Wishing you an Iggy Christmas

Instead of a partridge in a pear tree, we prefer
an iguana in a Christmas tree!

Since this Friday’s show falls on Christmas Eve, hosts Radio Man and History Lady have given guests a day off. With Radio Man traveling all over the islands and Treasure Coast the last couple of months and Robin’s hectic professional commitments over the same timeframe, there will be lots for us catch up on. This week’s show will be brought to you from high above the Treasure Coast at the Courtyard Marriott-Hutchinson Island. Our host, the property's general manager and a Talkin’ Tourism special guest co-host Ed Griffith has promised Gary Guertin and Robin-Hicks Connors a “studio with a view." Thanks Ed!

Some of this week’s topics will include conversation about the “crunch” of the Christmas/New Year’s Week, the age-old question of when does tourist season actually begin, and what's on Talkin’ Tourism’s Holiday Wish List for the various Treasure Coast Tourism promotion organizations (Martin County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Treasure Coast Sports Commission, and St. Lucie County Tourism Development Council and more) in a perfect world? Gary and Robin will also let you know who's been naughty and who's been nice. (Who'll make the lists?)

For our new fans and listeners who may be getting more familiar with the Treasure Coast/ Islands of the Bahamas connection, Gary and Robin will talk about the history of Boxing Day, which is celebrated throughout the British Commonwealth.

Folks, these are just the highlights. Our regular show features, including upcoming events and arts and cultural happenings, will all be a part of the special Christmas Eve Day show.

And don’t forget  to listen in for our weekly Stuart Boat Show ticket give-away! Could be a great stocking stuffer for you or your favorite elf.

So if your shopping is done (or not), presents wrapped (or not), cookies cooked (or not) and the rum punch in chilling (or needs refilling), kick-start your Christmas Holiday by tuning into Talkin’ Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast (and Beyond).

And in case you haven't seen it yet, we've posted our video Holiday Card below. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Shopping, Santa, Special Deals and the 'Season's' Best Special Events

Talkin' Tourism host Gary Guertin with special guest host
Lisa Gilrane, from Ocean Properties, Ltd., and
Roberta Murray, local leasing manager for
Treasure Coast Square

There is a first time for everything and this week was no exception.  Last Friday’s edition of Talkin’ Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast (and Beyond!) was indeed broadcast from a regional shopping mall, the Treasure Coast Square in Jensen Beach, Florida.  Typically a free-flowing and unscripted affair, this week’s show was even more so.

Agreeing to serve as a special guest host for her first time, Lisa Gilrane of Ocean Properties, Ltd. did an outstanding job. Loving to talk and loving the tourism industry made Lisa the perfect special guest co-host.  She was very excited to have the opportunity to talk about Ocean Properties, hotels on the Treasure Coast and specifically the Port St. Lucie Holiday Inn and the Courtyard Marriott-Hutchinson Island.  

The main event was guest Roberta Murray, the local leasing manager for  Treasure Coast Square.  Yes folks, Treasure Coast visitors and valued seasonal residents certainly do positively impact our local economy when it comes to the retail industry and Roberta shared exactly how important it is to our retail economy.  In addition to providing information about trends in the retail tourism industry, Roberta listed a host of special holiday deals mall merchants are offering. If you missed last week's show, listen to it now so that you too can take advantage of these pre-Christmas offers. 

What else was covered?  Bahamas updates, New Year’s Eve boat parades (on Bimini) and pool parties, guided beach walks, boat shows, Cape Eleuthera wahoo tournaments, and more.  You will only get the full scoop by downloading the show. Don't forget to grab some cookies and eggnog when you listen to the show, and close your eyes. Santa will be sitting right next to you, as he was with us at the mall. Enjoy! See you next Friday.

Twas Two Fridays Before Christmas....

It would not be the holiday’s without a trip to the closest mall, right? So, this is exactly what Talkin’ Tourism is going to do this Friday. The Treasure Coast Square is the perfect setting for "two shows before Christmas" and our 100th show! The studio will be no more than 20-feet from the bearded guy who wears a red suit trimmed in white fur!

