PUBLIC RELATIONS June 2010

Transcription

1 PUBLIC RELATIONS June 2010 Prepared by: Mary Haban Senior Manger, Public Relations MEDIA VISITS, TRADE SHOWS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) Atlantic Conference Atlanta - June 3-6 Mary Haban, VSPC s Senior Public Relations Manager, and an active member of the SATW ACC Chapter, attended the annual meeting and media marketplace in Atlanta, Georgia, along with Hank Hine and Cindy Cockburn of the Salvador Dali Museum. The trio participated in the media marketplace, and Hank Hine wowed the group of travel media with his impressive presentation about the new Dali Museum. Resulting converge in several publications, including a feature in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, came out of this meeting. More coverage is expected in the coming months. Florida Association of CVB (FACVB) Marketing Summit Orlando, FL June 2-4 DT Minich and David Downing joined tourism leaders from across the State at this annual gathering of CVB officials. What was supposed to be the annual Marketing Summit, quickly turned into a think tank on the recent oil spill situation and what we as a State could do to combat the negative publicity/perceptions. Minich and Downing participated in many presentations and roundtable discussions and came back with a wealth of information that could directly and immediately be applied to the situation our area is now encountering regarding the oil spill. Spanish TV Crew - Españoles por el Mundo June 9-11 VSPC s Public Relations Department teamed up with Tampa Bay & Company to provide location assistance to the host of the Spanish TV program Españoles por el Mundo. This TV show highlights Spaniards living in all different parts of the world, and showcases a variety of cultures. Mary Haban led the efforts of the VSPC side, liaising with the film commission and the host of the show, Casilda Saenz, to assist her and her three member crew, while in our area. Some of the sights they featured were the Dali Museum, downtown St. Pete, and the beaches. Paul Hughes from the Scottish Sun Newspaper UK June 9-24 Paul Hughes, a reporter from the Scottish edition of The Sun (circulation: 364,588 / website visited St Pete & Clearwater for his honeymoon to write a feature on his experiences here and to highlight what the area offers to the newly married. We would like to extend special thanks to the three properties who hosted him: the Hilton Clearwater Beach; The Don CeSar Beach Resort, A Loews Hotel; and the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club. 1

2 Public Relations Society of America District Conference Jupiter, FL June Having recently received her National Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), Senior PR Manager Mary Haban was tapped by the PRSA Sunshine District to lead the Statewide Task Force on Accreditation. First stop: The annual conference in Jupiter, Florida, where she participated in an APR presentation, then gave her findings to the leaders from across the State of Florida. Haban will continue to work with leaders from around the State and at the National level to highlight the importance of becoming accredited. Lorna Reeves visit - TeaTime Magazine June With a total readership of 175,000, TeaTime shares inspirational tea-party menus, recipes, and table-setting ideas, tea-focused destinations and events, tea traditions, and much more. The magazine is produced six times a year and its readers are 99% female, with an average age of around 53 years old. Island s End Resort played host to Lorna who came to the area to cover the abundance of tearooms in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area for the magazine s Tea Experience feature. Resulting coverage from his visit is forthcoming. Christian Heeb Visit, America Journal & Globetroller Magazine June The Sandpearl Resort played host to this dynamic duo from Germany during their two-day stay in our area. Mr. Christian Heeb and Mrs. Regula Heeb are a talented team of international renowned travel and nature photographers who live in Germany. They have published over 100 books on subjects from South Africa and Morocco to France and most parts of North America and the Caribbean. Their travel stories appear in magazines and travel guides worldwide. They publish up to 15 calendars a year. More information can be seen on their website They also work as freelancers,.i.e. writing for the Globetrotter Magazine (CH) and the America Journal two widely respected publications in Germany. The purpose of their trip was to obtain up-to-date photography of our area to showcase in these publications. Satellite Media Tour with Orbitz Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach June 30 VSPC s Public Relations team jumped into high gear when contacted by the folks at Orbitz Worldwide to learn they were broadcasting their SMT from the new Hyatt Regency on Clearwater Beach. Senior PR Manager Mary Haban rushed over to Tampa Digital Studios and spent the day editing together a custom b-roll package that could be used to showcase the area. The Satellite Media Tour went off without a hitch and communicated to key markets that the area and our award-winning beaches are open for business and remain oil-free. MEDIA ASSISTANCE PROVIDED: June 2010 Media Assistance: June 1 Provided interview to Sharon Parker of 970 WFLA-AM regarding the Book with Confidence Guarantee. June 1 Fielded call from Caryn Eve Murray from re: the oil spill. June 1 Responded to from Tina Karagiannis, Assignment Manager of Bay News 9 regarding how the oil spill has affected: hotel bookings, car rentals, and room cancellations. 2

