The Pinellas County Tourist Development Council (as created

Clearwater, Florida, April 12, 2006
Republi can National Convention
Mary is working
with the Tampa Bay CVB on communications and promotion for the region’s joint bid for the 2008 Republican National Convention. Estimates
indicate that this high-profile event would bring
$150 million in direct spending and an additional $300 to $400 million in indirect economic impact to the region.
NAPS Release:
We are developing short advertorial press releases on Tarpon Springs and the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary. The
stories will be distributed by North American Precis Syndicate (NAPS). NAPS distributes the formatted release to
1,500 daily newspapers (circ. 58 million), 8,500 weeklies (circ. 79 million) and uploads the release on their
web site. They also provide clip tracking and reporting results. NAPS also completed a short TV spot on Fort De
Soto being named America’s #1 Beach. A NAPS advertorial on Fort De Soto issued last year generated 280 newspaper
storie s with a readership of more than seven million.
CVB PR
Firm
RFPs
The County purchasing department received the RFPs for the CVB’s domestic PR agency contract. We have formed a committee that will meet in April to discuss the
agen cies that
have applied.
Upcoming Press Trips/Events
The CVB PR staff is working on several upcoming press trips including programs that focus on Spas and family
vacations. A joint FAM is being planned during the month of May with the Tampa Bay CVB called “Wet & Wild.” We
are targeting domestic travel
writers from publications with high circulations to spend two days in our area and
two
days in Tampa.
UPCOMING TRADE SHOWS/PRESS GROUPS
1. CVB Florida Media Mission: April 23-27, Promote area to Florida publications.
2.
3.
Glamour Magazine Germany: April 10-13, Meet with Dr. Beach for feature article.
Wet & Wild Press Trip: May 17-19, Team with Tampa CVB for U.S. publications.
PR ACTIVITIES
Completed projects:
* * * * * * * *
News Plus Communications + Media • Sonnenstr. 9 • D-80331 München
Phone: +49-89-23 66 21 39 • Fax: +49-89-23 66 21 99 •
www.news-plus.net
• ITB from March 8 – 12. One on one media appointments have been made. Media Café was a huge success, more than
150 journalists attended. Several journalists are interested in St. Petersburg/Clearwater. Joint group press
trip with Orlando CVB was discussed – date: second half of the year. Please see below ITB report for media
appointments.
• Promotion with Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment for DVD release of “Bewitched”.
Prize raffle of one trip
to St. Petersburg/Clearwater. Destination and movie were published on a double page in 3 different movierelated
magazines, spread all over Germany. Total circulation of 2 million. Sirata Resort on St.
Pete Beach
will host the winners. Airline tickets paid by CVB. Promotion took place during whole month of February.
Winners
to be announced.
Ongoing projects:
• Individual Press trip Mr. Volker Koch, TV station HR 3. HR 3 is part of the First German TV network and covers the South of Germany.
Mr. Koch will
go St. Petersburg/Clearwater after Pow Wow. His focus is on Germans (from Hesse) living in the area. Provided with contacts of
Germans in St.
Pete. More details to follow.
• Mr Peter Hummel from women’s magazine “Glamour” will go to St. Pete from April 10 – 16 together with a photographer and 2 winners.
Pre-report
on St. Petersburg/Clearwater and prize raffle were published in Glamour already. Travel report will be published in the beginning of
May on several
pages. Focus of the trip: Dr. Beach and his best beach, meeting scheduled with Dr. Beach as well as dinner. Provided
with itinerary, press kit and
general information
on St. Petersburg/Clearwater.
• Media Mission in June was discussed. Mission will be scheduled for the beginning of June (before the World Cup starts). Approached
Orlando CVB
for joining the mission.
• Planning of group press trip for next fiscal year has started. Focus will be on culture, beaches and culinary St. Pete for magazines. Travel dates in
autumn. More details and final dates to be discussed.
Media Contacts & Media Calls & Calls from journalists:
• Eight proactive contacts to media have been made.
• Twelve journalists have been provided with information on St. Petersburg/Clearwater.
Topic of Press Release:
Highland Games in Dunedin
ITB - St. Petersburg/Clearwater
7958