visitation outreach will focus on drive markets due to visitors’ concerns about flying, he said.
  • Michele Schulz, of the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office, reported that her office has posted a message on its website in conjunction with the CVB that “Tourism is back!” The office sent emails to more than 5,000 people and letters to nearly 2,500 to refer them to the website, since many were not visiting it due to not having to pay tourist taxes while vacation rentals were closed.
Wish You Were Here

New tourism campaign: ‘You’ll be back’

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Business, Featured, Tourism.

BRADENTON – “You’ll be back.”

That’s the new message that Manatee County tourism officials will be sending to visitors, the Tourist Development Council (TDC) learned Monday.

The county’s current marketing brand (“Real. Authentic. Florida.”) will not change, said Dave DiMaggio, of Aqua, the county’s tourism marketing consultant.

The brand shouldn’t change unless the community it represents changes, agreed Elliott Falcione, director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).

“Do you expect the characteristics of Anna Maria Island to change? Hopefully not,” he said.

The new slogan will not only target first-time visitors, but continue to target tourists who already have been to the destination, DiMaggio said.

Unlike catch and release fishing, he said, “We’re not going to let them go.”
Most tourism destinations advertise “Please come visit,” he said, adding “We’re going to move beyond that,” persuading visitors that their first visit won’t be their last.

“We’ll be telling them before they come, while they’re here and after they leave that they’ll be back,” DiMaggio said.

To that end, Aqua plans to create for the county an online streaming radio station so that visitors can stay connected to the destination after they return home, he said. In addition, a new e-commerce site will offer merchandise branded with the county’s tourism brand and slogan, and a new mobile app will promote upcoming events. Another feature will count down the days, hours and minutes until a visitor’s vacation begins. A new magazine, Bradenton Gulf Islands Today, will feature stories about events, restaurants, visitor profiles and other information twice a year.

Beyond tourism, the goal is to get visitors to buy property or businesses in the county, DiMaggio said.

“After the third visit, they’re fantasizing about moving here. After the fifth visit, they’re actually looking for real estate or businesses,” he said.

Facebook presence growing

The county’s social media presence also will expand this year, said Kevin McNulty, president and CEO of Netweave Social Networking, the county’s social media consultant.

Netweave will add YouTube advertising to the county’s tourism tools and make its social media accounts compliant with federal ADA regulations to assist the disabled in accessing digital information, including providing alternative text for images and captioning videos, he said.

The county’s Facebook audience increased by 20% in 2019 over 2018, approaching 70,000 followers, McNulty said.

2019 tourism update

Manatee County tourism reached a milestone in 2019, with just over $1 billion in economic impact for the first time, said Anne Wittine, of Research Data Services, the county’s tourism consultant. The figure represents a 5% increase over 2018.

Visitation was up 8% for the year, with occupancy up 2.2%, primarily from the Florida, Midwest and European markets, she said.

December 2019, economic impact jumped by 14.2%, visitation was up 11.2%, occupancy increased by 8% and the number of licensed transient lodging establishments increased by 3.6%.

Bradenton Anna Maria Island Longboat Key

County approves record high tourism budget

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Business.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Manatee County commissioners have approved a record $13.2 million marketing budget for the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) for fiscal year 2020-21.

Highlights of the 2020-21 CVB budget:

Online/digital marketing            $2.36 million

Sports marketing                        $2.1 million

Advertising agency (Aqua)       $1.23 million

LECOM Park                      $900,000

Florida Railroad Museum   $700,000

Central European marketing $688,714

Allegiant Airlines initiatives $630,000

United Kingdom marketing $628,693

TV/radio ads                       $458,000

Tourism consultant             $310,000

Website management        $300,000

Concert series                    $200,000

Anna Maria Island budget items

AMI Chamber of Commerce Tourist Information Center and Ambassador program         $181,900

AMI Chamber ads                $90,000

Magazine/newspaper ads    $82,050

Symphony on the Sand        $60,000

Sandblast                             $12,000

Source: Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

The budget – up 67% from five years ago – is aimed at attracting more visitors to Bradenton, Anna Maria Island and the Manatee County portion of Longboat Key.

The largest overall expenditure is online and digital marketing – more than $2.36 million over two years – reflecting an industrywide departure from print advertising.

Sports marketing ranks second, with $2.1 million allocated, not including another $900,000 in capital improvements for baseball stadium LECOM Park (McKechnie Field).

