TDC Meeting – New Website from Jennifer Barbee Inc.

Well, I think the new VisitPanamaCityBeach.com web site is just about done. Thursday’s special called meeting, Jennifer Barbee herself will be here to present what her firm has done to the board. From what I’ve seen, this site will be very awesome.

Also on the agenda is a presentation from Mr. Peter Yesawich from YPartnership regarding what they’ve come up with for a summer marketing campaign.

You can count on me being there Tweeting away all the sweet details.

You can download the agenda here, or view it below.

Special Called Meeting

AGENDA

COMBINED BOARD MEETNG
Bay County Tourist Development Council
Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.
Panama City Beach
Thursday, March 26, 2009 4:00 p.m. Council Room, PCB City Hall

NOTE: The City Council of Panama City Beach will be meeting at 2:00 p.m. If the City Council meeting is not over by 4:00 p.m., the Combined Board Meeting will begin immediately following adjournment of the Council meeting.

I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER

II. ROLL CALL

A. Invocation
B. Pledge of Allegiance

III. REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON AGENDA ITEMS (3 Minutes)

IV. PRESENTATIONS

A. Presentation of Website and Marketing Campaign, Ms. Susan Estler, VP of Marketing

1. VisitPanamaCityBeach.com, Ms. Jennifer Barbee, JB, Inc.
2. 2009 Summer Marketing Campaign, Mr. Peter Yesawich, YPartnership

V. BOARD DISCUSSION ITEMS

VI. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

VII. ADJOURNMENT

Spring Break, Kids just want something FUN to do!

Beach Tennis Tournaments for Spring Break

We had the opportunity to introduce a healthy approach to Spring Break 2009 in Panama City Beach this year. We introduced the Beach Tennis USA Association to the area and began to offer active sports on the beach as a way for students to meet others and have fun in competition. We brought in Pro Tennis players and all of the nets and equipment to set up in front of Sharkys to offer an organized “sport” and play with prizes, t-shirts and most of all FUN.

The play is FREE and we are offering t-shirts to all who play and try the sport. The winners of the tournament have received dinner for two at Sharkys and various tennis related prizes. We have given away tennis racquets as we approached the end of the event to winners who want to continue to play this new sport and have fun.

We have been running tennis tournaments most every day. Two Sundays ago we had 20 teams ( 40 kids) lined up to play at 10:30 a.m.

The students we have met and interviewed just want to come to the white sand beach of Panama City and enjoy the sun and meet others. Every day we had students who were signing up to play, excited to compete and interested in additional sports and activities that will let them be active and meet others. We had repeat students coming back to compete and win better prizes as the week progresses.

We have met students from all over the world including Australia, United Kingdom, France, Italy and all across the U.S., and they have all been excited to have something active and fun to do at the beach rather than just “drink” all day.

Students are much more concerned about their health and wellness these days than in the past and many of them workout, run and exercise. Yes there is a percentage that come just to drink and get wild but the many students we have met over the past 2 weeks are just here to have some fun.

Many of them do not like the concept of a community who makes money offering them “all you can drink” for a set price at a number of bars. In fact many of them would like to have someplace else to go at night rather than the crowded bars.

Accidents happen when people of any age get out of control. The idea of offering all you can drink to any age group provides the basis for danger and accidents.

Does anyone offer all you can drink healthy drinks or provide a choice for the students to do something else to have fun and meet others?

If you look at the ads from many of the establishments to the colleges in the “Spring Break” guide you will see they promote the idea of sex, drinking and wild parties.

The college atmosphere is changing and students will drink and they do want to have fun but overall they want to do something active to meet others. They are becoming much more concerned about the environment and have innovative ideas to drive change.

If you spend the time on the beach and watch the students and ask them questions they are mostly good kids. They also want to pick up their trash but many times the location of the trash barrels are not convenient.

We know they want to play more sports on the beach and hope to develop further programs and ideas to offer for future Spring Break. Has anyone ever done any survey with these kids to really determine how to help the community offer new and fun ideas for the kids to meet others and have good clean fun??

