What's New
New Lonely Planet-produced marketing tools for The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel make it easier than ever for travel agents to sell the destination to their clients. A new destination travel guide, iPhone mobile application and promotional videos were produced for the destination by the world's largest travel publisher as part of a first-of-its-kind marketing alliance between the two organizations.
"We're excited about our new Lonely Planet destination marketing tools, and we're urging travel agents to utilize them to support their marketing efforts," said Tamara Pigott, VCB executive director. "Having a trusted third-party source produce our guidebook, mobile app and videos takes our marketing to a whole new level of credibility and gives our destination a decided marketing advantage."
The 144-page, four-color custom guidebook for The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel features: itineraries for specific target segments, a review of top 10 experiences, trip-planning information, transportation details, a calendar of signature special events, regional points of interest, photo highlights, and a pull-out map of the destination. The publication was researched and written by Lonely Planet author Adam Karlin, who penned the company's guide to Miami and the Keys and has covered multiple destinations for Lonely Planet, including Florida; New Orleans; New York; Washington, D.C. and the mid-Atlantic; Kenya; Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei; South India; Botswana and Namibia; and West Africa. Click here to view a digital e-book version of the new guidebook.
The custom-produced downloadable iPhone mobile application of the new guide features Lonely Planet picks on what to see and do, along with detailed maps and videos of the destination. It includes: more than 100 points of interest such as attractions, shops, restaurants, activities and accommodations; direct contact information for each point of interest; Google maps with the points of interest plotted; eight destination videos; and a link to the destination's consumer website at www.FortMyers-Sanibel.com for complete travel information. Lonely Planet is spearheading iTunes management and providing significant promotion of the mobile guide. The free download can be found at: itunes.apple.com/app/m-c-magazine/id375374236?mt=8.
Besides the travel guide and its mobile application, travel agents can utilize eight custom-scripted two- to three-minute videos hosted by Lonely Planet authors and showcasing various aspects of the destination, two of which have been translated into German. The videos, which mirror the content of the new travel guide, are airing on Lonely Planet's website and its YouTube channel as well as on syndication partner outlets.
Lonely Planet has published more than 100 million travel guidebooks since 1973 and sells more than 6.5 million each year. The organization employs 365 authors who live in 37 countries and speak 70 languages. In the online world, the organization's website at www.LonelyPlanet.com boasts more than 8 million visitors each month and 1.8 million online community members. The site generates new online posts every 12 seconds.
Find out more about meeting on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel with these additional destination developments:
Islands FallFest • Florida Resident Specials • iNature Trail Debuts • Latest Hotel News • Shopping News • Top-Rated State Parks • Other Attractions News • Kudos • New Air Berlin Service •
Islands FallFest
The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel on southwest Florida's Gulf Coast is presenting the destination's fourth annual Islands FallFest from September through November 2011. The promotion combines annual events and festivals with special rates commissionable to travel agents for visits to Florida's unspoiled island sanctuary.
Fall is a great time for clients to visit the area. It's less crowded. The weather is cooler. Sandcastles dot the beaches. Stone crab season begins Oct. 15. An "old Florida" community shows off its creative side. An eco festival and a paddling festival celebrate the area's natural resources. And area accommodations feature lots of great deals. Travel agents can pair these with some of the area's unique events this fall to create memorable vacation packages. Agents planning vacations for their clients will find a complete listing of events, offers and packages at www.IslandsFallfest.com.
Commissionable packages during this year's Islands FallFest include:
'Tween Waters Inn Island Resort, Captiva Island
Gulf of Mexico beachfront vacations from $120 per night, plus $80 dining credit with every stay of three nights or more. Enjoy the legendary 'Tween Waters Inn Island Resort on beautiful Captiva Island. (Don't miss the resort's Halloween Voodoo Island Bash on Oct. 29.)
Available: through Oct. 6, 2011. Rates from Oct. 6 to Thanksgiving are $130 per night, plus $80 dining credit.
Reservations: www.tween-waters.com/fallsavings or 239-472-5161
West Wind Inn, Sanibel Island
Two-night Islands FallFest package includes a bottle of wine and admission to J.N "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. $154 per night for standard poolside. Double occupancy.
