Citrus County Tourist Development Council - May 13, 2026

追加: 2026-05-15

[00:02:53]I expected a dumpster fire. I got a political super fun site is what I got yesterday.

[00:02:58]>> Yeah. All right.

[00:03:00]>> That's my clip of the day.

[00:03:02]>> Josh videos all over everywhere. Lord >> Josh yet statements >> where that happened. I told her >> I was telling her the BCC meeting was a little exclusive yesterday.

[00:03:40]>> That was probably the >> Somebody said that was like Scott Adams days.

[00:03:46]>> Yes, it was. I even said that. I'm like >> very reminiscent.

[00:03:51]>> And stop said I think that's the first time it's ever been a 32 on acceptance of the agenda at the very beginning. I mean, it blew up five minutes in.

[00:03:59]>> It's amazing that we can get people >> No, I got to find the video. Oh, I haven't seen I'm gonna I've just heard stories.

[00:04:04]>> It was unfortunate.

[00:04:06]>> Okay. Okay.

[00:04:09]>> You know that clock is one minute early >> according to my watch.

[00:04:14]>> So, we're almost >> All right. Call this meeting to order of the Tourist Development Council. Today is May 13, 2026 and it is 9:00 am. Um, who would like to do the invocation?

[00:04:29]>> I would. You're awesome, Max. And then lead us in the pledge after, please.

[00:04:37]>> God in heaven, we're gathered here together to do the business and support the business of tourism in this county.

[00:04:44]And uh, we want to ask that you help us to be positive and add to that. But the thing that'll add to it most is we hope you're going to bless us with the summer with no hurricanes where all our businesses that start out will still be there at the end. And everybody that's got a job will be training a new employee because they're expanding in the winter. And we ask this in your holy name. Amen.

[00:05:10]>> Amen. Boy, can I get behind that? Which flag are we saluting? This one.

[00:05:15]I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[00:05:32]>> Okay, roll call, please.

[00:05:36]>> Roll call.

[00:05:38]>> Mr. Max Shman, >> here.

[00:05:40]>> Tracy Wood, >> here.

[00:05:41]>> Um, Craig >> here. Ray Smitherman >> here.

[00:05:44]>> Lan Jacobs >> here.

[00:05:45]>> Nancy Desai >> here.

[00:05:46]>> Holly Davis >> here.

[00:05:50]>> Here.

[00:05:52]>> All right. Absent is Chris Insync. All right.

[00:05:58]>> We have a quorum.

[00:06:00]>> Thank you. And um since I came in right in the nick of time as usual, it's always the day after BCC. Good morning everyone. Glad you're all here. Um looking for approval of agenda. Motion please.

[00:06:14]>> So moved.

[00:06:15]>> Second.

[00:06:16]>> Who wants it?

[00:06:20]Motion by uh Max Schulman, second by Tom Craig. Um are is there any board discussion?

[00:06:28]Seeing none, all those in favor?

[00:06:30]>> I opposed. Motion carries unanimously.

[00:06:33]Approval of minutes.

[00:06:37]>> I move approval of minutes. Second >> motion by Michael Mankey, second by Max Schulman. Any board discussion?

[00:06:45]Seeing none, all those in favor?

[00:06:47]>> I opposed. Motion carries unanimously.

[00:06:50]Open to the public.

[00:06:52]>> Would anyone like to speak? It open to the public.

[00:07:06]>> Hello. My name is Paul Cross. I'm work with Paddletail, Waterfront Adventures, American Pro Diving in Crystal River, and also building uh the dive shop there at the Marriott property. Um I just wanted to stop by today just to say thank you to the team for creating our eco partners program. I think it's really really important. Um, even after last yesterday with uh the apparent no clear leadership or lack of leadership, I think this is a great uh example of what good leadership can do. Right.

[00:07:39]There's not an agency out there that is doing anything to help the perceived problem of overcrowding on Kings Bay.

[00:07:46]Um, yet your team here is creating a program that we can all get behind and raise our standards. Right. Nobody's asked them to do that. that's not a requirement. They just see a need and that's what they're trying to do. And I would encourage you um when there is somebody that is speaking out of against that specific need is to find out why that is and is that the general consensus, right? Because I believe that overall everybody wants to raise the level of of our game on uh Crystal River, right? I think the the move to have everybody having power poles, I think that supports Save Crystal River in a huge way. Um, I think having the SUP permit backs up Fish and Wildlife Service, right? Fish and Wildlife Service acknowledged this problem back in early 2000s and said, "Hey, we're uh we might be a little overcrowded out here." And then since then, there's not been another agency out there that has done anything to adopt that, to mirror that, or to support that. We've just tore it down over the last 25 years, right? So, what does that look like?

[00:08:54]We've tried to address it with the city council with Chris Enins and that flew over like a lead balloon, right? So, there's nobody out there that is helping other than the program that you guys created. So, let's figure out how to get that across countywide and get more support for it. Thank you.

[00:09:11]>> Thank you, Mr. Cross. Um, that's something that I've been lobbying for since the uh trying to figure out how to use this timer. Um, since I became a uh commissioner. So figure clear. There we go. Got it.

[00:09:28]Anyone else like to speak?

[00:09:31]>> Hello and good morning. My name is Kimberly Stibsminster. I am the owner of Salty Siren Tours and Charters. Um, again, just want to piggyback on what Paul said. This group right here has done so much in a short amount of time to bring us all together and be more cohesive. Truly, it's not about tourism.

[00:09:50]It's about protecting those manatees and educating people so that way generations to come have the privilege to go ahead and interact with these animals that were almost extinct during my lifetime.

[00:10:01]When I tell people that, they're shocked. 1969, we had approximately 500 here. It is incredible how far we have come. But yet we want to bring all operators up to speed. Myself, I only have two sixperson boats. I don't plan on having any larger boats. We have one tour guide per six people. We try to be very eco-conscious and we have a very very heavy education component to that.

[00:10:25]So again, I feel this is vital. Having that special use permit through fish and wildlife is an integral part of that.

[00:10:31]That's why that was created to make sure we didn't have the overcrowding on the bay and just anyone with a captain's license and a boat can go out and conduct tours. Tours need to be conducted the right way and I think that this is the way to do it. Thank you.

[00:10:45]>> Thank you.

[00:10:46]>> I grew up here and I remember seeing very few manatees in the 80s that late 70s and 80s.

[00:10:53]>> Hello, my name is Peter Weber. I own Go Local Manity Tours. Um, first off, I want to say it's not a coincidence that they're all here mentioning this eco compliant partner program because I had a meeting yesterday with Miss Davis office and Terry. Um, this program was created and it is amazing thing and I think it can do wonders. Um, unfortunately the some of the people that just spoke and uh they created the parameters of it, they helped create the parameters of it and they shut out true local small businesses. So, Go Local Manity Tours is the only tour company in Crystal River that is owned and operated all by people born and raised here. And the special use permit and the brick and mortar is just a gatekeeping tool to keep people out of this program. True local businesses can't get into it.

[00:11:41]Tracy Wood, Home Assassa can't get into it. Um, I can't get into it. Multiple other operators can't get into it um because of certain parameters put around it. I think that all of you guys need to look at it and make sure that it's a fair open program. If you guys really want to create a program to get people onto it, then you guys should um make sure that everyone is included into it because we all want to do the right thing, but we can't when certain people have an agenda and they want to put their agenda on the things. All right.

[00:12:12]Thank you guys.

[00:12:13]>> Thank you.

[00:12:14]>> Thank you.

[00:12:15]>> Anyone else?

[00:12:19]>> Hello everyone. Uh my name is Kim Alman.

[00:12:21]I am the owner of Explora Adventure Center with my husband. Uh we are also local, so there are more locals out there that own uh Manatee Tour Companies. Um but I thought it was important to come up here today and to piggyback off of what Paul and Kim have both said. Um you know, the these guys here, this group, they approached us because we had an issue out on the water. um they were finding it very difficult to market what we do to people out here um because a lot of people don't think what we do is right. Um they don't think that you know we should be in the water swimming with manatees.

[00:12:59]They they don't believe in in what we do. And um you know they have faith in our industry to understand that a lot of us are here because we care about this area. My husband and I, we are locals first. We are residents first. And that's how we built our business. Every single one of our boats was built with power poles from day one because we wanted to protect the grass beds. Um we care about the residents. We care about this area. So when we were approached um from this amazing group to talk about the parameters of what should be in this eco compliance partnership, it was only right by those that were in the room to suggest the things that we did. As Paul said, the fish and wildlife is the only um the group that really has addressed the overcrowding. That's why we suggested the fish and wildlife permit.

[00:13:49]Okay. Um the power poles, the brick and mortar, the brick and mortar is attainable by anyone. They can anyone can get a brick and mortar, pay taxes, you know, have a significant investment in the community just like most of us do here. Um, I would like to say that, you know, the three of us that are in this room today, we have built a I would say like a co-op of large businesses and small businesses. As Kim just came up and said, she's a small company. Um, you know, she's only got a couple of boats.

[00:14:20]It's not a big versus small. It's about a group of people that want to do the right thing that want to make sure that we can pass this on to generations below us. I have a four-year-old. He loves manatees. Um, you know, we are one of the bigger companies. We have five boats. We actually take school groups, scout groups, educational groups, and we absolutely love it. That is what we thrive on. Okay? And we're teaching the next generation what is important about this ecosystem. We piggyback on Save Crystal River. You know, we do all of these things and this is what's most important. We're doing it the right way.

[00:14:54]We never made it unattainable for anyone. I think I just wanted to set the record. Our our goal was to elevate the standard in the industry and ensure that this can be sustainable for generations to come.

[00:15:05]>> Thank you.

[00:15:06]>> Anyone else?

[00:15:08]>> Can I say something?

[00:15:10]>> Yes.

[00:15:11]>> Um Peter, why did you say that I as a captain and owner that I can't get into the program >> because you don't have a special?

