Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/118445
Sarasota News Leader March 29, 2013 Page 29 Myrtle Beach, SC, which has transformed itself from a beach resort 30 years ago into a major destination, with a wide variety of music and theater venues, spends $36 million annually on promotions, he pointed out. "And we're spending about 4 [million dollars]." That recommendation tentatively is scheduled to come before the commission on June 4, Anna Madden, the board's liaison to the TDC, told The Sarasota News Leader this week. On the positive side, Geist noted, the state of Florida "has proven its dedication to investing in tourism promotion," though he added a number of states "have some very, very aggressive destination development marketing." By 2020, Geist said, the anticipated result of that effort is to achieve 1 million visitors per year who pay for overnight lodging. The proposed strategic plan encompasses three other goals along with increasing investHis recommendation, Geist continued, is for ment in tourism promotion and development: Visit Sarasota County (VSC) to increase its budget to "something closer to $10 million" • Continue to develop and communicate the destination's brand essence. a year. In response to a question, Stephanie Grosskreutz, the VSC managing director, said the Can Florida become just as aggressive in des- county sees slightly more than 4 million visitors annually, but not all of them stay in paid tination development, he asked. lodging. Geist told the TDC members that the During the TDC meeting, Geist presented a number paying for room stays is about 900,000 proposal for a new strategic plan for VSC, the a year. county's tourism office, that would serve it for the next five to seven years. The TDC mem- For an example of what he meant about buildbers voted unanimously to recommend that ing the county's brand, Geist explained that research has shown approximately 60 percent the County Commission approve the plan. A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for May 24 to mark the completion of North Cattlemen Road, a major access to Nathan Benderson Park's rowing facility. Photo by Norman Schimmel