Category: Tourism

2011 Visitor Interest in Panama City Beach Grows over 2010

Whatever complexities involved in the comprehensive marketing plan the TDC has in effect, it’s working.

Visitor inquiry, visitation and general interest is up this year over last, and the activity in Panama City Beach reflects it.

Following this article, we’ll discuss the bed tax revenue, and take a good look at the actual numbers behind this year’s growth, but for now, we’re going to take a look at some stats on interest as it related to visitation, inquiries and Likes.

Total Website visitation

The Panama City Beach Convention and Visitor’s Bureau made the tough decision a couple short years ago to abandon their previous web host and seek a new one, along with a fresh new look.  They rebuilt the website with the help of Jennifer Barbie Inc, and enacted a whole new marketing plan that was charged with revitalizing PCB’s image. Two years later, traffic to the website has grown tremendously and the area’s branding has burned the image of our sugar white sands and emerald green waters into the minds of millions, literally.

Traffic to the website in 2011

  • July – 184,148 (15% increase)
  • June – 174,726 (22% decrease)
  • May – 142,845 (17% increase)
  • April – 123,976 (26% increase)
  • March – 179,553 (53% increase)

Traffic to the website in 2010

  • July – 159,567
  • June – 225,557 (oil spill spike)
  • May – 122,440
  • April – 98,342
  • March – 117,039
Website visitation top states

July

  1. Florida
  2. Georgia
  3. Alabama
  4. Tennessee
  5. Texas
  6. Kentucky

June

  1. Georgia
  2. Florida
  3. Alabama
  4. Tennessee
  5. Texas
  6. Kentucky

May

  1. Georgia
  2. Florida
  3. Alabama
  4. Tennessee
  5. Texas
  6. Kentucky

April

  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Alabama
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Illinois

March

  1. Florida
  2. Georgia
  3. Alabama
  4. Tennessee
  5. Texas
  6. Illinois
Facebook page keeps growing, and growing, and growing

One of the things that’s been really unique in the Panama City Beach marketing plan has been the growth of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau’s Facebook Page, VisitPanamaCityBeach.  Every since the beginning, it’s been growing leaps and bounds, like a snowball, and has never ceased.

They have set records, garnered the attention of Facebook corporate and have been an example of what to do in a successful campaign over and over again.  Currently they are at 219,753 Likes.

Here is a breakdown of their growth over the last year. The number shown indicated the total number of Likes at that point in time.

2011

  • July – 218,159 (136% increase)
  • June – 211,355 (157% increase)
  • May – 203,721 (181% increase)
  • April – 195,380 (187% increase)
  • March – 188,066 (202% increase)

2010

  • July – 92,336
  • June – 82,213
  • May – 72,582
  • April – 67,968
  • March – 62,250
Visitors Services Inquiries

Each day, the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitor’s Bureau fields inquiries via phone, email, walk-ins, physical letters and faxes.  Inquires consist of info for making vacation plans, information on group travel, general tourist information, etc.

Here is a breakdown of the inquiries over the last 5 months in the top six states. Numbers are approximate based on the report we received.

July

  • Georgia – 800
  • Alabama – 600
  • Tennessee – 550
  • Florida – 450
  • Texas – 425
  • Kentucky – 350

June

  • Georgia – 1300
  • Tennessee – 950
  • Alabama – 750
  • Texas – 650
  • Kentucky – 550
  • Indiana – 425

May

  • Michigan – 3400
  • Illinois – 2500
  • Wisconsin – 1800
  • Indiana – 1700
  • Ohio – 1600
  • Georgia – 1500

April

  • Tennessee – 2900
  • Georgia – 1100
  • Alabama – 700
  • Texas – 600
  • Florida – 600
  • Illinois – 500

March

  • Georgia – 1100
  • Tennessee – 900
  • Alabama – 650
  • Florida – 625
  • Texas – 600
  • Kentucky – 550

 

Thunder Beach Asks TDC for $100k, Walk out with $40k

Amongst other things, this morning’s TDC meeting included some spirited discussion on the viability of a Fall Motorcycle Rally.  The spring rally, according to organizers, gets better every year.  But the growth of the Fall rally has been stunted because of the date of the event.

Last year, Thunder Beach organizers were vying for the Columbus Day weekend to hold their fall event.  This is a weekend, that historically, included family-related events such as the Panama City Beach Seafood Wine and Music Festival.  The TDC did not support the date change, thus it didn’t happen.