[00:15:20]>> Okay. There's different rules in Home Assassa than there are in Crystal River.

[00:15:24]and I am actually in the process of getting into the >> program. There's a couple things that I don't have right now. I've been doing this for 27 years. I'm a TDC member. I'm not part of the program yet, but I am going to be. There's a few um requirements that I still have to meet that I haven't met yet. So, I'm going to meet them. So, I don't I don't understand >> where you're coming from.

[00:15:49]>> If that's not true, then >> it is not in Homosasa. They aren't required to have su and home assassin by US fish and wildlife.

[00:15:57]>> No different.

[00:15:59]>> There is a difference because it's not run by the national wildlife refuge there.

[00:16:04]>> So I will have to meet everything every other >> they don't run. It's the same body of water.

[00:16:10]>> I'm going to need to shut this down because we're really not supposed to have people talk from the audience. So, >> so I one one point though is that we should number one, it's not going to help anybody if we fractionalize. And number two, um this is a a wonderful program, but there's no such thing as a perfect program. We need to periodically evaluate it and see what changes need to be made or what additional programs could be added that that make sure everybody in the industry has is behind the program and getting recognition for it so that ultimately our our localities and our county are known for the program. Um, so we need to get along >> and I have at least one idea to run by y'all at a later date.

[00:17:00]>> Sure. Thank you. Um, >> yesterday's conversation. Okay.

[00:17:03]>> I I've been asking for this from the beginning and I'm, you know, I just, it was like Christmas. I came in and all of a sudden it was done after all these years. So, thank you. So, uh, first of all, thank you all of you for, uh, coming out here on a Wednesday at 9:00 in the morning out of your busy days as tour operators and business owners, respected business owners of the community, local business owners, um, to, uh, to address um, you know, our programs and just, I mean, to be advocates of um, we say advocates of the system, of the ecosystem, of the manatees, of what we're trying to build here as a sustainable tourism um, destin the nation. Um, you know, I would say this. Um, I've spoken with all of you.

[00:17:46]Um, like Peter said, uh, we were on the call yesterday and and we'll continue to, uh, as a group work, um, so we can try to cultivate, um, uh, the eco compliant program. Um, because it's not meant to, um, eliminate people. Uh, it's really meant to, I think someone said, raise the bar and and I I would agree with that. Um but I do think um there are some opportunities here where um we make sure there is not um that that grade those cracks that people fall through. Um because I don't think this is a a case of good versus bad, right? You know um I think this is a case of you know good good and better and best and things of that nature. So I I don't want to put any kind of negative connotations to the program at all because I don't think it needs to be.

[00:18:36]Um, but I do uh think that uh our team will will, you know, not necessarily go back to the drawing board. We won't do that. But what we can do is we can figure some things out to where uh the program can continue to grow. Um, I just ask for everyone in the room just to give us some time um and uh bring folks to the table and uh we have a couple ideas that, you know, we feel like that can um can see this program flourish um as it's flourishing now. I mean, it's still in its infancy. Um so um just uh ask for your patience and uh and looking forward to really working with all the partners uh going forward is is pretty much what I have to say.

[00:19:11]>> I I'd like to make another comment. Um many people don't know but uh Tom and I uh back in 2015 and 16 did our second book and that was paddling in and around Citrus County and we did it with Matt Clemens. Uh if you don't know Matt, he was he was a big captain pusher. He been a park supervisor in the park system. Um and they actually put together a program that was going to go all the way to certifying guides and really put um an eco-friendly label on our county. They spent several years.

[00:19:47]They got some of the certification done and then the fragmentation started and the whole thing fell apart. I would really like to see us bring in an outside consultant um a professional that that can look at where do we want to go with this program? What are the elements that we need? Because this is the first element, but it's only the first of many >> um and invest just a little bit of money on making sure that we can do this successfully.

[00:20:16]>> Cool. Fair enough. Thank you.

[00:20:18]>> I think it's a great program and I think it has a lot of potential.

[00:20:23]And I'm, excuse me, I'm very excited to be part of it eventually as soon as I can. Um, I think it's a really great start and I think that everything that's laid out in the program is a really great idea.

[00:20:35]>> And Commissioner Davis, I'm sure we'll get together on the side, you know.

[00:20:39]>> So, um, no presentations?

[00:20:44]>> No presentations.

[00:20:45]>> All right. Uh, budget overview.

[00:20:52]We're closed. Yeah, we closed.

[00:20:53]>> Okay.

[00:21:02]All right.

[00:21:04]For a second here.

[00:21:10]Okay. Um you guys have in front of you uh the budget. Um everything is we're you know all good. We're now in phase two of course of our budget for next year. Um, uh, there's really no nothing to highlight other than just for really for information purposes. Um, there's nothing out of the norm here. So, everything is pretty much status quo.

[00:21:30]So, that's it.

[00:21:33]>> Okay. Board, do you have any comments, questions, concerns?

[00:21:39]>> Uh, no concerns. I just have a a question about um the casual labor boat ramp beach cleaning.

[00:21:47]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:21:48]>> 30,000. What is that? um we help those workers um to uh for maintenance, repair, uh um cleanup and all that stuff out at the beach area. So, it would just uh part of our duties to uh the county's park and wreck program. So, we um we there's an addition to uh those costs uh for those personnel because they don't have the staff. So, we help out with that and that's just something we have always done annually in the last couple years.

[00:22:13]>> You help out by um people or >> for staff paying for Yeah, for staff for their staff. And then um just a interest question um AI resources $1,800. What are the AI resources that we pay for?

[00:22:26]>> Um we uh use services um like um chat GPT uh claude copilot things of that nature for our just daily workflows and most of those we are membership based because we can't do the free ones because then you're limited to like one or two things questions and that doesn't work for us.

[00:22:42]>> Yeah. And it's also as an organization you have to pay more than an individual.

[00:22:46]Yeah.

[00:22:46]>> Yeah. Okay.

[00:22:47]>> We have a So it's almost like a think of it like a seed license. Yeah. Almost no multiple users.

[00:22:52]>> I think it's interesting. I've been >> welcome to the new world >> been an assistant assistant um counselor to um Adobe for AI since they came out with Firefly. And >> yeah, >> I mean as an artist I don't see any reason for it, but for people who need to get great professional work, it's It's absolutely essential.

[00:23:18]>> Well, Christina and Michael now are actually at Tourism Academy uh with our CMS and CRM and there's a lot of there there's going to be a lot of AI components in that. So, they're in Jacksonville actually this morning. So, uh taking care of business there. So, hopefully make us all smarter.

[00:23:33]>> There was a really interesting debate that I read this morning on Substack. Um I love that platform.

[00:23:38]>> Great platform. And there was somebody on there that said it's really recognizable with a lot of the writers on Substack where their natural voice has been flattened, you know, and so people jumped in there and that's the way I use it because I I do use it to write articles. Um, and I am a professional writer, so I'm totally offended by the whole idea that I do that. But I have to say that if I don't have a framework in mind and I'm in a hurry, I can just basically throw up my ideas and it comes back with a cogent story and then I rewrite it. So it's in my voice, you know, but uh it is a slippery slope. You have to go back and read every single word and go this is not how I would say this, you know, and and make make sure especially as a professional writer, I want to keep my natural voice alive. It is >> and that goes back to brand identity as well. Our voice as a as a brand.

[00:24:35]>> Well, that it's a very important point though that um if you want it bad, you get it bad. If you want it cheap, you get it cheap. There are many sources of AI. I I started lit literally in the 80s working machine deme logic stuff. Um we should be very careful. we should there are are different platforms that are tailored to different um subjects and it's very competitive field. It's another area where it's worth investing in making sure we've got fine-tune AI that matches and and assists where we want to go or you get dragged to to being just like everybody else. Um, so I'm not sure how you se how you selected the folks, but uh I'm sure they will come back smarter on that issue and we might look at it again.

[00:25:24]>> Fingers crossed. I'm sure they will though.

[00:25:26]>> Really don't want to be a flatly homogeneous society.

[00:25:30]>> If you're using any of the freebies, that's what's going to happen.

[00:25:33]>> Yeah, sir. Just one more thing. Um, just throwing it out there. Um, we've got great coverage everywhere in the US and around the world. I just wonder if we should um consider having a booth at boat shows like big one in Fort Lauderdale. Um because a lot of our people that come here are uh trailering boats, >> right, >> and staying at places that have boat ramps at the hotels.

[00:26:05]>> Yeah. So, we have um if you see in the budget, we um slashed um our participation in ICAST, which is a fishing show that's primarily for people who have bait shops, who fish, who want to see the latest and greatest new products, stuff like that.

[00:26:20]>> Um and moving that into specifically, we talked about boat shows. So, >> Oh, good. Great.

[00:26:25]>> Y >> thanks. And speaking of a show, I want to say Mr. Mankey was just at a show at the same time, and we'll talk about this later, uh the zoo event, but they were just at the a show, a pretty large show for three days out in Tampa. So, uh you know, anytime, uh I would feel like a hotel or resort or a resort, you know, when they're when they're represented there, we are also represented. So, that's kind of an extension. So, we, you know, we're kind of like lucky to have that, you know, um because that stuff is not free. So, appreciate that. You can talk about that experience, too, if you want to. I just took all your visitor guides and the bike trail and the um regular map and he was received well because of course the first selling point when you're at any show is do you know Crystal River >> right >> then it's what are you oh think the word that says resort up there I might give it away but let's not worry about not being able to read >> right awesome >> um yeah but I to point I think there's a lot of opportunity and I know you're already traveling busy but the at the same weekend we had the boat show in um what's it called Armature Works Tampa, >> the largest outdoor expo in Florida in Palm Beach was going on >> in Palm Beach. Um, and again with the focus um of water sports, water activities and that we don't we sell more manity stuff at the boat show than I do fishing trips, you know. So, it's >> I think to your point it's it's well wellreceived that we should look at it more and see if we can be more present at more things, especially in Florida for the trailering process.

