TDC Revenue Enhancement Committee Meeting

The TDC/CVB pulled together an impressive report on Bed Tax collections in competing destinations.

Numbers are clear: Tourists visiting Panama City Beach pay less bed tax than in most other vacation destinations in Florida and the Southeast. The full report will be posted here as soon as possible; email lancaster.kirk@gmail.com if you want me to email it to you..

There is no doubt we could improve TDC revenues by adding 2 cents, and the only people who would notice are the Bed Tax Collectors themselves. (Sorry BTCs, I love you and am on your side, wishing you didn’t have to collect it all by yourselves, but that’s a bigger fight I’d join you on…)

There were other discussions of increasing TDC/CVB revenue, such as marketing co-ops and adding a new employee to collect back-taxes from the owners who are not paying up, but the 1 to 2 cent bed tax increase is by far the real revenue stream. And it’s the topic that supposedly was the crack that caused the previous TDC Board breakup. So it’s a hotty alright.

Since this is such a debated topic, please join in the comments and give your 2 cents on increased Bed Taxes (Revenue) for Bay County. PCBDaily.com gives us all a voice on these issues, and you wouldn’t believe how many local business people and residents read this website and subscribe to the weekly newsletter. So whether you’re on the TDC Board, a Bed Tax Collector, a concerned tourist, or a reporter for the major media outlets in town… if you have a solution or opinion on our Bed Tax and Tourist Development Revenue, let your voices be heard!

Here’s my 2 cent offering to the Revenue Enhancement Committee.

1. Raise the tax 2 cents, build sports and special events facilities only

2. The TDC serves Bay County. Bay County serves tourists and thrives on tourism. All hotels and motels in Bay County should be required to collect the Bay County Bed Tax. I pay bed tax in Tuscaloosa, AL, and they’re no where near a beach.

3. Increase percentage of Bed Tax spent on product, and less on promotion. All our competitors in the report spend more on beach/product improvement than on advertising and promotions. We should follow that lead. They have a better product as a result.

Scallops Tonight!

A release from Friends of St. Andrew Bay:

The Friends of St. Andrew Bay (FSAB) and the Resource Management Association (RMA) will host Dr. Steve Geiger of the Florida Marine Institute as he presents “Status of Bay Scallops (Argopecten irradians) in Florida West Coast Waters.” Dr. Geiger’s presentation will address his research on the trends and status of the Florida Bay Scallop population along our shores, and factors that may be affecting our scallop population. Dr. Geiger will also discuss scallop restoration conducted over the last three years in St. Andrew Bay, Pine Island Sound, and Tampa Bay.

Dr. Geiger, an Associate Research Scientist in the Marine Fisheries Research section of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, is in charge of monitoring the shellfish population along Florida’s Gulf Coast. His work focuses on shellfish monitoring and restoration, primarily with scallops, hard clams, and oysters. Ongoing projects regarding scallops include an annual survey of bay scallop abundance, bay scallop restoration, and surveys of the distribution of offshore calico scallops.

Dr. Geiger’s presentation will be held on Thursday, September 25, at 6:30 PM, at the Gulf Coast Community College Student Union East Conference Center. For more information, contact Jim Barkuloo at the RMA at 763-1820 or, FSAB at 215-5590.

Gorgeous Outside, Heavy Brainstorms Inside

Tuesday, September 23: TDC Marketing Committee Meeting

Highlights of ideas from the new marketing committee.

Russ Smith of the Towne of Seahaven brought up the success of filling beds through wholesalers (Expedia, Travelocity, Bay County’s very own BookIt, etc.)

Probably the single easiest and most effective tactic the TDC/CVB could execute would be to buy ad space on the major wholesaler sites, driving travelers to the independent properties who sell rooms via these websites.

How Wholesalers Work (in a nutshell)

Properties provide inventory to the wholesaler. At a wholesale price, of course.
The Wholesalers already have working websites that would enable a hotel or condo to sell rooms, then and there, online, 24/7.
They have HUGE amounts of travelers booking through their sites daily.. or at least shopping rates.
They spend HUGE amounts of advertising dollars to drive visitors to their sites

How Should the TDC Participate?