This is the argument for Columbus Day Weekend

Here are the dates of the large Fall motorcycle rallys:

Joe Biggs, the Thunder Beach organizer argues that currently, where Thunder Beach falls in the schedule, it heavily competes with other events for vendors.  This is, in my opinion a very valid point as there is a clear gap, that if the Panama City Beach event could be moved back just one week, vendors could travel from Reno, to Las Vegas, to Panama City Beach, to Daytona.  They are coming down here anyway.

Biggs said that if the fall event can’t be moved, it’s still not going away, but if it could be moved to Columbus Day weekend, it could be as big, if not larger, than the spring rally.

The argument against Columbus Day weekend

“Columbus Day weekend has always been that last shot for families to come down to the beach, and we all know that families and bikers don’t mix,” said board member Gary Walsingham.

“We’ve all tried to get families down here in the fall and we’ve never been able to get it to work,” retorted past board chair Marty McDaniel and owner of Oaseas Resorts, “but we have an obligation to grow business in the fall and this is the best way to do it.”

Oaseas Resorts is the onsite property management company for Shores of Panama, a large venue sponsor for Thunder Beach.

Came for $100k, left with $40k

McDaniel made a motion to grant $100k to Thunder Beach to help promote the fall event, an amount never before given to an event as sponsorship dollars.  The motion was seconded by member Ken Nelson, but was voted no by everyone except McDaniel, Patronis, and Nelson.

Board member Andy Phillips followed that failing vote with a motion to grant Thunder Beach $40,000 to be used towards marketing.  This vote went through with all voting in agreement with the exception of Mayor Oberst.

My opinion, take it for what it’s worth

I have had a rocky history with Thunder Beach.  But, I’ve always recognized it for bringing people to our beach and generating tourist dollars during the shoulder season.  I’ve always recognized it as very successful, while still maintaining a constant level of annoyance with the traffic, noise and sometimes rude behavior.

With that said, I think a move to Columbus Day weekend would be great for the event AND the area.  Even with the Panama City Beach Seafood Wine and Music Festival, I still don’t think that weekend has ever been a large draw for out of town visitors.

I could be wrong.  Please prove me wrong if I am as I’m going off of personal experience and not a stack of reports.

But, if we have a chance to elevate this event to bring in more people, which I strongly feel that we do in this case, I say we do it.  Although Biggs has made no comment to this effect, if he was to move the fall event elsewhere, or the whole event elsewhere, businesses would definitely miss Thunder Beach.  Putting ourselves in a situation where we could lose a fantastic event that draws thousands (even if no one can agree to the real number) of out of towners is a mistake.

What are your thoughts?  I know historically, our readers have had a love/hate relationship with Thunder Beach.  What do you think, should it be moved?

City Moving Forward with Aaron Bessant Park Improvements [Amphitheater]

Looks like the improvements we were discussing for Aaron Bessant Park are, indeed, coming.  Last week in a city council meeting, an “inter-local” agreement with Bay County was agreed upon to allow the City of Panama City Beach to take the lead on planning and development of this project.  Although two of the council members were adamantly opposed to the improvements, there was still an affirmative majority vote – 3 to 2.

All the improvements could include:

  • 60′x40′ amphitheater with permanent roof and walls suitable for theatrical productions, orchestral performances and musical events
  • Expanded amphitheater lawn area (see diagram below
  • Vegetative buffers around the parameter to prevent the need for temporary fencing
  • The Festival Lawn (the sandy area that’s used as overflow and vedor parking behind the park) will be improved to the quality of Frank Brown Park’s festival area
  • This area will support parking, play fields, and will have sod and irrigation
  • Additional bathroom facilities

At this point, the exact plans have not been decided upon.  The structure in a previous post is just a proposed idea.  The agreement that came to pass in the city council meeting just grants the City the ability to spearhead the planning of the new project.

The next step will bring plans and workshops before the final proposal and approval process.

 

TDC Organizes 3 Large Fall Wknd Concert Events

Every year, about the second week in August, school starts back, rent-rates drop and the beach slows down.  For some, it’s a welcome change, but for others, it’s the ‘so-long’ of the bustle of a busy season.

For years, local tourism officials have dreamed of that mythical unicorn – the annual tourism season – and fall events have always helped extend that season just a bit to keep the life-giving tourism dollar flowing.  This year we have some nice surprises amongst the great fall weather to keep bringing people to our beaches.