Other high-ticket items are the Aqua advertising agency ($1.23 million, not including its portion of the online and digital marketing budget), marketing in Central Europe ($688,714) and marketing in the United Kingdom ($628,693).

Budget funding is generated by Manatee County’s 5% tourist tax, paid by visitors to lodging establishments that rent for six months or less. The county spends about half of the tax proceeds on tourism marketing to draw more tourists to the area; 20% of the taxes are allocated to beach renourishment. Other recent uses have included rebuilding fishing piers in Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach.

The Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) voted in June to recommend the budget to Manatee County commissioners for final approval on Sept. 24.

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County to consider record high tourism budget

County to consider record high tourism budget

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Business, Featured, Tourism.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Tourism officials voted to recommend a record $13.2 million marketing budget for the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) today for fiscal year 2020-21.

The budget – up 67% from five years ago – is aimed at attracting more customers for tourism-based businesses.

The largest overall expenditure is on sports marketing – more than $2.1 million over two years, not including another $900,000 in capital improvements for baseball stadium LECOM Park (McKechnie Field).

Other high-cost items are online advertising and marketing, marketing in Central Europe and the United Kingdom, and advertising agency services.

Budget funding is generated by Manatee County’s 5% tourist tax, paid by visitors to lodging establishments. The county spends about half of the tax proceeds on tourism marketing; 20% of the taxes are allocated to beach renourishment. Other recent uses have included rebuilding fishing piers in Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach.

Highlights of the proposed 2020-21 BACVB budget:

Sports marketing $2.1 million

Online/digital marketing $1.3 million

Advertising agency $1.2 million

Online/digital ads $1.1 million

LECOM Park $900,000

Florida Railroad Museum $700,000

Central European marketing $688,714

Allegiant Airlines initiatives $630,000

United Kingdom marketing $628,693

TV/radio ads $458,000

Tourism consultant $310,000

Website management $300,000

Concert series $200,000

AMI Chamber ads $90,000

Magazine/newspaper ads $82,050

Source: Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) voted to recommend the budget to Manatee County commissioners for final approval.

The marketing budget targets baby boomers, who can afford Anna Maria Island’s vacation rentals, CVB Director Elliott Falcione said.

Strong sports market

The TDC also voted to recommend $220,000 this year for the Sports Commission, which manages sports marketing.

Sporting events, such as the World’s Strongest Man competition on the Island last weekend, is an important visitor draw to the area, according to Falcione, who said that the television exposure will raise the destination’s profile.

Drawing about 1,000 people, “It was really, really successful,” he said, adding, “The market share on this event is priceless.”

Falcione said his staff will meet with Island government officials to “see what went well and what went not so well,” and discuss how to make traffic flow better. During the finals on Sunday, the Manatee Beach parking lot was full and cars were parked along Manatee Avenue to the Kingfish boat ramp and bumper to bumper down residential streets near the beach.

“It’s not our community, it’s the residents’ community,” he said.

The county is hosting 105 sporting events in fiscal year 2018-19, including gymnastics, tennis, golf and rowing, according to the CVB.

New marketing campaign planned

In August, a new marketing campaign for the Bradenton Area will be announced, said Dave DiMaggio, of Aqua, the county’s advertising and public relations firm.

Known now as “the Bradenton Area – Bradenton, Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key,” the destination uses the tag line “Authentic Florida” to describe itself, he said. Some critics say the increase in tourism in recent years is fundamentally changing the advertised character of the Island.Bradenton Anna Maria Island Longboat Key

Recent campaigns include “Craft your own vacation” and “We’ve got the cure.”

Marketing efforts will be intensified in pre-summer, summer and fall, the least busy times of the year, he said.

With the exception of the flagging UK market, the outlook for this summer’s tourism looks good, said Walter Klages, of Tampa-based Research Data Services, the county’s tourism consultant.

Despite the rising number of vacation rental units, which increased by 8.3% to 9,097, occupancy only decreased by 1.1% in April 2019 compared to April 2018, he said, adding, “We are having a very good year.”

Tourist tax collections in the three Island cities were up between 5-21% in April and up between 6-9% in March, the height of the tourist season, according to the Manatee County Tax Collector’s office.

Island expenditures

The board also approved a recommendation for an additional $435,000 for the Anna Maria City Pier.

$1.5 million in tourist tax funds, matched by the city, already is allocated to rebuild the pier, damaged by age and Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Likewise, the city already is paying half of the additional $869,000 needed, TDC Chair Carol Whitmore said.