[00:27:51]>> Agree. Um, and before I get into the travel I'm going to put the travel initiatives in our in the overall update. Um, but I I think >> we are you moving to E2?

[00:28:02]>> Yes. I'm sorry.

[00:28:03]>> We need a Don't we need to take a vote on E1?

[00:28:05]>> Sorry.

[00:28:06]>> Two questions on this one.

[00:28:07]>> Yes.

[00:28:08]>> One, because I'm lazy. How does this compared to last year's either proposed budget and even better yet, how is it proposed to the actuated budget that we we executed in the process?

[00:28:18]>> Compare in regards to >> So, you budgeted 2.8 8 million this year. What did we budget last year? And then what of the 2 point whatever million we budgeted last year did we actually actuate?

[00:28:28]>> Actuate.

[00:28:32]>> I think you did.

[00:28:32]>> Yep. Coin that word. What did we actually do?

[00:28:36]>> Yeah. Uh last year um >> we could do it at another time at some point.

[00:28:40]>> Yeah. Okay.

[00:28:41]>> I just would which is that's good information for you know all of us to have really.

[00:28:45]>> Okay.

[00:28:46]>> All right. And secondly, >> your question, >> we normally like on um the medical examiner board, we have >> the prior fiscal year next to it. So >> you know the true up or true down of what was planned and then next to it and that way at least it's easier to compare.

[00:29:03]>> Okay, >> it's my math background. Sorry.

[00:29:06]>> Um and then secondly, with the media plan, I'm assuming we haven't seen this one yet, the 958 million. So, you will see it uh in a several weeks um in in an email before the July meeting. Okay.

[00:29:18]>> Because last year, I know you guys wanted to see it first prior to the actual meeting so you can digest it a little bit more. So, >> getting to the point you're going to call for next, which is approval of this budget. It's hard to approve a budget when you don't know what we're spending the money on.

[00:29:32]>> Well, welcome >> the bucket.

[00:29:34]>> Well, welcome to the world of government and and unfortunately Yeah. So you >> welcome to the world of private practice.

[00:29:41]>> Yeah. So >> but I would um I'm I'm willing to vote for support this now, but I think it'd be nice at the next meeting to bring forward what last year was just so we have that because you know we could always resend it if we wanted. Right.

[00:29:54]>> Awesome.

[00:29:56]>> I'm sure it's perfectly in line. I just want to make sure >> that was a joke.

[00:30:01]>> Sure. It's perfectly in line. I just want to >> Exactly.

[00:30:04]>> Yeah. I mean I'm comfortable with it.

[00:30:06]Well, I I personally would >> I think it it matters a lot this year compared to last year, but I'd like to see what's aligned to to our Strat plan.

[00:30:15]Uh we we worked on it and I've done hundreds of strat plans in the last 40 years and about 80% of them end up never being actionable.

[00:30:25]>> Actuated.

[00:30:26]>> Actuated.

[00:30:27]>> Actuated.

[00:30:28]>> The new word coined phrases we can change.

[00:30:30]>> Wonder twins activate. I do enjoy this board. God's personalities are awesome.

[00:30:36]And that was not actually sarcasm thought.

[00:30:39]>> Um, okay. So, any other questions? We're looking for a motion.

[00:30:45]>> So, we're just uh moving to u approve going forward with the budget, not approving the budget.

[00:30:53]The motion is >> now we're approving >> recommend to recommend to the board of county commissioners to approve the budget for fiscal year 2627.

[00:31:05]>> I mean we have a very set budget. What we accept what we >> I'll be happy to move that.

[00:31:10]>> Okay.

[00:31:11]>> Second.

[00:31:12]>> All right. Motion by Michael Mankey, second by Tom Craig. Any further board discussion?

[00:31:18]All those in favor? I >> I >> opposed. Motion carries unanimously.

[00:31:24]>> And um who is my vice chair by the way?

[00:31:27]>> Tom >> Tom's your vice chair.

[00:31:29]>> Excellent. Because I have to bolt to the airport.

[00:31:31]>> Okay.

[00:31:32]>> Is there I I can stay a few more minutes if this is something that I need to hear.

[00:31:37]>> No, I think we're good. There's no other I mean outside was everything is just in the report information. So you're fine.

[00:31:42]>> So I adjourn the meeting. Don't >> do that.

[00:31:46]Thank you.

[00:31:47]>> All right.

[00:31:49]All right. Have a good trip.

[00:31:52]>> Actually, I'm picking someone up.

[00:31:58]>> Yeah. E2.

[00:32:00]All right. So, uh new new travel initiatives. Um not so much new, just about some of the places that we've gone. Um if you see, uh again, this is not in your remember my report, person report is not in your uh printout because it's doesn't meet the deadline.

[00:32:15]So it's on the screens and I'll email this to you as well. Um just for our April and May um between media admissions uh destination marketing summits, tourismies, Capitol Hill Sports ETA DEI CEO Summit. Uh it's been a very busy uh last couple of months for the team. Um I I know Terry was out in Dallas and Houston at the Visit Florida um uh media mission out there sales mission, excuse me, sales mission out there. Um, and Destination Marketing Summit is coming up for her today actually. And Nick, which is not here, they'll be both in in Bradenon. That's with Destinations Florida, which is our advocacy group for the state. Um, so tons of uh marketing analysis and metrics there, which is really cool because all the other uh VCBs and DMOs from the state of Florida will be uh all together uh with in different um workshops and things of that nature.

[00:33:05]Tourism Academy is going on now. That's with our website and our back office CRM. Um, and that's in Jacksonville.

[00:33:12]Both Christina and Michael are there.

[00:33:14]Uh, Capitol Hill. I'm gonna have Persia the next screen for me. All right. Um, I I believe I sent you all the email update on Destination Capitol Hill uh while I was in DC uh several weeks ago.

[00:33:29]Um this was a huge opportunity um to uh have Citrus County Tourism uh from a voice standpoint, excuse me, um advocate uh for several uh federal and state issues. Um number one, uh one of the issues was um having uh TSA and our air traffic controllers not a part of any future shutdowns going forward. Um we um everything that we fought for or we advocated for in DC uh we considered a a bipartisan type of solutions. Um there was no red versus blue here. It was just pretty much common sense and business approach. Um and uh you know with the shutdown uh that was happening and with TSA and air traffic controllers um being affected by that that just causes a major disruption not only behalf of tourism but just so many other things safety, security, family and things of that nature. So um uh we were very wellreceived. Um I was able to uh secure appointments if you go to the next slide. I was able to secure appointments uh with um Rick Scott uh Senator Rick Scott. uh Senator Ashley Moody, uh Representative Caster, and uh well, now our former representative, Bill Arachus. Um but, uh it was uh it was a great opportunity because, you know, it's hard to um really schedule these meetings in DC and meet with all these people like that. Um so we were very fortunate that I teamed up with uh Visit Tampa Bay um Santiago who was their president CEO of Visit Tampa Bay and uh and uh it was it was a good opportunity for us and I felt like we we made a lot of a lot of headway. Also, uh there's a some additional visa fees um um that are proposed um an extra $250 per person um which is uh would be very uh would be a negative impact um to our people coming into town um to from an international standpoint. So you say a family of four, that would be an additional $1,000 before you say before you start go, right? You already have the fees on visa fees anyway. So um um things like for example um think about the World Cup um uh the World Cup is in North America, Canada, US, Mexico. Now you are seeing people potentially, hey, I rather go see games in Canada and Mexico because number one, it's just cheaper to get over there and it's just easier, you know. So we were just those are just the things we were addressing and then I was able to address some local issues um when I had the time as well. Um but again it's a good opportunity um uh just something going forward that I want to make sure um uh this office uh and our in our in our in our in our county uh make sure we have a voice uh among the uh the bigger players in the marketplace. So um that was a good opportunity. So um and uh I'll end with um I was also uh we have also part took u I want to say probably our first sports show that I could think of maybe that the the destination's ever gone to.

[00:36:23]We're in sports ETA. Um I do have some news, but I'm not ready to announce it just yet, but um but let's just say some good news is coming. Um I'm not going to tell you where just yet, but uh I'm excited about that. Um as we grow our sports tourism footprint, um in the county. So that was a good experience.

[00:36:42]Uh and then of course annually I always go to Destinations International CEO Summit, which is just another good another good uh conference. a lot of great minds and you know a lot of data sharing and things of that nature um that we can bring back uh to this market to this destination. Um so been very busy here um and can't do this without uh these guys uh to my left and to my right um now that we're grown uh to a massive staff of eight people. Um, so and and I and I'm not joking when I say that that's massive for us and and it's in in a good way because you know when you have four people out today and we can still hold a TDC meeting before we probably couldn't have done that you know so uh those are the travel initiatives and uh the update for that for E2.

[00:37:29]I don't think there's anything for you to >> Oh, yes. Uh yes, those initiatives, right? All right. So, uh also in E2, um two things. Um the uh uh STS board meeting, uh Richmond, Virginia. Thank you, Kelly. I don't know what I was thinking. Um uh there is uh for the Southeastern Tourism Society board representation. Um I'll of course you guys know I've already been appointed to the Southeastern Tourism Society board.

[00:38:01]Um of course providing Cedric County a larger voice. Um their board meeting is in Richmond, Virginia in September right at the end of the fiscal year. Um so the request is to send myself um to Richmond. Uh you see the travel and the training breakdown. Uh basically it's a simple budget transfer for uh special from excuse me from special projects.

[00:38:20]Then also um trying to be like Terry Natwick with her uh CDME certification um which is which is a pretty national designation big deal like super huge and uh I don't really have an excuse anymore you know that now that she has hers I feel like it's it's it's my time to go back to school. Um uh you can tell I'm very excited about this. Um, so anyway, uh, we're going to be in Portland for for Destination International, excuse me, we're going to be in Portland already for Destinations International annual convention. Um, when they do the courses, the CDME work, um, certified um, destination management executive course. Uh, they, uh, most of these conferences, they either do it before or right after the the conference. In this case, it's like two days before the actual conference. So, I'll just go arrive two days earlier. And again, this will be a special projects um budget transfer which we've already budgeted for for next year as well. Um and those are the two additional initiatives right there. So um the recommended actions is on the back of that page for E2 um for recommended actions A, B, and C. Um and you see the breakdown in the monies overall and believe that's all. Right, Kelly?

