Suncoast Charities for Children has reported
to the Sarasota County Commission that the
2014 Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix Festival
had a total economic impact on the commu-
nity of $17,228,300, a 10.8-percent increase
from last year's total of $15,549,300, accord-
ing to an email from Lucy V. Nicandri, vice
president of Suncoast Charities.
"I am excited to share with each of you this
year's Visitor and Economic Impact Study
completed by Research Data Services (which
is paid for by the charity so that an accurate
analysis can be obtained)," she wrote in an
Aug. 5 email.
Among the other key findings, she noted, the
festival generated an estimated 15,900 room
nights, compared to 13,400 last year, and the com-
bined expenditures of out-of-county attendees
and participants was $9,574,300, also higher
than the 2013 figure, which was $8,688.500.
Nicandri added that 89.1 percent of the
out-of-county attendees surveyed said they
visited the area because of the race and festi-
val, not because of July Fourth holiday plans.
Additionally, 86.1 percent of them reported
they plan to return next year, Nicandri wrote.
Rachel Brown Hackney
The Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix Festival includes July Fourth fireworks over the Sarasota
bayfront. Photo by Norman Schimmel
SUNCOAST SUPER BOAT FESTIVAL HAS HIGHER ECONOMIC IMPACT
NEWS BRIEFS