The oil spill threat this summer took it’s toll on the opportunity for us to have a slammin’, jammin’ summer, but it wasn’t all bad. Our image was certainly tarnished, our tourism numbers were down a bit, but on the plus side, the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitor’s Bureau received $2 million from BP to be used for marketing the beaches of Panama City Beach. This influx of marketing money has saved our CVB $750,000 from their regular marketing budget this year so far and has freed up some cash to use in other arenas.
At the TDC meeting this week, there was one slide in PCB CVB Marketing Director Susan Estler’s presentation that kept its place longer than the others, and it’s pictured above. Note the extra dollars that are proposed to be allocated to the various events. If you can’t see through the grain of the low-light photo, it reads:
Recommendation of Enhancement for Existing Events
- Lobsterfest – $50,000
- Thunder Beach – $50,000
- Seafood, Wine and Music Festival – $150,000
This is huge news for these events as this could enable them to step up their value for this year. Currently and in the past, the CVB has not supported monetarily Lobsterfest, so this would be totally new for them. Last I checked, the CVB was contributing $25,000 to Thunder Beach and currently they have committed $60,000 to the Panama City Beach Seafood Wine and Music Festival. This new influx of cash would up the support for the Seafood Festival to $210,000 total.
Event Stakeholder, Jack Bishop was in attendance at the TDC meeting this week and was asked what this money would mean for the event. He was clear in that using this money to make it a free event was not a good idea as it would “take it down a level, rather than take it up a level.” It was discussed making it free for visitors to our area and paid for locals, which Mayor Oberst was staunchly opposed to, with due cause. Bishop said the influx in money would allow them to add tremendous value to the existing ticketed event, possibly allowing them to bring in a huge headliner.
He reported that they have flexibility in their contracts to move some schedules around and said they had already been in discussions on how to move forward should this become a reality.
Convention and Visitor’s Bureau CEO, Dan Rowe said they would sit down with the event stake holders and discuss how this money would best suit each individual event. He stressed that the CVB wouldn’t just start cutting checks. The whole idea is to boost Panama City Beach tourism by boosting existing events that are happening anyway.
Other ideas to use the savings from the regular budget include creating a totally new event that has a huge Jimmy Buffet-sized event that would be ticketed. The goal of an event of this magnitude would be to bring in 35,000 people (like they did for the Jimmy Buffet concert in south Alabama) that could have an influx of up to $7 million to the local economy. This would be at the end of the fall season this year or at the beginning of the tourism season next year.
PCBDaily 
Hmmmmm…… Free to tourists and $$$$ for the locals? We should all be treated equal!! 🙂
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Agreed Jan, that was an idea that was discussed very briefly. I don’t think that would ever fly.
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I Mr.Jason I am Amy Rowles I lived there for 3 years than I moved to Texas. We are going to come and vist on the 4 of september. I am so exited and it is good to know the beaches are clean.(I knew Oscer)
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lol, Hi Amy! Of course I remember you. I was just talking to your dad the other day.
You guys be sure to give us a call when you come in town!
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oops i ment hi Mr.Jason sorry
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sure will
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I just don’t know about the ethics of promoting seafood at this point in time. We all want business to improve, but: http://www.democracynow.org/2010/8/23/fishing_industry_in_gulf_still_worrried
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Justice I just don’t really know how much faith I would put in a story put together by an “independent” (really means out of work) journalist and two fisherman who had just been let go from the BP Vessel of Opportunity program.
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We own condos on the beach. Why not use some of this money to promote families coming back got Spring Break rather than concentrating on college towns where the students do so much damage and spend very little money at the beach? When Daytona was the Spring Break HotSpot, family renters came to Panama City Beach and there were not enough condo to fill their needs. We don’t need the destructive students/singles to come; respectful singles/students are welcome!! Advertise in the metropolitan areas that have large school systems and cater to families…. Atlanta, St. Paul-Minneapolis, Dallas-Ft.Worth, Nashville, Indianapolis, etc. Most of my Spring Break families are from these areas. Make ordinances to keep alcohol off the beach like Daytona did. Give Panama City Beach the image and clientel we deserve!
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I think if you boost the event with the exta money and don’t reduce the price of the tickets or offer free admission it could be like planning a big party and forgetting so send the invitations. Budget’ are tight with the economy. Use the money to make the event free or reduced, maybe half price this year. That would get a lot of extra guest to the beach for a fun filled weekend and think of the money they would bring to Panama City Beach. (Accomodations, gas, food, etc.) Some would spend extra money at the festival with the vendors. BP’s money could pick up the slack for the promoters. People love FREE or reduced and will usually spend more money because of offers like this.
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A Jimmy Buffet concert would fill everything for within miles of PCB. That would be a great boost with many dollars into our area. What are we waiting for? Is Jimmy Buffet available to help us out ? PCB Daily could be a sponsor.
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Need something to attract tourists during the off season when the weather is still beautiful.
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why not use some of this money for the locals who are struggling because of this whole mess.. the locals can’t afford to go to the festivals because of this mess. i am sick of hearing how all the money is being spent on unneccessary bs while people can’t pay their bills and rent because they can’t get a claim check because the process is so slow. i could care less if the seafood festival is on or not .. at least we really know now that no one who runs this city gives cares even the slightest little bit about the locals and how we’re struggling.. what a joke..
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Hope they choose and get Jimmy Buffet. No one better for those of us who love the beach!
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