[00:39:37]>> Okay. Thank you, Kelly, so much.

[00:39:40]>> So do we need to vote on this?

[00:39:41]>> Yes, you do sir.

[00:39:42]>> Okay. Do I hear a motion to >> move that we send office back to school?

[00:39:47]>> Second.

[00:39:51]>> All right. And for uh that's for the STS meeting. Uh then regarding the also no you just approved the CDME course.

[00:40:01]>> Yeah. So it would be recommended actions for A, B and C specifically. So for a recommending the approval of one individual to attend SDS board meeting in Richmond, Virginia, September 26. Do I hear a motion?

[00:40:15]>> So moved.

[00:40:15]>> Second.

[00:40:16]>> Second.

[00:40:17]>> All right. Any uh discussion?

[00:40:22]>> All in favor?

[00:40:23]>> I.

[00:40:24]>> And regarding the recommended approval for destinations international CDMMA course, um any discussion?

[00:40:34]We've already heard the motion in the second. All in favor?

[00:40:37]>> Yep.

[00:40:38]>> I >> Any opposed? All right. Pass and recommended approval of related budgets.

[00:40:46]And that is the transfer.

[00:40:50]Um, do I hear a motion?

[00:40:52]>> So moved.

[00:40:53]>> Second.

[00:40:55]>> All right. Any discussion?

[00:40:58]>> All in favor?

[00:40:59]>> I.

[00:41:00]>> Any oppose?

[00:41:02]All right. All three A, B, and C have been approved. Recommended.

[00:41:07]>> All right.

[00:41:08]>> Thank you.

[00:41:09]>> Thank you. So, going on to the destination update. And I really wanted to do this before the meeting even started. I just we just didn't get a chance. I feel like invocation, pledge, everything goes so quickly. Um, but on a serious note, um, short time ago, several weeks ago, um, I want to just take a moment of silence is what I want to do. Um, for, uh, David Moore.

[00:41:36]>> Uh, he's the owner, he was the owner of Storm Distillery. Um, Storm Distillery actually hosted um, Storm Distillery hosted one of our partners in tourism meetings.

[00:41:55]Let you finish it.

[00:41:58]Um, David was a very gracious person and was very involved in the community and will be sorely missed not only as a business owner but a fellow resident.

[00:42:07]and we'd like to take a moment of silence for him in his honor.

[00:42:10]>> You're here.

[00:42:26]>> Thank you.

[00:42:29]>> Thank you.

[00:42:29]>> Thanks.

[00:42:33]>> Apologies.

[00:42:35]Yeah, he was personal friend also and just uh devastated by uh I had meetings with him the following week about some things going on with the art festival.

[00:42:47]>> Those meetings will not happen.

[00:42:51]>> Uh so moving on um just uh welcome center uh new operations of course operating hours. Uh uh last meeting we were not officially had started yet, but we are now open uh 6 days a week of course Monday through Friday 8 to 5:00 and Saturdays 8:00 a.m.

[00:43:10]to 2:00 p.m. Um we have a pretty cool schedule of rotation how we do it. Uh and I believe it's working out. Um I think at this point we've all pretty much worked a Saturday um somewhere. Oh, okay. So Terry's first one this Saturday. So yeah, coming up come see her.

[00:43:26]Um, so, uh, that's going really well.

[00:43:28]We're excited about that. And then we have a lot of, uh, uh, there's some future things that we want to do. Um, you guys know we want to revamp the welcome center because right now we still feel like it's a blank canvas. So, we want to tr truly turn into a welcome center. So, when people are coming off the road with the kids driving or whatever the situation is, they have a nice comfortable place to come into. So, we're going to really try to activate that space um, and put some some money into it. Um um so look look forward to some of that coming down the pipe in a special project type of uh situation. So we're excited about that.

[00:44:01]Upcoming tourism presentations uh tomorrow I actually be at the home assass area council uh presenting to them and just kind of really having a uh almost almost like a probably a town hall session I expect. Um >> it got it got interesting last. You missed the last one.

[00:44:16]>> Yeah. Yeah. So uh but you know I'm built for this. Yes, he was there, >> right? Um, so yes, I'll be there tomorrow. Um, hence why I'm not traveling anywhere uh this week.

[00:44:28]>> Um, partisan tourism is uh next week uh May the 20th at Still Water Preserve RV Resort at 8:30 in the morning. So Ray is going to be our gracious host. So we're looking forward to that. Uh so that'll be a fun time. So, please mark that on your calendars. And you guys, of course, have seen the emails already and stuff and we'll continue to send those updates. Uh projects, our NUMO, which is our govos compliant uh short-term rental. Um we are now uh accessing the data. Uh we just uh finishing through some trainings. Christine and I actually um so um we are on target there now seeing um the uh the numbers are starting to come in in regards to uh our short-term rentals um throughout the entire county and locations and things of that nature. So we'll be able to um share some information on that uh fairly soon. Um and then the ultimate goal, keep in mind the ultimate goal of this program is to uh have our tax collections collected locally and not with the department of revenue. remember that because we know um that the department of revenue is more so they're receiving taxes as opposed to enforcing and there's a difference. So what the difference is there's some uh I'm going say leakage meaning we know there's some more monies out there that uh we're not receiving and the more money we have the more things that we can do uh for uh to be quite frankly our local businesses. I mean that's the ultimate goal. Um, so >> it's also unfair to those who pay in to have folks that don't pay in.

[00:45:58]>> Totally. Totally. Exactly. I heard you, Lan. I heard you.

[00:46:04]Um, also, uh, um, and I think Terry's going to go over this a little bit, maybe a little bit as far as into the social media stuff, the numbers, but I just want to mention um, the less discover uh, you know, I try to get you guys emails out uh, when Nick and Steph Nef when they do their videos. We call them Nef in the office. Gu you can catch that. But um they have really have attacked this YouTube channel aggressively and they go all around the county. Uh I think anyone um can see that. Um just in from the last two and a half, excuse me, one and a half months, just April and May. Um you'll see the list there of uh some of their digital short film series. Um the newest one just dropped yesterday. Um it's actually for the mini golf in Crystal River. So, if you haven't seen it yet, you probably haven't because it just dropped yesterday. Take a look at it. But I'll do you one. I'll go ahead and send you out the link in the email. Be a little bit easier. But let's just say Nick and Steph did a interesting twist on that.

[00:47:05]Um, boozing and cruising, that was a good one. Uh, uh, Tiny Homes too, that was another good one out of Sweet Citrus Acres. Coffee, Tea, and Plants, that was also another good one. The best pizza.

[00:47:20]Um you guys did you see the best pizza one?

[00:47:22]>> I did not see that one.

[00:47:23]>> Okay.

[00:47:24]>> Angelos.

[00:47:25]>> Angel. Yeah. Angelos's. And uh that was actually over the last what almost really two months. That's actually the highest views >> of any like the airboat tours. The >> pizza matters.

[00:47:38]>> The uh Steph and and Nick have done some amazing like I'm actually jealous of the things they get to go on.

[00:47:44]>> Um but that's fine. Um, but yeah, that's the highest views. I mean, out of some of the early ones. So, that was pretty interesting. So, either we've hit something with the food part or but they also have really, really, really good pizza. Uh, and if you guys don't know, they're located in Hernando. So, um, so that was pretty awesome. All right, next slide, please.

[00:48:07]So, I will say this is what I'm most excited about. But um we just um I think typically uh uh Citrus County Tourism um has not um done many uh activations and and I'm looking at Terry when I say that we haven't done as many activations historically as a group especially in the the Orlando. Okay, activations are she said tell you what activations are.

[00:48:32]I'm sorry. So activations are um sponsorship opportunities. So, imagine you go to a uh a basketball game, a hockey game, or a baseball game, or a big special event, a concert, and then you'll see Visa credit card at a table, or you'll see uh Kia Motors um doing a sign up to win a free lease on a car. So Kia Motors and um those other sponsors at that event, they're paying to be there because they can reach the consumers going to that event. So now they can collect data or they can talk about their products or their services.

[00:49:12]Those are activations. So companies pay for that what we call exposure. And there's different levels of activation.

[00:49:19]Um so in this case, Zoo Tampa at Li Park. Um, I actually sent Terry an email and um, and so it was an opportunity that we just I felt like we could not miss.

[00:49:36]Terry had doubt that we can probably get it done because some things a lot of things come to us very quickly. So, we have to be able to pivot. Thankfully, we put in some metrics last year in the budget for our media plan on some contingencies to where we can do things like this because normally it's very challenging to do things when something comes out of budget then you have to do you know TDC BCC and in our world it doesn't work that way you know so it's like putting a square peg into a round hole but we made it work um and this manity conservation celebration that happened uh on the 2nd of May um was a great opportunity we actually were the presenting sponsor. So, we were the we were the biggest thing there. They had some other sponsors there. I think they had a local brewery there. Um they had some other smaller companies there, but we were the the big dog and pony at the at the circus, so to speak, you know. Um and it was really nice. Um you guys were of course all invited, of course. I think some of you guys were able to show up. I think Tracy was there. Many was already on Tampa at the boat show. So, it's funny. I felt like from a tourism standpoint, we kind of had a Tampa takeover technically. You know, we were like in two different locations. Um, next slide. Um, so what it is is it it featured uh kid-friendly activities, interactive presentations, local vendors, live music, etc., etc. And uh, it was an opportunity for not only the uh, the staff and the team and their spouses and partners and family to come, but it was also for our partners as well. Um, we had some we had two operators there. We also had the friends of the home assass wildlife park there and their staff. So, we were very well represented because of the manatee situation and the conservation efforts that the zoo has done. So, they have this new exhibit um underwater exhibit and it was just a perfect tie-in. And I heard you guys loud and clear throughout the year and a half at least. Avice, you know, what about Tampa or what about Orlando? What about the drive markets?