3 June 1 Followed up with travel writer Jacquie Kubin of Communities at the Washington Times regarding her recent visit to the area. June 1 Fielded call from Brian Jaeger of Bay News 9 about the Book with Confidence Guarantee and forwarded the call to David Downing to handle. June 2 Received call from Shelly of Florida Travel + Life Magazine about a co-op they are doing with the City of St. Pete and want us to participate. Forwarded it to Ad Department. June 3 Provided phone interview to Allison McGinley of WKMG-TV Channel 6 (Post/Newsweek) out of Orlando regarding the latest on the oil spill. June 3 Provided photo assistance to Jill London-Emeny for Frommer s Florida Guide Book. This is a follow up request to the visit from travel writer Lesley Anne Rose (UK), who came here in advance of this request to write the story. June 3 Responded to call from Margaret Cashill of the Tampa Bay Business Journal regarding events coming to the area. June 4 Call from the editor of Naylor Publications regarding an upcoming story on downtown St. Pete. June 4 Took call from Suzetter Porter with Tampa Bay Newspapers regarding the latest developments on the oil spill situation. June 6 Corresponded with Casilda Saenz de Heredia, the host of the Spanish Public TV Show Españoles por el Mundo, about their location assistance needed to shoot a few segments in our area. June 7 Respond to Margaret Cashill of the Tampa Bay Business Journal with more information regarding the biggest events coming to our area. June 7 Fielded call from Lloyd Sowers, a reporter with FOX 13 News, who wants to chat about the ads we are running saying there s no oil on the beaches. June 7 Fielded an /call from Chris D'Emilio, B98.5FM (WSB-FM) COX Media Group Atlanta and forwarded his advertising questions to VSPC s Ad Department. June 7 from CasildaSaenz de Heredia of Españoles por el Mundo saying she is completing the necessary paperwork for location shooting and will be back in touch. June 8 Returned call to Chris Chmura of FOX 13 News re: oil spill. 3

4 June 8 Returned call to Sharon Parker of 970 WFLA-AM regarding the June 9 Tourist Development Council Meeting. June 8 Assisted freelance travel writer Apryl Chapman Thomas with information on the oil spill situation and provided her our links to our Book with Confidence hotels and to our oil spill update page. June 9 Call from Sharon Parker of 970 WFLA-AM regarding a comment made at the TDC Meeting about a meeting, site visit that was cancelled. June 14 Send the What s New in the area update to Florence Trouillard, a journalist whom we met at POW WOW in Orlando this year. June 15 Sent photo to Rachel Wimberley at Trade Show News Network. June 15 David Downing does an interview with the Trade Show Network. June 15 Follow up correspondence with Lorna Reeves of TeaTime Magazine with information on her upcoming visit to the area. June 15 David Downing did a live segment on FOX 13 s Good Day Tampa Bay regarding the situation on the oil spill and how beaches remain unaffected. June 16 Correspondence with Charmaine Pang, Associate Producer Travel zoo (Canada) Inc. to provide us with updated contact info on her new job/employer. June 17 Respond to Isabelle of Isabelle s Travel Guide about featuring our award-winning beaches in her blog. June 17 Met with Kerry Sanders of NBC s Today Show to pitch him on the tie-in to our area and the opening of Harry Potter in Orlando. June 17 NBC s Today Show crew comes to VSPC offices to shoot interview with David Downing. June 17 VSPC provided FOX 13 News and WFLA-TV, News Channel 8 with interviews on the oil spill situation. June 18 VSPC provided the following news outlets with interviews: AM 820 Talk Radio and ABC Action News regarding the latest on the oil spill situation. June 18 Provide help to Vicky at ABC Action News in coordinating an interview with DT Minich. 4