It can afford to pay the other $435,000 too, Falcione said, but could better use the money on water management issues and multimodal trails.

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy told the board that the city has selected a local contractor with local subcontractors to build the restaurant and bait shop at the end of the pier, which is scheduled to open by March 2020.

The TDC also voted to recommend $28,000 to upgrade and maintain the Anna Maria Chamber of Commerce website.

The chamber is the official visitors center for Anna Maria Island, Falcione said. The funds will contribute to improvements that include meeting industry standards for best website practices, he said.

Bradenton Anna Maria Island Longboat Key

Tourism winter cure campaign set to launch

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Business, Featured, Tourism.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Manatee County’s new tourism marketing campaign will run from November through the winter tourist season to counteract the loss of visitors during the red tide bloom that began locally in August.

The strategy is contrary to what Bradenton Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Director Elliott Falcione had promised Anna Maria Island residents requesting relief from burgeoning tourism, he told the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) on Monday.

But with the recent loss of visitors, “I think it makes sense,” he said. “Then next year we will get back to normal.”

The impact of red tide on Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key tourism has been significant, said the county’s tourism consultant, Walter Klages, of Research Data Services.

The number of visitors dropped from 48,700 in August 2017 to 42,000 this August.

“That’s a pretty significant impact and decrease,” he said.

Room nights decreased by 9.3 percent, economic impact dropped 11.4 percent and occupancy dropped 13.7 percent. The number of Floridians visiting the area was down nearly 23 percent in August, he said.

Tourism statistics are not yet available for September.

Red tide is a passing thing, Klages said, adding that visitors who have been to the area before will not be deterred from visiting again.

The county tourism agency no longer will respond to media requests to comment on the red tide, Falcione said.

“If you talk about economic loss, you create the perception in the market that we have a problem,” he said.

Monday’s red tide forecast from the University of South Florida/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides is for low levels in Anna Maria Island waters and medium levels in Longboat Key waters through Wednesday, Oct. 17.

The cure

Local tourism marketers will use the new international digital marketing campaign to geotarget selected visitors, Falcione said.

The premise is based on ailments and a cure.

Got pale-a-tosis? Need-a-vacation-itis? Fam-nesia?

People searching online for vacation destinations will find cures for these conditions in Bradenton, Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, according to the county’s marketing agency, Aqua.

The cure for ailments like seeking a suntan, needing a break from work, or wanting more family time is a vacation prescribed by a “doctor” who details the symptoms of the ailments on three videos that soon will be available at the county’s tourism website.

The campaign will include a sweepstakes with prizes such as beach vacations.

The county’s previous marketing campaign was “Craft Your Own Vacation.”

Visit Florida helping red tide counties

Manatee County’s TDC is eligible for Visit Florida’s $500,000 Tourism Recovery Grant Program for Red Tide to assist counties affected by red tide, Visit Florida representative Jen Carlisle told the TDC.

Grant funds will assist the TDC with increasing visitation once red tide has subsided through advertising, direct mail, brochures, website development and other related projects.

Grant applications will be accepted until the red tide has subsided, she said.

Blue Community

“Red tide is a naturally-occurring phenomenon. Of that there is no doubt,” TDC member Ed Chiles said, adding that there also is no doubt about what feeds it.

Addressing environmental issues including harmful algal blooms like red tide and blue-green algae, shoreline restoration, seagrass, stormwater management, septic systems, sewage treatment and others is vital to tourism, he said.

“We ought to start pounding on the table,” Chiles said. “We’ve got to get with it.”

With that in mind, the TDC unanimously recommended that Manatee County commissioners use $25,000 in tourist tax funds to hold two training seminars on the Blue Community One Planet Living program at the Studio on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria this fall and winter.

The program will detail methods to increase tourism profits while protecting the environment, according to promoter Dave Randle of the University of South Florida.

“I think it is something that can differentiate ourselves,” Chiles said. “This is about Anna Maria Island being recognized internationally for what we’ve done,” such as Green Village on Pine Avenue.

In other business:

The TDC voted unanimously to recommend that Manatee County commissioners approve up to $5 million in tourist tax funds to improve drainage in the parking lot at Coquina Beach, a county park.

The project is estimated to cost $5.94 million, with other agencies contributing the difference. Bradenton Beach reduced permit fees for the project from $30,000 to $500.

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