Spring Training, Sports Tourism, and Tourism Marketing

It's always enlightening to have Treasure Coast Sports Commission executive director Tom Colucci on the show. Tom has been committed to the promotion of sports tourism on the Treasure Coast for over a decade and he says he has seen lots of progress.

One element of progress Tom covered in this week's show was the return of the Florida Police and Fire Games. It's a great compliment to the Treasure Coast that a group as large as this one, has chosen to com back for another two years:  2011 and 2012.

So what's happening with the Vero Beach Sports Village? Tom filled us in on how the former home of the Los Angeles Dodgers is coming back alive with new initiatives and activities. He also shares his thoughts on Governor Scott's pledge to promoite not just sports tourism, but general tourism, to get Florida back on it's feet.

Another Treasure Coast tourism veteran shared the microphone with Tom, Rozeta Mahboubi, the executive director of the Martin County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Rozeta (aka Z) has strong feelings about trade shows and the value of this long-stay travel promotional platform as a destination marketing strategy. In addition to sharing the roster of recent shows she has attended, Rozeta explained the differences between, consumer shows, media shows and travel agent shows, and why they are all important.

Rozeta subscribes to a philosophy she coins as ROR. It's on the same wave-length as ROI (return on investment) but with a Z-factor. ROR? If you missed the show and Rozeta's ROR scoop, you're going to want to download last week's Talkin' Tourism show to hear it directly from Rozetta herself. It's definitely worth hearing.

Swashbuckler news, boating news, tournament news and what Treasure Coast marina was recently designated as a second departure point for this coming summer’s Bahamas Boating Fling Programme were all in the mix as well, so if you're here to download the show, enjoy and have a great week!

Talkin' Tourism on Grand Bahama

What does a smooth, perfect crossing of the Gulf Stream, a classic “Gilligan’s Island” cast of characters, two radio show personalities passionate about tourism, ultimate hospitality and kindness, connecting with old friends and making new friends, and meeting “Junkanoo Man” all add up to.......another fantastic Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast remote episode!

Taking to the high seas once again, we visited the beautiful island of Grand Bahama and were greeting with true Bahamian hospitality. The Pelican Bay Hotel at Lucaya was outstanding. Are you ready for this? How about a 'special door' on the guest room door that is used to deliver complimentary pastries and sweet breads each morning! How about a bellman, who last year was the winner of the Cacique Award, the highest Hospitality Industry Award given in the Islands of the Bahamas for outstanding customer service, personally insuring that the room used for the broadcast was set up perfectly along with sweet breads, Johny Cake (thank you Marva), juice and water for the show hosts and guests!

Are you ready for this? Host Gary Guertin walks into the Pelican Bay Hotel lobby and is tapped on the shoulder for a “hello, don’t I know you” by Jesse Anderson of Port Salerno! The entire Treasure Coast Anderson family was in town for a wedding. Unbelievable!

Are you ready to meet Keith Cooper, sales and marketing director for UNEXSO (Under Sea Explorer’s Society)? Guess what? He was educated in South Florida and his “mommy” is one of the owner/operators of My Three Sisters Pot, a special events food vendor that has provided fabulous Bahamian food to events and festivals throughout the Treasure Coast and the Palm Beaches! And, if you ever need a Colin Powell look-a-like, Keith's your man!

Special thanks go out to Marva Monroe, sales and marketing director of the Pelican Bay Hotel at Lucaya for her assistance and support of this weeks show from Grand Bahama. Without her help we would have not been able to achieve a tenth of our success. Thank you Marva. Oh, by the way, Marva has family that lives in the Port St. Lucie area. The Treasure Coast and the Bahamas are truly “connected” in more ways than we know.

Want to do some serious bonefishing? Listen to the show and you will find out where to go for double-digit catches where the daily charter rate includes an “open bar." Thanks Stanley!

Last and most importantly, special thanks to Betty Bethel, Ministry of Tourism General Manager of Business Development for Grand Bahama for her appearance on the show. She shares her inside knowledge as to where St. Lucie County is with regard to the quest for a mutually beneficial relationship with the island of Grand Bahama.

You can listen or download the show HERE. Be sure to view some of the fun-filled photos of host Gary Guertin (island name: Radio Man) and co-host Robin Hicks-Connors (island name: History Lady) enroute to the Bahamas, during the live broadcast, and during other on-island adventures.

The next Bahamas Boating Fling departing from Harborage Yacht Club & Marina is scheduled July 15-26. This trip is an extended trip encompassing the Abacos and Grand Bahama. For more details, visit www.bahamas.com/boating or http://www.flahama.com/.

Will Radio Man and History Lady be on that trip? Tune in to the show this coming Friday to find out!

Forgive the audio and low quality video (captured on a small point & click digital camera), but meet one of the many colorful and fun characters we encountered on Grand Bahama: