PUBLIC RELATIONS July 2009 David Downing Assistant Director

Transcription

1 PUBLIC RELATIONS July 2009 David Downing Assistant Director MEDIA VISITS, TRADE SHOWS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Ronell Smith, Bassmaster Magazine & ESPN Magazine July 9-12 This talented outdoors writer/editor was already a fan of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area before his visit after all, he d heard of our outstanding fishing, specifically, Lake Tarpon. His in-depth article, which will appear in Bassmaster Magazine, (circulation of 600,000) will give our area even more incredible exposure. A word of thanks to our partners at Travel Resort Services, Inc. (TRS) for hosting Mr. Smith at their Madeira Bay Resort during his stay. Regina Lynch-Hudson, Freelance Writer July In the two decades she s been a travel writer, this Georgia-based freelancer has penned more feature stories that she can recall. Yet her mission for the St. Pete/Clearwater article was crystal clear: a story focused on relaxation, rejuvenation and the upscale business traveler. Her column, sponsored by AirTran Airways, is called Doing Biz In appears in the Atlanta Tribune: the Magazine and the Denver Urban Spectrum, both great feeder markets for us. While in our area, Ms. Lynch-Hudson and her photographer stayed at the Don CeSar Beach Resort, A Loews Hotel. Discovery Channel Canada July It s the third time in two years the crew from the Discovery Channel Canada s The Daily Planet has made the pilgrimage to St. Petersburg/Clearwater. And this time, it was to update a story they fell in love with the first time they heard about it Winter the Dolphin and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The two-person crew worked closely with VSPC and the Aquarium to bring their millions of viewers throughout Canada, up to date on Winter s progress. We d like to send out a very special thanks to the folks at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort to hosting the crew. MEDIA ASSISTANCE PROVIDED: Media efforts will be compiled every other month. ASSISTING VISIT FLORIDA: July 1 Continued to assist Missy Kavanaugh, a Central/Southwest Writer for VISIT FLORIDA, with information on upcoming fitness events and details on the IronMan. July 7 Call from Jay Schleuning of VISIT FLORIDA s PR Team for information on the area. July 15 Crafted and sent pitch to VISIT FLORIDA for a Number Ones story idea. July 30 Provided permission to use image of Caladesi Island State Park to Kelli Robinson of VISIT FLORIDA s PR Team. One of her colleagues would like to use the image on the Florida Encounter Web site 1

2 July 30 Assisted Ms. Lisa Marchetti - a writer for VISIT FLORIDA s website. She needed fact checking for several sites in Clearwater Beach. July 31 Call from VISIT FLORIDA PR Manager regarding interest in FAM with Scandinavian Airlines and them bringing media to the State. ASSISTING THE INDUSTRY & THE CVB & OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS: July 2 Received details from Pete Krulder, regarding their fiscal year attendance at Honeymoon Island State Park and Caladesi Island State Park -- both enjoyed strong numbers. July 2 - Worked with the Sandpearl Resorts PR Team to assist a journalist on the Artist in Residence program there. July 6 Fielded call from Doreen Moore of TRS, Inc. regarding accommodations for travel media, she was calling us back regarding a request for accommodations. July 8 Fielded s from Laurie Reuter of the Doubletree Beach Resort regarding uses of the Twitter and Facebook pages and what is best to promote. We also invited her to post on hot deals section of Pinellascvb.com and to attend Social Media Summit in September. July 9 Received a request by the Zimmerman agency for VSPC s PR Plan. July 12 Offer from Tradewinds Island Resort to provide additional assistance during our Canadian Mission in August and the Beaches & Baseball event they were sponsoring with us. July 13 Correspondence to Gerri Raymond at the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce regarding the Clearwater Jazz Holiday lineup and press and pr activities to promote it. July 10 Worked with the Cultural Affairs department to draft language to their partners to solicit newsworthy information for Facebook/Twitter. July 15 Request for information on area golf resorts from Danah Heye, Destination Specialist for Miles Media. July 16 Proofed the Weddings Newsletter for VSPC s Internet Marketing Director. July 16 Contacted Mr. Bob Lasher of PSTA (Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority) to get information on their SmartBus initiative to upload to our social media pages July 21 Provided several images of Weddings on Water Chapel to PR Office in London. July 21 Forwarded a request for assistance from Pageantry Magazine to Sarah Murov at the Don CeSar Beach Resort. July 23 Updated the PR team for the new Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa on the CVB s role and PR initiatives for the coming year. 2

