National Travel & Tourism Week

Happy National Travel and Tourism Week 5/19-25! During this week, and throughout the year, it's important to be a good ambassador on why we live in the best place to work and play. Say hello, be kind and when you can, share your favorite places to go with our visitors.?

RadioStPete.com ambassadors Joe Bourdow, Karen Carmichael and Nanette Wiser were on hand to celebrate with Robin Miller, CEO of The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce and attendees at The Tradewinds Island Resorts on St. Pete Beach May 23 for the annual Tourism celebration, this year a brunch from 10-noon.

LISTEN HERE! Interviews with tourism guests (1) and (2); Keynote Speaker Peter Yesawich; Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce CEO Robin Miller. Pinellas County administrator Barry Burton presented the Tourism Award of the Year to Kelli Hammer Levy.

The sold-out brunch with 300 local movers and shakers in Tampa Bay's tourism world plus county, city and other leaders kibbitzed and enjoyed catching up before the holiday weekend. Expo booths included HCA Florida Pasadena Hospital, Postcard Inn, Busch Gardens, Resident Inn, Holiday Inn & Suites Harbourside and the waterpark, Marriott Clearwater Beach Sand Key, Mid-Florida Community Credit Union, Valley Bank, Doubletree Resorts, Dolce Vita Medspa, Encompass Health, Tampa Bay Watch, The Hiatus, Belleair Bluffs Business Association, Health Markets, Kahwa Coffee and the raffle was sponsored by the Rays and Tampa Bay Rowdies.

RadioStPete.com chatted with Barry Burton, Pinellas County Administrator, VisitStPeteClearwater.com Steve Grimes, Kylie Diaz, Brian Lowack and Jason Latimer; Tampa Bay Watch's Jenna Rogers, Rachel Arndt and Molly Robison, Tampa Bay Business & Wealth's Jason Baker, Busch Gardens and Adventure Island's Nevar Campbell, Clearwater Marriott Suites on Sand Key Grace Windsor, Courtyard by Marriott's Jennifer Fascione, Doc Ford's Rum Bar and Grille's GM Cody Moore, Fusion Suites/Slips/Sips Maria Montalvo, The Hiatus Curio Collection by Hilton's Nancy Vargas, Don Cesar's Jessica Mancuso, Paradise News' Peter and Renee Roos, Tradewinds Island Resort's Cathy Claesson, Keep Pinellas Beautiful Pat DePlasco and Stephanie Ellington, PIE's Michelle Routh, Women in Tourism members and so many others.

Keynote speaker Is Peter C. Yesawich,?This hospitality focused co-founder, chairman and author was at the Annual Tourism Brunch to share his insights about tourism?marketing and?emerging trends in his talk entitled "Decoding the Future: Emerging Travel Trends". He led the development of marketing programs for Hilton International, Marriott Vacation Club International, Disney Parks & Resorts, Universal Studios, U.S. Olympic Committee, multiple tourism boards and so much more! Says Yesawich: "?"I will provide the group with highlights from the MMGY Global 2024 Portrait of American Travelers (the longest continuous analysis of emerging travel trends in America), including the latest travel habits, preferences and intentions of leisure travelers and the implications for marketing Tampa/St Pete in the year ahead." His speech touched on the the importance of AI as a tourism destination and resort finder, and cautioned that when hotel prices soar too high, visitors will choose another place to vacation. Our beaches and clean water are our calling card for tourists, he pointed out.

Tourism is big business that supports local?businesses and arts & culture as well. Did you know tourism is the?#1?industry in Pinellas County, and the bed tax that visitors pay when staying in our hotels and short-term rentals helps fund beach restoration and nourishment? Approximately 141? million folks grace our beaches and cities, and the number is sure to blossom. Learn more here.

PHOTO GALLERY May 23, 2024 National Travel & Tourism Brunc

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