Bring all the wholesalers to our beach for workshops that show our Bed Tax Collectors how to get involved and sell rooms online. Smith indicated that his reps at Expedia told him they were very willing to help us sell all this new inventory.
Buy advertising within the wholesaler sites, introducing travelers to Panama City Beach as they make vacation or business travel plans.

Concern about Wholesaling

The hospitality world must move online, and the tourist markets LOVE this wholesaling concept.
Property owners like retail concepts. We can’t wholesale the whole beach, year round. Improving price and value, by ensuring the product is as clean, safe and rewarding as possible, will also increase wholesale value.

——

Lee Ann Leonard of By The Sea Resorts brought up an idea for the Family Spring Break campaign: kids storming the beach, as in “reclaiming” the beach after the college students are gone. That’s a brilliant message, it addresses the reality of the anti-spring break identity and moves ahead in a positive direction. Proof that we don’t need better brains from out of town making up our creative messaging.

——

Annie Holcombe of Oaseas has the unique opportunity to sell in both Bay and Walton counties. She said when selling group accommodations to Atlanta, they won’t even talk to you if you say ‘Panama City Beach.’ Say ‘Destin’, and they’ll listen. This is such a very important opportunity that no one wants to focus on.

We must change that perception because we have many new facilities at a much greater value than South Walton and Okaloosa. Whenever I mention those in Atlanta who hate us, I must remind you of the hundreds of thousands who don’t even know us. Proper research would prove me right or wrong, but I would venture to say that between 1-2 Million Metro Atlanta residents do not know who we are, what we have to offer nor that we’re only a short 5 hour drive down the road.

——

Bryan Durta… all the PCBDaily readers know who he is… brought up a couple things. He quickly noted that an online “win a vacation” contest wouldn’t be very newsworthy with just one winner, so he suggested a juicier option, such as a giving away a free month every day to multiple winners. That got the committee excited. Something like “900 Nights Free at the Beach” was one of the rough concepts. It would be smart to give people a taste of what we really have to offer down here… but will the condo and hotel owners give up that many rooms?

Bryan questioned the drive-to market spending and suggested ideas relating to new markets. This is a common argument on the beach. I’m a drive-to market believer. Regarding outer “emerging” markets, I’m convinced that if Mom and Dad are going to pack up the car to drive 12 hours to Florida, they’re going to take the extra few hours to go see Mickey. Just a hunch, but I bet most outer-market families cannot afford to fly to PCB at this time. Or if they do have that kind of vacation budget, they’re not going to choose us.

None of us will know who is right or wrong on this issue until proper research is conducted.

——

I called Amy Harris of Royal American Hospitality and asked her thoughts on the marketing plan; she discussed the idea of targeting University Alumni to reach DINKs (double income, no kids) and KISs (Kids in Strollers) for the shoulder seasons. That’s a smart idea, especially if Y Partnership is still figuring out where to post online ads.

So, rest assured that the new marketing committee has a lot of brain power, even though I am no longer on it. :c)

Why Ask Y?

It was “deja vu all over again” as the new TDC Marketing Committee reviewed the CVB / Y Partnership 2009 marketing plan. Some faces were new, but many of the questions remained the same:

“Should we really target that $75K demo?”
“Are we missing opportunities in the Midwest, Northeast and other emerging markets?”
“Are you sure it’s best to spend most of our budget in the drive-to markets during the summer?”

We have had the same advertising / marketing agency for over 5 years. These questions should be answered by now – posted up on a wall in big, colorful graphs and maps. It was requested of the agency more than once by the former marketing committee to start delivering — at the very least — Google Analytics. This simple (and free!) data would give the TDC Board information about new target markets. For instance, Google Analytics will tell you — down to the city — from where your site visitors came.

So why ask Y these questions? You might as well not, because they have proven that they “just don’t know.” (“I just don’t know” was an exact quote from the account exec when discussing a proper message and target market for the summer campaign.)