It is a shame to have a few kids that go overboard or in the case of our observation we noticed a local who came to the beach asking kids for beers across the beach. Panama City Beach has an opportunity to work with the students who help make this community profitable and better understand how to change and offer new and innovative ideas to give them fun ways to meet others and the ability to “drink” responsibly.

If we think about it the spring breakers are just our “own kids” trying to become the star in their own lives. We just need to ask a little more in words and our actions because we need each other and can help make this work if we just listen and learn to engage the students and kids with their ideas.

AVP this week – Pro Volleyball on the Beach

This is just a reminder – don’t forget the Crocs Tour this weekend and all the pro volleyball activities behind Sharky’s this week.

To start it all off AVP will launch the first ever Collegiate Beach Challenge tomorrow where college students from across the country will have the chance to participate in a two-day four-on-four beach volleyball tournament. There will be men’s, women’s and coed divisions competing for cash prizes.

The finale of the AVP’s Spring Break in Panama City Beach will come at the end of week three, with the AVP Crocs Tour Panama City Beach Open. In what will serve as the 2009 season-opening event, the AVP Crocs Tour will showcase some of the best beach volleyball players in the world, including 2008 Olympic Gold Medalists, Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers. A one-day qualifier will begin on Friday morning followed by a live band in the evening. Men’s and women’s main draw action will start on Saturday morning with the finals scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

The AVP Crocs Tour event will take place directly behind Sharky’s Beach Front Restaurant & Tiki Bar, located in the heart of Panama City Beach at The Towne of Seahaven. In an attempt to revert back to the sport’s beginnings, six of the courts will be set up in “old school” style. This set-up will include minimal bleacher seating, allowing plenty of room for beachgoers to throw down their towels and fully enjoy the beach party atmosphere of Spring Break.

Spring Break Dying Down – We're Almost There, Hang in there.

springbreak2009

Well, I’ve tried my hardest to remain positive about the Spring Break situation on Panama City Beach, and I’ve done quite a great job, mind you. I will say I’m constantly troubled by the ruckus they cause. For those of you that are for the college spring break promotion, I challenge you to get in the thick of it and spend some time – sober – and your outlook may just change. So far, we’ve had three deaths related to spring breakers, and who knows how many other crimes. Mark Canfora, do you have any solid numbers from this year?

As many of you know, my mother-in-law owns a small rental business on the beach that my wife works for on weekends. Last year, she said it was a ‘poop‘ year; this year she said it was a ‘puke’ year. She was telling me that housekeepers found puke in seemingly random spots throughout condos and townhomes. Thank goodness for damage deposits that cover increased cleaning fees. I just can’t fathom leaving vomit and fecal matter just laying around. I’m not the cleanest person out there, but that is just vile. I was at one of the rentals this morning cleaning up where the breakers from last week just threw their trash wherever they pleased in the general area of the outside trash recepticle. I filled 12 bags full of garbage that was just laying on the ground. Thankfully I didn’t have to see any used condoms. eww.

Well, the big weeks are over. Last week we had a portion of the 2.1 millions kids out on break on our beaches, but this week only 690,000 kids are out on break nationwide. This week our beaches should stay cleaner, our Wal-Mart less filled and the traffic a little calmer. Next week only a third of who’s out on break this week will be celebrating spring break 2009.

Below are a list of schools out on break this week, courtesy of Tripsmarter.com.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

