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Week of June 8, 2009 VCB NEWS The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel hosted 466,615 visitors during the month of April 2009, an increase of 7.3 percent compared to April 2008, Davidson-Peterson Associates reported this week to the Lee County Tourist Development Council (TDC). Domestic visitors accounted for 87 percent of that figure. Contacts: Suya Davenport (SDavenport@leegov.com) and Nancy Hamilton (NHamilton@leegov.com), 239-338-3500, www.leevcb.com. The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) is proactively fostering product development initiatives for The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. Through the use of year-round themed promotions such as Summer Sanctuary and Islands FallFest 2009, the VCB aims to rally the local tourism industry to package existing offerings in a compelling and competitive manner, as well as create new products that meet marketplace demands and respond to overall travel trends. Contacts: Suya Davenport (SDavenport@leegov.com) and Nancy Hamilton (NHamilton@leegov.com), 239-338-3500, www.leevcb.com. TRANSPORTATION NEWS During April 2009, 849,815 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers, an increase of 1.8 percent compared to April 2008. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is down 2.7 percent over the same period last year. Contact: Victoria B. Moreland (vbmoreland@ flylcpa.com), 239-590-4504, www.flylcpa.com. ACCOMMODATIONS NEWS The Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport @ Town Center held its grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on April 15, 2009. The hotel offers guests a full-service experience with 169 contemporary rooms, Oasis restaurant and bar, an outdoor heated pool with Jacuzzi, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and an outdoor in-ground fire pit with a pass-through bar and outdoor lounge-style lakefront seating. Contact: Jon E. Lemke (jlemke@hiftmyersairport.com), 239-595-7757, www.holidayinn.com. Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa’s Independence Day at Sanibel Harbour package includes a $25 gas card and free breakfast for two daily. Package rates start at $159. The south Fort Myers resort will be offering a special fireworks cruise and barbecue buffets throughout the weekend. Contact: Autumn Mayfield (amayfield@the-mayfield-group.com), 850-421-9007, www.sanibel-resort.com. The Resort at Tarpon Point MarinaVillage in Cape Coral is scheduled to open November 2009 along with a fine dining waterfront bistro, dockside bar and grill, market and deli, salon and spa, and marina. Contact: Carolyn Masten (CarolynM@SunStream.com), 239-314-2203, www.marinavillageresort.com. For a list of lodging-attraction packages and other special rates being offered throughout Lee County during the summer, visit www.FortMyersSanibel.com and click on Summer Sanctuary. ATTRACTIONS NEWS Lee County Alliance of the Arts’ new online directory and calendar, www.leeculture.org, provides opportunities to search local events, read arts-related news, and get a glimpse into the local arts, culture, and attraction scene of Lee County. The site allows visitors to take a virtual tour of cultural landmarks, public art works, local attractions, and special events. Contact: Chelsea Birczak (publicity@artinlee.org), 239-939-2787, www.leeculture.org. Southwest Florida Yachts in North Fort Myers announced summer "stimulus" programs for sail and power yacht charters and for students attending live-aboard courses with its Florida Sailing & Cruising School. For the first time in company history it is offering one extra day of cruising free with a two-day charter. Charters of three days or longer continue to receive two free days of cruising until Dec. 15, 2009. After Dec. 15 and until May 1, 2010, cruisers will receive one free day of cruising for charters of three days or longer. Contact: Bill AuCoin (wmaucoin@verizon.net), 727-522-2371, www.swfyachts.com. From June 1 through Sept. 30, 2009, golfers ages 18 and younger can enjoy complimentary rounds at the Colony Golf & Country Club and Raptor Bay Golf Club in Bonita Springs and Pelican Preserve Golf Club in Fort Myers. The promotion allows one child to play free for each paying adult. Parents who would like to golf with two children are subject to a $20 Junior Guest Fee. Only two players are allowed per cart, and the driver must have a valid driver’s license. Contact: Jim Magnusson (jimmagnusson@wcicommunities.com), 239-390-3643, www.WCIGolf.com. The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club on Sanibel Island has announced special summer green fees and a golf-lunch package. After 11 a.m., golfers pay $25 for 18 holes and a cart, $20 without a cart. Golf and lunch costs $45 with a coupon available from the Sanibel-Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. Contact: Julayne