I’m as sick of bashing the work of these nice folks as you are of hearing it, but this is business. We deserve better results for the investment. And if any single one of you TDC Board members, committee members, Y Partnership agents, business owners or Bay County residents wants to discuss with me all the other ways this agency has disappointed from a client’s perspective, please feel free to take me to lunch for clear explanations. Yes, that means you’d buy lunch… but satisfaction is guaranteed.

We need a TDC Beat Reporter

Bryan Durta, PLEASE reconsider posting your thorough notes and the TDC/CVB collaterals, leaving your opinions and ideas for the committee work. As you can see, a commentator is all I be!

Any other detail-oriented, organized fact-takers, please contact Jason@PCBDaily.com.

Also,

Bike Week is Here

Hoards of bikers arrived yesterday with many more to arrive today. Most venues were not open last night, but Ms. Newby’s, as always, was slammed. With all the venues to open today, Panama City Beach is expected to be slammed with bikers from around the southeast US and beyond.

I will be posting updates and pictures as the week rolls on, stay tuned for updates.

Kissing Pelicans

First off, a big thank you to Jason allowing me access to this forum to showcase my nature photography of Panama City Beach and the surrounding Emerald Coast. I’ll be bringing you the natural side of PCB with a weekly feature photo.

From the peaceful black water bayous to the sugar white sands, the Emerald Coast is like no other coastline in the world. Like all cities, Panama City Beach has its faults, but at the end of the day we have beautiful beaches, emerald waters, abundant wildlife and glowing sunsets… what’s not to love!

The first feature photo is titled “Kissing Pelicans”. I caught these two pelicans “touching” beaks as if kissing just after sunrise on Grand Lagoon, in front of Baypoint.

Feel free to checkout more nature photos of the beach and the area’s wildlife at my photoblog Sand between Your Toes.

Teddy Meeks

Fall Festival at Pier Park

On Saturday October 4th from 10 am until 2 pm at the Pier Park Amphitheatre at Aaron Bessant Park, Woodlawn United Methodist Church is putting on a fall festival for all to enjoy. There will be live music, carnival games, ten inflatables, train ride, plasma cars, stilt walkers, balloon makers, cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn, hotdogs, chips, barnyard olympics and more.

The cool part is that everything is free. Well, almost everything. The only thing that you’d have to pay for is a pumpkin, should you decide to support the annual youth Pumpkin Patch fundraiser.

This sounds like a ton of fun, everyone should check it out with their kids.

Again:

Fall Festival
Pier Park – Aaron Bessant Park
October 4th
10am – 2pm

Alvin at Tapestry Park Movies Friday

PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL (September 9, 2008) – Join Tapestry Park as we welcome the fall with the final installment of Tapestry Park Cinema on Friday, September 26th. This month’s feature film brings three singing chipmunks to the giant 16-foot screen in Savannah Park. Tapestry Park Cinema will also be offering a cash-only concession stand.

Tapestry Park began hosting this four-part event series in June and has seen tremendous support from the community at large. Tapestry Park is currently seeking local businesses interested in sponsoring Tapestry Park Cinema, and other community events, in 2009. The Tapestry Park community hopes to host this event and add additional educational/cultural events that promote a community atmosphere, and is looking for partners to allow family-friendly events to continue into the future. To inquire about event sponsorships at Tapestry Park, please contact Adam Shiland by calling 850.428.0825.

“Everyone who has taken part in our events have thoroughly enjoyed their experiences,” said Mark Tanney, the developer of Tapestry Park. “I know that there are businesses in the area that see the benefit of supporting these programs and in return they will receive tremendous exposure to our guests.”

The final screening will begin at 8:00 p.m.; however, guests are encouraged to arrive early to secure their spot on the lawn. The cash-only concession stand will feature popcorn, sodas, juices and bottled water. Tapestry Park will be collecting pop tabs from all sodas purchased at the event. All collected tabs will be dropped off at the Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Florida to support their Pop Tab Program.