March 23-27, 2009 (Mon-Fri)
College / University	Enrollment
Air Force Academy	4,000
Alliant International University	3,402
Arkansas State University	17,401
Bard College	2,062
Birmingham-Southern College	1,500
Boise State University	18,844
Brown University	8,025
California Institute of Technology	2,086
Calvin College	4,200
Central Connecticut State University	12,315
Cerritos College	24,536
Colorado State University, Boulder	28,000
Columbia College Chicago	11,499
Depaul University	25,500
Eastern Connecticut State University	5,113
Elmhurst College	3,000
Elon University	5,496
Harvard University	19,139
Hudson Valley Community College	12,000
Huntingdon College	800
Idaho State University	13,802
Kent State University	29,227
Lewis & Clark College	3,433
Luther College	2,550
Mount Mercy College	1,490
Oregon State University	19,362
Pacific Lutheran University	3,669
San Jose State	28,932
Southern Arkansas University	3,109
Southern University at Baton Rouge	10,364
Tulane University	10,606
University of Arkansas, Little Rock	12,000
University of California, Berkeley	34,953
University of Central Arkansas	12,619
University of Colorado	28,000
University of Hawaii	50,310
University of Illinois, Chicago	21,914
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign	42,326
University of Missouri-Columbia	28,477
University of Montevallo	3,000
University of North Alabama	7,323
University of Oregon	20,394
University of Rhode Island	19,095
University of San Francisco	8,447
Wellesley College	2,300
Western Connecticut State University	6,001
Wright State University	16,091
TOTAL	691,038

Hot Dog Story – Do What You Do and Change for No One

Okay, I know there is so much talk about all the awful things that people see happening in our world. Lucky for me I DO NOT buy into that. There will always be challenges and struggles and while this one seems to be very daunting I have learned that those that find the bright spots and DO NOT operate out of fear end up on the top and better yet they enjoy getting there.

Please go to this link and read this incredible hot dog story that just might convince you to just keep on doing those things that you know work. I have always loved this story and it is quite relevant today. Do not give in to the negative small minded thinking and talking that we hear so much of. Most of us have more than we need and plenty that we could be sharing with others.

I am so grateful to all of you that have made my life so bright and always filled with promise. I decided a long time ago to align myself with people that were looking for the possibilities rather than the problems. I have been writing gratitude list since I was 10 years of age and it has never failed that my life is so filled with more goodness than not.

Thanks to all of you and go read that story and share it with others…. lets the spread the good stuff. I believe the world needs a shot of happy stuff and I am just the girl to deliver it.

Remember my get even list, it is really long…. “The only people we need to get even with are those that have helped us”

with overflowing gratitude,

Karen Key Smith

New Waterpark in Panama City Beach – Plans

Well, thanks to some good friends is high places, I was able to get my grubby little hands on the plans for the new waterpark that is coming to Panama City Beach. From the looks of it, the new park seems to have all the necesary features to add quite nicely to the things to do in Panama City Beach.

Some of the items of attraction include a wave pool, activity pool, interactive play structure (envision a three story jungle-gym that pumps water through it in ways even the imagination cannot fully predict), lazy river, inner-tube slides, a family raft ride, and a whole “zone” for surfing.

Enough talk! Here’s the plans.

Edit 3/23/09:

I’d like to apologize for not being clear as to where this was. I had specified that in my other post on this, but I should have specified that on this as well. sorry! I’d also like to apologize for the delay in response to this.

Below is a map of where it will be located. The new park will be on the east side of Clara Avenue in between Middle Beach and Front Beach Road. The entire property is around 30 acres, although half of that will be parking. In the plans is a Flow-Rider surfing feature – more info on that soon!

Horses Will Be Hung Tonight on New Carousel in Pier Park

The crew is onsight and the gears are falling into place on the new carousel in Pier Park in Panama City Beach. Workers have been bringing all the parts and peices over all day and the frame is up right now, as of 5:45 pm.

“We’ll hang the horses tonight, they have a terrible habit of coming alive and walking off in the middle of the night.” said the forman of the crew. “This is a Herschell Carousel,” he said, “this is a ride out of Jersey, from a time when these things were actually rides.” He was telling me that the new ones will last 10 years, if they are taken care of, but the old ones like these, they are still in use all across the country. Apparently this is a great carousel – nice job, Teddy.

Set to open April 1, the carousel should be completely assembled by tomorrow or Sunday. Then, all they have to do is clean it up. If you are on the beach tonight, you should stop by and take a look.

