Katharina Lane of Amelia Island & Tradewinds Resort
Jessica Roberts, promoting Visit Central Florida
'Shell we dance?' Andrew Ricketts of VoX International
It was all hashtags and handhelds last Thursday night as Visit Florida hosted a gang of social media gurus. On hand were 9 partners from across the Sunshine State, all providing real time updates on what’s new... and instantly beamed into the ether above downtown YTO.
In charming Key West, Hemingway’s House continues to be the #1 draw, though their rep, Christina Baez, told me that a new attraction is AKA Divers, who specialize in family-friendly getaways to the warm turquoise waters nearby. “Everyone loves Key West’s low-key charm. My favourite thing? Watching the famous Key West sunsets, sipping a glass of wine,” she said.
The Tradewinds Resort on St. Pete Beach sounds like a perfect retreat: facilities in the 25 acre beachfront resort include 7 pools, 13 restos and lounges as well as a multitude of activities including (how cool is this?) jetpacks to send your clients 30’ into the air. Very Jetson! And interesting to note that the resort is officially “Autism Friendly” - offering special sensory facilities.
Lovely to hear that for the 1st time Canadians have surpassed the Germans as the #1 international visitors to the Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel. A perennial favourite corner of Florida, this is a great suggestion for clients looking for more beachfront seclusion than theme park indulgences. Especially at idyllic Cabbage Key, the boat-access-only island with its cottage-turned-barefoot-resto is famed for dishing out the best burgers for a nautical mile (and for the $70,000 worth of dollar bills stapled to the wall by happy diners).
Another insider dining tip for the region? Try the Yucatan Shrimp at Doc Ford’s in Ft. Myers: “The best in all Florida!” said Andrew Ricketts of VoX International.
Best news of all – we broke some serious records last year with 3.25 million Canadian visitors to Florida. And with our powerful loonie, looks like 2013 will continue to be a banner year for us to visit the Sunshine State!
