Exaggerated College Spring Break Numbers in the Media

There is a problem with the College Spring Break economic impact figures that have been reported in the media this past season. I first noticed it when ABC affiliate, WMBB, aired a report on March 3^rd. Reporter Mark Jenkins stated that “Tourist Development Council Commissioners are expecting an overall income of $100 million this month.” Based on my prior public records requests, I was already aware that the TDC/CVB had very little research to support their official 2007 estimate of $62 million in spending. Therefore, I was surprised to hear that they were now boosting their estimate by over 50%.

Then MSNBC on March 17^th referenced the same $100 million in spending. In addition, MSNBC reported that PCB was expecting “about 350,000 students”. I already knew the TDC/CVB had no research to support their 2007 estimate of 250,000 students. And now they apparently were boosting this unsubstantiated estimate by 40%. Although MSNBC did not report who provided either of these estimates, I wrongly assumed that they had been provided by Andy Phillips, chairman of the TDC/CVB. My assumption was based on Phillips being the only PCB representative quoted in the article.

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A Written Warning to College Spring Breakers

Mark Canfora, in his effort to reduce the harm brought by college spring break has requested that a “Disclaimer and Warning” be placed in all hotel rooms, condos, convenience stores, etc. as long as college spring break is promoted by the TDC.

He wrote a letter to the Mayor of Panama City Beach requesting that this issue be officially legally assessed on the ability of the city to actually carry out this plan, the letter reads:

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Notes and Comments from the TDC/CVB Board Meeting 4/8/08

Only 5 of the 9 board members were present. Absent were Mike Nelson, Mayor Oberst, Yonnie Patronis, and Rick Russell.

College Spring Break Marketing

Although President Dan Rowe previously advised the Board that he would be asking them to consider their plans for 2009 at this meeting, he is now suggesting that the subject be postponed until the May meeting. Rowe explained that he would like to wait until the research and bed tax data is available for March.

While I understand Rowe’s reasoning, there is now a problem. Some Board and Marketing Committee members have previously suggested that the TDC/CVB should, at a minimum, discontinue direct funding of a College Spring Break marketing program. If implemented, this would still allow a co-op to request special event advertising support from the Board. However, the CVB’s Special Events Advertising Policy and Procedure requires that an application be filed by June 1, 2008. It would be difficult for an application to be prepared between the May 13th Board meeting and the June 1st deadline. I had hoped that the Board would have officially voted to give notice that 2009 College Spring Break funding might be discontinued at this meeting. As it stands now, the College Spring Break interests could claim that they had insufficient time to prepare a potential Special Event funding request.

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Letters to the TDC – Opposing College Spring Break

In support of the College Spring Break opposition, Mark Canfora is presenting several documents to the TDC at Tomorrows meeting.

Quote:

To TDC Board Members,
To sit by and watch this ongoing devastating PCB College Spring Break tragedy and TDC promotion (Event Failure in TDC terminology) continue and do NOTHING would be a form of Passive Collusion: Failure to confront known abusive, harmful or catastrophic behavior.”

Money, in many cases, is motivating factor and a total disregard to the loss and despair of families and the victims. This ongoing dangerous spring break promotion furthers the pain and suffering of the past and present victim’s families with constant reminders of the pain caused during this annual event.

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Notes from the April 2, 2008 TDC/CVB Marketing Committee Meeting

9 of the 11 committee members were present. Absent was Debi Knight and Paul Wohlford.

Indian Summer Festival

Two organizations interested in taking over operation of the festival made presentations. Both proposals are for Columbus Day Weekend, October 10-12, 2008.
Jeffrey Wolfe, from Multimedia Publishing, Inc. (http://www.multimediapp.com), would like to provide a “Family oriented food and entertainment venue, which focuses on wholesome family fun.” The festival would remain at Frank Brown Park and retain the name Indian Summer Seafood Festival. Wolfe’s vision includes a cooking demonstration stage, a kid-oriented stage that would include the involvement of Bay County Schools, and a music stage. The music stage would have a unique music theme each day, such as margaritiville, country, and big band. Although the possibility of a Jimmy Buffett concert was subsequently reported by WJHG, it is my understanding that Wolfe is only proposing a margaritiville-style concert. Multimedia listed their affiliations with the Niceville Mullet Festival, the Seabreeze Jazz Festival, and Blue Angels events in Pensacola; however, I believe that they only provided services to these events rather than acting as event promoter. The presentation was silent as to what financial support they would be requesting from the TDC/CVB; however, their handout did refer to “seed money” being used for operations. Although and exception was made recently for the FSU Flying Circus, it is TDC/CVB policy to only provide advertising support to special events. Wolfe anticipates a total attendance of 18,000.

