Up this Week---Mix of Aquatics, Baseball, Short-term Accommodations, Offshore Drilling and Seafood

Fresh from a remote broadcast from Bimini in the Bahamas, this week Talkin' Tourism hosts Gary Guertin and Robin Hicks-Connors settle back in the Captain's Lounge at Harborage Yacht Club and Marina. What’s in store for listeners? A potpourri of baseball, aquatics, Super Bowl accommodations, offshore drilling, and seafood.

With the traditional baseball spring training season set to gear up on March 2, it’s time to welcome back Tom Colucci, executive director of the Treasure Coast Sports Commission. Tom will share his perspectives on the impact of sports upon Treasure Coast tourism. Talkin' Tourism hosts plan to ask him what’s happening with DogerTown and his thoughts on how the recently approved Martin County Aquatics Center might impact local tourism. If anyone knows, it’s Tom.

If you've have ever thought about turning your home or condo into a short-term accommodation, then the next segment of tomorrow's show is just for you. Rumor has it that many folks in South Florida are considering turning their homes into short-term accommodations to meet expected lodging demands for the influx of visitors coming to the 2010 Super Bowl Game, which will be hosted in Miami on February 7. What are the opportunities and what are the pitfalls to avoid? Christine Karpinski, director of HomeAway’s Owner Community, a leading international expert, will be calling in from her corporate offices in Texas to offer advice for those who might be considering turning their home into a short-term 'bed and breakfast.'

The Treasure Coast would not be the Treasure Coast without great festivals and events. Randy Roberts, the sponsorship/parking chair of the Port Salerno Seafood Festival and Butch Olsen, Jr, president of the Port Salerno Commercial Fishing Dock Authority, will be in the studio to give listeners all the info they need to max out their enjoyment of this year’s expanded fest.

With the “drill or not to drill” issue coming before State legislators this spring, Surfrider Foundation Treasure Coast Chapter board member Carter Hall will share the Surfrider Foundation’s position on the issue. What does this have to do with tourism? Well many people think that drilling (and if there is an accident/spill) will place Florida’s number one industry in jeopardy. Is there a compromise? We'll explore that and other issues tomorrow.

Listen LIVE at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, January 28 on WPSL 1590 AM or online at http://www.wpsl.com/.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Fan submittal on the Port Salerno Seafood Festival Facebook Fan Page.

LIVE from Bimini!

Talkin Tourism’s fourth international LIVE remote, this time from the island of Bimini, was a fabulous success. Host property Bimini Bay Resort and Marina, Sales Manager Danielle Dunfee and crew, rolled out the red carpet for Radio Man and History Lady.

The show's broadcast location turned out to be on the veranda of a beautiful beachfront private residence overlooking the Straits of Florida, unbelievably beautiful! Hostess Danielle led off the show providing listeners with the overview of this magnificent 700+ acre resort/marina property that is first-class in every way, from the megayacht marina to the resort guest accommodations to the private island homes to plans for future development. You will be in awe of what is still yet to come. And all so close to the Treasure Coast!

Bimini is famous (and infamous) for many things. Of course we know that it was a favorite haunt of Ernest Hemingway, a legendary mecca for sportfishing enthusiasts, a key player in the rum-running trade, the possible location of the Fountain of Youth, and of course The Bimini Road aka The Road to Atlantis. Guest Bill Keefe owner/operator of Nowdla and Bill Keefe’s Bimini Undersea fascinates listeners with the origin of this legend surrounding a unique underwater rock formation that has been the subject of much research, study and controversy.

Kiala, Nowdla and Bill’s youngest daughter, shared what it’s like to be home schooled and living a life of adventure with her mom and dad on the island of Bimini.

As always when on location, Talkin' Tourism loves to talk to locals to get the real flavor of a destination. In this show, meet Biminite Anva Roberts, the events coordinator at Bimini Bay Resort and Marina, for a look at what she experienced growing up on Bimini and why she returned to her home island.

Despite the fact that this was hosts Gary and Robin’s first visit to Bimini, Treasure Coast “connections” were everywhere! It was amazing! FLAHAMA is certainly “spreading its wings” and the FLAHAMA Pelimingo made appearances in many locations. Enjoy the photos and video of the trip!

Special thanks to local historian and artist/poet Ashley Saunders for the tour of the Dolphin House and key historical locations on the island. Also, thanks to the kind hospitality of the Capo family, developers of Bimini Bay Resort and Marina, pilot Fernado for the airlift to the island and Mathew Stuart at Fabian's Stuart Conch Shack for the best conch salad on Bimini.

Biminites, we look forward to welcoming you to the Treasure Coast soon!

Listen to the show on your computer or download it for your listening on your MP3 player HERE.

53rd Show----Bimini Bay Resort & Marina

Bimini Bay Resort & Marina will host Talkin' Tourism's 53rd show this Friday, January 22 at 10 a.m. Tune in and learn more---on the radio, WPSL 1590 AM---on the computer, http://www.wpsl.com/.

Bimini Bay Resort & Marina

Boats, Cars, and Bimini, here we come!

This week, Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast did what it loves to do best as hosts Gary Guertin and Robin Hicks-Connors broadcasted the show live from the 36th Annual Stuart Boat Show and 2nd Annual Cruiser Expo.

This week’s featured guest, Tony Parkinson provided all the details of a fabulous event coming January 30—100 Years of Cars, one of the top car shows in the country featuring many one of a kind automobiles from rarely seen private collections. Car contributors and enthusiasts will be flocking to The Pine School in Hobe Sound from all over the country for this one.

Michelle Miller, director of Operations for the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast (MIATC), the owners of the Stuart Boat Show, provided an overview of the association's mission. Marine related industries are a major part of the Treasure Coast economy and the Stuart Boat Show certainly brings this point across. So, what do the show’s vendors have to say about the economy and their expectations? Jim Knoska, of Yacht Watchman International took a turn in the guest seat and gave listeners a personal and honest perspective of the “state of the industry” and what is ahead for the boating industry.

The last guest was Danielle Dunfee, from Bimini Bay Resort. She gave Robin, Gary and listeners a preview of what's in store for the show's live remote from Binimi on Friday, January 22. Looks like the show's hosts are going to need to pack full wet suits and be ready for anything!

Once again it was an information packed show including a wrap of the Pelican Yacht Club Billfish Invitational and the Treasure Coast Sailfish Championship, opinions on the restoration of Bath Tub Beach and lots more. Thanks for listening. If you missed this week's show, download it here.

Hope you can join us this approaching Friday (January 22) at 10 a.m. for the show's live remote from Bimini Bay Resort in the Bahamas.