5 June 18 Sent information on our new advertising campaign to Carson Chambers of ABC Action News. June 20 Received request from Susan Friedman, Lifestyle Editor + Senior Editor at Florida Travel + Life Magazine regarding our editorial calendar and big events coming up. June 22 Phoned Russell Rhodes of FOX 13 News to confirm David Downing s appearance on the Your Turn show. June 22 Provided editorial and custom B-Roll assistance to Jeanenne Tornatore, Director, Public Relations, Orbitz Worldwide, for a Satellite Media Tour they are hosting here on Clearwater Beach to address the oil spill. June 22 Fielded call from Mike Schumann, freelance travel writer and member of SATW, regarding an upcoming visit to our area. June 23 David Downing did an on-camera interview with Russell Rhodes of FOX 13 News for the Your Turn segment. June 23 Edited a custom B-Roll package and sent fed-ex to Orbitz Worldwide for the Satellite Media Tour on Clearwater Beach. June 23 Assisted Karen Rubin of Travel Features Syndicate with information on the area for a potential visit here. June 24 VSPC provided interviews on the oil spill situation to WUSF studios for Florida Matters with Carson Cooper. June 25 Stephen Fountaine of Canadian Traveller regarding our editorial calendar. June 25 Provided phone interview to Margaret Cashill of Tampa Bay Business Journal. June 26 VSPC provided on-camera interviews to reporter Melvin Beale of 10 Connects News and to ABC Action News during the Hands Across the Sand event. June 28 Provided interview to Margaret Cashill of the Tampa Bay Business Journal. June 29 Provided details on our area and how it is faring regarding the oil spill to Kathy Hagood, associate editor, SATW Traveler Newsletter. June 29 Provided area info to Dian Barber, who is researching a story for MPI's One+ Magazine concerning the impact of the Gulf Coast oil spill on the meetings and event industry. June 29 Responded to call from Summer Smith of Bay News 9 about the $1.15 Million VSPC will receive in marketing funds. 5

6 June 30 Responded to call from reporter Nick Fortuna of Florida Motor coach Association for information on our area for an upcoming convention they are having here. ASSISTING VISIT FLORIDA: During the month of June the Public Relations Team kicked into high gear to provide timely information that was accurate about the oil spill situation to the state tourism agency. In addition to this urgent situation, we continued to also provide editorial assistance to Visit Florida Offices in Canada, South America, and the domestic office located in Tallahassee. The Public Relations team was also actively involved in several partnerships, including public relations and media relations initiatives, to lure top notch media to the area. We received and respond to, on a regular basis, Quick Lead s and writer inquiries to promote both the destination and the State of Florida as a whole. We also participated on several committee conference calls, and webinars to keep up to date on the latest news and upcoming events to assist in our strategic planning. June 10 Participated in the VISIT FLORIDA Oil Spill Response Webinar. June 23 Fact check an article about our area for a VISIT FLORIDA blogger, Christine LaPlaca. June 30 Responded to lead from VISIT FLORIDA regarding a request to visit our area by travel writer Michael Andre Adams; enlisted the help of Anita Treiser of the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce since writer wanted to visit Clearwater Beach with his family of six. ASSISTING THE INDUSTRY & THE CVB & OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS: June 2 Assist Debbie Meihls of VSPC s Advertising Department with obtaining Grand Prix photos to provide to Sky Sports Magazine (UK.) June 3 Assisted the Meetings & Conventions Department by helping one of their planners from Thoroughbred Racing Association; directing her to our oil spill update page. June 4 Worked with Anita Treiser of the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce to obtain photos of Pier 60 for a travel writer from Frommer s Florida Guide Book. June 7 Reached out to Erika Gable of B.R. Guest Restaurants (Post Card Inn on the Beach) and to Mr. David Baker of the Flamingo Resort for photos to send to German journalist Tom Dedek. June 11 Attended the Pinellas County Exempt Meeting. June 11 Assisted Nicholas Stees, Web Coordinator, Marketing and Communications for the City of St. Petersburg with photos of our beaches for an ad for Florida Travel & Lifestyles Magazine he is working on. June 14 Correspond with Michele Routh of St. Pete/Clearwater Airport regarding the unveiling of their remodeling & renovations. 6