Weekend events, famous people and music.

The Tourist Development Council (TDC) has put together a very interesting sequence of events to drive fall tourism.  They’ve orchestrated three weekend events that range from a Christian Music Festival to a weekend-long pirate’s festival.  They’ve structured the whole series very interestingly.  The only way to get tickets to any of the events initially is by booking through one of the TDC accommodation partners.  Any accommodation provider that has a valid tourism tax account has access to this.  On all the events, around two weeks prior to the event, any remaining tickets will be available to the general public.

Fun Never Sets Christian Music Fest

  • Located at Aaron Bessant
  • August 26th (Friday) – Matthew West, Petra, Third Day (headliner) – doors open at 5 pm
  • August 27th (Saturday) – Jamie Grace, Family Force Five, Peter Furler (formerly of the News Boys), Switchfoot, Toby Mac (headliner) – doors open at 2 pm
  • August 28th – Worship service, no time yet, but will be at Aaron Bessant Park

Fun Never Sets Country Music Fest

  • Located at Frank Brown Park
  • September 23 – Justin Moore, Randy Rogers Band, Miranda Lambert (headliner) – doors open at 5:30 pm
  • September 24 – Opening acts yet to be named, Jason Aldean (headliner) – doors open at 2 pm

Fun Never Sets Explorer of the High Seas Fest

  • Event will be from October 7th – 9th at Aaron Bessant Park
  • Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly fame) in concert on the 9th at 2 pm
  • Krewe of Dominique Youx will host a pirate parade
  • There will be a Beach Ball Drop
  • Dueling fireworks show between County and Russell Fields Pier
  • Pirate Ships will be in the Gulf
  • Dubbed a wonderful family and kids festival weekend
  • More details will be available on this soon
Video promoting the fall.

New Amphitheater coming to Aaron Bessant Park

Improvements to Aaron Bessant park have been in the works for a few months.  In fact, talks of improvements have been going on for years, but money has always been a challenge.  This year, BP money in excess of $1 million, will help make park improvements a reality, and last week the Panama City Beach City Council approved the improvements.

Improvements include a new, larger amphitheater.

The new improvements will be a welcome addition to a heavily used facility.  Currently they have several large events there each year that requires spending 10’s of thousands of dollars on erected staging and equipment.  The new facility will have a large covered stage, integrated electrical and a solid infrastructure to host events with a capacity of 10,000.

All the improvements include:

  • 60’x40′ amphitheater with permanent roof and walls suitable for theatrical productions, orchestral performances and musical events
  • Expanded amphitheater lawn area (see diagram below
  • Vegetative buffers around the parameter to prevent the need for temporary fencing
  • The Festival Lawn (the sandy area that’s used as overflow and vedor parking behind the park) will be improved to the quality of Frank Brown Park’s festival area
  • This area will support parking, play fields, and will have sod and irrigation
  • Additional bathroom facilities
Renderings, conceptual and imagery

The teal boundary area is the existing sidewalk paths around the amphitheater area.  The purple lines indicate the other sidewalk areas and paths that lead around the park.  The black lines will be the new amphitheater lawn area.

This is a conceptual of what the amphitheater could look like. The final product will have a beachy feel and should be consisten with the look and feel of neighboring Pier Park.  The stage area could be approximately 60 feet across and 40 feet deep offering 2,400 square feet of space.  There will be permanent walls and roof.

This is an example of another amphitheater.  Ours could look similar.

What are your thoughts on this?  Do you think this will bring more traffic problems to this area?  Or do you think the improvements will be better for the community as a whole?

Beach Bus Offers Free Rides Starting July 1

The Panama City Beach Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is sponsoring free bus rides to tourists and locals alike starting July 1.  This recently released poster specifies three easy steps to ride:

  1. Spot the beach bus
  2. Wave to ride (hop on or off wherever you like)
  3. Flip-flop aboard

This free transportation pilot program is being funded by a Transportation Grant and will run from July 1 to September 5 – Labor Day weekend.  The route will travel on Front Beach Road from Walmart to the Visitor Information Center on Highway 79.

Here is the poster.

What are your thoughts on this?  Do you think this will be a big help to those trying to traverse our summer traffic-ridden area?  Or do you think the frequent stops will add to the congestion?  What do you think the rider experience will be like with people being able to request stops whenever/wherever?