3 July 28 Received and responded to a request from Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) for our list of hotels/partners so they could correct their pricing structure for the transit system. July 29 Assisted Charles Stovall of Disney Destinations with a media inquiry request from a travel writer named themeparkmom.com. July 29 Fielded call from Bill AuCoin regarding credentialing of John Gifford from the Oklahoman Newspaper and his request to visit the area. July 30 Provided scheduling information to Melissa Johnson, Project Manager for Miles Media on the Cyber Chef segment for our new Visitor Guide. July 30 Provided editorial assistance to VSPC s Sports Commission on the Big East Release. July 30 Fielded call from Maggie Caruso Sabal Palms Inn and Coconut Inn in Pass-a-Grille. She was looking for advice on media outlets in Orlando market to promote their properties. July 30 Contacted Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club on behalf of Golf Digest Travel Editor, Dede Gomez, who was seeking information on group travel. July 30 Call from Nancy Cimney of the Sandpearl Resort regarding credentialing check and story angle of travel writer. July 31 Fielded call from Nancy Longstreth of the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa regarding media visiting the area. SOCIAL MEDIA INITIATIVES: VSPC S PR Team continues to monitor and post relevant destination news on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages to promote the destination to our ever-growing fan base. We are also monitoring news coverage on a daily basis, and forwarding positive coverage to our industry partners via . VSPC s PR Team continues to update the CleanPix on-line image library for the media. We posted the following press releases on Facebook, PinellasCVB.comFloridasBeachMedia.com and Press Briefs: July 4 th fireworks press release, Miss Florida press release, Innisbrook s LPGA press release, Meetings & Conventions Award press release The PR Team also uploaded new images from the Salvador Dali Museum to CleanPix site. Sent out a tweet on our Twitter site about Chef Andre from Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club being featured on The Today Show. Promoted July 4 th activities at the St. Pete Pier on Facebook & Twitter pages. Promoted record-breaking attendance at Caladesi Island State Park & Honeymoon Island on Facebook & Twitter pages. 3

4 Investigated Facebook widgets and fan boxes to add to VisitSPC.com Began planning for the VSPC Social Media Summit to be held in September. PRESS RELEASES & E-NEWS & INDUSTRY ALERTS: July 1 Press release entitled: Eight Fireworks Shows Ignite Skies on July 4: Boat Parades, Concerts Mark Independence Day in St. Pete/Clearwater, sent to the media. July 8 Industry Update Sent: TDC Recap. July 9 Press release entitled: St. Pete's Mahaffey Theater Plays Host to Miss Florida Hopefuls, Talented Beauties Compete for the Crown in the 74 th Annual Pageant, sent to media. July 16 The July issue of E-News was sent to the media/industry. July 16 Press release entitled: LPGA Tour Event Comes to St. Pete/Clearwater, Innisbrook Resort to Host Legends Tour Open Championship This Fall, sent to media. July 21 Crafted a press release for PetSide.com s ranking of Fort De Soto as the fifth best dog beach in the United States. July 23 Press release entitled: Meetings Department Voted Among Best in U.S. Leading industry publication honors VSPC team with Gold Service Award, sent to media. UK PR Firm and German Media Activities: Please refer to separate reports from each office. Outdoor/Nature PR Activities: July 2009 Bill AuCoin & Associates, Inc. The sports section of Sunday June 30 editions of the Jacksonville Times-Union (Circulation about 200,000) printed an especially large article (including a large aerial photo of Pass-a-Grille and its Gulf beach) by Outdoors Editor Jim Sutton. The article resulted from a mid-june beach fishing excursion arranged by Outdoors/Nature PR Counselor Bill AuCoin. Tom Huggler, the Michigan freelance who visited and researched birding opportunities in Pinellas County in April, published a lengthy column in Woods 'n' Water News, a Michigan outdoors magazine with a circulation of 80,000. Ronell Smith of ESPN Outdoors visited in July and fished Tampa Bay, photographing various fish and destination scenery for a new magazine, ESPN Outdoors Saltwater. CVB staff arranged a mid-august visit by Katy Walls, author of the Wild about Florida books. Outdoors/Nature PR Counselor Bill AuCoin is working with Walls on her threeday itinerary. 4

5 The Nature/Outdoors PR office helped arrange an August visit by outdoor writer Tommy Thompson to get pictures and information for a new book, The Saltwater Angler s Guide to Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida. UPCOMING MEDIA VISITS - TRADE SHOWS - PRESS GROUPS: 1 Tommy Thompson, Saltwater Angler s Guide to Tampa Bay & Southwest Fla. - August Vicki Giammona, Feature Producer WLS-TV, Chicago Market August Christopher Elliott MSNBC & National Geographic Traveler August Katy Walls Wild about Florida August Canadian Media/Travel Trade Mission (Toronto & Montreal) August The Travel Channel - Andrew Zimmern s Bizarre World August Governor s Conference on Tourism Miami Beach, Florida August