My Perdido

IMPACT OF THE GULF OIL SPILL ON TOURISM

Perdido Chamber Initiatives Having Positive Impact on the Impact

This is a reprint of the Executive Summary of the report to the U.S. Travel Asssociation that was provided by Oxford Economics, a consulting firm from the U.K.  Of particular note for Perdido Key is the last graphic that shows the economic impact durations, in months, to return to "normalcy".  This report was prepared back in July 2010 but the Chamber's public relations campaigns, the gift card promotion this fall and the special events calendar have all combined to mitigate the damage.  In November 2010 the picture is bright for Perdido Key as snow birds return, a robust condo market flourishes and preparations are made for a strong tourist economy in 2011.  See the report for what might be expected without these extraordinary efforts.

Travel and tourism is critical to the economies of Gulf Coast states, responsible for $34 billion in direct traveler-generated spending along coastal communities’ Congressional districts in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

An independent analysis conducted by Oxford Economics measured the current and potential damage to the travel and tourism industry in the Gulf Coast region over a likely prolonged period of impact resulting from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

In its study, the global research firm monitored a range of indicators detailing how the disaster is already affecting traveler behavior and assessed the potential longer term impacts by examining 25 previous historic crises in the U.S. and abroad.

“Business as Usual” Not Expected for Two to Three Years

• The potential impact of the oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico could adversely affect tourism arrivals in coastal communities for up to three years (36 months) at a cost of $22.7 billion in lost revenues. At minimum, Oxford estimates Gulf region travel would be impacted for 15 months at a cost of $7.6 billion in unrealized revenues, though it is expected that this event will trend to the higher end of impact estimates.
• The high profile of the spill has led to incredibly widespread economic impacts. Although the losses have been concentrated where oil has come ashore, visitors have shifted away from the entire region in significant numbers, creating a striking effect on travel to the Gulf region.
• Current indicators show double-digit declines in plans to travel to the region. A series of surveys, along with greatly reduced searches on the travel website TripAdvisor®, reveals that the oil spill has already affected perceptions and intentions to travel to affected areas.
• Expected losses fall heavily on Florida due to the larger area at risk on both the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts; however, coastal areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are more directly exposed to the disaster and the proportional effects are projected to be larger. The impacts on Texas are minimal.

 The Cost of Returning to “Normal” Travel

• The industry calls for a $500 million emergency marketing fund to counter misperceptions and encourage travel to the affected region. Oxford estimates this would generate $7.5 billion in tourism spending based on a return-on-investment of 15:1 (which is conservative in light of a documented ROI of 20:1 for post-SARS campaigns in 2004).

 Perceptions Matter More Than Reality

• Available research affirms that travel intentions are down significantly for the Gulf, misperceptions abound regarding which areas are affected and that travelers believe the impacts of the oil spill disaster will be felt for a long time.
• A review of disasters affecting tourism destinations reveals that the impact endures beyond the resolution of the crisis itself, due to brand damage and ongoing traveler misperceptions.

Case Studies: Examining 25 Past Disasters Worldwide

There is a clear, but not linear, relationship between the length of the disruption and the overall scale of impact on tourism. In its review of a variety of previous events worldwide – including oil spills, hurricanes, pandemics and terrorism attacks – the combined average length for a return to baseline visitor spending following crises ranged from nine to 26 months. The range of initial impacts does differ somewhat across previous crises, and perceptions also affect the peak impact likely to be felt in 2010 in this case. 

Frank Brown Music Festival-Perdido Key Magic

26th Year of Songwriters Extraordinaire

The 26th Annual Frank Brown International Songwriters’
Festival will be held November 11- 21, 2010. The festival is an opportunity for songwriters and musicians from all over the world to have their songs heard. During this exciting 11 day festival, these special performers play at up to 25 venues, including Pensacola and Perdido Key, Florida, Orange Beach
and Gulf Shores, Alabama, with concerts featuring Grammy Award winning songwriters and the up and coming stars of tomorrow.  (Most concerts are free to attend, although some venues may have a cover charge). The festival has been awarded one of the Top Twenty Events by the Southeast Tourism Society. We have also been recognized by Billboard and American Songwriters Magazine. The Frank Brown Songwriters’ Festival has been referred to as the largest gathering of SONGWRITERS’ at one time anywhere in the world.
Join us and make some memories!  See all of the details on the web site here.