[00:51:36]office. What about the villages or what about that? And you know, and and I, you know, as marketing and tourism professionals, we already know that. So, it's not like we were never going to do that, but these are the opportunities and the activations that we're going to try to do more of because it makes sense. Um, and so, um, I'll go to the next slide.

[00:52:01]So, you know, here you see a picture um um with the team right in front of the Zoo Tampa sign that morning and then we took a picture with some of our partners. It was really cool. So, we we had two activation setups um and you'll see shortly. We were um we were uh the staff was inside of the conservation um underwater observatory room um with the friends of Homosasa Wildlife Park and their staff. And then the tour operators that came were outside. Thank God we got them a tent.

[00:52:36]Um and uh they were outside able to meet and activate. Um and they were all together in a row. And what was really cool was they were able to see thousands of people go past their tables and and they had little things for the kids to do and signups and spinning the wheels to win things. Um, of course at our table we were able to talk about the destination and it was just amazing to say people were like, "Hey, I'm from Homosasa. Hey, I actually live in Everest. I live in Crystal River." So that was kind of cool. But then it was also cool which a lot of people said, you know what, I've never been I never been there. I'm like, it's only an hour north of here. Really? Yeah, that's it.

[00:53:17]You know, so that was also cool, too.

[00:53:19]So, this was all about education and awareness, letting people know who we are as a destination. Um, and and and then showing them all the cool things that they can do with these little ones that you can't do anywhere else in the in the United States. Um, next slide.

[00:53:36]So, here are just some more pictures of uh what we did. Um, you see the tables.

[00:53:42]I mean, it was it was times where we had hundreds around us. Like, it was because that whole manity observation area was really cool. It was like we were in a in a giant underwater fishbowl, I would say. Right. Um, so it's really cool and and our brand was everywhere, you know.

[00:53:57]We had magazine stands everywhere. It's funny, that's one of the stands in the middle that we take at some of our um of our shows. Um Terry, she's she does a good job of spending money and so she saw that contraption and and I agree it it's actually a pretty cool thing, you know. I >> um um >> but yeah, so that's just an example. I think there you see I think that's Nick at the table. At one of the tables you see Terry. That's when she's in the sling over there. She's laughing but she's crying on the inside. Um but uh but uh Nick and his wife was at the table. Uh Persia and her family were there. Um uh Michael uh was there as well. Uh myself. I mean we just had a good time, you know, good representation. Um next slide.

[00:54:41]And uh and that's just some of the you know I just came out and took a picture of people talking to the partners at booths and stuff you know um we had good signage. It's a good partnership. I think this is something we're going to do going forward. And I think there's also more opportunity not at just Zoo Tampa but even other attractions and uh you know things of like a Bush Gardens or things of that nature, maybe SeaWorld uh in Orlando and stuff like that. So, it was a really good event and hopefully next year and and some of our future activations in due time would love to have you guys out with your families and your and your uh and colleagues uh to come out as well. So, it was really nice. So, um any questions on that?

[00:55:21]>> Okay, cool. Awesome. Next slide.

[00:55:25]Um and you can keep going. There you go.

[00:55:30]All right. Just on some numbers standpoint. Um what I like to do since we are meeting uh of course by monthly um these numbers reflect just really almost like the last month and a half uh March and April to kind of give you some idea of what just what some of the numbers are looking like. Um so from a visitor standpoint um you know percent of all people that are visitors um this is for March and really half of April I don't have the last part of April but last month and a half um 26% uh of all people in the market were visitors um which is actually up 7% from this time last year which is really good and for the record I'm going to email you this packet so you guys don't have to worry about it I'll email you everything um today um out of state visitors 52% Um, again, that was up 7% from the same time last year. Um, and what's really cool is if you look at that little uh circle there, um, you see the purple represents residents at 62%.

[00:56:27]Um, the 26%, you'll see it in green, but technically, if you want to say all visitors, there's another 13% there. So, now you're talking about 39% visitors. Um the the orange is the local visitor. The people that are excuse me the people that are um technically outside of the county but within 50 miles. So that can be depending on where you are in the county that could be Marian Sumpter if you're closer to Inesse for example. Um it could be parts of Pasco depending if you're closer to homeass if you know what I mean. So uh and uh Levy and all that stuff. So um but that's what that means. And they spend money as well. They they may not stay the night all the time, but they still spend money. So, uh when you think about the total visitors, that 26 could actually technically grow to 39%. Next slide.

[00:57:22]Okay. Again, here's your out of state visitor. Um again, number um spending from visitors 25%. Um again, this is talking March and April. Um uh this is all this is up from the same time last year at 9%. So, this is telling us that, you know, we we've had a strong first quarter from a calendar year standpoint.

[00:57:42]Um, a stronger first quarter. Um, visitor spend um toward local businesses, which is what I like to see.

[00:57:48]Um, is 31%. Uh, you're looking at a 4% difference right there. Um, and then the average daily spend is uh down by about $3, but if you don't remember this same number um last uh TDC meeting in March, it was actually down 10 uh $10. So, um that was a So, we've closed that gap.

[00:58:09]So, now the same time last year, we're down $3 on the average daily spend. So, you got to keep in mind, don't look at it as, well, that's all they're spending. This is per swipe, okay? So, you know, it could be, you know, okay, it could be a hotel room or it can be very uh it could be a soda, but it could be an a manity tour, right? You know, which is I would, you know, which is a little bit higher, but it can also be a Snickers, you know, and that, you know, that's when you do the average daily spend, that's what that means. All right, next slide.

[00:58:40]Um, this map is just showing you um, you know, an overall for the origin markets where people are coming from again um, from March and April. um the the bigger the circle, the more the people. And I'm gonna show you another slide here in a minute. And the darker the circle, obviously, the more the people. If you go to the next slide, please. Um so you see those markets kind of aligned. Um this is kind of a share uh a share database. Um because you talk about uh the percent of visitors, the the visitor spend, and um the average daily spend.

[00:59:14]Um, you know, uh, I see something like something that sticks out, Gainesville and West Palm Beach spending a lot more than somebody from Tampa, you know, because they're probably coming a little bit further away. They could be staying in our hotels. Uh, that's why you see that spend a little bit higher. Um, I see a market like Detroit, um, which is interesting. Look, you see Orlando, you see this 11% of our visitation, right?

[00:59:37]But then the visitor spend for Orlando was 3%. If you look at Detroit, they had 5% of the visitors, but they had like 4% of the spend. So that's kind of interesting, right? You know, where like in that particular six week cycle, people from Detroit, Michigan who were more than half less of the visitation actually outspend someone from Orlando.

[01:00:02]So it's just kind of interesting, you know. All right, next slide.

[01:00:04]>> Is Detroit uh typically on this list?

[01:00:07]Yeah. So, Michigan is definitely one of our markets. So, they they they they're on the list and then they come off the list and it just it just depends on the year, you know. Um sometimes just Yeah. time of year. You'll see Grand Rapids a lot as well sometimes, too. So, but but Michigan is definitely a huge um uh target for us when we're targeting things, you know, from from um from a marketing and advertising standpoint.

[01:00:31]Definitely one of our key markets for sure. You know, I would argue and say Michigan or let's just say Detroit is stronger than Charlotte, like which is, you know, you know, I I would love to get more into the Charlotte market or Savannah, you know, but Detroit, it like rivals even Atlanta at times, you know, so that's just it's just an interesting thing, you know, but people up north when it's freezing and so and here's the other thing. Detroit had and not Detroit, we had a very cold winter here around the United States. I think we can all agree it was cold here, right? You know, when you think about like this was wild. Well, Detroit was like Alaska this year. So, when I remember when people were coming into the welcome center and I'm like it would be like 60° or 55. It was like January, early February, whatever it was. I'm like, "Hey guys, I'm sorry. I know you came here."

[01:01:20]They're like, "No, this is good." They walking in in shorts, you know, because for them it was like, "Hey, I have literally baby icebergs floating down my river in Detroit in the Detroit River."

[01:01:29]I'm like, "Oh, I'm so sorry." you know, but so everything is relative. So, so yeah, so they they they do uh show up, but this was really strong, you know. Um >> I I will tell you that, you know, there's a saying that that has been popular for a while that every move begins with a visit.

[01:01:46]>> Um I've watched over the last 20 years an increase in the ganders. Like most of my family lives in either Texas or Michigan and there's more and more Michiganders that move here because there's more and more that come for a visit and then they come for a winter.

[01:02:00]>> Okay. be be careful. I don't I don't want to get tourism involved and people moving here now. Like let's just >> uh it's there is a tie between economic development and tourism.

[01:02:09]>> Growth is a scary thing. So So I'm going to watch you right now. So just just hold back. But you're right, Tom. No, all jokes aside, you're right. Um Max, every every every move, every visit, you know, starts from some someplace. And usually it takes 2.7 visits for someone to decide to move here. And we're here.

[01:02:30]We hear it all the time. You know, it's funny. We're now getting more people who have moved here who have Airbnbs and say, "Hey, I can help you." Oh, I'm I I live here. I'm sure they get some information from my properties. Okay, great. What's your address so I can make sure you're paying taxes? You know, >> the key in in growth in Michigan and and Ohio is I75.

[01:02:48]>> Oh, of course.

[01:02:49]>> And so we should continue to figure out how to exploit that.

[01:02:53]>> I agree. Is there a way to track um the short Hall airlines like Allegant. I just flew to Philadelphia for $84 round trip. You can fly to Key West for $45 round trip.

[01:03:10]I mean uh one way Allegant N Spirit of course, >> right?

[01:03:16]>> Breeze.

[01:03:17]>> Rest rest in peace.

