Articles Tagged with: Florida

Virginia Key Beach, Miami. Still a safe place to visit. Credit: See Miami Live

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) has been awarded $1.25 million in emergency marketing funds from Florida Governor Crist and the State Division of Emergency Management to assist the destination in correcting misperceptions among potential visitors about the effects of the Gulf oil spill.

Tourism is Miami-Dade’s number one industry, employing more than 100,000 people, and representing one in five jobs in the County.

“We are grateful to Governor Crist for his leadership, and for recognizing that the oil spill is a statewide issue, affecting not only the areas already seeing oil sheen and/or tar balls, but the rest of the State, which suffers from the perception that they are affected, too,” GMCVB Chair Steven Haas said in a press release.

GMCVB President and CEO William D. Talbert, III, said, “Unlike many other parts of the State, nearly 50% of all Miami visitors come from international markets, and so the campaign supported by these funds will be carrying the Florida message internationally, benefiting the entire State.”

Talbert went on to say, “Prior to receiving this funding, we had already proactively taken several steps, including launching the See Miami Live portal, featuring webcams trained on our beaches to show their pristine cleanliness, and added a dedicated FAQ page to our website to answer questions about the oil spill’s impact on the area.”

The funds will be used to expand the reach and frequency of GMCVB’s summer campaign, which emphasizes the range of appeals that make Greater Miami and the Beaches unique. Highlighted value options include Miami Spa Month throughout July, with tempting value-priced spa treatments and pampering; Miami 443, offering four nights’ accommodation or four tickets to selected attractions for the price of three; Miami Spice Month, featuring enticing restaurant values throughout August and September; and other value-driven offerings that emphasize “Things Are Different in Miami.”

For a vacation guide visit Miami and Beaches.

Royal Shell Vacations' will refund your money if your Florida holiday is affected by the Gulf Oil Spill. Credit: Courtesy Royal Shell Vacations

Royal Shell Vacations, the largest vacation rental company serving Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Florida, has announced an exclusive, provisional refund policy that safeguards holidaymakers from any potential effects of the Gulf oil spill.

Called the Royal Shell “Clean Beaches” Guarantee, Royal Shell Vacations will provide a proportionate refund to any rental client, based on average daily rate, per day, should the City of Sanibel or Lee County authorities officially close either Sanibel or Captiva Islands beaches (refund based on location of rental property and affected area) due to the oil spill. This is provided at cost by Royal Shell Vacations, as typical vacation insure does not provide compensation.

In addition, Royal Shell Vacations will be providing daily or as-needed “Clean Beaches” updates on both its website and Facebook page. “This is a major, innovative, exclusive commitment by our company,” said Royal Shell Vacations CEO, Randy Bacik. “We understand that all the media coverage about the oil spill in the northeast region of the Gulf has people concerned about their Florida vacations. Our ‘Clean Beaches’ guarantee ensures that visitors can make their vacation plans to Florida knowing that they won’t incur any loss, should oil spill conditions change and affect our islands.”

To further encourage visitors to Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Royal Shell Vacations is giving away a FREE, $4,000 value “Island Delight” vacation. Enter their “The Great 7-Night, Island Delight Giveaway” by “Liking” Royal Shell Vacations on Facebook, and providing e-mail data, at www.Facebook.com/RoyalShellVacations to win seven nights in a private two-bedroom, two bathroom Captiva Gulf-front condominium for up to four persons.

Entries must be made by June 30, 2010.