Here is news on an early chance to see and hear some of the finest music entertainers/writers:

There will be a progressive night of great music by local songwriters to kick off the 26th annual Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival!  

Wed. Nov. 10th -- 6:30 pm Tipseas Steam Shack, Orange Beach --- The Honky Tonk Angels - Rhonda Hart, Donna Slater, Elaine Petty, Lisa Zanghi & Sandra Laird

7:30pm  North Shore Grill in San Roc Cay, Orange Beach -- Rick Whaley & Lea Anne Creswell

8:30pm  Silver Moon -- Hosted by Cathy Pace - Music includes Johnny Barbato & friends

 

Perdido Key Photo Contest

Submit your photo here info@ideaworksusa.com and good luck!!!

"Come Play....We'll Pay" Extended

Perdido Key has been so successful in its gift card give-away that we keep extended the program to bring more folks to our little slice of paradise.  Here is the latest release of information so you may get in on one of the best deals around.

The American Express gift card program has been reopened for a short time with a limited number of gift cards. Please register immediately to come enjoy a wonderful vacation here on our beautiful coast. Stay and play in the Perdido Key Area and we'll help pay the way! Register at  www.visitperdido.com, then book and stay at an area vacation property and get up to $300 in American Express gift cards. Hurry! This special offer is valid for travel between October 22 and November 15, 2010.     Two nights $200 Three nights $300 gift card maximum value ($100 per night)

Six Easy Steps Register for the program through  www.visitperdido.com before making your accommodations reservation. Earn up to $300 in American Express gift cards, $100 for each night of your stay, up to three nights. Submit your registration and print out the "You Play, We Pay" confirmation page. The confirmation page must be presented to redeem gift card offer. Upon check-in, pay your lodging bill and request a printed receipt. Present your lodging receipt and "You Play, We Pay" confirmation page to our visitor information center to claim your gift cards anytime between 10-4:30 7 Days a Week! Restrictions apply. Please see rules for full details.

A Visitor Shares "Peace in Perdido"

Peace in Perdido Slideshow: Jamie and shauna’s trip from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States to Perdido Key, Florida was created by TripAdvisor. See another Perdido Key slideshow. Take your travel photos and make a slideshow for free.

Perdido Gets Marketing Dollars

  Tourist Development Council Approves Distribution

In a classic glass half empty or glass half full analogy the Perdido Key Area Chamber of Commerce emerged from the TDC meeting a few days ago satisfied that our Chamber of Commerce will be able to market the Perdido Key area to tourists with funds from a BP windfall.  Although Pensacola Beach was awarded a larger portion to facilitate a free concert , said to be the Beach Boys but still in doubt, the Perdido Chamber was given $100K to promote events like the Octoberfest (new this year), the Frank Brown Music Festival (long established), the Beach Volleyball Tournament, soccer tournament, fall version of the Perdido Key Wine/Art Fest, etc. These events and others still to be announced are part of the Perdido Area Chamber efforts to draw visitors from near and far during and beyond our typical tourist season.  Golf tounaments, Mardi Gras, the Martini Festival, etc are just a few more of the year long line up coordinated by the Chamber.  At the TDC meeting the Perdido Chamber also received funding for 23% of the vouchers' funding for visitors renting condos on Perdido, all part of a BP grant to Escambia County.  The plans for the voucher system to put money back into our economy by gift cards presented to condo rental customers is still a work in progress.  Details should be available next week through the VisitPerdido web site

Our glass is more than half full. A bright picture is emerging as the Chamber helps bring Perdido Key and the surrounding community out of the devastating effects to the local economy caused by the oil spill.

