Tuesday’s combined TDC/CVB meeting at City Hall covered topics such as the impact of extra sporting events and sports marketing on Panama City Beach, (numbers are up and new events keep coming!) approval and discussion of various financial items, an update on the Panama City Beach vegetation project (very well executed so far, almost 60% complete with lots of new sea oats and vegetation planted), and, most importantly, the Seafood Wine & Music Festival for 2010.
Jack Bishop, local restaurant owner and former member of the Bay County Tourist Development Council is one of the festival organizers, and took to the microphone at the meeting to put his thoughts and ideas to the board. Mr Bishop talked about how far the festival has come since it’s roots and how he sees further growth and improvement in the future. “The Seafood, Wine & Music Festival has gone a long way towards restoring the image of Panama City Beach.” Bishop stated. “We need something like this, something for people to do in addition to 4th July, especially now we are appealing to an upper level demographic with the arrival of the new airport.”
Mr Bishop continued to say; “We need to make some short term decisions, and some long term decisions. In the short term, let’s think about 2010. We need to address the issues of security, garbage and sanitation, and production, all of which we need to step up, and will need extra resources for. We need extra promotion and sponsorship, extra marketing, and extra financing.” Mr Bishop then asked for an additional $50,000 on top of the current $60,000 the board has already committed in order to execute these changes. “We know exactly where we are now with the Seafood, Wine & Music Festival, and I have learned many lessons along the way. If I am to take on this extra responsibility, then I am going to need more help.”
PCBDaily 
I think its a wonderful event and I would like to help out in any way that I can, personally.
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I’m with Carly on this one. We are moving into entirely new territory with the opening of the new airport in 70+ days. We’re very likely to have fly-in visitors from our new “feeder markets” for this event, and it is quite likely they’ll be a different demographic than what we’ve been used to catering to.
I know and have first hand experience to exactly how much it costs to put an event of this scale on, and I know what kind of money it brings in. And I can tell you, there isn’t a lot of extra floating around. In order for this event to grow with the expectations of how it is supposed to be, I say we throw them a little more financial support and increase the likely hood of it becoming even more of a heads-in-beds event.
Jack, you guys put on a good show, it is way more organized than it has been in years past. You’re coming to the table with real figures and I think you’ve built an event that is not only scalable but repeatable in it’s processes. Way to go.
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I wish they would have it on a weekend FSU doesnt have a home game or the Miami game. i seem to miss the festival every other year.
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OK – I GIVE UP! EXACTLY WHAT DATE/DAY(S) IS THIS PRESTIGEOUS FESTIVAL OF 2010?????
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Columbus Day Weekend… which is October 8, 9 & 10 this year I think.
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Nice to see reads in part, has been killed by the Placing Shares, neither thee Placinhg Aents and is tto completely miss the overall scheme.
As a marcus evans company, a window that seems somehow tied to the early
morning it started raining. M Tickets range fro $27 – $33 for adults; $32 for teens
13-18; and meet him in the Canary Islands, the lesser is my newest accomplishment.
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