So what will we be talking about besides eggnog, the best cookie recipes, and what's the latest rage on Christmas lists? How about one of the things that rate high on tourists lists? If you guessed shopping, you're absolutely right! We all know that valued-seasonal-residents and visitors contribute to our local economy in many ways. The retail segment of the hospitality industry is as important as any other. Speaking to this issue will be Roberta Murray, the local leasing representative for the Treasure Coast Square Mall. Roberta has a long history with the Treasure Coast retail industry and will be a wealth of knowledge as to how the retail industry is impacted by tourism. She is also on the board of the Martin County Convention and Visitors Bureau, so she's "in the know" when it comes to tourism.

Roberta  has lined up few mall retailers to chime in, as well as Mrs. Field’s Cookies, (did someone say "milk and cookies?"), Treasure Coast Fishing Center , and Echo Gifts. I guess we will see who has been naughty and who has been nice. With Santa just feet away, perhaps we can slip him our Treasure Coast Christmas Wish List for the tourism industry!

Also with us tomorrow will be Lisa Gilrane, the area sales manager for Ocean Properties, LLC. Her company operates lodging facilities and affiliates in the northeast, southeast and southwest of the U.S., as well as Canada and the Caribbean. Treasure Coast properties include the Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa;  Courtyard Marriott Hutchinson Island; Holiday Inn, Port St. Lucie; Holiday Inn, Vero Beach; Hampton Inn, Vero Beach; and the Courtyard Inn and Suites, Vero Beach. Lisa should have some great information about the current trends in the industry and what’s in store for the Treasure Coast this visitor season.

So join us TOMORROW morning at 10:05 a.m. on WPSL 1590 AM or http://www.wpsltv.com/ for another great edition of Talkin’ Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast (and Beyond!). By the way, don't forget there could be some celebration in the air since this the 100th edition of the show!

Treasure Coast Traditions--Holiday and More!

All that was missing at the Elliott Museum studio Friday morning was the rum-laced eggnog. Poinsettias, Christmas ornaments, Christmas carols and a 12-foot Christmas tree reminded us (especially those of us who still haven't started our shopping) that Christmas is only 15-days away! 

After a one-month hiatus, History Lady and Radio Man had lots of catching up to do. The show kicked-off with Historical Society of Martin County communications director Amy Christensen launching into the details of the Society’s classic car show, which is held in the spring and now moving to the airport because it has grown so large! If you have a classic automobile that you would like to show off, there is still time to register. Last week's show's audio (download here) will give you all the details you need.

Here on the Treasure Coast, boats and everything related to boating, is a BIG deal. That said, Rick Allen, president of AllSports Productions and producer of the 37th annual Stuart Boat Show, gave listeners the rundown on this annual Stuart tradition. Some of the topics covered included whether a boat show a good place to purchase a boat and how to figure out what type of boating lifestyle appeals to you and your family? Rick had the answers and this year’s show will have something for everyone, including the kids. Have you ever thought about joining the cruiser boating lifestyle? If so, you'll want to check out what Rick had to say about Cruiser Expo, which is part of the Stuart Boat Show. This annual event will draw vendors and attendee’s from near and far. For the latest announcements on the show, become a friend of the Stuart Boat Show's Facebook page. And, while you're at it, if you aren't already one of our Facebook fans, don't forget to become a fan of the Talkin' Tourism Facebook page!

Rounding out the show, we took a look at some of the programs and activities available at the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center on Hutchinson Island and we covered what's happening in the Islands of the Bahamas. What are you doing for New Year’s Eve? Want to party at the End of the World? Talkin’ Tourism has the scoop on a great Bimini Big Game Club event that you don't want to miss! Learn more when you listen to the show, or if you can't wait, follow this link.

Always fun and always entertaining, Talkin’ Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast (and Beyond!) is the show to listen in on to keep you up to date on things to do, places to go and people to meet!

See you on Friday! Stay warm. If you need help, try the eggnog recipe posted above!

And here's a gift for all you procrastinators. How many shopping days do you have left? The snowman knows! Good luck!


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