PUBLIC RELATIONS. March 2007 Report. Prepared by: Mary Haban Public Relations Manager

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1 PUBLIC RELATIONS March 2007 Report Prepared by: Mary Haban Public Relations Manager MEDIA VISITS/ TRADE SHOWS & RECEPTIONS Girlfriends Getaway Press Trip Feb. 28-March 4 Mary teamed up with The Sirata Beach Resort & Safety Harbor Resort & Spa who played host to this gregarious group of female travel writers who visited our area. Several top-notch writers attended this press trip including journalists from: Family Circle Magazine, Passport Magazine, Lavender Magazine, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, BET.com, Odyssey, Heart & Soul, Valley Scene Magazine, and The Boston Herald. ITB Berlin March 5-11 From March 5-11, James attended ITB in Berlin and met with 25 journalists from Central Europe and confirmed 10 media visits for the upcoming year. Plus James was a guest on a top German FM Jazz station and promoted the Clearwater Jazz Holiday. The radio station expressed interested in attending the 2008 Jazz Holiday. It was a very good ITB for the PR Department. Eric Sharp The Detroit Free Press March 7 We hosted writer Eric Sharp of The Detroit Free Press, resulting in a 28-inch feature article on Monday, March 19 about kayak fishing in Florida, datelined St. Petersburg. The Detroit Free Press has a weekday circulation of about 350,000. Boston Media Mission with DCI March Mary had several successful meetings in Boston with these key publications: Boston Spirit Magazine, The Robb Report, The Christian Science Monitor, Continental Airlines Magazine, Body & Soul Magazine, and a freelance writer with The Boston Globe. Alison Wood Canadian Freelance Travel Writer - March Condos by Sirata hosted this Toronto-based journalist and her family who were in the area to research stories to pitch to several magazines. A future story will follow. Pam & Guy Selbert Motorhome Magazine March

2 Pam and Guy Selbert, a St. Louis-based writer/photographer team specializing in RV stories, visited our area to research a story on the volunteer program at Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Parks. This will result in an article in Motorhome Magazine, which has a circulation of about 100,000. Adrian Mourby Sunday Times UK March Visit Florida s UK Office contacted us about hosting this top-notch journalist and The Renaissance Vinoy & Golf Club was happy to oblige. Mr. Mourby was in the area to do a feature story about downtown St. Petersburg in The Sunday Times is read by 1.5 million people and has a media value of approximately 154,000 for two pages. Thus, if the Vinoy is a 6th of this feature it will receive a media value of around 25,000. Adrian also writes for the Independent on Sunday's Hotel of the Week column. Jacky Runice Chicago Daily Herald March The Tradewinds Island Resort hosted this journalist and her family during the month of March for a story she was doing on family vacations. MEDIA ASSISTANCE Media Inquiries: Terri Hardin, Destinations Editor of Successful Meetings & Meeting News was seeking information about conventions that achieve 10,000 rooms at peak night. Chelle Koster Walton, Independent Travel Writer & Wordsmith, was gathering images for her Adventure Guide and requested our image CD. Terence Baker, Travel Editor of Car & Travel Magazine contacted us to alert us he left Meetings & Convention Magazine and is now the editor of Car & Travel. Lindsey Brown with Bay News 9 called to inquire about the Spring Break rush and what the numbers were looking like right now. What are the busy times and what type of numbers are we expecting over the next few weeks. Ed Beaman, Vice President of Operations for Gardner & Associates, a DMC representing the State of Florida asked for information on our area for their quarterly newsletter, hotel openings, expansions, new venues, etc. Provided Mr. Evandro Figueira of The Brazil TV Network with footgage of the Indy Car Race. 2