 

Russell Fields Pier adds 4 “Convenience” Booths

If you’ve driven by the Russell Field’s Pier in the last couple weeks you’ve probably noticed the four new huts that have gone up at the foot of the pier.  The original vision of the Russell Field’s included having a sprawling amenity area, a gather place for visitors to hang out, a place where you can enjoy the sunset and the warm summer breeze.  These new huts just add to the convenience of your beachy good times and help make your visit to the pier a little more enjoyable.

Beach Photos

The beach photo hut comes stocked with props and professional photographers that can escort you down to the beach for that perfect beach family portrait.  What better way to capture the moment then by posing in front of a high-resolution lens and saying cheese.  They have everything you need right there and when you’re done, they hand over a disc with your photos on it.  Easy.

They do one photo for $10 and each additional photo is $8.

Convenience Store

Left the sunscreen at home?  Need a new hat?  They’ve got you covered.  Here are some of the items you can find here.

  • Hair braids and wraps
  • Hemp necklaces and other beach jewelry
  • Lip balm
  • Sun screen
  • Shades – even those new HD ones
  • Tons of different hats – sun hats, ball caps, safari hats
  • Skim boards and boogie boards
  • Floaties – tubes, rafts, etc.
  • Beach toys – paddle ball, shovels, buckets, sand-molds, frisbees, etc.
  • Volley balls and footballs
  • Beach clothing – sarongs, cover-ups
  • Beach towels and umbrellas
  • Batteries
  • Snacks
  • Over the counter pain reliever
Airbrush Booth

Seriously, one of the best souvenirs to take home from your beach vacation is an airbrush t-shirt.  Airbrush shirts and Panama City Beach have been going hand in hand since the 70’s.

At the Airbrush Station at the foot of Russell Fields Pier they have tons of designs ready to be put on your shirt.  Or, if you’re feeling saucy, you can have a custom design commissioned just for you.

Shirts are $7 and the ready-made designs start at $10.

But, shirts are not the only thing they can airbrush.  There are tons of other options: hats, shells, license plates, bags, and even baby bibs!

Snack Shack

Not to compete with Hook’d, the Snack Shack has all the little things you wouldn’t expect to find in a restaurant:

  • Snowcones
  • Hot dogs (hot diggity dog, salty dog, slaw dog, surf dog)
  • Boiled peanuts
  • Cookies
  • Chips
  • Sodas
  • Ice cream
  • Pretzels

Murder “Rides Again” in PCB

As the sun sets over the water and boats head back to shore, there’s a group of cowboys digging up clues to find out who committed a murder in Texas – only it’s not really Texas and they’re not really cowboys. At the new Sherlock’s Mystery Dinner Theatre in Panama City Beach, talented local actors take to the stage to present a comedic murder mystery entitled “Murder Rides Again.”

When you arrive at Sherlock’s, located next to Captain Anderson’s on Grand Lagoon, various characters in Western wear start hootin’ and hollerin’ to escort you to your table – a table because this murder mystery includes a three-course dinner (prime rib or chicken cordon bleu by Chef Dee’s Catering). Guests are seated at rounds of six stocked with salads, rolls and beverages, and servers bring out a new course after each act. A cash bar is also available if you’re so inclined.

While you take your seat, Sherlock's Mystery Dinner Theatre stagecharacters weave their way through the tables, interacting with the audience and fellow cast members as a preview of the mystery to come. Don’t be surprised if a sheriff pretends to arrest you or a card shark plays 52-card pick up. In this show – one of many the company plans to produce – the action takes place in Miss Liddy’s Saloon, a bar lined with bottles of root beer, red-checkered card tables and barstools.

The drama begins after the first course. A murder has taken place just before the town’s much-anticipated chili cook-off, leaving an eclectic group of townsfolk – including a big-talking sheriff, his clown of a deputy, a gambler, saloon owner and schoolmarm – to start making accusations amongst themselves. The plot is murky at times, making the actual mystery a bit hard to follow, but the performances are enjoyable and the comedy well-timed. The most popular character of the evening tends to be the sheriff’s sidekick, a bumbling deputy who’s too honest for his own good.