11 Drowned in 2008, Why Can't We Get Lifeguards?

Tuesday the Bay County Commissioners “balked” at the idea of giving the City of Panama City Beach $108,000 to fund lifeguards at Rick Seltzer Park because of the expense and liability concerns. Seriously? I mean, come on. We went through this last year, all the controversy, and we had 11 tourists that drown here on our beaches! Pensacola has had 4 drownings in five years, Walton County had none last year, we had 11! Eleven drownings in one year! That’s more in one year than we’ve ever had! How does this not deeply concern those in charge?

Today, a Letter to the Editor was published in the News Herald that’s quite good. In fact, some of the above was sourced from it. Read it here.

The writer goes on to say that one could make a worthy argument that safer beaches could, in fact, be used as a marketing ploy to help draw people to our area. We want a WOW marketing campaign, how’s this for a nugget: “Feel Safe on Panama City Beach” – that will draw families. How does the bad press look when potential visitors hear about 11 people drowning in our waters in one year, as opposed to none in our neighboring Walton County, whom I might ad is our direct competition. Are people scared of coming to our beaches? Are our beaches deemed dangerous to tourists looking to come to our area? State your opinion in the comments section.

I understand there are legal ramifications for everything and liability issues with every action we as a community make, but why aren’t we taking tourism and city officials from our neighboring areas out to lunch to pick their brains on how they are doing it. This isn’t some novel idea that no one’s figured out how to do. Communities are doing this, communities have been doing this for a long time, there is a formula that works, and we need to employ it in Panama City Beach.

The author of the article reminds us that Chairman Jerry Girvin backed away from supporting this Tuesday after receiving conflicting reports from lawyers concerning liabilities of the County. What!? So, find another lawyer, read the precedents he proposes and make a more informed decision. Again, others are doing this, and the success is obviously apparent.

Commissioner Mike Thomas was concerned about the idea of spending $100k on something that primarily benefited tourists. Yea, benefitted tourists LIVES. 100 grand to save a few lives is more than worth it – the good publicity we’d get off it alone would make it worth our while, saving lives would be icing on the cake. Oh, and may I remind you that tourists are the lifeblood of our area? We have NO industry here except tourism. We scare them off, we’re screwed.

TDC Issues Trash Letter to Industry, City Backs It

As part of the initiative to formalize the actions taken by the TDC during this month’s regularly scheduled board meeting, Dan Rowe, President of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau and Marty McDaniel, Chairman of the TDC signed a letter sent out to local tourism industry partner businesses. The letter explains the increase in trash receptacles and asks for support in keeping our beaches clean.

The letter in full:

Dear Tourism Industry Partner:

Expressing its ongoing commitment to the future of Panama City Beach, the Bay County Tourist Development Council (TDC) adopted a Strategic Plan. That Plan focuses on developing Panama City Beach into a year-round destination, promoting our world-class beaches and enhancing each visitor’s experience. For each of these initiatives outlined in the Plan, we MUST continue to protect and preserve Panama City Beach’s primary natural resource and attraction – the beautiful waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the sugar-white sands of our shorelines.

To further our ability to beautify, protect and market our beach, last week the TDC Board of Directors took action by earmarking an additional $250,000 to enhance our annual “Keep the Beaches Clean” Campaign. These additional funds will support immediate tactics that address the overwhelming increase of visitors and traffic our beaches experience during the spring and summer months, as well as long term strategies that focus on public awareness and year-round maintenance and upkeep.

Effective immediately, the TDC increased the number of trash receptacles on the beach from 578 to 778 barrels. During Spring Break, an additional 200 barrels were deployed in heavily trafficked areas of the beach. The TDC also authorized our beach maintenance contractor to increase the number of times the beach is raked throughout the year, including the daily raking of impacted areas during Spring Break and immediately following peak holidays. Additionally, the TDC is investigating, and is considering different alternatives for providing biodegradable trash bags at public beach points as part of this campaign.

As important as the TDC’s efforts are, the businesses located on the beachfront share in the responsibility of picking up trash behind their respective places of business. Last week the City Council of the City of Panama City Beach asked us to include with this letter the portion of the current litter prevention ordinance which requires owners along the corridors most travelled by tourists to keep their property free of litter (Chapter 12, Garbage and Trash, Section 12-7). The City has asked us to remind everyone in the City that this Section carries a baseline civil penalty of $250 per day. If you have specific questions about this ordinance, please contact Panama City Beach Code Enforcement.