[01:03:18]>> Yeah. Yeah. Rest in peace. Uh I my flight was full of spirit people so I had to like that. But um I wonder if there's a way for Zardico or something to to show us that these people are getting to Florida via >> these and and so you've got what PIE and uh TPA and um Sanford Sanford Orlando has and it's like a uh I mean so there's like three or four of these >> newer airlines that are dropping a lot of people into our neighborhood.

[01:03:58]>> So, great question. So, yes, there's definitely uh destination lift metrics um that we're starting to, you know, that's starting to trickle into us and everything. Um and I'm I'm glad you're talking about this because um one of our special projects that I that I would like to do and and Terry knows she that's why she's laughing. Um I I I want to do an activation. I want to do something um I I think we're going to do it um with uh Allegian >> um and essentially Excuse me.

[01:04:28]>> Wait for it.

[01:04:30]>> Oh, okay. So So what I'm what I'm going to manifest is I want a huge manity on the plane.

[01:04:43]>> A rap basically essentially.

[01:04:46]Um, >> and uh, and >> uh, I know it can be done. And and the cool thing about a Legion especially is you have to go outside to board the plane, right?

[01:04:59]>> So like you're not going through the tunnel, the the this, you know, this you're not going through the what do you call it? I call it the centipede, you know, the J bridge. You have to go outside. You have to go up the stairs and or or the ramp, you know, that kind of thing, you know. So, um, so that's something that I I'm I'm looking into right now, and I think that'll be an amazing opportunity. Um, and I think there's a partnership that can be had between St. Pete Pie, for example, a smaller airport, um, and our destination specifically. Uh, and also, so it's more than just the rap, even though I'm excited about the rap potentially. Um, we'll get we can get we can get metrics with that and we can do retargeting with that. So what's cool about that retargeting is you know when people are there in that particular situation or that particular um POI let's just call it POI point of interest um we can then take that data those cash from those phones and those locations ge locations then we can then retarget those people with our destination because we know they're around our particular advertisement that plane so and then that plane whether it's going to Buffalo to St. Pete um Concord which is in Charlotte to St. compete. Um, they go so many places up north back here to Florida. So, and and all of those markets are literally our markets that we advertise to. So, I think it's a huge opportunity. Um, so be on the lookout.

[01:06:21]So, >> so in Allegiant magazine and obviously they write articles about places close to the airport. Exactly. Um, the Safety Harbor article in the last magazine. Um, I wonder if we can get a Crystal River article in the the magazine.

[01:06:39]>> Yeah, it it will be a part of that. When you when you think about those types of activations, it definitely it'll come with that. And and and not to um I want to make sure I'm clear on this. It'll be Citrus County Tourism. You know, it'll be Citrus County Tourism. So, uh, you know, I know our, you know, our brand is our brand, you know, and I and I don't apologize about that and you guys know that. I've been doing this for a long time, so you got to trust it. Um, but it would definitely be just like we were, you know, there at uh at Zoo Tampa. You know, it's, you know, we we got a lot more. Um, we know what it takes to get the eyes on us. We know what the carrot is.

[01:07:11]>> So, we dangle the carrot.

[01:07:13]>> We do a good job with that.

[01:07:14]>> Yeah, the manatee is good.

[01:07:15]>> The thing is that carrot is just it's just very heavy carrot.

[01:07:18]>> Uh, what is it? Quantis, they have koalas and kangaroos on their planes.

[01:07:25]And if you go to the international international all a lot of these planes have even little description of an animal in their from their country on the plate. So it's a good idea.

[01:07:36]>> Now the staff they were more so um >> they were saying but we should we feel like it should be you on the plane and I said no I think that's a little bit too much.

[01:07:46]>> Um >> but so I I voted I don't I feel like that's a little bit too much. I don't think that's the right way to go. So I just for the record >> hopefully with a hat and sunglasses.

[01:07:55]>> There it is.

[01:07:55]>> I think manager has a better idea.

[01:07:57]>> Oh, >> next slide. Um, so it's funny. So this next slide, this is it's funny. Kind of backs up what we talked about Detroit for example, which is very interesting.

[01:08:07]So this time last year, Detroit was like 1% during that that time frame. And they jumped again. You see the 5% again. So that was a 4% jump. And I I don't know how many people per se, but that's pretty sizable. Um I think Tampa and Orlando were a little flat. I mean, technically down a couple of percent from last year. Um um but fairly flat.

[01:08:31]Um but everything else looks fairly strong. You see Chicago in there. You see Atlanta, Gainesville, you see New York. New York is always traditionally strong um for Meyers. So, um, I think we have a really good diverse, I call it the top 10, the usual suspects. They kind of interchange sometimes. Also, sometimes, Nancy, you mentioned about Detroit, Boston appears a lot during the year as well. So, Boston is a pretty interesting market for us. And Bostononians in that Massachusetts area, um, they spend a lot of money.

[01:09:03]>> So, and they have a lot of money. So, their income is just so different. So, that's another market that we're looking to as well. So, I'll make sure this whole entire packet is emailed to you guys today so you can kind of see it uh as well. Um, all right. So, uh that's the destination update.

[01:09:24]I don't think you guys need to approve.

[01:09:26]We don't normally approve that. Okay.

[01:09:30]>> Let's see for a second >> then before the financial.

[01:09:34]>> Yep.

[01:09:36]>> Uh so again, you know the the delay of collecting the revenue from the state.

[01:09:42]So this is actually December and January's collections. Um December you saw in packet we emailed out for the um April meeting.

[01:09:52]>> Um quickly you can see that in January we kicked it up a notch and narrowed that negative number down to 10% year-over-year collections. So um that was an encouraging piece of the news there.

[01:10:12]>> Let them know about the packet how it printed out.

[01:10:15]>> Oh yeah. Um for some reason when we went to print this out our apologies that there apologies off but I'll just go over it quickly. Um we are highlighted in yellow and you can You know, there's a whole lot of red on that right side for other in our set.

[01:10:42]So, the good news is we're not alone.

[01:10:44]The bad news is there's a lot of downturn in tourism all over the state.

[01:10:49]Oh, I need I need the microphone.

[01:10:53]Nobody's ever told me that.

[01:10:56]All right. Um, so anyway, occupancy is down um in the month of February was down from 83 to 72.9%.

[01:11:05]Uh keeping in mind too that our room availability um is still on the downturn um because of them those rooms we have not regained back from plantation. Um really excited for some new properties to get done and open up their rooms.

[01:11:24]Um so on to the year to date.

[01:11:29]Thank you. Uh again same story. Um I think you know there's just a lot going on. Um the economy and and if you look this um February is kind of when things started to happen with um our political situation with Iran and gas prices started to go up and things like that.

[01:11:51]So I think everybody's feeling the effects of it. Um our drive markets a little bit slower. I can already kind of see that happening.

[01:12:00]>> February. Um the star report for March tells a little bit better story. Um we did have a nice March um compared to the the previous year. Um and I'm looking forward to getting those revenue numbers to you all as soon as they come in for March. But um just kind of more of the same story.

[01:12:21]>> Yes.

[01:12:21]>> So I wanted to touch back with Michael on this real quick. I I think one of my one of my issues with um our star reporting is we do not have everyone reporting.

[01:12:33]>> So it's our reports is just we only can report what we can report. I know uh from your hotel from your you know you guys are I think doing fairly well. Um and then every time I talk to some other properties they're doing like record numbers but then it's like never translates to to this. And it's like I know we're I feel like we're missing something, but I know the brands have to report. I do know that. I I I understand that, but it's like I feel like the other ones that are not reporting. It's like what's going on here? What are you What are you saying?

[01:13:03]>> Well, I don't know who you're who's telling you they're doing well, but any of the brands that are reporting are lying to you if they're telling they're doing well because they're all down 24% in Revar, 25% 33%.

[01:13:15]>> Um besides the Windham property is actually doing really well. Okay. Um but then we had a lot of opportunity to grow from last year anyway or from the year before.

[01:13:24]>> True.

[01:13:25]>> So um yeah it's interesting now >> you've got what 11200 rooms in the market that star looks at and 700 and some change or reporting. So you got a 70 >> 689 I think is about 89 rooms out of 13 penetration. So statistically according to my second quarter of calculus and college the numbers are accurate relative to whatever because you have two smaller properties that are independent that are outliers that wouldn't wouldn't move the needle one way or the other anyway even if they were running 100%. However, it would be nice if we had that information if they would take the time and I'm planning on putting the plantation back on the star report even though it's an independent now. I just got to get the numbers and get it signed up and make sure it's okay with everybody and I spend the money.

[01:14:05]But those 58 rooms again probably aren't moving the needle a whole lot um in the process. But uh yeah, um yeah, I don't know who's telling you they're doing great if they're not if they're not reading their own star report. So, it's important. It's good information. And of course, relative to your tax collection versus your star report, none of the star report numbers indicate what's happening with your RVs or your short-term housing rentals. So, last we checked and we had a little bit of um intuitiveness on it. It was about a third, third, and a third or a third was hotels, two/irds was the rest was um hotel was I don't know whether RV was >> a third and housing was a third, but then you've got a whole different dynamic in that. You probably got a lower ADR and a higher occupancy in RVs, and you have a higher ADR and a lower occupancy in in homes. But then you got to look at homes in a different way too because for every one room I sell, they sell a room or a house with five rooms.

[01:14:58]So it it's a whole different dynamic.

[01:15:00]But you could get the short-term rentals or convince them to be in the star. I don't know how you do that. And you could get the independent hotels to do the same thing. And I don't know if the RV world exists or has any kind of a database like that that they do on a national basis anyway. And I don't know whether an RV park could be part of Starve or whether it stays with short-term housing rentals. We are um with this article, we are able to see some of the short-term rental um occupancy now. Um that's something fairly new. So, I I want to get I want to get with you and share with some of that stuff with you and and Ray as well and even Luan, but I'm able to see um almost identical to from the hotel. So, it shows me the hotel versus comparison for short-term rental. Um and it give me occupancy, ADR, um everything just like the hotel. So, maybe let's look at some of those numbers. I would like to maybe schedule something with you guys to see, you know, what we can do here if there's something we missing and, you know, some opportunities. Um, and I would like to even see from from Ray and Lannne is, hey, is this accurate? You know, is this what you guys are seeing? Because you guys are living in that world, right?