For more information on Tapestry Park, visit the community online at tapestrypark.com or call us at 850.234.3339. Tapestry Park is located on Clara Avenue, between Hutchinson Boulevard and Hwy 98, in the heart of Panama City Beach. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held in Savannah Park.

Zoobilee at Zoo World

The drop in humidity and the diminished crowds make early Fall one of the best times of the year to experience the Emerald Coast‘s festivals and other special events. A perennial favorite of children and adults alike, Zoo World’s Zoobilee 2008 is coming up on September 27 and 28. Zoo World has staged the event for over a decade, with last year’s attendance counts coming in at over 8,000 visitors for the weekend. With admission for the event set a mere one dollar per visitor once again, Zoobilee promises to be a hit this year as well.

As in years past, a visit to Zoobilee promises to be a day of fun for the whole family. Visitors will find numerous special attractions, including a dunking booth, and prize giveaways throughout the day. Visitors may also purchase raffle tickets in drawings for various valuable prizes donated by local businesses. Although its famous animal shows will not take place during Zoobilee, the park has promised that many of the animals will be available throughout the event for posing with visitors for photographs.

Now in its sixteenth year of operation, Zoo World is a zoological and botanical conservatory housing over 200 exotic and, in many cases, endangered animals on over seven acres of lush vegetation. ZooWorld is an active member of the (UZA) United Zoological Association, and is also an active participant in the (SSP) species survival plan program. It is perhaps best known for its big cats and delightful shows featuring talented exotic birds. However, Zoo World is also home to a large variety of animals, including primates, giraffes, reptiles, and amphibians. Those visitors in search of a closer encounter can enjoy a petting zoo as well.

Zoo World is open year round and is always in need of both donations and volunteers. Interested parties who choose to donate their time can work as either Animal Keeper Volunteers or Gardener Volunteers, but in either case must be at least eighteen years old and in good physical condition. In order to participate, volunteers need to contact the park at least twenty-four hours in advance in order to be matched up for training with the correct Zoo World professionals.

One of the best things about a visit to Zoo World is that it offers parents a unique opportunity to help their children make connections between what they see on their favorite television shows like Nickelodeon’s “Go, Diego Go!” and their own lives. Over twenty million viewers a month tune in to watch Diego and his sister, Alicia, rescue various exotic animals, many of which can be found at our own Zoo World. The Spectacled Bear, Kinkajou, and Scarlet Macaw are just a few. Furthermore, an interest in exotic animals and their environments can have ramifications far beyond childhood.

In July 2008 Science Daily published an articled discussing a scientific study of children’s perceptions of tropical rain forest environments. “Turner and colleagues found that children’s awareness of rainforest biodiversity is highly developed, with the majority of the children depicting a rainforest with a diverse animal fauna, even though most have presumably never visited a rainforest. This knowledge of the natural world is crucial for inspiring and recruiting the next generation of naturalists and conservationists.” Children seem to have a natural affinity for animals and parks like Zoo World allow them to connect to nature by being in the presence of animals normally only seen in the wild.

As captivating as photographs and videotaped encounters can be, they cannot compare to the experience of being in close proximity to such fascinating creatures. It is often difficult in today’s high tech world for parents and caregivers to compete with television and videogames for their children’s attention, but special events like Zoobilee can at least help to level the playing field by providing a vibrant and memorable experience to treasure for years to come.

Zoo World is located at 9008 Front Beach Road. The gates open at 9:00 AM with the last admission at 4:30 PM. The park will close at 5:00. Free parking is available at the Super Walmart parking lot and free shuttle service will be provided from nine until five. Zoo World will provide free parking for handicapped drivers, all other drivers must pay a three dollar charge.

More can be learned about Zoo World at www.ZooWorldPCB.net.

Tootsies in Pier Park this weekend – John Stone

Friday September 26th, John Stone will be performing at Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheater in Pier Park. Stone is a Tootsies recording artist playing his “Baby Come Back” tour.