A Great Idea For Perdido Key Shot Down

Again Perdido Key is denied the support it needs to sustain economic viablilty.  In good times and bad Perdido Key finds itself without political clout because we have few voters as the majority of our property owners are out of state. Despite tax dollars that flow to county and state coffers we remain at the mercy of politicians who don't have to answer to the few voters on the far western end of FL.  Here is a perfect case in point.

The Governor's Office on Monday settled a squabble over how to divvy up another $700,000 from BP to promote tourism in Escambia County.
Perdido Key's Chamber of Commerce wanted to use $239,000 of BP's money to attract visitors by offering free condominiums rooms on the key.
But Gov. Charlie Crist's office shot down the chamber's request because the original agreement among BP, the State of Florida and Escambia County stipulated that two $700,000 installments must be spent solely on regional and national ads to promote the local tourism industry. The money must be spent by Aug. 18.
County commissioners last week tabled a vote on final approval of the proposed media campaign for the $700,000. Interim County Administrator Larry Newsom sought an opinion from the Governor's Office on whether the county could deviate from the original agreement.
Escambia County commissioners are scheduled to hold a special meeting at 8:30 this morning to vote on final approval of the campaign, dubbed "Our Coast is Clear."
The campaign was put together hurriedly late last month by the staff of the Convention and Visitors Bureau and E.W. Bullock Associates, a Pensacola advertising firm that handles advertising and marketing for the bureau.
Central to that campaign are five print ads in The New York Times' Travel Section, costing $220,000, and media buys with The Weather Channel and Travel Channel, according to the Coast is Clear ad campaign.
The goal of Perdido Key's proposed ad campaign, "Keys to the Key," would have been to attract national media attention by giving away about 100 to 200 condominium rooms during the first week in August.
Allison Davenport, vice chair of the Perdido Key Chamber, said conventional marketing is getting drowned out by the constant news reports on the oil spill.
"Ads are great, but the media is running stories on the oil spill 24/7, and how do you fight that?" she said. "What would fight that is an outside-the-box idea that would attract national media attention."
Caron Sjoberg of the Pensacola ad agency Ideaworks was one of the architects of the Perdido Key plan.
"We're trying to shake things up and get people here," he said. "Buying an ad in the News York Times won't do that."

4th of July Pictures of Perdido Key

Who's Counting Anyway

Headlines screamed that the Fourth fizzled but you can't prove it by me or my neighbors. I don't know who was counting but the crowds out on Perdido Key were evidence that the beach is still a great draw and folks must know the hype in the media is not to be believed.  I live at Palacio condos on the beach and our parking lot (and our spill over lot) looked like every other 4th of July I have seen since I have lived here.  The local paper said Pensacola Beach was off dramatically but the bridge tolls showed only a 5% drop off compared to last year.  Anecdotally a check of the locals on Perdido and Orange Beach says we had a very good weekend, maybe not the best ever, but look at this picture taken on the beach area in front of Palacio and Indigo.  Not many of us in the trenches believe the press, local or national, has much credibility based on what we see reported and the images that are included when we compare it to what we see out our windows.  I know for a fact that ResortQuest rentals on Perdido were at 68% occupancy and the media said business was off on Pensacola Beach by at least half in some reports, I even saw a quote speculating as much as an 80% decline.  I just don't buy it.

The other great news over the busy weekend was how clean the water and beach areas were.  Favorable winds and tides helped maintain the cleanliness we got by way of the hard work of the BP contract workers. They got detailed direction and made a specific effort in front of high traffic areas.  These workers have taken a hit from residents who saw the results of OSHA regulations that give them extended breaks out of the sun, meal breaks, etc.  The sheer numbers make it look like they are more typical of the old road gang jokes, 3 watchers to one worker but we see the results, clean sand. Their four wheelers have come under fire as well for the tracks and beach erosion.  For my money (actually BP's money) they are doing a stellar job with very little appreciation.  Hey, I know they are making $12-$18 an hour but they are worth it when you see how the Perdido Key tourists enjoyed the beaches without fear of tarballs.  Even the little bit of trash we see on a busy weekend was totally non-existent because of their efforts.