Available: Sept. 1-Nov. 1, 2011
Reservations: www.westwindinn.com or 239-472-1541 or 866-318-8499
DiamondHead Beach Resort and Spa, Fort Myers Beach
Save $25 per night for three nights or longer. Rates from $159. Maximum of four people.
Available: through Dec. 22, 2011
Reservations: www.DiamondHeadFL.com/promotions or 888-765-5002 or 239-765-5400
GullWing Beach Resort, Fort Myers Beach
Save $25 per night for three nights or longer. Rates from $149. Maximum of two people. Other options available.
Available: through Dec. 22, 2011
Reservations: www.GullwingFL.com/promotions or 888-627-5151or 239-765-5400
Pointe Estero Beach Resort, Fort Myers Beach
Save $25 per night for three nights or longer. Rates from $149. Maximum of two people. Other options available.
Available: through Dec. 22, 2011
Reservations: www.PointeEstero.com/promotions or 800-237-5141 or 239-765-5400
The Resort at MarinaVillage, Cape Coral
Save $25 per night for three nights or longer. Rates from $139. Maximum of two people. Other options available.
Available: through Dec. 22, 2011
Reservations: www.MarinaVillageResort.com/promotions or 239-765- 5400 or 888-372-9256
Florida Resident Specials
Florida residents can explore the destination with money-saving rates and packages that include lots of great offerings through the fall. With exciting attractions, shelling, kayaking, fishing, unique shopping and art galleries, waterside dining, and accommodations from quaint cottages to upscale resorts and everything in between, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel offers the best discounts and values this time of year.
Packages and value-added offers designed for Florida residents provide a chance to take advantage of the area when it is less crowded, the pace is slower and there are lots of money-saving deals closer to home.
During this time period, visitors may also enjoy special festivals and events such as the 15th Annual MangoMania Tropical Fruit Fair in July; the 6th Annual Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival in November; the 22st Annual "Ding" Darling Days in October; and the 25th Annual American Sandsculpting Championship Festival in November.
Click here for a list of all Florida resident values, packages and special rates.
iNature Trail Debuts
Travel agents seeking a unique experience for their clients will find it on the new iNature Trail at the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. The first-of-its-kind interactive QR (Quick Response) wildlife trail in the nation and in the 550-plus national wildlife refuges incorporates QR-code scan technology for smartphones to provide visitors with information about the trail, including short, engaging YouTube videos about the wildlife they are experiencing on the trail.
Visitors can scan the 10 QR code signs posted along the trail with free downloadable apps such as Neoscan or QR Scan, and each sign bears separate QR codes for children and adults. Similar in appearance to common bar codes, QR codes typically send scanners to websites for more information. The iNature signs are easily recognizable along the Trail and can be accessed while walking, biking, or driving along it.
The iNature Trail is a significant advancement in nature interpretation. It not only takes advantage of the latest improvements in communication technology, but it also is environmentally responsible because it allows the Refuge to reduce paper waste from brochures.
Latest Hotel News
The Island Inn on Sanibel Island has undergone a major refurbishment project. The completed $250,000 phase one of the revamp concentrated on redeveloping Traditions on the Beach restaurant, building a new bar and lounge and adding electronic amenities such as Wi-Fi and flat-screen televisions. Phase two under way this summer is upgrading cottages, furnishing and reception areas.
The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs has launched its new Toy Box program, which helps ease some of the challenges meeting attendees face when traveling with their families. Filled with an assortment of age-appropriate toys and games for toddlers to teens that parents can check out for free, the Hyatt Resorts Toy Box is powered by Toy Tips, a toy testing group. For details, call 239-390-4280 or visit www.coconutpoint.hyatt.com.
‘Tween Waters Inn Island Resort on Captiva Island is celebrating its 80th birthday with its "80 Years with 80 Nights" promotion. This year-long giveaway features 40 two-night Captiva vacations at this legendary resort. In addition, ‘Tween Waters Inn also is offering a year-long promotion that provides free $80 dining credits for every three-night or longer stay. Visit www.Tween-Waters.com/80 to enter.