3 Lauren Metz, Features Assistant, for Seventeen Magazine is working on a summer beaches piece for their June issue and is considering using St. Petersburg/Clearwater as one of the featured beaches. Interested in a few things that would make this beach stand out through a teen s perspective.i.e. concerts on the beach, annual BBQ by the ocean. Bryan Darrow, the new Florida editor at Meetings & Conventions Magazine and was needed fact-checking help for his upcoming Florida Guide. He was looking for what s new in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area regarding hotel activity and also new or recently upgraded venues for large and small groups (i.e. restaurants or possible non-hotel meeting sites). Susan Trainor, Editor for Tourism Marketing Today Magazine requested a photo of the CVB s New Events Manager Brian Prest. Cyndie Wade, a freelance travel writer from New York, requested information on the area and help with hotels/attractions for an upcoming visit in April. She is writing an article on family vacation get-a-ways. We also granted her access to our image library. Susan Hegger, Assistant Managing Editor/Features of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch requested guidance in setting up her itinerary and asked for recommendations of beachfront hotels. Demarus Lee from The St. Petersburg Times contacted the CVB about the economic impact of the Iron Man to the area from being broadcast this Saturday on NBC. Kristen Papa, Photo Editor of Industry Magazine requested access to our image library for a story she s working on. Andrew Edelen, Art Assistant for Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine requested access to our image library for an article in the June issue on the best cities to live in. Denise Campbell, Photo Editor for AAA Photo Services requested access to our image library for their AAA Florida Tourbook Editions. Andrea Crisp of Airline Business Magazine in London requested access to our image library for an article she was working on for an In-Flight Magazine. F-Stop Fitzgerald requested access to our image library for a book he was writing for Orvis. Assisted Sharon Cavileer, a freelance writer from our Girlfriend s Getaway Press Trip, with information on our area for her article. 3

4 Provided Steve Lyons of Boston Spirit Magazine with more information on visiting our area in May. This lead was the direct result of our Boston Media Mission with our NYC PR Firm. Lorrie Borman, Editorial Director with Rand McNally inquired about some interesting highlights from our area that she could incorporate into a drive time story she was planning for May. Mathias Gottschalk, a reporter with Heinrich Bauer Programme in Germany requested access to our image library for a travel segment on the show. Ashley Summerlin of Living Southern Style Magazine requested access to our image library for an article featuring Tarpon Springs. Jason Hensel with Meeting Professionals International Magazine requested access to our image library for a feature article for meeting planners. Karen Orol of The Orlando Sentinel (Tribune Interactive) requested access to our image library to feature Clearwater as the Destination of the Month on the website from May June We assisted a reporter from The Suncoast News with information on events in Tarpon Springs. On March 16 we assisted Marie Stemtim of The Beach Beacon/TBN with information on visitor numbers. On March 20 we assisted Casrlos Manlaski of The Tampa Tribune with information on visitor numbers. On March 23 we assisted John Russell of Bay News 9 with information on area hotels. On March 25 we supplied information to Bay News 9 Reporter Erica Riggins story on Spring Break effects on the area. On March 29 we assisted Tammie Fields of WTSP TV CBS with information on the Carter G. Woodson Museum African American Museum in St. Petersburg. Published & Broadcast Stories: 4

5 The St. Petersburg Times featured an article by reporter Cristina Silva on March 2 about film production in the area. FOX 13 News Reporter Nancy Perla featured a quote from James in a story about Spring Break which ran on March 14. The St. Petersburg Times ran a story on March 15 written by travel reporter, Steve Huettel, on the March TDC meeting. The Tampa Tribune s Ted Jackovics article ran on March 15 about the TDC meeting. The Sacramento Bee published a story entitled, Snag a guide for inshore Florida angling which was written by Outdoors Editor, Eric Sharpe. Sunday circulation is more than 300,000. The Detroit Free Press also published Eric Sharpe s article on Monday, March 19 about kayak fishing in Florida, datelined St. Petersburg. The Detroit Free Press has a weekday circulation of about 350,000. WTSP, Tampa Bay s 10 featured a story on Grand Prix on March 20. The New York Times featured an advertorial section on family vacations in their March 25 travel section. Circulation for The New York Times is 1 Million. Tampa Bay Illustrated Magazine featured The Salvador Dali Museum s Baroque exhibit, The Don CeSar Beach Resort & Bella Brava Restaurant in the March 2007 Issue. Brandon Cobb, a writer with AOL Black Voices, published his article on his trip to the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area in February. The article featured an amazing photo gallery of our beaches, a highlight about The Sandpearl Resort, Tarpon Springs and more. On March 28 The St. Petersburg Times Demorris Lee article on the airing of the Ironman World Championship. The Beach Beacon/Tampa Bay Newspapers ran an article on Spring Break written by Marie Stempinski. On March 30, The Tampa Tribune s Business Reporter, Dave Simanoff had an article on local tourism numbers. On March 31, Bay News 9 interviewed with Lee Daniel about the Honda Grand Prix. 5

