PENSACOLA TO BRING THE BEACH TO CINCINNATI

Visit Pensacola Celebrates the Arrival of the Blue Wahoos with Special Mall Event and Contest

Pensacola, Fla. – Jan. 31, 2012 – Pensacola is bringing the beach to Cincinnati – white sand and all – this Saturday at Kenwood Towne Center, where Visit Pensacola will host a family-friendly event celebrating the upcoming inaugural season of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, spreading the word about all that the Pensacola Bay Area has to offer.

This is the first time that Visit Pensacola has had the opportunity to tap into the Cincinnati market.

“Thanks to marketing funds from BP, we now have the opportunity to conduct outreach in a market that has remarkable potential for driving tourism to the Pensacola Bay Area,” said Terry Scruggs, interim vice president of tourism for the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. “With the affiliation of the Blue Wahoos and the Cincinnati Reds, we have an even more interesting story to share with our friends in Ohio.”

During the event, mall patrons will be able to register for a trip for four to Pensacola, including airfare, four nights at the Margaritaville Beach Hotel, VIP treatment at a Blue Wahoos game and the opportunity to see the world-famous Blue Angels Flight Squad. Children will pull beach giveaways from a treasure chest in the sand, and Parrot Heads will enjoy Pensacola’s “Five O’clock Somewhere” celebration with free virgin margaritas, Jimmy Buffett music and Margaritaville giveaways. Additionally, there will be special appearances by Reds mascots and other special guests, such as Hall of Famer Leo Cardenas and former Second Baseman Ron Oester, who will be there to sign autographs.

With the Wahoos’ home opener on April 5 at the brand-new Maritime Park, Visit Pensacola is emphasizing the area’s addition of tropical waterfront baseball to already-famous attractions that include sugar-white beaches, art and culture, the Blue Angels and the National Naval Aviation Museum. Additionally, with the newly renovated Pensacola International Airport, the Pensacola Bay Area is one of the easiest Gulf Coast destinations to reach by air.

While in Cincinnati, Visit Pensacola will appear on two local television stations (WKEF in Dayton and WCPO in Cincinnati, both ABC affiliates) to promote the event and giveaway, as well as to provide more information on spring break in Pensacola.

“This is a great time to spread the message about our beautiful beaches and our great city,” Scruggs said. “We’re gearing up for a fantastic spring break and summer season.”

For more information on Visit Pensacola, call (850) 434-1234 or go to VisitPensacola.com.

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