Shopping News
The Franklin Shops have opened on First Street in Downtown Fort Myers. The new shopping area provides an eclectic blend of men's and women's apparel, swimwear, health and beauty products, accessories, jewelry, chocolates, fine art, furniture and home décor. For details, call 239-333-3130 or visit www.thefranklinshops.com.
Gulf Coast Town Center in Fort Myers invites families to watch free kid-appropriate movies during the Fourth Annual Cinema Under the Stars each Tuesday through August starting about 8:30 p.m. The center's Summer Concert Series also is scheduled for 8-10 p.m. on Saturdays. Both events take place on the Market Plaza lawn. Call 239-267-0783 or visit www.gulfcoasttowncenter.com.
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers has launched a Tanger Outlets mobile application to keep shoppers at its Fort Myers center connected. Available now in the App Store for the iPhone and in the Android Marketplace, the Tanger Outlets App soon will be available on other popular mobile devices as well. For more information, call 239-454-1974 or visit www.tangeroutlet.com.
Top-Rated State Parks
Two of the six Florida State Parks located at The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel have been ranked third and fourth in popularity among visitors to 160 Florida State Parks. Third most popular in the state is Lovers Key, accessible only by boat and one of four barrier islands that make up this state park. A haven for wildlife, the islands and their waters are home to West Indian manatees, bottlenose dolphins, roseate spoonbills, marsh rabbits, and bald eagles. The two-mile-long beach is accessible by boardwalk or tram and is popular for shelling, swimming, picnicking, and sunbathing. Black Island has more than five miles of trails for hiking and bicycling. Anglers and boaters can launch their vessels from the park's boat ramp. The park's concession offers kayak tours, as well as bicycle, canoe and kayak rentals. Call 239-463-4588 or visit www.floridastateparks.org/loverskey.
Gasparilla Island State Park . in Boca Grande ranked fourth. Separated from the mainland by Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound, this island is part of a chain of Gulf Coast barrier islands. The centerpiece of Gasparilla is the restored Boca Grande Lighthouse built in 1890. Swimming, snorkeling, fishing, and nature study are popular activities. Shelling is particularly good in the winter months. Two picnic areas offer pavilions for shade and scenic views of the surrounding water. The lighthouse is open to the public. Call 941-964-0375 or visit www.floridastateparks.org/gasparillaisland.
Other Attractions News
A variety of new and existing attraction options on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel provide travel agents with plenty of options for their clients' vacation excursions.
True Tours are providing historical walking tours of the Fort Myers River District, including about 60 minutes of stories of local history and architectural elements of the historical buildings. The tours can include lunch or dinner for groups of 10 or more; and a combination package is offered that includes the walking tour, dinner and a Florida Rep live performance in the historic Arcade Theater. True Tours also offers an after-dark, 60-minute Ghost Tour. For more information, call 239-945-0405 or visit www.truetours.net.
Captiva Cruises is partnering with the
In addition, Captiva Cruises is partnering with The Edison & Ford Winter Estates to offer boat cruises and tours from Captiva Island to the Estates on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The new tour provides a look at the Caloosahatchee River and its importance ecologically and culturally, a view of the Estates from the water, lunch at the Royal Palm Yacht Club, and a tour of the Estates. For details, call 239-472-5300 or visit www.captivacruises.com.
For German speaking visitors, the Edison & Ford Winter Estates now is offering a German language tour led by a bilingual Estates site historian on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Tickets for the German tour are $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 6-12. Reservations are not required.
The Imaginarium Hands-on Museum in Fort Myers has broken ground on its latest exhibit, Watershed Wonders, an innovative and comprehensive multi-phase science education exhibit focusing on Florida water management. The scale-model exhibit demonstrates watershed ranging from Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico, including interactive experiences to show how manmade changes impact the water system. The first phase opened in July 2011.
