Marine Industries and Art ready to take center-stage on the Treasure Coast

How much information can you pack into a one hour show? Apparently quite a bit if you took in Friday's show!

Kicking off the first show of the year, Mark Amaral of the Association of Marina Industries (AMI) and Rachel LaMarre, co-coordinator of the International Marina and Boatyard Conference, called in from AMI headquarters in frigid Warren, Rhode Island. Mark and Rachel provided listeners with great information about the upcoming International Marina and Boatyard Conference slated for January 27-29 in Tampa, Florida. Over 600 persons are expected to attend from around the country and from around the world! Some as far away as Australia, the United Kingdom, Dubai and Spain. Florida is still an international tourism destination! 

Ft. Lauderdale is the location for the 2011 Conference. Could Martin County be the site of the 2012 conference?

Moving from conferences to fine arts and crafts, Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce volunteer Carla Stiles talked up the 4th Annual Jensen Beach Fine Arts and Crafts Show coming up January 16-17, which kicks off the 2010 Cultural Arts Season.

Next up was Capt.’s Chris and Alyse Caldwell pumping up the 36th Annual Stuart Boat Show and the 2nd Annual Cruiser Expo. Nearly 50 boats will be staying at Harborage Yacht Club and Marina. The boating community is certainly doing its part to boost marine tourism!

The sailfish bite in the 30th Annual Pelican Yacht Club Billfish Invitational, which ended the Treasure Coast Sailfish Championship for this season, was phenomenal! As of Wednesday, just after two days of fishing the 29 boats competing were zeroing in on the all time record of 386 releases set in 2004. The amazing thing is that in  2004, 53 boats were competing compared to 29 this year. Speaking of records, Talkin' Tourism co-host Robin Hicks-Connors shared the date of what year over 1,000 sailfish were caught in one week!

Thanks for tuning in. The next Talkin' Tourism on Florida's Treasure Coast will broadcast live from the Stuart Boat Show. Stop by the Flahama booth between 10 a.m. and 11 a..m. on Friday (January 15) to meet show hosts Gary Guertin and Robin Hicks-Connors, and perhaps to say a few words on the air.

If you missed this week's show, you can download or listen to it here.

Boat Shows, Cruiser Expos, Tournament News, and Arts 'Season' is Upon Us

Happy 2010 to all our loyal listeners and fans from Martin County, the Treasure Coast, around the State, the Islands of the Bahamas and around the world!

As the show did in 2009, “Radio Man” (aka Gary Guertin) and “History Lady” (aka Robin Hicks-Connors) promise to bring you the best in tourism infomation, news, trends, events and sometimes even provocative topics.

So, we off and running with our first show of the new year, batteries charged, mike levels set and a great lineup of guests. Joining us this week is Captain’s Chris and Alyse Caldwell of Captain Chris Yacht Service, coordinators of the 2nd Annual Cruiser Expo, which is an integral part of the 36 Annual Stuart Boat Show that begins next Friday, January 15. This husband-wife team will describe what’s new and exciting this year, and give their predictions for attendance numbers, as well as their read on the current state of the boating industry.

This week, the Pelican Yacht Club Billfish Invitational Tournament wraps up sailfish tournament season and the Treasure Coast Sailfish Championship. Expect an update on standings.

The arts and craft show season starts in earnest this month. Guest Carla Siles will tell us what's happening and where.

Last, but not least, Rachel Lamarra and Mark Amaral of the Association of Marina Industries will be calling in to talk about the International Marina and Boatyard Conference being held in Tampa, January 27th through the 29th, 2010.

As you have come to expect, History Lady will have her “This Week in Martin County History” and "What’s Happening in Martin County," and maybe even a few surprises.

Tune in tomorrow (Friday, January 8) at 10 a.m., either on your radio dial--WPSL 1590 AM--or on your computer--www.wpsl.com. And as always, if you miss the live show, the audio will be posted here on the blog in a day or two.