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Proposed Stipulations Concerning the College Spring Break Disagreement

People definitely have different views concerning whether Panama City Beach should continue to promote College Spring Break. I wonder whether these opposing views prevent us from reaching any conclusions about whether or not College Spring Break is in the best interest of our beautiful destination.

In an effort to try to work out this problem, maybe we could all agree on something like the following. If so, the community could begin to actually analyze whether College Spring Break helps or hurts our destination’s economy rather than just debating the issue. These stipulations may seem obvious to many; however, some on both sides definitely need to have more respect for how this issue affects other people. It is my hope that people on both sides will offer suggestions so that we can reach an impartial and workable “Stipulations Concerning the College Spring Break Disagreement”.

The full-year profits of some tourist related businesses is increased as a result of our promotion of College Spring Break; however, the full-year profits of other tourist related businesses is reduced as a result of our promotion of College Spring Break.
The full-year profits of some rental real estate investors is increased as a result of our promotion of College Spring Break; however, the full-year profits of other rental real estate investors is decreased as a result of our promotion of College Spring Break.
The promotion of College Spring Break has a positive effect on the yearly income of some tourist industry employees; however, it has a negative effect on the yearly income of other tourist industry employees.
College Spring Break brings tourists to Panama City Beach during March; however, it also causes other tourists to avoid Panama City Beach during March.
Media coverage of College Spring Break results some additional tourists during the other 11 months of the year; however, it also results in a loss of some potential tourists during the other 11 months of the year.
Our College Spring Break image results in a gain of some tourists during the other 11 months of the year; however, it also results in a loss of some potential tourists during the other 11 months of the year.
Some students who visit Panama City Beach during their College Spring Break end up coming back to visit later in their life as a result of their Spring Break visit; however, other students who visit Panama City Beach during College Spring Break end up not coming back later in life as a result of their Spring Break visit.
College Spring Break results in some buyers being more interested in purchasing residential real estate in Panama City Beach; however, it also results in some buyers having less interest in purchasing residential real estate in Panama City Beach.

-Bryan Durta

This week in Spring Break 2008, Panama City Beach

Last week was indeed the big week, but it’s still not over. My in-laws own a rental management company on the beach that my wife works at on weekends. She said yesterday, “this must be the vomit and poop week.” She said they found human feces on the living room floor in one home and feces on a window sill in another home with vomit all over the place. gross.

Click the “more” link for a list of schools in town this week”

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Notes from the March 20, 2008 TDC/CVB Marketing Committee Meeting

Only 7 of the 11 members were present. Absent were Philip Griffits, Jr., John Hamati, Bill Spann, and Debi Knight.

2009 COLLEGE SPRING BREAK MARKETING CAMPAIGN

President Dan Rowe explained that he would like the Committee and Board to begin discussing their plans, if any, for this segment ahead of the upcoming budget process. Rowe also reported that he has had discussions with the CVB’s agency about completing additional research to determine what the year-round effect is of our spring break image. Image concerns were also expressed by a majority of the committee members present. Although no formal vote took place, the majority of the committee expressed an interest in either discontinuing funding completely or at least changing it to special event funding. If changed to special event funding, the CVB would only consider providing financial support after an organization or co-op made a formal request for financial support.

Click the “more” link for the others points covered in the meeting.

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Are Spring Breakers ruining our Beaches?

Spring Break is in full swing and along with that comes droves of college kids looking for a good time that mostly includes drinking endless amounts of alcohol, walking around our streets with open containers, and leaving their garbage all over the place.

Click the “more” link for pictures and a comment about how PCB is being ruined as a family spot.

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Big Spring Break Week

In addition to hosting 6 college spring breakers at my home (friends of my wife), the rest of Panama City has seen a huge influx of kids this week. I think this week is the second largest week we’ll see with next week being the largest. If anyone has any idea of approximately how many people are expected to be here this week, please chime in.

In addition to Wal-Mart being completely packed all the time, the roads are getting clogged and people can be found walking around everywhere. I hope they are nicer to our properties this year than they were last year.

Click the “more” link for a total list of the schools here this week.

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