This concert is benefitting the Foundation for Breast Cancer and will feature special guest John Conlee, Steven West and Leslie Craig.

Gates open at 7pm and tickets are on sale for $12 at Tootsies in Pier Park, Tootsies in Nashville or online at www.Tootsies.net.

SuperBoat Race on Panama City Beach

Pier Pressure: Super Boat National Finals Championship Race

Panama City Beach, Fl, September 12, 2008: The Bay Area Sports Association, Inc. in cooperation with Super Boat International Productions, Inc. has announced the final schedule of events for the upcoming 3rd Annual Panama City Beach SBIP/APBA Offshore Super Boat Florida/National Championship Race on October 3, 4, & 5th, 2008. The winning Teams from this SBIP/APBA National Final Race will compete in Key West, Florida at the Super Boat World Championships, November 2 -9, 2008. See http://www.superboat.com for the most up-to-date schedule of events, Race Team members, Official Offshore Race Course Map and other Race Weekend on Panama City Beach information.

This year’s corporate sponsors are Regions Bank, Pier Park, Sharky’s Seafood Restaurant, Origin at the Towne of Seahaven, Margaritaville and Marina Landing Condominiums. Community partners are The Greater Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce, the City of Panama City Beach, the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sports Marketing and the Downtown Improvement Board’s Oktoberfest.

This year, twenty three (23) Super Boats from all over the United States qualified for the SBIP/APBA Offshore Super Boat Florida/National Championship Race and their boats, their owners and the race teams will be at Race Village, which is being set up in Pier Park East on Panama City Beach. The Championship Race, for the United States National Title, will be run on Sunday, October 5th between the M.B. Miller County Pier at ALF Coleman Road and the City of Panama City Beach Dan Russell City Pier at Pier Park on the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 300 yards offshore. Although both Gulf piers are currently under construction, the construction activity will not interfere with the race or spectator’s viewing. Super Boat speeds of over 150 miles per hour could be reached during the race.

Super Boats will maneuvered the 6 mile rectangular Official Offshore Race Course between the Dan Russell City Pier and the M.B. Miller County Pier, on Sunday, October 5th starting at 12:00 noon, giving land and sea spectators a spectacular view of the high powered machines as they pass back and forth between the two Gulf piers. The Panama City Beach race is the last on the SBIP/APBA Offshore National Race Circuit qualifying Race Teams for the World Championships in Key West, Florida.

Super Boat Racing is not just about sleek, colorful and fast racing machines, but about the thrill seeking men and women who get behind the helm of the offshore Super Boats. Boat length ranges from 24 to 50 feet in length and are powered by automotive or turbine engines up to.4,800 horsepower. The race fans will get to see the nation’s biggest, fastest offshore powerboats and top drivers race toward a National Championship title. Super Boats will be on display during the week at various Regions Bank locations, Pier Park and at the Downtown Improvement Board’s Oktoberfest, October 3rd, Friday evening, in beautiful downtown Panama City.

This year, the Dry Pit Area for these offshore Super Boats will be at Race Village in Pier Park, and will be open FREE to spectators to see the boats and teams up close on Saturday and Sunday.

On Friday, October 3rd: Friday evening the Mayor’s Welcome Party takes place at 7:00 pm at Sharky’s Seafood Restaurant on Front Beach Road and race fans, friends, tourist and locals are encouraged to join Mayor Gayle Obsert, Mayor of the City of Panama City Beach, in officially welcoming the Super Boat Race Teams and their out of town fans to the Beach. The public is invited and no reservations are necessary.

On Saturday, October 4th, the Dry Pit Area at Race Village in Pier Park will be open. The Public is invited to come and see the boats, talk with the Race Team members and view all their high speed equipment that will be on display in Pier Park. Race Village is open FREE to the public. On Saturday afternoon, various Super Boats will be in the water practicing out in the Gulf of Mexico near the east end of the Beach from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm. That evening at 7:00 pm the Racer’s Party takes place at Margaritaville at Pier Park and the general public is encouraged to attend to meet and socializing with the Super Boat Racers, the Super Boat Owners, the Race Team Members and their families. Reservations are not necessary.