We strongly encourage each of you to join the TDC in improving, protecting and maintaining the beaches by picking up the trash behind your property. With your support and partnership, we can protect and preserve the unparalleled beauty of Panama City Beach for locals and visitors to enjoy each day of the year.

To read the ordinances, download the full letter with the ordinances included here.

I think this is a good move. Not specifically talking about the $250 mentioned above, but I don’t think the penalty is severe enough for litterers. Growing up in Texas, there were state-wide advertising campaigns encouraging people to put “trash in its place.” “Don’t Mess With Texas,” I think they even commissioned Willie Nelson to write a song and make a music video. In Plano, there were fines of $500 doled out when you threw trash out of your window. It was considered a serious offense, and growing up in that type of environment has distilled in me that littering is wrong. To this day, I don’t even throw as much as a bubble gum wrapper out of my window.

Spring Break is nasty, but this goes way beyond Spring Break. This comes down to keeping our whole area clean, ALL THE TIME. I think this is a step in the right direction with regards to our tourist activities, but the City needs to step up and increase the litter fines and beef up the enforcement. This is a win-win scenario (except for those inconsiderate enough to litter) – the City creates a way to increase revenue, and the community as a whole benefits from a cleaner Panama City Beach. I’m not usually for expanding government in any way, but some times some things are just necesary.

Flo Rida, NERD Rocked the House, Crowd More Tame

After the Lil Wayne show last week organizers came away with valuable experience on how to handle “big” names in our little beach town. I thought it was pretty crazy, but didn’t realize the chaos that was actually unfolding all day – I guess that was one of the reason the media was kicked out. If last week’s show was a cat 3 hurricane, yesterday was a tropical depression. Of course, the turnout wasn’t quite as hefty either. Good show guys, good show.

Unfortunately I was unable to make the finals for the USA Rock Paper Scissors (otherwise known as USARPS) competition, but one lucky (or strategically cunning, ‘eh Matti?) college student walked away with a hefty $20,000 check payable to his college tuition. He’s a mechanical engineering student at Syracuse, so he needs the money. Congratulations “Naco”. More on USARPS later.

NERD rocked the house. The lyrics weren’t exactly kid-friendly, but the music was actually quite awesome. They played with two drummers who were both amazing and refused to shy away at showing off their talent. Being a drummer at heart that hasn’t played in years, I still love a great drum solo. Maybe one day I’ll own a set again.

There weren’t as many in attendance, but I would say that thousands were still there. I think I was the only press allowed in – I feel special.

Encouraged by the performers, the audience practiced copious amounts of crowd surfing and were egged on to create a mash pit. The energy was high and the crowd seemed to jump with every beat. Most everyone was college age, but I saw a few younger and older – some with parents.

As I was heading up to the roof, I asked a friend that works for Boardwalk, “So, where’s Flo’s tour bus,” remembering the craziness getting Lil Wayne from his bus to the stage. “No buses are allowed on property. He was escorted in earlier quietly to prevent pandemonium.” I asked where he was, her reply: “I can’t even tell you, Jason.” I thought I was special.

Flo Rida was on time, right on time, actually. Of course, I think his maturity as a performer was evident. He was professional at getting the crowd hyped often joining the crowd at their level and at one point offering to give away his diamond cross necklace, “. . . diamonds are a lady’s best friend,” he said. I didn’t see him actually give the necklace away, I’m sure that would have been greatly discouraged as it was probably worth tens of thousands of dollars. I think we would have surely seen a mash pit then.

On this particular sunny day, the sand was warm, and the water was warmer than last week, although it was still a brisk 68 degrees. But, the air temp was close to 80, but in the sweaty crowd, it felt like 90.

I took a couple hundred pictures, here are the best 40-something. If you aren’t following us on Twitter, you missed some great live updates. Follow us now so you can keep up with all the live action in the future. Plus, you can keep up with what we are doing throughout the day and be notified of new posts.