The Tourists are Gone, the Tourists are Gone, and the Sky is Falling!

What to do when the tourists leave. Heck, Gulfport has only been attracting tourists for a relatively short period of time in its 100 year history. It has taken individual business and people to band together in a unified effort to pitch Gulfport as a destination and back it up with promotion. We have used combinations of “coop advertising” and other targeted ads to make this happen. Coop advertising is when whichever individual business wants to put their ad into a larger piece with other local businesses that forms a larger Gulfport ad. For example, the , , and thehave individual ads placed next to each other under the Gulfport banner, the cost is then shared by all four and has the presence of a full page in a publication. 

Targeted ads would be something like the Tuesday Fresh Market ads that are placed in the St. Pete Times. It has a visual impact and is paid for by the Gulfport Merchants Association and doesn’t promote individual businesses but an event. 

Back in 2008 if I recall correctly, the, Gulfport Merchants Association, Sea Breeze Manor and the all contributed money to pay for a promotional video filmed by Visit Florida. This video can be seen on You Tube and other sources like www.gulfportflorida.us. We were given a discounted rate because it was done under the non-profit auspices of the Chamber. Plans are in the mix to make another more commercial use video of Gulfport to eventually run on stations like Brighthouse. The most likely slogan will be “Shop, dine, stay and play in Gulfport.”

Relationships with entities like Visit Florida and the St. Pete/Clearwater Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) have helped establish Gulfport as a destination.  In the most recent Visitors Guide published by the CVB Gulfport is featured throughout (and where we were not, I sent a follow up corrective email for next year!!). That means that any individual who contacts the CVB for more information on a visit to the area will get quite the impression of Gulfport. We also have a prominent place on their website.  www.floridasbeach.com. 

For those who are not aware of what a FAM Tour is, it is a Familiarization Tour for people who are in an industry to get to know about your location. A FAM can be for corporate realtors, which we did with the help of Pinellas County Economic Development for business properties that were for sale in the Waterfront and 49^th street zones. It could also be for travel agents, travel writers, concierges, etc. Gulfport has received many individuals through the CVB for FAM tours over the past three years. They come in to a central location like the Casino and I give them a guided tour of Gulfport, then we have dinner and I give them an overview of what Gulfport is about and answer their questions. It is a great way to get attention to a group of very diverse individuals and opinions and has got Gulfport a mention in many influential publications specifically the “Times” of London which did a whole Pinellas County overview but ended with the best experience they had was in Gulfport. 

I hope to do a series of “Insight” blogs which tell you more about the special people who promote Gulfport and events at a later date, stay tuned.

Since I’m not a tourist I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around town!