VCB E-Mail News Network
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Week of January 9, 2012 VCB NEWS During the month of November 2011The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel hosted 364,325 visitors, who spent about $170.5 million, Davidson-Peterson Associates reported this week to the Lee County Tourist Development Council (TDC). Total visitation increased 4.2 percent from November 2010. Year-to-date, paid accommodations visitations are up 5 percent above last year. Total year-to-date expenditures increased 11.5 percent over the same period in 2010. Contacts: Tamara Pigott (TPigott@leegov.com) and Nancy Hamilton (NHamilton@leegov.com), 239-338-3500, www.leevcb.com. TripAdvisor recently recognized The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel as third on the list of “15 Destinations on the Rise.” The list features destinations that have seen a significant increase in user reviews on TripAdvisor.com over the past year. Contacts: Tamara Pigott (TPigott@leegov.com) and Nancy Hamilton (NHamilton@leegov.com), 239-338-3500, www.leevcb.com.
Two of Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau’s (VCB) management staff have been recently elected to hold organizational positions. Tamara Pigott, VCB executive director, was named treasurer of the Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations (FADMO). VCB Communications Director, Nancy Hamilton, APR, has been named to a two-year term on the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) board, where she will continue to serve on the executive board as secretary for the Atlantic-Caribbean Chapter. Contacts: Tamara Pigott (TPigott@leegov.com) and Nancy Hamilton (NHamilton@leegov.com), 239-338-3500, www.leevcb.com. TRANSPORTATION NEWS During November 2011, 612,470 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), a decrease of 6.2 percent compared to November 2010. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 0.7 percent from the same period last year. Contact: Victoria B. Moreland (vbmoreland@ flylcpa.com), 239-590-4504, www.flylcpa.com. Southwest Airlines will inaugurate seasonal nonstop service between Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) and Hartford, Conn. (BDL), and nonstop flights between RSW and Providence, R.I. (PVD). The flights begin Feb. 12, 2012, and will operate daily through April 9, 2012. Contact: Victoria B. Moreland (vbmoreland@ flylcpa.com), 239-590-4504, www.flylcpa.com. ACCOMMODATIONS NEWS As ‘Tween Waters Inn on Captiva Island strives to reach its goal of 10,000 Facebook fans, the resort will be awarding one fan a free, seven-night vacation once it passes that mark. It is only about 300 fans short of the goal. Contact: Emily Kettner (EmilyK@make-noise.com), 239-395-9555, www.tweenwaters.com. The historic Shangri-La in downtown Bonita Springs has undergone a facelift with plans to reopen it as the wellness resort. For now, the property is available for weddings, other special events, and health-awareness classes. Contact: Heather Burch, 239-498-7701. ATTRACTIONS NEWS Spring training 2012 will welcome the new $78 million spring training home of the Boston Red Sox, JetBlue Park, in March. Florida’s newest stadium will include a replica of Fenway Park’s famous Green Monster, the towering left-field fence that is symbolic of the Red Sox home in Boston. The complex also includes 10,000 seats, six practice fields, and state-of-the-art training facilities. Contact: Contact: Melinda Isley (Melinda@mcreativepr.com), 239-274-7736, (www.ilcielosanibel.com). The Look Up, Fort Myers! walking tour eBook typically costs 99 cents but can be downloaded for free from Smashwords by using the coupon code QE96L at www.smashwords.com/books/view/73949 until Feb. 1, 2012. Contact: Doug Gelbert (groundhogchampion@gmail.com), walkthetown.com. The Shell Factory in North Fort Myers recently added a museum collection from Shell World in Orlando to its 74-year collection. Included is a shell replica of The All Saints Church in Wittenberg, Germany, where Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses in 1517. Contact: Pam Cronin (pam@shellfactory.com), 239-246-8120, www.shellfactory.com. The Southwest Florida Museum of History in Fort Myers will lead “As I See It: Downtown Photo Tours” on Feb. 4 and March 3 at 10:30 a.m. The tour captures the highlights of Fort Myers with a guide and photographer leading the way. The museum also has resumed its seasonal Downtown Walking Tour on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10 a.m. Contact: Helena Finnegan (Hfinnegan@cityftmyers.com), 239-321-7409, www.swflmuseumofhistory.com. RETAIL & DINING NEWS Il Cielo, a new Italian restaurant on Sanibel Island, will open for dinner this month at the former Dolce Vita site. The restaurant is the newest dining concept by celebrity chef Loretta Paganini, host of “Simply Gourmet” on the Discovery Channel and proprietor of the International Culinary Arts & Sciences Institute. Contact: Melinda Isley (Melinda@mcreativepr.com), 239-274-7736, (www.ilcielosanibel.com). SPECIAL EVENTS Native son and world-renowned black-and-white fine arts nature photographer Clyde Butcher returns to the Southwest Florida Museum of History in Fort Myers to celebrate its 30th anniversary with a specially designed exhibition Feb. 2 through May 26, 2012. An Author’s Evening with the photographer takes place Feb. 2. Contact: Helena Finnegan (Hfinnegan@cityftmyers.com), 239-321-7409, www.swflmuseumofhistory.com. Upcoming major events/festivals: (For details, access the online calendar at: www.FortMyersSanibel.com.) FEBRUARY
Through Feb. 4, 2012
Through Feb. 11, 2012
Through Feb. 11, 2012
Through Feb. 25, 2012
Through March 3, 2012
Feb. 1-19, 2012
Feb. 3, 2012
Feb. 3-4, 2012
Feb. 4, 2012
Feb. 4-5, 2012
Feb. 10-12, 2012
Feb. 10-25, 2012
Feb. 11, 2012
Feb. 12, 2012
Feb. 14, 2012
Feb. 14, 2012
Feb. 16, 2012
Feb. 17, 2012
Feb. 17, 2012
Feb. 17, 2012
Feb. 17-19, 2012
Feb. 18, 2012
Feb. 18-19, 2012
Feb. 18-19, 2012
Feb. 22-March 17, 2012
Feb. 22, 2012
Feb. 23-March 21, 2012
Feb. 24-26, 2012
Feb. 24-25, 2012
Feb. 24-March 4, 2012
Feb. 25, 2012
Feb. 25, 2012
Feb. 26, 2012
Feb. 26-March 3, 2012 MARCH
Through March 3, 2012
Through March 3, 2012
Through March 17, 2012
Through March 21, 2012
March 2, 2012
March 2, 2012
March 2-27, 2012
March 3, 2012
March 3, 2012
March 3-5, 2012
March 4, 2012
March 4, 2012
March 5, 2012
March 6-25, 2012
March 7-11, 2012
March 8-April 29, 2012
March 9-11, 2012
March 9-24, 2012
March 10, 2012
March 10-11, 2012
March 10-11, 2012
March 11, 2012
March 12, 2012
March 12, 2012
March 16-17, 2012
March 16, 2012
March 17, 2012
March 17, 2012
March 17, 2012
March 18, 2012
March 19, 2012
March 22, 2012
March 23, 2012
March 28-April 15, 2012
March 29-April 1, 2012
March 30-31, 2012 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
information about |
The Lee
County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) recently appointed
Commissioner John Manning (r) as chairman of the Tourist
Development Council (TDC). Commissioner Manning served as a Lee
County commissioner from 1988 to 2000 and was again elected to the
position in 2010. Contacts: Tamara Pigott (