[01:16:07]Michael really isn't because he's on the hotel side. So, you guys are the expert from that standpoint. So I definitely want to share some of that some of these new metrics that I have so we can take a look at it and see what the opportunities and then also even sit down with our now we have the the database with the new mode gov OS to see okay this is what the needle is looking like because I I'm able to even see um the potential collections revenues now uh just on the short-term side only and some of the numbers are actually kind of mind-blowing and I'm like wait a minute this is I mean we're looking at Like I mean some of these numbers are saying it's it's going to double the budget.

[01:16:45]I'm like you know so I just I just need to Yeah. It's just it's just interesting >> numbers that are not being collected then.

[01:16:52]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[01:16:54]>> Just the point of reference on your on your RevPAR index which is a good indicator. My comp set within my properties run within 3 to 5% of what you're showing.

[01:17:03]>> Okay. Okay.

[01:17:04]>> Little bit better normally.

[01:17:06]>> All right. So it's not so it it's not like it's super far off. It's it is what it is.

[01:17:12]>> Again, my comp set's a little more specific to me than this county is.

[01:17:17]>> Okay. All right.

[01:17:18]>> Yeah, you could have a conversation.

[01:17:19]Maybe have a conversation with STAR and see if there's some cooperative dollar amount they would allow the independents to buy into the program without it being a very costly involvement.

[01:17:27]>> Okay.

[01:17:30]>> All righty.

[01:17:31]>> So, >> next slide.

[01:17:34]>> Financials.

[01:17:36]Um the next one we did March already.

[01:17:40]Okay, here we go. Fun stuff. Social media. Um Facebook um followers. An uptick there. Um sidebar to note this on the left hand side. Um Homosasa Monkey Island lost uh Ebony, one of the monkeys >> recently.

[01:17:56]So um just wanted to put that out there.

[01:17:59]Moment of silence for Ebony. Um >> we know why. Not that it >> not yet. I don't think anything's been reported yet. Um, the YouTube channel subscribers, I just want to say before Nick started this discover uh, let's discover campaign, I think we had 85 subscribers. So, he's we've really seen a significant growth in that. And, you know, if everybody in this room subscribed, that would really help a lot.

[01:18:27]>> Uh, subscribe.

[01:18:29]>> I know you are. All right. uh Instagram.

[01:18:32]We've um see a constant um uptick in that as well since Nick's joined the team and really doing a phenomenal job with our social media in addition to the efforts that Miles Partnership puts in um with their social media stuff.

[01:18:47]Kelly >> Oh, oh, one more. That's just an an overview and insight so you can see. I know we're just glazing over things here, but >> you've got the numbers all looking pretty darn good.

[01:19:04]>> Okay, so for FAM tours, um this is for obviously February and March as you see on the screen there. So um we um I there was a busy weekend February 6th through the 8th because Ted Brazz was here. He he lives in Tampa. He has two social media pages down there like things to do in Tampa and like a eating Tampa page I believe. Um and so uh we hosted him and then Christina Makashenko uh she's the lady in the red sweatshirt there in front of three sisters. She is um uh the underwater diver that or she goes into the pool with the red heels if you've ever seen her on Instagram. She has a reach of like five million followers on all of her channels. Um so that was fun to to host her. Um, Dennis Phillips was here also that same weekend. Um, that's a picture of me. I ran into him at the Waterfront Adventures when Christina and I were over there. Um, so I was on the tour with her, but then I saw him, so I had to snag a picture with him. So that was that was fun. And then, uh, uh, February 16th to 19th, we hosted Bonnie and Gava. So they are pictured, um, there holding the magazine. She is actually the model of our Homosasa um, magazine. So we hosted them in 2024. So she was here um and she had no idea that she was on the cover of the magazine. So we sle and her husband there, he had taken the photo of here when they were there two years prior and then we just hosted them again and they just had a wonderful time. They're also um these amazing underwater divers um that go to all these islands all over the world.

[01:20:34]Like they have really great great content and reach as well. Um >> content is sick. They're swim with sharks and all.

[01:20:41]>> Yeah, exactly.

[01:20:42]>> They make everything look very elegant.

[01:20:44]Uh, I know Nick tried to officially pull off that cave picture.

[01:20:48]>> Yeah.

[01:20:49]>> Um, he didn't quite look the same as Gabby.

[01:20:52]>> Um, and then Alex Huffner, um, he, um, he was a, um, a bicyclinger, um, like BMX, like mountain biking stuff. So, um, we had them over in Inessous. So, he came here to do an article. We worked with Visit Florida on that. And then Gills on Wheels, um, was here. They're like an RVing couple. Um, good housekeeping. We kind of had like a test panel come in. We did like a tour with them and we're like entered into some kind of contest, sweep stakes to maybe get an article. Um, we won't know until the fall um who if we were selected for that um for an article coming up and then uh Rita Cook was with Insider Magazine. Um we hosted her as well. So um I'm just going to run through um some of the partners that we used for all of those tours um that we hosted. Um, the Plantation Adventure Center, uh, Crumps Landing, Three Sister Springs, Paddletail Waterfront Lodge, Waterfront Adventures, Oscar Pens, Bayside Craft Kitchen, American Pro Dive, Salty Sirens, Wat's Edge Adventures, Explorator, Waterfront Social, Casey Wine Bar, Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters, Cove Resort, Pub and Grub, uh, Crystal River Archaeological State Park, Crystal River KOA Journey, Seafood Seller, Crystal River Worts, Paddles Outdoor Rentals, Crystal River Miniolf, Tailwalker Fishing Charters, Ellie Schiller Wildlife State Park, Ozello Boats, and Vintage on Fifth. Um, all right, that pretty much covers FAM tours. We can go to the next slide. Um, our PR report for February um was about 5.7 million. um that came there was a large um blog post from um islands.com and they had the best spots to view manatees and that got like almost 415 uh million views and then another million came from u Dennis Phillips Dropbox. He had like a a live um on his socials from his visit here. So that gained over a million views. And then we can go to the next slide for for March.

[01:23:01]Um that was uh 456 million and um there was an um u an article blog on Yahoo Travel that got over um almost 370 million views taking the kids last minute spring break. So um we were selected for that in Crystal River. Um there was another article um that AOL had um 10 underrated southern destinations. um Crystal River was nominated for that um article and uh on AL it got 25 million impressions and um Southern Living picked up and shared that same article that got another 16 million views. Um another channel, Finance Buzz, 14 overlooked Florida towns to make your travel list got two 22 million views. Um another 11 million views on travel and leisure for the 15 best weekend getaways in Florida according to a local. So, our name is definitely out all over the world. So, that's just amazing. And I love my job.

[01:24:05]>> I'll give uh Kelly some some kudos here.

[01:24:07]Kelly has taken this new position by or I should say the bull by the horns, right? So, uh, um, she's been really busy and she's done a marvelous job, um, at it and, um, she is pretty much the liaison between all of our partners, um, all of the partners, um, and the office.

[01:24:27]Um, so appreciate you doing all that stuff. Uh, you know, a lot of our hours are not 8 to 5. um and she constantly reminds me >> um of the evening events and the weekend events and all that fun stuff. But I think she has a good time doing it and she manages it. I always tell her to, you know, make sure it's a work life balance as well. You know, sometimes it's some good times. But, you know, I think people need to realize that in this business, you always have to be on, you know, and so, you know, whether it's 8:00 at night at a dinner or 6:30 in the morning on a tour with an influencer or media, you have to be on. and uh it takes a lot of energy in that. So, we show all the fun things and the smiles and everything, but it's just a lot of work put behind it because um I think many of you have seen some of her itineraries that she's put together for our visitors when they come in town and it's very very very busy. Um so, thank you for that.

[01:25:21]>> Yeah, Kelly, you didn't mention the how the travel and leisure article got written by one of our fan tours.

[01:25:29]>> Yeah. Um yes actually that's another one that's coming up on the next report but this was a different article but yes I will talk about that at the next meeting that was India Amos she um we hosted her and she stayed at the cove and she loved it.

[01:25:42]>> So it it's funny so to that point Tom you know a people think you know things just happen just because No it it happens because we are trying to be No we're not trying to be we are intentional in what we do. Um each team member here um they they have a uh we have marching orders, right? And we go out and we we talk to people, we email people, we meet with people, whether it's conferences, trade shows, consumer shows, um Teams calls, Zoom calls, everything, you know, and the overall goal is to get more attention um uh on on us. Um and the cool thing is we're not talking about paytoplay type scenarios. We're talking about true organic uh media and attention onto this market and and advertising and articles and editorials uh which makes things even better because they believe in what we're doing. So yeah.

[01:26:37]All right.

[01:26:40]So we are complete here on our end.

[01:26:42]>> We're good. All right. So that ends E for financial reports. So do we have any um other business by council member Trac Tracy? Do you have anything to say?

[01:26:52]I don't believe so.

[01:26:54]>> Nancy, >> you're welcome.

[01:26:58]>> Wish it rain more.

[01:27:01]>> Our lake levels creating problems for us and and keeping our cabins busy.

[01:27:05]>> Yeah. Well, In has had to close the >> the ramp and Max has got a paddle going on Thursday and he's doesn't know where to launch from. We're we're we're launching from the plantation and we're going to uh encourage we it's an environmental group and we're going to take a look at Kings Bay and how is it different from when we did the same paddle 5 years ago.

[01:27:26]>> Okay. Are you doing a paddle? Is it a kayak or a paddle board or both? Combo >> kayaks.

[01:27:30]>> Okay. Um I'm curious, Max, how large is the group?