All in all a good weekend for those that came to see us.  We appreciate the business. Spread the word!!

Gambling on Perdido Key??

Slot Machines Proposed in Class 2 Permits for Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach

Gaming has been raised again in this editorial obviously growing out of concerns for the economy recovering from the oil spill disaster.  I invite your comments.

Maybe the "lottery slot machines'' once proposed for Perdido Key weren't such a bad idea after all.

A few months back, news spread of a Texas businessman who wanted to open a bingo slots parlor and hotel on Perdido Key, somewhat modeled on the Wind Creek Casino in Atmore , Ala. The problem: Unless the hotel was owned and operated by an Indian tribe recognized by the federal government, it was against Florida law. Perhaps that law needs to be changed. Consider:

During the next legislative session, lawmakers will face draconian budget cuts, with the loss of billions of federal stimulus money that floated this year's budget. And while many people shout "cut the budget!'', nearly all of the state budget consists of just a few items: law enforcement (including courts and prisons), education and Medicaid. Very tough items to cut, especially since many come with matching federal dollars or are required by law.

State revenues likely will continue to fall as tourism sputters along with a sputtering economic recovery. Meanwhile, the housing market, despite some growth within the foreclosure markets of Southwest Florida, continues struggling as people aren't moving to Florida in the numbers they once did.

That problem will be magnified in the Panhandle because of the oil spill and its impact on our beaches and tourism. We now have both an oil and an image problem: the images of tar balls on Pensacola Beach will probably last longer than the oil problem. We have been scarred.

We need people to come to our beaches. The state needs money. Slot machines could be the answer.

Imagine the tourist draw if we had even Class 2 gambling, which is what Wind Creek has. (Class 3 gambling includes table games and casino-style slots, but is limited to Seminole and Miccosukee Indian-owned and operated casinos such as those in Fort Lauderdale and Tampa.) People would come to play the slots and find our beaches (eventually, hopefully) to be as clean and white as they once were. The state would get its share of much-needed revenues, from tourists no less, and the gaming would be the magnet to bring people to (and back to) Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key.

The Legislature should grant an exemption to the oil-affected counties in the Panhandle and allow Class 2 gambling at non-Indian sites. There is already a precedent: Broward County allows Class 2 at existing pari-mutuels. Good for Broward, but the Pensacola dog track isn't on the beach. We need beach sites to make this work.

There are moral and economic negatives to gambling, to be sure. But the benefits, we believe, outstrip the objections. And we have watched for years as our dollars go to Mississippi casinos. We need the money here.  Casino gambling can be part of the solution. Our local legislative delegation ought to ask for an exemption.

It's a win-win.

4th of July Perdido Key Style

Start planning your 4th of July weekend activities.  See what's going on in the Perdido Key area.

 

• July 3rd: Annual Barbecue and Fireworks Gala at Perdido Beach Resort. 6:00-9:30 pm
• July 3rd: Old Time Independence Day Celebration Meeting at the Amphitheater at Big Lagoon. 11:00 am-6:00 pm
• July 3rd: A Star Spangled Celebration at Lost Key Marina & Yacht Club. 11:00-3:00 pm 
• July 3rd-4th: Santa Rosa RiverFest 2010 in downtown Milton. Will take place all day Saturday & Sunday
• July 4th: Sliding with Style - Tike Slide Contest at the Pensacola Beach. 10:00 am
• July 4th: Coastal Awareness Celebration at Cobalt in Orange Beach. 6:00-9:00 pm
• July 4th: Pensacola Fireworks Show on the Pensacola Beach soundside. 9:00 pm
• July 4th: Sertoma's Fourth of July Celebration located Seville Square downtown Pensacola. All day event.
• July 4th: 5K Run Supporting the Make a Wish Foundation at The Wharf in Orange Beach. 7:30 am
• July 4th: Open House at AMVET Post 292. 2:00-6:00 pm
• July 4th: Open House at AMVET Post 240. Noon
• July 5th: Lost Key BBQ at the Clubhouse. 1100 am-2:00 pm