Shevlin, jshevlin@luxuryresorts.com, 239-472-3355, www.dunesgolfsanibel.com. Southwest Florida Yachts in North Fort Myers has added another power cruiser to its charter fleet. Nomad, a Camano 31 trawler, features a double berth in the forward cabin, a convertible berth for two in the salon, a Volvo 210 hp diesel engine that at cruising speed uses only two to three gallons per hour, and a bow-thruster for easy docking. Contact: Bill AuCoin (wmaucoin@verizon.net), 727-522-2371, www.swfyachts.com. The Imaginarium Hands-On Museum & Aquarium in Fort Myers is now offering package pricing that allows guests to take advantage of its complete hands-on experience. The admission package includes the new 3-D film (SOS Planet), hands-on fun shows, “Sea-to-See” Touch Tank Experience, Hurricane Experience, and more than 60 hands-on exhibits. The package costs $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $8 for children. Contact: Helena Finnegan (Hfinnegan@cityftmyers.com), 239-321-7409, www.imaginariumfortmyers.com. SHOPPING NEWS
Bell Tower Shops in Fort Myers has announced plans for a multimillion dollar project to modernize the shopping and dining complex. Work, which includes a wide variety of exterior enhancements, began in May and is scheduled to be completed before the 2009 fall shopping season (artist’s rendering above). Contact: Sharon Arnold (sarnold@gravinasmith.com), 239-275-5758, www.thebelltowershops.com. SPECIAL EVENT NEWS The Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers is running two Sea to Seat entertainment packages this summer. They include two round-trip tickets for Key West Express excursions, two nights at The Fairfield Hotel by Marriott, two orchestra tickets for shows at the Mann, and luxury transportation. The June 16 show features rock band Steely Dan in concert (package price $358 per person double occupancy); comedian Kathy Griffin ($307) stars on Aug. 13. Contact: Louis Soscia (lsoscia@bbmannpah.com), 239-489-3033, ext. 3122, www.bbmannpah.com. Lee County Alliance of the Arts in Fort Myers began hosting a weekly Green Market every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon on June 6, 2009. The market offers an exclusive selection of local, fresh, sustainable, and organic foods and other products from local outlets and chefs. Specialties include fresh seafood, artisanal bread and cheese, organic produce, homemade granola, vegetarian dishes, plants, and flowers. Contact: Chelsea Birczak (publicity@artinlee.org), 239-939-2787, www.artinlee.org. Florida Repertory Theatre at the historic Arcade Theatre in downtown Fort Myers has published its season 12 schedule of performances for 2009-2010: Boeing-Boeing, Dial “M” for Murder, The Santaland Diaries, Talley’s Folly, You Can’t Take It with You, Trying, Relatively Speaking, and Shipwrecked!. Contact: Jason Parrish (jasonparrish@floridarep.org), 239-332 -4665 ext. 35, www.floridarep.org. On Sanibel Island, The Herb Strauss Schoolhouse Theater’s upcoming season line-up includes three comedies (Plaza Suite, Every Christmas Story Ever Told, Unnecessary Farce), two classic musical revues (Lovely Night!, Fly Me to the Moon!), and one British musical comedy (Something’s Afoot). Contact: Madison Mitchell, (schoolhousepr@aol.com), 239-472-8930, www.theschoolhousetheater.com. Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Fort Myers has announced its 17th season’s shows for both the main theater and Off Broadway Palm Theatre. Married Alive, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, A Christmas Carol, George M!, The King and I, Ring of Fire, and Footloose will play on the main stage August 2009 to May 2010. Scheduled shows for Off Broadway include Bill W. and Dr. Bob; Winter Wonderettes; Are We There Yet; and Love, Sex & the IRS. Broadway’s family series will stage Alice in Wonderland, The Emperor’s New Clothes, and Cinderella. Contact: Susan Johnson (sjohnson@broadwaypalm.com), 239-278-4422, www.broadwaypalm.com. Shoot the Blueway Photo Contest encourages amateur photographers of all ages to hop in a kayak or canoe and start snapping pictures of the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail. The contest is free to enter and is divided into two categories - one for pictures of paddlers on the trail and one for nature photography. Entry deadline is Oct. 1, 2009. For details, visit www.CalusaBluewayPaddlingFestival.com. Contact: Betsy Clayton (bclayton@leegov.com), 239-433-3855. Upcoming major events/festivals: (For details, access the online calendar at: www.FortMyersSanibel.com.)
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July 11-12, 2009
July 21-22, 2009 For details about any of the above news items, contact the Communications Department, Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau:
Nancy Hamilton/
NHamilton@leegov.com
or call us at 800-237-6444/239-338-3500. For immediate general
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