The Official Pensacola Bay Area Tourism Partner E-Newsletter

Lodging revenue is down 2.5% from October 1 through January. Gulf Shores was down 16% and Santa Rosa County was down 11%. We ask partners to report their spring break numbers by answering this short survey.

Survey Link

The royal visit had a great impact on our area. 33% of you who responded to last month's survey said they saw an increase in business during the week of the royal visit.

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Group Sales
(contact Lori Coppels)

Lori will attend the 27th annual Travel South Showcase, April 4-8, in Kissimmee, Florida. This invitation-only event is a regional appointment-style marketplace focused on increasing travel to and within the 12 southern states. Showcase offers the most targeted opportunity for tour operators/wholesalers and travel service providers to meet face to face with southern travel suppliers. Lori has 42 pre-scheduled appointments with tour operators and will try to meet with three additional operators who requested appointments.

Packages Needed
More group tour operators are looking for travel packages for their clients. Please contact Lori if you are interested in developing packages to help promote our area to this niche group. The CVB and Visit Florida are also interested in group rates for this summer and fall. Please share your group specials with Lori by April 17, or post them on the specials page.

Corporate & Convention Sales
(contact Roberta Ramsey)

Roberta and Ed recently attended the Alabama Council of Association Executives (ACAE), where she was introduced to new contacts. As a follow up, she’s making 20 sales calls in Montgomery April 7-8. This April, she’s also going to Tallahassee and Baton Rouge for the Tallahassee Society of Association Executives (TSAE) and the Louisiana Society Association Executives (LSAE) to continue meeting prospects.

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Hot off the Press
(contact Laura Lee)

The Pensacola Bay Area CVB is hosting four travel writers during the Pensacola Wine Festival representing such publications as Southern Living, Gourmet, Wine Spectator and the New York Times. We would love to introduce our partners to the writers during the Pensacola Wine Festival. For more information on the schedule of events, please visit www.PensacolaWineFestival.com.

Fall Specials Needed

Magazines are already inquiring about our fall specials in the Pensacola Bay Area for their September and October issues. If you would like your specials shared with travel writers for inclusion in their articles as well as on www.VisitPensacola.com, please send them to Laura by April 17.

Training Opportunity

STS Continuing Education offers online sessions covering an array of topics important to your organization’s success such as social media, protecting your tourism budget and surviving the recession. “Search Engine Marketing” will be held Wednesday, April 29 at 9 a.m. To learn more, visit STS link here

News Releases/Articles

New Tours in the Pensacola Bay Area Bring Groups Close to Nature and History

US Airways Magazine named Pensacola among the world’s best beaches in its March issue.

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HRT Notice
(contact Barbara Williams)

The Hospitality Roundtable will be held Tuesday, April 21 at 11:30 a.m. at Heritage Hall in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Brice Harris from the Andrews Institute will discuss the space program. The cost of the luncheon is $12 for HRT members, $20 for non-members. Payment should be made at the door with checks made payable to Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. No invoicing will be permitted. Since we must guarantee reservations, if you RSVP and do not attend, you will be billed for the cost of your lunch. Please RSVP by e-mailing Barbara Williams or by calling 434-1234 by 3 p.m. on April 17.

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