The cast keeps the audience involved by randomly selecting guests to participate in different scenes, and again after the murder by answering questions from each table. Guests collaborate to ask a question of whichever character they choose. The actors respond to each, answering sometimes ridiculously off-topic questions (“how do you spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?”) with just-as-ridiculous answers – a highlight of the evening and a showcase of their quick wit. It’d be fun to see a longer improv segment as this is one of the night’s most well-received moments.

As the evening winds down, each guest writes down their accusations and what they believe to be the suspect’s motives. It feels like a real-life game of Clue. The audience’s feedback isn’t gathered before the final scene, but those who guess correctly receive a prize at the conclusion of the show. The three-hour experience comes to a close with dessert and the revealing of the murderer (who, of course, sticks around for a photo op along with the rest of the cast). Whodunit? Well, you’ll have to visit Sherlock’s to find out for yourself.

Sherlock’s plans to introduce other themes throughout the year, so keep an eye on their web site (dinneratsherlocks.com) for details. At $49.95 for adults and $44.95 for children 8 and up, the experience is a bit on the pricey side, but for a three-course dinner and unique entertainment it’s hard to top. Well-behaved kids above 8 are welcome but teens and adults are more likely to enjoy this show. Make your reservations by visiting dinneratsherlocks.com or by calling 850.230.0999.

Beat the Heat: PCB’s Indoor Attractions

When summer heats up and the beach isn’t enough, it’s hard to top air conditioning. Try one of these indoor attractions to beat the heat in PCB this season:

Emerald Coast Mirror Maze

Gear up and duke it out with family and friends in a game of pirate-themed laser tag, where it’s more challenging than you may think to avoid lasers and treasure chests and other people. There are more lasers to be had in Laser Craze, where you’ll dodge a field of neon beams (à la Ocean’s Twelve) in a race to beat your own score. There’s also a twisting mirror maze that incorporates sights and sounds to fool your senses as you try to make your way out. Located in Pier Park next to Buffalo Wild Wings. emeraldcoastmirrormaze.com, 850.230.6249.

Museum of Man in the Sea

Just west of Highway 79 you’ll find the Man in the Sea Museum, a tribute to the early days of diving and underwater activity. The 5,000-square foot museum on Back Beach Road houses recovered treasures, naval equipment, vehicles, habitats and a submarine you can climb in to explore. maninthesea.org, 850.235.4101.

Sherlock’s Mystery Dinner Theatre

Whodunit? The newly opened Sherlock’s on Grand Lagoon offers interactive murder mystery dinners where you’ll help solve the case. Murder Rides Again is the current theme, based on an “hilarious homicide” that takes place in the town of Tumbleweed, Texas. Join the townsfolk for an evening you won’t soon forget! dinneratsherlocks.com, 850.230.0999.

WonderWorks

Go for the exhibits, stay for the ropes course. Of course, there’s also the strangest bike ride you’ll ever take – you and a partner pedal upside-down and around – a bed of nails and a life-sized piano, but by and far the best attraction inside this upside-down house is the three-story ropes course. Near Walmart on Front Beach Road. wonderworkspcb.com, 850.249.7000.

Rock’It Lanes

There’s no shortage of things to do at this sprawling entertainment center. Challenge your friends to a game of bowling (stay late to watch the lanes glow in the dark), take to the rink on a pair of skates, play pool or hit the arcade. On Richard Jackson Blvd in the Shoppes at Edgewater. rockitlanes.com, 850.249.2695.

Pier Park Summer Concert Series Starts TONIGHT

Every summer you look forward to it:  chillin’ with friends, fresh salty breeze on your face, kids laughing and smooth tunes emanate from the amphitheater.  The 11 week summer Pier Park Concerts in the Park series begins tonight with Beach Mice.

The summer concert series is on Thursday evenings and starts at 7 pm.  They usually break about 8 pm for prizes and giveaways, the resume playing until around 9 pm.  In the past, they’ve rarely cancelled a show.

The series is located at the Aaron Bessant Park amphitheater.  Aaron Bessant park is adjacent to Pier Park – on the west side of the property.  Just follow the cars, music and people.

Summer Concert Schedule

June 2 – Beach Mice

June 9 – Rollin in the Hay

June 16 – Suite Caroline

June 23 – Boukou Groove

June 30 – Lee Griffin Band

July 7 – Heritage

July 14 – Heartbeat City

July 21 – Kevin Jacobs Band with Terry Brock

July 28 – Eric Lindell

August 4 – Bonerama

August 11 – Eric Heatherly

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