Inlet in Peril and Home Sweet Home

John Smith listens in while Butch Bayle talks about his beautiful
marina, Sailfish Marina, and the services they offer.

It is always great getting a fresh start. Last Friday was our first show from our new home studio, Sailfish Marina in Stuart, Florida. To kick off the first show from our new location, Sailfish Marina owner and operator Butch Bayley welcomed the Talkin’ Tourism team and gave our listeners an overview of their beautiful marina, along with all of the services they provide to the boating community.

The key topic for this week, and one that we will revisit as developments occur, is the perilous condition of the St. Lucie Inlet and the efforts to determine a solution both short and long term for this important economic resource of our community. Launching the discussion this week was John Smith, president of the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast and owner of River Forest Yachting Center. While certainly there are many differing opinions on the matter, John, Radio Man and History Lady were all in agreement that decisions need to be based on sound and factual information. Many comments made by observers may not in fact be accurate. This can lead to lots of needless emotion and concern on the issue. Despite some interesting thoughts on the best solution provided by some, there are many factors to be considered in the current inlet equation. We hope that you will follow us on this issue over the coming weeks as we seek to ensure that all of the facts are clear and the best decision is made for the long term solution. We would love to hear your thoughts. If you're inclined to share, please email them to us at talkintourism@gmail.com.

Who would have thought disasters could translate to boosts in tourism a particular attractions? If you missed the show, check it out HERE to learn which types of museums and locations around the U.S. have had a boost in attendance due to the recent disaster in Japan.

We hit the Top 15 Places Your Kids Should Visit before they Turn 15, and Robin had some interesting insight to our list based on experiences with her daughter Ashley. It wasn’t what Radio Man expected, that’s for sure!

Lastly, our second book review was interesting and a segment we look forward to building as time goes on. The 100th anniversary edition of John Muir’s My First Summer in the Sierra with accompanying photos by Scott Miller made a big impression on Gary. Again, if you listened to the show, you know how big of an impression. If you missed the show, you can catch Gary's review HERE.

Thanks for checking out the blog! We'll be broadcasting live from Melbourne Beach on Friday's show. Tune in for all the fun and infotainment!

Marine Tourism is BIG Business Around the World

Just 103 weeks ago, Gary and Misti Guertin, along with Robin Hicks-Connors, launched into the world of regional tourism promotion via local radio, internet and social media. Talkin’ Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast was born. This Friday’s 104th show will mark the second anniversary of the show! How time flies when you are having fun (and rum)! Over the past two years, based upon the acceptance of the show in the Bahamas and British Virgin Islands, we had to change its name. It's now affectionately known as Talkin’ Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast (and Beyond)! 

It is fitting that our two-year anniversary will be marked by a live remote this week from the 37th annual Stuart Boat Show—and, it also marks the second show we've done from the Stuart Boat Show.

On the Treasure Coast (and beyond), marine tourism is a huge segment of tourism economy. As a matter of fact, in Martin County, there are nearly as many, if not more, wet slips and dry boat storage spaces than hotel rooms! 

This week’s show includes a line-up of guests who contribute in a big way to the Treasure Coast's and other  marine tourism economies. Here's the line-up:

• Rick Allen, president of AllSports Productions and the Stuart Boat Show's producer
• Jon Burkard, vice-president of brokerage sales for Allied Marine, a Ferretti Group Company
• Richard Treco, manager of special markets for the Bahamas Tourist Office
• Chris Pollock, director of operations for Bimini Big Game Club/Guy Harvey Outpost Resort
• Rozeta Mahboubi, executive director of the Martin County Convention and Visitors Bureau
• John Smith, the general manager of River Forest Yachting Center and the president of the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast (MIATC).

A few other surprise guests and fans will most likely be thrown into the boat, too!

One thing is certain, we promise a fun, lively and  informative show, so tune in this Friday (January 14) to WPSL 1590 AM or www.wpsltv.com at 10:05 a.m. This is a ship (oops, we mean show), you won't want to miss!

(P.S. If you're on Facebook, get more show details on the Stuart Boat Show's Facebook Page.)

Treasure Coast Tourism Forecast from the 'Experts'

What happens when you get two Realtors and a marina/boatyard general manager in one place and give them a chance to talk? A great show of course! Thanks to Todd Doss (REMAX of Stuart), Jeannie Baron (Beach Front Mann Realty) and John Smith (River Forest Yachting Centers), this week’s show shed great light on the importance of valued seasonal residents.

Points covered during the hour broadcast include new trends in today's fragile economy, the ways valued seasonal landlubbers and boaters contribute to regional economies, which county in South Florida had the highest average hotel rom rate and which one had the highest occupancy, and how this August's tourism figures compared to last year's.

If your business depends on the southern migration of this important group of people, you will know that you are not alone! Tune in and you’ll hear the group's forecast for this winter season.

Besides the main topic of the day, show hosts Gary Guertin and Robin Hicks-Connors dove into other fun topics and community events lining up along the Treasure Coast. For avid offshore anglers, the duo talked about the Bahamas Wahoo Challenge. The first leg is right around the corner and it's on one of Gary and Robin's favorite Bahamian islands.

As always, the hour flew by! See you next Friday, same time (10:05 a.m), same station (WPSL 1590 AM or http://www.wpsl.com/). And, please pass along to your favorite valued seasonal resident, family and friends the link to Talkin' Tourism on Florida's Treasure Coast (and Beyond!).

In case you missed the show, here's the (9/24/2010) audio file for your listening pleasure!

It's a Pre-Season Kick-Off!

Soon, the Treasure Coast will witness a migration as consistent as that of the annual return of the sailfish to Treasure Coast waters each year. That’s right, the trickle of valued seasonal residents will soon begin and before you know it, the trickle will turn to a steady stream of those returning to their second homes and condominiums or filling hotels and vacation villas.

Often overlooked, but as important is the return of valued seasonal boaters. As a major maritime region, the Treasure Coast plays host to thousands of seasonal boaters each winter. So if a condo is where people sleep, would not a slip be where a boat sleeps?

While seasonal residents, landlubbers or yachties, are not truly considered “tourist” in the classical sense, they do contribute to our region's hospitality stakeholders in a big way. So, just how big an economic impact does this group make? We'll discuss that, as well as other contributions they bring to the Treasure Coast.

This week's guest include Todd Doss, Jeannie Baron and John Smith.

Todd  is a Realtor with ReMax of Stuart, and a three generation Floridian. He specializes in rental properties in the Stuart area. Jeannie is a Realtor with Beach Front Mann Realty has been involved in her industry on Hutchinson Island for over 20 years. And, John is the current president of the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast and the general manager of River Forest Yachting Centers of Stuart and LaBelle, Florida. He'll share his insights on marketing the Treasure Coast as a major seasonal boating mecca for valued seasonal boaters.

In case you were thinking the word “snowbird," think again. This week, we'll let you know exactly what a snowbird is or is not.

Tune your radio dial to WPSL 1590 AM this Friday at 10:05 a.m. or your computer browser to www.wpsl.com for the live stream and enjoy the show. One thing for certain, the crew and guests on Talkin' Tourism on the Florida's Treasure Coast (and Beyond!) will certainly have a blast!