Blues Traveler to Rock the PCB Seafood, Wine & Music Festival

The Panama City Beach Seafood, Wine & Music Festival in cooperation with Neste Marketing Nashville, proudly announces BLUES TRAVELER will perform at the event Saturday October 11, 2008.

David Letterman named them his “favorite band”, BLUES TRAVELER effectively launched the jam-rock revolution of the 1990’s. Their massive musical imprint includes over eight albums — six of them gold or platinum — and they’ve sold more than 10 million discs overall. Continue reading “Blues Traveler to Rock the PCB Seafood, Wine & Music Festival” →

Bed Tax Collections are UP, Business Numbers DOWN

Who said the Summer White Sale wouldn’t work? Well, although I was quite critical of the PCB Summer White Sale, I don’t think I ever said, verbatim, that it flat out would not work. But did it? Well, the answer is actually quite a bit more complex than a simple yes or no. Of course, that’s what makes the answer so much fun.

In a recent article, the News Herald reported that so far this year, compared to the same period last year, the bed tax collections are up 3.5%. This is true, additionally I found from October 2006 to June 2007, the bed tax collections were up to $3,953,245.77 or 11.77%. The 2006 number of $3,537,045.14 is up 3.04% from October 2004 to June 2005, and the 2004 numbers were up 5.94%. And because I always hate reading stuff like this in a paragraph, I’m gonna put it all in a nifty table:

Continue reading “Bed Tax Collections are UP, Business Numbers DOWN” →

Grand Lagoon National Suffers Changes from Tropical Storm Fay

Tropical Storm Fay is already reaching its sea fingers up our way to effect our newest fishing tournament on Panama City Beach. So far the effects only encompass a few delays.

In addition, Tropical Storm Fay has inspired a new Champion Award, the Miz Fay Grand Champion Award. This award will pay $10,000 to the angler who “comes closest to, or breaks by, the largest amount, the Florida State Record of any eligible tournament fish.”

Continue reading “Grand Lagoon National Suffers Changes from Tropical Storm Fay” →

Panama City Beach CVB is Getting a New Web Site

I find it interesting that the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau is soliciting for a new web site vendor. They apparently are seeking to replace VisitPanamaCityBeach.com with something new. Currently, I beleive, Y Partnership is the vendor handling the site development and hosting.

Unfortunately I don’t have much more detail than that at this time, but at 9:30 I’ll be attending a meeting that should tell more about what is going on.

Here is the form that they are sending out.

Update:

I was at the meeting, but unfortunately it wasn’t much more than a discussion on the RFQ that is linked above.

Continue reading “Panama City Beach CVB is Getting a New Web Site” →

8/12/08 TDC-CVB: Sports Marketing, Upcoming Budget, Beach Safety

6 of the 9 board members were present. Absent were Marty McDaniel, Yonnie Patronis, and Rick Russell.

Sports Marketing Update

Mr. Richard Sanders, Director of Sports Marketing, provided a report on the state of sport related tourism for our destination. After his update, he introduced Mr. Don Schumacher, Don Schumacher & Associates, Inc. His organization prepared the Sports Facilities Study and Recommendations previously requested by the board. The total cost of the report was $32,000.

Continue reading “8/12/08 TDC-CVB: Sports Marketing, Upcoming Budget, Beach Safety” →

TDC Meeting on Tuesday August 12th – Agenda

Tuesday should be an exciting day of reporting and presentation. We should see some final numbers on the success of the Summer White Sale campiagn, reported in the News Herald this morning as a success, and we should hear about the fall marketing plan.

Seeing over $500,000 in “free national media attention”, it was reported that the Summer White Sale campaign was a success. With over 60,000 visits and almost 20,000 coupon downloads, the campaign is still producing consumers with coupons at local resorts and attractions. Bed tax collections are up 2% from the same period last year.

The agenda is after the break.

Continue reading “TDC Meeting on Tuesday August 12th – Agenda” →

To Swim or Not to Swim? – That is the question.

I can see the justification now – “I’ve come 5 hours to see this beach, and I’m gonna swim whether some flag says I can or not. I paid for this trip, I should be able to swim.” The problem here, you see, is not that the “evil” police or safety patrol wants to spoil your fun, its that THE WATER IS NOT SAFE. This is nobody’s fault. This should be taken with a grain of salt. Whining and complaining about it is just as useful and crying when a baseball game gets rained out.

“The locals all know about the flags and how they work, and many of them swim. Then when the tourists come in, that know little about how it works, they see the locals swimming and figure its ok to get in.” One beach resident and business owner said today.

Do the tourists not know about it, or are they just choosing to ignore it?

Continue reading “To Swim or Not to Swim? – That is the question.” →

Red Flag Fines?

An issue currently at debate is whether we should ticket beach goers that ignore warnings and enter the water despite red flag and double red flag conditions.

Walton County has been doing it for years and they don’t seem to have as many drownings as we do. Direct correlation? Hard to say. Does it help? I would think so.

Anything that is going to cost money will deter some people. It will never deter all, but it may help. In addition it could be another source of revenue for our county or city.

Sheriff Frank McKeithen said in a statement emailed the News Herald, printed in today’s paper, that the people that enter the water during dangerous conditions are not only endangering themselves, but endangering the officers, beach workers, or bystanders that may end up having to save them. Obvious point, Sheriff, but very good nonetheless. We need to do what we can to not only keep our tourists safe (despite themselves), but our officers and other locals that risk their lives to save others.

Continue reading “Red Flag Fines?” →

.38 Special to play at The Panama City Beach Seafood, Wine & Music Festival

THE PANAMA CITY BEACH SEAFOOD, WINE & MUSIC FESTIVAL, formerly the Indian Summer Festival, proudly announces a major addition to the event’s entertainment line-up.

Eventertainment Group, LLC., in cooperation with Neste Event Marketing of Nashville has secured .38 Special as the festival’s major headliner for the kickoff day of the event, Friday October 10, 2008. Show time T.B.A., advance discount tickets on sale soon.

Continue reading “.38 Special to play at The Panama City Beach Seafood, Wine & Music Festival” →

Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort Named “Best of the South”

Honor bestowed by Meetings South Magazine

Panama City Beach, Fla. (July 23, 2008) – Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort has recently been voted as one of the best meeting facilities in the Southern United States for 2008 by the readership of Meetings South magazine. This acclaimed distinction is regarded as a great achievement since the voting readers make up most of the top national meeting planners. The prestigious “Best of the South” awards will be published in the September issue of the trade’s premier magazine.

“We are thrilled to be recognized for our facilities, value and customer service with such an impressive award,” said Paul Wohlford, vice president of sales and marketing for The Resort Collection of Panama City Beach, which manages Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort. “Our 32,000-square-foot state-of-the-art conference facility offers meeting planners great flexibility as well as a beautiful backdrop for their groups to enjoy. In addition, I think our corporate climate of customer service and attitude towards excellence made favorable impressions with the meeting planners who voted, giving us an edge over our competitors.”

Continue reading “Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort Named “Best of the South”” →