Monday, January 14, 2008
Lee scrambling to lure Europeans to SW Fla.
Lee County commissioners Tuesday will be asked to sign off on spending the British pound equivalent of about $258,500 a year to England-based Meridian Marketing Services for promotional work in the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. This will replace the bureau’s longtime UK representative who decided to retire late last year.
CURRENCY’S EFFECT
The weak U.S. dollar, however, challenges bureau spending power. The euro was down slightly against the dollar Friday, fetching $1.4775. The British pound dropped to $1.9573, down from $1.9609.
Canadian currency weakened 0.9 percent to C$1.0191 per U.S. dollar. The so-called loonie, named for the bird depicted on the coin, reached a record 90.58 Canadian cents per U.S. dollar Nov. 7.
Lee visitor bureau’s proposed contract with the UK marketing firm is in pounds so “we are not at the mercy of the exchange rate,” Davenport said. In the future, travel to emerging tourism markets such as Scandinavia will be handled more by the UK representative, instead of Lee County staff.
Bureau estimates show fewer than 200,000 visitors yearly have come from Europe or the United Kingdom to Lee County since 2000. That’s a relatively small slice compared with the more than 2 million annual visitors feeding the area’s $2-billion-plus tourism and hospitality economy.
Canadian currency weakened 0.9 percent to C$1.0191 per U.S. dollar. The so-called loonie, named for the bird depicted on the coin, reached a record 90.58 Canadian cents per U.S. dollar Nov. 7.
Lee visitor bureau’s proposed contract with the UK marketing firm is in pounds so “we are not at the mercy of the exchange rate,” Davenport said. In the future, travel to emerging tourism markets such as Scandinavia will be handled more by the UK representative, instead of Lee County staff.
Bureau estimates show fewer than 200,000 visitors yearly have come from Europe or the United Kingdom to Lee County since 2000. That’s a relatively small slice compared with the more than 2 million annual visitors feeding the area’s $2-billion-plus tourism and hospitality economy.
EUROPEANS NEEDED
For some hotels and resorts, international tourism is vital. Take The Outrigger on Fort Myers Beach: “In 2001 Germans comprised 13 percent of our business,” said Jeanne Bigos, sales and marketing director. “In 2006, they were 26 percent of our business. And that was just the Germans,” Bigos said. Her resort also draws visitors from the Netherlands and UK.
Bigos gives much credit to international nonstop flights out of Southwest Florida International for boosting her German clientele.
LTU International Airways offers two weekly nonstops to Dusseldorf; beginning in May that will rise to three flights to Dusseldorf and two flights to Munich each week, for the summer.
German airline Condor left the local market last May because it couldn’t charge enough to offset high crew costs — the flights were popular, said Carol Obermeier, Lee County Port Authority manager for aviation market development.
Lee County commissioners meet today as the Port Authority Board. They’ll be asked to extend and broaden an incentives program that aims to attract new nonstop service from the United States and foreign destinations.
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Stephen A. Cunningham; MAI, CCIM
Managing Director
| Email: | scunningham@landqwestcommercial.com |
| Office Phone: | 239-275-4922 ext. 225 |
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| Mobile Phone: | 239-910-408 |
Professional Affiliations/Community Activities: MAI Member of The Appraisal Institute, CCIM Designee of the CCIM Institute, Member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, Florida State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser #RZ300, Florida Licensed Broker.
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