No major peaks.
No major lulls.
That’s what Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, says he seeks in managing tourism in Manatee County.
Falcione delivered a “state of tourism” report to the Manatee County Tourist Development Council, an advisory board of elected officials, tourism industry representatives and residents that met Aug. 19 at the Center of Anna Maria Island in Anna Maria.
“We don’t need to be breaking records,” Falcione said as he reviewed occupancy rates, room prices and other tourism data during the meeting.
Some details from a report that was focused on May:
- Visitors were estimated at 79,100, up from 76,500 in May 2023.
- Room nights were up about 4.8% from May 2023 at 182,100.
- Direct expenditures were up 7.3% at $72,688,900.
- Occupancy was up 5.4% to 72.8%.
- Room rates were at $207.27 compared to $206.48 in May 2023.
“The room rates kicked up,” Falcione said. “That’s good.”
The largest percentage of visitors to the area — visitor origins — are Florida travelers, followed by Midwesterners, then the Northeast.
Longtime TDC member Ed Chiles wasn’t present for the roll call at the center.
Chiles’ business group recently sold its trio of restaurants and Falcione told the council that the islander is “out of the hospitality industry.”
Falcione said the vacancy would be filled later this year or in early 2025, as will a vacancy created by the exit of Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant, who will term out of office Nov. 18.
“All seats will be restored by February,” said Falcione, who plans to recommend successors between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
A third change will come with the naming of a new TDC chair from the county board, as incumbent District 5 Commissioner Ray Turner lost the Republican primary for his seat the day after the TDC meeting.
In other business, Mark Stuckey, chief of staff for the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, shared a growth report: six new airlines, 41 new destinations and passengers up 213% since 2018.
The new airlines include Allegiant, Breeze, Frontier, Southwest, Avelo and Sun Country.
“We are the No. 1 fastest growing airport in Florida,” Stuckey said.
The next TDC meeting will be at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 21, at the county administration building in Bradenton.
Ferry landing in Holmes Beach in the works
Manatee County is ramping up conversations about a ferry stop in Holmes Beach, with eyes turned to the Kingfish Boat Ramp.
Earlier this year, a focus was on establishing a stop for the county-operated ferry in the city center near the Waterline Villas and Marina on Marina Drive.
But during a meeting of the county tourist development council, Elliott Falcione of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau said he was planning a presentation in the fall that would look at the county-operated boat ramp.
Falcione said, “We’re going to work like hell to see if we can bring that water taxi into Kingfish.”
The Gulf Islands Ferry operates Wednesday-Sunday between Bradenton and Anna Maria Island, with stops on the Bradenton riverfront downtown, at the Anna Maria City Pier in Anna Maria and the Historic Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach.
— Lisa Neff