On Sunday, October 5th the St. Andrews Bay Super Boat Parade begins at 11:00 am on St. Andrews Bay, from the marina at Marina Landing Condominiums, located on the northwest side of the Hathaway Bridge, U.S. Highway 98, and will cruise to the Gulf of Mexico. At 12:00 noon the race begins, the Official Start and Finish Line will be offshore of Sharky’s Seafood Restaurant on Front Beach Road. Super Boats will be racing 300 yards offshore in a 6 mile rectangular course between the County Pier at ALF Coleman Road and the Panama City Beach Pier at Pier Park. All Super Boat races are expected to be completed by 2:00 pm. So come early so that you don’t miss any of the racing action. There will be a SBIP/APBA Offshore Official Awards Ceremony for the Super Boat winning Racers and their Team at 4:00 pm at Sharky’s Seafood Restaurant and the public is invited.

The best FREE spectator viewing for Race Day on Sunday will be from the Beach’s shoreline at Public Beach Accesses # 43 through # 58 along Front Beach Road and FREE parking will be available along 3 miles of Front Beach Road at the M.B. Miller County Pier to Pier Park. Additional spectator viewing will be at various participating Gulf front restaurants, motels and condominiums along Front Beach Road.

In addition to welcoming the general public to view the Race from their establishment, there will be special VIP Spectator Seating on Race Day, Sunday, for all active military, enlisted and officers, and their families at Pier Park’s Gulf front restaurant Margaritaville. Arrive early for the best seats and dining tables.

Offshore viewing the Sunday Race in personal pleasure boats and other charter boats is allowed from a special 3 mile long Offshore Boat Spectator Area, designated south of the Official Offshore Race Course in the Gulf of Mexico about 300 yards offshore between the two piers. See http://www.superboat.com website for the exact Official Offshore Race Course and Spectator Map.

Super Boats are some of the fastest and largest offshore Powerboats in the world. With a maximum length of 50 feet, F-16 jet canopies and equipped with up to four engines producing more than 4,800 horsepower, the boats can reach record breaking speeds upwards of 200 mph.

Imposing as they may appear, they are finely tuned machines incorporating the most advanced space age technology. They provide the ideal platform for the installation and testing of high speed equipment under some of the most punishing conditions possible.

The boat classes that race in the SBIP/APBA Official Super Boat National Circuit are Super Boat Unlimited, Super Boat Vee Unlimited, Super Boat, Super Cat, Super Vee, Super Boat Vee Limited, Turbine, Super Boat Stock (S), and Manufacture Production: P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5.

The American Power Boat Association (APBA) was founded in 1903 and
is the authority for U.I.M. (Union Internationale Motonautique) approved powerboat racing in the United States. http://www.apba-racing.com

Super Boat International Productions, Inc (SBIP) was founded by John Carbonell in 1991. Carbonell has 32 years in Powerboat promotions and 10 years experience racing powerboats. SBIP holds a ten year license from the APBA Offshore and will host 10 offshore race events in the United States during the 2008 SBIP/APBA Official Super Boat National Racing Circuit. http://www.superboat.com

The Bay Area Sports Association, Inc. (not for profit) (BASA) is a membership association formed by area local businessmen and women whose mission is to encourage, support and promote recreation, amateur, Olympic and professional sports activities within the Greater Panama City area. Such sports activities are to provide for the entertainment and betterment of both residents and visitors to enjoy as participants, observers or fans. The BASA supports local sporting events like the 3rd Annual Panama City Beach SBIP/APBA Super Boat Florida/National Championship Race in order to raise needed money for youth sports in Bay County. A portion of all food and beverage sales on Sunday’s Race Day at participating Panama City Beach restaurants such as Sharky’s and at Pier Park- Margaritaville be donated to BASA. BASA Membership is open to the public. http://www.bayareasportsassociation.org
For more information on this fun weekend, visit http://www.superboat.com