Tourism Industry Report released Monday

The Visitors and Convention Bureau has invited Historic City News readers to the second annual State of the Tourism Industry Report for St. Johns County will be presented at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, June 13 at the Renaissance World Golf Village Resort.

This special event will feature a review of last year’s tourism performance presented by the Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Ypartnership advertising agency, a presentation by one of the world’s leading tourism experts, and the announcement of 2011’s tourism employees of the year.

The event will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. and end at 11:00 a.m. A $15 donation for non-VCB partners is requested.

“Tourism is truly the lifeblood of St. Johns County,” said Richard Goldman, executive director of the Visitors and Convention Bureau. “Not only does the industry provide more than 11,000 jobs in the county, the 3.4 million visitors who came here last year spent more than $630 million in St. Johns County. Best of all, this essential economic activity is provided at no cost to local taxpayers. All of the county’s tourism marketing activities are funded through the tourist development tax paid by visitors for overnight lodging, Last year, visitors paid $5.6 million in these ‘bed taxes’ – funds that were used to help insure millions of other visitors will arrive this year.”

Despite the continued economic downturn experienced by much of the nation’s tourism industry, the Visitors and Convention Bureau will review some of their recent local successes including an award-winning marketing campaign known as the Red Couch Chronicles.

Much of this success has resulted from the Bureau’s contract and close working relationship with the Ypartnership advertising agency of Orlando. Widely known throughout the industry for its innovative and creative approach to tourism marketing, Ypartnership is headed by Peter Yesawich who will serve as the keynote speaker at the June 13 event.

At both the national and international level, Yesawich is considered to be the “go-to-guy” for the latest trends in the tourism industry. His presentation will focus on changes in tourism behavior with regard to vacation planning. Yesawich will also offer invaluable insight into how these changes can be used to successfully market St. Johns County as a destination that will continue to be in demand among visitors and potential visitors.

The State of the Tourism Industry event will also include the presentation of the coveted Tourism Employees of the Year Awards. The finalists represent the very best employees from St. Johns County’s tourism industry and were selected on the basis of their exemplary service.

Fittingly, the presentation will take place at the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village, a property that was recently presented with an impressive Four Diamond award by the American Automobile Association.

VCB partners will be admitted for free and each will also receive free admission for one guest. Coffee, beverages and pastries will be available. To secure a reservation to what is expected be an extremely well-attended event, call Carey Cramer at 829.1711

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News archive photograph