New marketing plan dubs this area "The Beach"

[yippie]

I'm not sure if the SouthWalton TDC joined, but I recently read that the Okaloosa TDC not only joined, but paid $15,000 for the ability to sit on the Board and have a vote.

That is what the newspaper said, the Okaloosa County TDC is giving $15000.00.

 

[DuneLaker]

WatonGOP. The public should ask questions. You ask a lot of questions. I like Speaker Elect Ray Sansom (boy we've spelled his name a zillion ways) and Senator Don Gaetz. But, when you are at this level of politics, your actions often involve the public. Your emails, your staffs emails, etc. are open for all to see. The line: Well, this is just some private business folks doing their thing just doesn't fly. When the incoming Speaker of the House (huge powerful position) and a State Senator who governs over most of Northwest Florida are involved in a group that has been questioned by a number of constituents, all questions and inquiries should be answered and open.

 

[wrobert]

WatonGOP. The public should ask questions. You ask a lot of questions. I like Speaker Elect Ray Sansom (boy we've spelled his name a zillion ways) and Senator Don Gaetz. But, when you are at this level of politics, your actions often involve the public. Your emails, your staffs emails, etc. are open for all to see. The line: Well, this is just some private business folks doing their thing just doesn't fly. When the incoming Speaker of the House (huge powerful position) and a State Senator who governs over most of Northwest Florida are involved in a group that has been questioned by a number of constituents, all questions and inquiries should be answered and open.

IF all these guys did was work for the government instead of these part time state positions, I could see your point. IF the government is providing funding for this group I could see your point. But, as it is now, I do not agree. There is a lot of assuming going on. Mainly because these guys are elected it is being assumed that their staff is working with this marketing group. If that is the case, then I would have a different opinion. All of their staff stuff is pretty much open, so someone make a public records request and see if this is what is going on.

 

[Tupelo Honey]

I live in Sowal and on the Emerald Coast of Florida. Could have saved you 13 months, folks!

Exactly how I feel, and I live in Atlanta.


Those %$# media whores.....

 

[DuneLaker]

if this is what is going on.[/quote] Hopefully, this bad idea of renaming will soon die of a natural death and that won't need to happen. Like Tupelo and Scooterbug said, this is SoWal along the Emerald Coast.

 

[yippie]

It is not a government thing. It is a group of private citizens doing what they want to do. The 1st amendment pretty much covers it.

But when our tax dollars are involved, it is illegal to fund private businesses or groups.

Someone ask if the Walton County TDC had joined. Kris Titus's name is still listed on the membership list as representing the TDC. I wonder if that is still who she is representing or if the TDC has replaced her with someone else who is acting until they find a new person to take the position Kris vacated?

 

[yippie]

Letter in yesterday's Log - I am not sure I would try to compete with Orlando. I mean seriously, they have Disney.

The Beach is
little more than
a slick shtick
?Branding? (as in cattle identification) is the way to round up more tourists. That way tourists become aware that the reason they come to the Panhandle is our beaches. So we ?brand? 19 maverick beach-booster groups ?The Beach.?
Now, leave it to the families in the herd to seek out their preferred ?sub beach.? Note that much of ?The Beach? is not really accessible to tourists, but disregard all that.
Our problem is not excessive accommodations, it is insufficient visitor traffic. The solution is to attract more visitors who are eager to spend a good deal of vacation time on our gridlocked roads. Orlando has higher occupancy rates because of advertising, and not because their roads are not gridlocked during peak tourist season.
Finally, when Panhandle areas lose segments of ?The Beach? to erosion, the financial fix is to use advertising shtick to attract more tourists to the places with less beach.
The logic may be imperfect but the salesmanship is less than dazzling.
If the roundup of a tourist herd is as easy as boosting disappearing beaches to those whose search is for broad beaches, how did the confused mavericks get enough smarts to pocket their vacation stash?
Dan Tomasek
Miramar Beach

 

[seagrovegirl]

Letter in yesterday's Log - I am not sure I would try to compete with Orlando. I mean seriously, they have Disney.

The Beach is
little more than
a slick shtick
?Branding? (as in cattle identification) is the way to round up more tourists. That way tourists become aware that the reason they come to the Panhandle is our beaches. So we ?brand? 19 maverick beach-booster groups ?The Beach.?
Now, leave it to the families in the herd to seek out their preferred ?sub beach.? Note that much of ?The Beach? is not really accessible to tourists, but disregard all that.
Our problem is not excessive accommodations, it is insufficient visitor traffic. The solution is to attract more visitors who are eager to spend a good deal of vacation time on our gridlocked roads. Orlando has higher occupancy rates because of advertising, and not because their roads are not gridlocked during peak tourist season.
Finally, when Panhandle areas lose segments of ?The Beach? to erosion, the financial fix is to use advertising shtick to attract more tourists to the places with less beach.
The logic may be imperfect but the salesmanship is less than dazzling.
If the roundup of a tourist herd is as easy as boosting disappearing beaches to those whose search is for broad beaches, how did the confused mavericks get enough smarts to pocket their vacation stash?
Dan Tomasek
Miramar Beach

Thanks for posting Yippie.