The Southwest Florida Museum of History in Fort Myers has debuted a new traveling exhibit, "Mambo Man: The Exhibition - a Tribute Exhibit to Pedro 'Cuban Pete' Aguilar." Through Oct. 15, the exhibition showcases the life and times of world-famous "Cuban Pete," featuring spectacular costumes, vibrant music, Mambo Kings movie memorabilia and more.
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island has unveiled a 43-piece duck decoy exhibit sculpted and donated by nationally renowned wildlife carver Jim Sprankle. The collection, which has been valued at $400,000 and courted by the Smithsonian Institution, resides in the Refuge Education Center and demonstrates the evolution of decoys from folk to fine art.
The newly restored Buck Key Paddling Trail in the bay offshore from Captiva Island has reopened. The canopy paddling trail goes through Buck Key, part of Sanibel Island's J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge complex. In more news from the refuge, a $40,000 makeover of its Calusa Shell Mound Trail has opened. The new trail features state-of-the-art exhibits and artist renderings of ancient Calusa Indian culture. For more information, visit www.fws.gov/dingdarling.
Sanibel Trails & Tales, a one-stop informational program about Sanibel's top five island attractions, takes place at 9:30 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Representatives from the refuge, Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), and Sanibel Historical Museum & Village present information on each attraction. Admission is free, but registration is recommended. Details can be found at www.sanibeltrailsandtales.org/meet.php.
Popular local artist Leoma Lovegrove recently opened her third Lovegrove Art Gallery in downtown Fort Myers. She also operates popular galleries in Matlacha on Pine Island and on Sanibel Island. To mark the Fort Myers opening, Lovegrove produced a series of prints and note cards that celebrate the downtown lifestyle. Contact her galleries at 239-822-4109 or www.leomalovegrove.com.
Kudos
Sanibel and Captiva islands both ranked impressively high in TripAdvisor's inaugural 2011 Travelers' Choice Beach awards. In the "Top 25 Beaches in the World" category, Sanibel Island ranked No. 16, while on the "Top 25 Beaches in the United States" list, Sanibel Island was rated No. 6 and Captiva Island came in at No. 8. TripAdvisor, one of the world's largest travel websites, recently surveyed more than 2,100 U.S. respondents. The Travelers' Choice awards are based on real and unbiased reviews and opinions from worldwide travelers.
TripAdvisor also presented the Tarpon Tale Inn on Sanibel Island and the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers each with a 2011 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, an honor given to properties that consistently receive excellent ratings from the travel website's members.
The Gasparilla Inn & Club in Boca Grande has been named to the list of Top 20 Florida Golf Resorts by Condé Nast Traveler readers in the magazine's 15th annual golf poll. The properties marry "outstanding golf with fantastic lodging, dining and service," the article stated. Call 941-964-4631 or visit www.gasparillainn.com to learn more about the Inn & Club.
Condé Nast Traveler magazine also listed Sanibel Island for Best Kayaking. The "Your Own Private(ish) Islands" article recommended Tarpon Bay Explorers , J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Casa Ybel Resort, and Over Easy Café .
For the second consecutive year, the Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival has been selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society's Top 20 Events for 2011. The event is set for Nov. 3-6 with a hub at the Sanibel Causeway.
New Air Berlin Service
Air Berlin (AB) has added a fourth weekly flight to Düsseldorf, Germany, from Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), from July 25 through Sept. 12.
In addition, Air Berlin, Germany's second largest airline, has joined the Oneworld airline alliance. This allows Air Berlin passengers to have seamless connecting flights and earn frequent flier miles on other Oneworld alliance carriers (American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Qantas, LAN, Iberia, JAL, Cathay Pacific, Royal Jordanian and Malev). Air Berlin operates three weekly nonstop flights to Düsseldorf (DUS), and its partner airlines offer convenient connecting flights to points throughout Europe, Africa and Asia from DUS.
Southwest Florida International Airport provides nonstop service to 47 destinations (43 domestic and four international) on 20 different air carriers. As one of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic, the airport served more than 7.5 million passengers in 2010.
For additional information on the latest developments for your clients on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, contact the Travel Agent Help Desk at (800) 237-6444 or continue looking through this Travel Agent section of our Web site.