6 VISIT FLORIDA PARTNER OPPORTUNITIES VISIT FLORIDA Media Leads & Assistance Mary worked with Visit Florida to address a concern of UK Journalist Simon Veness who is the editor of The Brit s Guide. It concerns visitors with disabilities and the use of the blue UK disabled badge for car driver s that allows them to park in handicapped spaces in both the parks and around the malls and other attractions that provide handicapped parking. Assisted Allison Hynes of The History Channel s Cities of the Underworld series with information on destinations rich in subterranean fare. Our film commission stepped in to provide info on tunnels or diving sites with remnants of shipwrecks, rum running, pirates, treasure. Press Releases (4) The PR Department developed and distributed press releases for the New Product Marketing Grant, New U.K. Office Representative, the Honda Grand Prix Party Release and the Honda Grand Prix Los Lobos Concert. Industry Partners Update Tampa Bay Public Relations Society of America Luncheon & Meeting March 21 Mary & James attended this monthly professional development luncheon at the Shriner s International Headquarters in Tampa. Site Visit/Planning Meeting Central Ave. Fitness March 27 Mary and James met with Tim Ganley, the owner of Central Ave. Fitness to participate in his boot camp in preparation for an upcoming press group focusing on fitness. Andretti Green Racing/Honda Grand Prix Kickoff Luncheon March 29 The PR Department represented the CVB at the annual kickoff luncheon held at the Renaissance Vinoy & Golf Club. The PR Dept. provided media support to the race organizers by helping with press releases and enlisting volunteers for the event. LOCAL INDUSTRY ASSISTANCE Assisting other CVB and County Departments: 6

7 We helped Linda Chancey of Eckerd College who contacted us looking for the latest tourism information for Pinellas County. The PR Department assisted the Honda Grand Prix of St. Pete with press releases on the event and a call for volunteers to help with the event. Mary assisted Michelle Bente, Assistant Marketing Manager of Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota with contacts in Tarpon Springs so they could reach out to the Greek Community to promote Nana Mouskouri coming to Sarasota in April. Mary assisted Bryan Hampton with YPB&R Agency in writing copy for the Pinellas County Hurricane Guide. Assisted Ebe Bower of the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce with access to our image library for a Group Travel Campaign they were launching. Public Relations Department Each month, the PR department is charged with updating the CVB s website, calendar of events, and compiling, editing and distributing two editions of the E-News CVB update. We are also regularly researching and answering contact form questions submitted by consumers to CVB website. The PR department is continually evaluating and granting access to our image library to ensure media outlets have the necessary photos and information to properly promote our area. ADDITIONAL PR ACTIVITIES UK and German Media Activities: See attached agency reports. Outdoor/Nature PR Activities: AuCoin & Associates, our Nature/Outdoors PR firm, is working with a number of outdoor writers who want to come to Pinellas to research articles. Here s a summary of this month s activities: Hosted writer Eric Sharp of The Detroit Free Press, resulting in a 28-inch feature article on Monday, March 19 about kayak fishing in Florida, datelined St. Petersburg. The Detroit Free Press has a weekday circulation of about 350,000. Made arrangements and hosted writer/photographer team of Pam & Guy Selbert researching three magazine articles for Trailer Life (circulation 250,000) and Motorhome (150,000). The feature articles involve 1) history of spring training, 7

8 (birthplace, St. Petersburg), 2) RVers volunteering in Florida State Parks, and 3) Egmont Key State Park. The articles will probably appear in issues 6 to 12 months from now. Set up a Q&A meeting and tour of Weedon Island Preserve for Mitch Stacy of the Associated Press that involved spokesmen for the CVB and Environmental Lands. The meeting had to be canceled due to illness but is expected to be rescheduled in April. Pitched writers for several publications to visit and write about sportfishing in Pinellas County. The writers pitched represent the Chicago Sun-Times, Louisville News Journal, Field & Stream, and others. Sent information to Canadian travel writer Judy Eberspaecher regarding camping and birding at Fort De Soto Park. UPCOMING TRADE SHOWS/PRESS GROUPS 1. POW WOW April North American Travel Journalists Assn. Conference - May BA Holidays Press Trip with TBCVB May

PUBLIC RELATIONS. February 2007 Report. Prepared by: Mary Haban Public Relations Manager

PUBLIC RELATIONS. February 2007 Report. Prepared by: Mary Haban Public Relations Manager PUBLIC RELATIONS February 2007 Report Prepared by: Mary Haban Public Relations Manager MEDIA VISITS/ TRADE SHOWS & RECEPTIONS TMAC Conference (Travel Media Assn. Canada) London, Ontario Feb. 15-19 Mary