 

[yippie]

Comments in Today's Destin Log - 4-9-08 -

Bitter about THE Beach ? By: talexander ? March 31
THE Beach makes as much sense as calling our area Pakistan.
THE Generic Tax Dollar ? By: headless horseman ? March 22
Why did no other great marketers think of this? Why hasn?t McDonald?s changed its name to THE Hamburger, Coke to THE Cola, Budweiser to THE Beer, GM to THE Car, Xerox to THE Copier, Kraft to THE Food. Say ?THE? then add the generic name. Brilliant! Don?t Madison Avenue and the marketing giants know anything? Just another great example of how THEY spend your tax dollars.

 

[buster]

"the Beach" TM + Travelocity

TRAVELOCITY AND COASTAL VISION 3000 ANNOUNCE ALLIANCE
TO MARKET NORTHWEST FLORIDA BEACHES

PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA -- (June 30, 2008) ? Coastal Vision 3000, a marketing organization for Northwest Florida?s beaches, announced today a groundbreaking relationship with Travelocity to market the region?s 181-mile Gulf Coast to travelers near and far. Known for its white sand beaches and clear emerald waters, the area dubbed ?THE Beach? stretches from Pensacola to Port St. Joe in the Florida Panhandle.

Visitors to Travelocity and a new consumer site, www.thebeachfla.com, can now book member hotels and rental units, plus airfare, from their choice of gateways. In the coming months, special packages combining air and lodging will be created with airlines from key market cities, and dynamic booking incentives will be launched.

THE Beach is served by three airports: the Panama City-Bay County International Airport (PFN), Okaloosa County Airport (VPS), and the Pensacola Regional Airport (PNS). A new international airport near Panama City Beach will help position Northwest Florida's beaches as an international destination. The airport broke ground in late 2007 and is on schedule to open in May 2010. At the airport?s groundbreaking, Florida Governor Charlie Crist said, ?This is America?s first truly ?Green Airport.??

?Travelocity is delighted to partner with Coastal Vision 3000, as we see enormous potential in the Northwest Florida market,? said Paul Nelson, senior vice president of partner marketing at Travelocity. ?THE Beach boasts hotels, resorts and condos totaling more than 60,000 units. Average rental rates are competitive, and the snow-white beaches are ranked among the best in the U.S.?

?Our alliance with Travelocity is a key step to build a strong regional brand, attract more competitive air service and visitors from across the globe, and showcase Northwest Florida?s wonderful beach destinations,? said Davage ?Buddy? Runnels, chairman of Coastal Vision 3000. ?Coastal Vision 3000 is an unprecedented effort to bring together business leaders from Northwest Florida?s coastal counties to grow our market to everyone?s benefit.?

THE Beach encompasses six counties and 181 miles of some of the world?s most beautiful beaches in the Florida Panhandle. This Gulf-front area boasts more miles of preserved, undeveloped coastline than anywhere else in Florida. In addition, more than 225,000 acres of the region is protected and maintained by national, state and local parks and preserves.

Coastal Vision 3000 is focused on making Northwest Florida beaches an international destination, attracting new airline service and creating a stronger regional brand identity. Regional business leaders serving with Runnels on the executive committee include: Park Brady, CEO, Resort Quest International; Andy Phillips, president, Counts Oakes Resort Properties; Robert Kamm, president & CEO, Sandcastle Resorts & Hotels; Dawn Moliterno, president & CEO, Walton Area Chamber of Commerce; Mel Ponder, executive director, Coastal Vision 3000; and Jerry M. Ray, senior vice president, strategic alliances, The St. Joe Company.

# # #

About Travelocity Global

Travelocity? is committed to being the traveler's champion -- before, during and after the trip ? and provides the most comprehensive and proactive guarantee in the industry (www.travelocity.com/guarantee). This customer-driven focus, backed by 24/7 live phone support, competitive prices and powerful shopping technology has made Travelocity one of the largest travel companies in the world with gross bookings of more than U.S. $10 billion in 2007. Travelocity also owns and operates: Travelocity Business? for corporate travel; igougo.com, a leading online travel community; lastminute.com, a leader in European online travel; and ZUJI, a leader in Asia-Pacific online travel. Travelocity is owned by Sabre Holdings Corporation, a world leader in travel marketing and distribution.

About Coastal Vision 3000
Coastal Vision 3000 is a membership organization of regional stewards representing tourism and economic development interests in Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Santa Rosa, Escambia, and Gulf counties. Business and community leaders established the organization to create a consistent, branded identity for the six-county region to increase national and international awareness, support local tourism and economic development professionals, and grow this market. www.thebeachfla.com.

Media Contacts: Dan Toporek, Travelocity, 415-932-1163

Mel Ponder, Coastal Vision 3000, 850-337-3469
April Nichols or Lauren Kaufman, Spring, O?Brien, 212-620-7100