7 June 15 Draft hurricane season update for the industry. June 15 Work with Jim Wilson at Fort De Soto Park on fact checking an article for a VISIT FLORIDA blogger. June 17 Attended St. Pete/Clearwater Airport s Media Day to highlight the renovations made there and to feature them on our social media pages. June 18 Correspondence to Susan Robertson at the St. Pete Pier to let her know we are featuring the Father s Day event on our Facebook pages. June 21 Attended simpleview training with VSPC s Internet Marketing Department. June 22 Contact Island s End Resort to confirm accommodations for travel writer, Lorna Reeves of TeaTime Magazine. June 28 Assisted VSPC s Meetings & Conventions Department by giving a Social Media presentation to meeting planners at the Sandpearl Resort. June 28 Assisted Sarah Gannon of Allegiant Air with her request for updated B-roll of our area to be used in their upcoming commercials. SOCIAL MEDIA INITIATIVES: Throughout the month, the VSPC Public Relations Team continued to monitor and post updates on Facebook, Twitter, PressSuite and YouTube pages to promote the destination to our evergrowing fan base. We are also monitoring news coverage on a daily basis, and forwarding positive coverage to our industry partners via . We posted the following press releases on Facebook, PinellasCVB.com, Press Briefs, and FloridasBeachMedia.com: Oil Spill Update (8); Book with Confidence Guarantee, Martina McBride, Huey Lewis Headline Taste of Pinellas, BP Oil Spill Update (#9), Piracy, International Flavor Swarms St. Pete/Clearwater, 2010 Hurricane Preparedness Tool Kit, BP Oil Spill Update (#10,) Crist: Pinellas to Receive $1.15 Million in BP Funds. In addition, with Hurricane Season here, we updated the Hurricane Preparedness Plan pages on PinellasCVB.com for our industry partners. Also, we worked on adding oil-related search terms to our Cision news searches, to help us track coverage of the area. Edited Clean the World Piece for posting on PinellasCVB.com. We continue training on the new SimpleView system, updating partner and media information, as well as designing a variety of headers. We are also preparing to migrate from Q-Tools to Simpleview for press release distribution. 7

8 PRESS RELEASES & E-NEWS & INDUSTRY ALERTS: June 1 Industry Update titled, Oil Spill Update (8); Book with Confidence Guarantee, was sent to the media and industry. June 4 Press release titled, Martina McBride, Huey Lewis Headline Taste of Pinellas: Popular festival dishes up food-and-fun in downtown St Pete this weekend, was sent to media and the industry. June 7 Industry Update titled, BP Oil Spill Update (#9), was sent to media/industry. June 9 Sent out TDC Meeting Recap to industry and media. June 10 Press release titled, Piracy, International Flavor Swarms St. Pete/Clearwater: Costumed pirates, reggae star Shaggy headline this weekend s events, sent to media/industry. June 11 Industry Update titled, 2010 Hurricane Preparedness Tool Kit, was sent to the media and the industry. June 18 Industry Update titled, BP Oil Spill Update (#10) was sent to media/industry. June 25 Industry Update titled, Crist: Pinellas to Receive $1.15 Million in BP Funds, sent to the media and the industry. UK PR Firm and German Media Activities: Please refer to separate reports from each office. Outdoor/Nature PR Activities: June 2010 Bill AuCoin & Associates, Inc. Sent images and provided information to freelance Pam Selbert for an article about kayaking opportunities in our area for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Headlined Tampa Bay by Kayak, the feature and pictures occupied 181 column inches dominated the Sunday, June 20 travel section. Sunday circulation of the Post-Dispatch is about 400,000. Researched and wrote a short feature for the Visit SPC consumer newsletter, headlined Wanted: Bird Stewards for the Beach. Brainstormed with PR officers about maximizing birding publicity Set up arrangements for tarpon-fishing trips and fact-gathering: o Gary Garth, Louisville Courier-Journal o Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette o Ron Strait, San Antonio Express-News o David Sikes, Corpus Christi Caller-Times 8

9 Noted and thanked authors Gary and Louise Beckett for a four-page color article about Tarpon Springs in the June issue of Southern Boating magazine. Forwarded scan of article to CVB. Brad Wiegmann published another article about fishing our area. This one in the Westville (Oklahoma) Reporter, about kayak fishing, grew out of his visit here in January. UPCOMING MEDIA VISITS - TRADE SHOWS - PRESS GROUPS: 1 Mike Schuman Visit Freelance Travel Writer July Chihuly/Vinoy Press Trip July Gary Garth visit - Louisville Courier-Journal July Karen Rubin visit - Travel Features Syndicate July Bryan Henrick's, Ron Strait, David Sikes Visit Outdoor Editors July Destination Marketing Association International Fort Lauderdale July