[01:27:34]>> Um I just posted it last night and it's on the 21st, but we're generally 15 to 20 folks. Uh, and it's Nature Coast Ramblers is the name of the club that'll be >> Okay.

[01:27:44]>> So, what do you what do you guys do?

[01:27:46]Sorry.

[01:27:47]>> Um, well, the club does a one hike, one bike ride, one um paddle every month of ninemonth cycle.

[01:27:56]>> Okay.

[01:27:57]>> Um, and then a lot of freelancing.

[01:27:59]There's about 200 members. And there are several other clubs, similar clubs in this county, um, that draw a few people from the outside, but also create a lot of stuff that that ends up being good content.

[01:28:13]>> Yeah. Hernando Paddlers with the Coochie Bikers. There's a lot of really good groups to join up and >> no no cost, just uh, >> group uh, social.

[01:28:26]>> Yeah, Max, I I think it'll be a good opportunity. Um, I remember it vaguely, but I'm not too too familiar with it to be honest with you. But I I think it' be a good opportunity to maybe discuss at maybe one of our partisan tourism meetings.

[01:28:38]Um, especially um because I know there's a lot of people who who who do paddle, kayak, um, and with the opportunity to also do something, you know, eco-friendly, you know, I think that'll be huge, you Well, and in this case, what I I pushed to the club was um you know, the plantation is an institution and and it's part of our history and it's going to be here. Um right now is the easiest time to park your car. It's um it's it's $30 to rent a kayak. It's only $5 to launch and it cost you that much to park in other places. So, we're just trying to give a little love to the plantation because they give it to everybody else. So, >> Awesome. Awesome. Thank you. I I um did Did y'all >> Ray, do you have anything? I don't know.

[01:29:22]Okay.

[01:29:23]>> Um I I want to talk for a second about um outdoor sports and and you know, with a it's a really tough business. We constantly say we want to do more in terms of sports tourism. Um I would hope you would take a look at um making contact with Nick Gandandy at the Florida Sports Con uh Council and they're the sponsors of the senior games. Senior games are held in uh December, one week in December down in Pasco County.

[01:29:50]>> Yeah, we're members.

[01:29:52]>> Yes. Well, but it's a if I've looked at their web page, I don't know what it would cost to do an event with them. Um but I hearken back to uh when Adam was here, they were working on a program that was called Pedal Paddle Walk Hike.

[01:30:06]Um and it was about all the trail opportunities. Uh if we can December, the second week in December is when the state games are there. if there was any way we could leverage that, especially now that Inveress has seniors games um and start competing. But that's a venue that that has their web page is is reaches out to all the no to everybody that that it hits are athletically oriented and they live all over the state. So, the idea of saying, "Hey, when you're coming to the senior games in December, we're a great place with um you've you've got great content on our trails, on our hiking trails, um the biking trails, but to put together some kind of a mini program uh to see if we can, you know, get into the tough niche of of more sports tourism.

[01:30:57]>> So, let's do this. Let's I'll just set I'll get in contact with them. I'll set up a a call for the three of us to join."

[01:31:02]>> Cool. All right. Thank you. I actually go ahead.

[01:31:06]>> Um I was curious, um we're talking about feeder markets, the villages, I know you mentioned that. Yeah.

[01:31:12]>> Is that a big feeder market? I was just curious.

[01:31:17]>> So it depends on who you ask, right?

[01:31:20]>> Um and it depends on where, right? So we know from the villages and and and Luen has some they she gets I think quite a bit from from the villages at the co.

[01:31:30]>> They do as well.

[01:31:31]>> Okay. Um and so they come in different ways, right? They come via car of course and they also come out of busing as well um groups.

[01:31:45]>> Okay.

[01:31:45]>> Date. So there's um there's a lot of day trippers out of them. I think there is opportunity for some overnights. Um I just don't know how much, but I do know they spend money. They clearly have money. They have expendable income.

[01:31:58]>> Even if it's not overnight, I was just curious.

[01:32:00]>> Yeah. said, "No, no, they're definitely coming." I I think when I when I say the villages, with the villages, they have so many unique Well, first of all, it's huge.

[01:32:10]>> Yeah, that's >> and they have a lot of but they have certain areas where they do their like their live music and their concerts and stuff. So, you know, we talked about activations. I think there's an opportunity for us in my mind, right?

[01:32:22]Just throwing it out there. It would be kind of cool to potentially do a takeover where we just basically essentially throw up on them at their events and it's our brand is everywhere for like that weekend because they have like three or four like events. They do >> where they um it's like a huge series or it's a huge gathering or something like that. So trying to figure out is there u a marketing or advertising opport activation opportunity for us to like basically be the sponsor of that whole thing for them right just to kind of get our name and see what happens with that. So um but yeah so no I mean it's definitely a market and we know it. Um okay.

[01:33:05]>> Uh so yeah, >> as an example, the the paddling club of the villages has 400 members and an over 100 member waiting list to get on it.

[01:33:17]>> They they do the same thing weekly paddles everywhere and we rarely see them here. Okay.

[01:33:23]>> Um I spoke um introduced our new book.

[01:33:26]Tom couldn't come that day, but we had about a hundred people from the club just listening to talk about um the cross Florida greenway. Uh so, and I think Inest does a really good job on getting them for the small town done right things. Um you've probably seen the numbers, I don't know, but >> uh and they bring money to the to the farmers market on Saturdays. Um >> so, a lot of villages, people, the farmers market and also um uh the biker clubs. I mean, so it I mean, the in entree would be to try to get into the clubs, uh, like the paddling club, the biking club, fishing club. Um, they have >> Yeah.

[01:34:08]>> car clubs.

[01:34:09]>> Car clubs, >> USAF, >> and they'll let you come They'll let you come and speak. Um, just it's a quick drive. We we go in, we talk about biking and we of course get a lot of bikers that come to the trail with Gucci State Trail uh from the villages.

[01:34:26]>> Cycler biking. You're >> talking about pedal. Pedaling. Yeah. By bicycling.

[01:34:32]Cycling. How's that? Cycling. Yeah. So, I mean the villages are good. Uh we did a lot of um uh research on the the art festival and we're surprised that not as many people from the villages go to the Inverous Festival of the Arts and it might be um there's a a bunch of different reasons but um the advertising that we did uh in the uh Orlando and um Tampa market for the one two years ago brought brought a lot of people but more from Orlando and Tampa, not necessarily The Villages. So, I think the Villages is a different customer.

[01:35:15]>> Um, they usually come down with their own paintings and their own art and their own stuff in a big van when they move down here. Um, but you do have people that buy winter places. And >> so, so it's funny. So, just to show you, I've been take it to a whole another level. So, I was looking talking to a company from an activation standpoint um and we identified uh several things within the villages um that we can potentially do. Um they have it's called something called the Spanish the Spanish Springs monthly cruise in uh in August.

[01:35:50]Um the Brownwood Arts and Craft Festival in October, >> the running of the squares in October as well. Hometown Halloween festival October. Uh and then of course they have a huge October fest. So those were like the five huge events that we had looked into. Um and we we also have an estimated attendance. The Brownwood Arts and Crafts Festival is 10,000 plus for example. Um the hometown Halloween festival was 3,000 plus, you know. So um so there's something that we were looking at to see what you know what we could do that could potentially make sense. So that was just one of the things. So, it's definitely a market that we're definitely looking into just trying to figure out what's the best opportunity, what makes the most sense because it's it's more so, yeah, we can identify the actual event, but it's like, okay, what are we going to do when we get there?

[01:36:37]>> So, it's like because you don't want to waste money. So, that's the that's the thing. It's like, you know, with the Zoo Tampa, perfect fit. It made sense. Like, it was seamless. It was like, okay, let's go. Now, with the villages, I want the same approach. So, >> yeah, it's that's hard because they're all going to different restaurants. I mean, they they're all over the place >> 100%. And and the villages is so much I I'll be honest with you, I didn't even know I didn't even know it was over multiple counties. I thought it was just one neighborhood.

[01:37:02]>> Yeah. In fact, what what you when you talk about Spanish Springs, that's Marian County. And when you talk about Brownwood, that's some sump.

[01:37:10]>> That's my point. That's my point.

[01:37:11]>> That's a big part of their strategy on growth. Of course, >> they have one group that's um uh one club that's called the Thriller Killers, and they do 25 shows during the month of October based on Michael Jackson's Thriller. They've got a dance troop.

[01:37:24]>> Great biopic, by the way, if you haven't seen >> people. We should see if we could get them to do an event here.

[01:37:30]>> Okay?

[01:37:31]>> Because number one, that many people coming from the villages, then they that's more people that see us. But it's also a pretty cool event. A lot of video online from it. But but to the point though, whether it's the villages again, Tampa, Orlando, we're we are definitely, you know, focusing a little bit more strategic uh with to those drive markets because I I like to call it the lowhanging fruit, right? You know, it's it's right there in our backyard. So, you know, if I could just stand up and pick a couple apples off or trees, you know, off the trees, then let's get it done, you know, especially from a ROI standpoint. So, >> well, I think the hotel the the hotels that are going up now, higherend uh amenities wise are going to attract overnight stays from the villages. Right now they're not they're not um as much of a overnight stay uh just >> for whatever reason, but maybe it's a higher end uh >> and and we're also and keep this in mind too. Let's just I'm going move away from tourism a little bit which that sounds like blasphemy but this county is also shifting from a standpoint of we are now starting when you think about the middle of the county the growth Hernando Lan de Lanto because of the parkway we're starting to have we're building more shopping now right uh uh more even more restaurants so like that's a big deal the shops that are coming into um off of Norbel Bryant and stuff like that so Those those things are also important in why somebody from the villages will go into town. Just like people from our community, what do we do? We a lot of us drive to Ocala certain things that we don't have here, you know, let alone Tampa or Loots and and things of that nature. So, um I think the more and more our community diversifies its retail >> type of experience, I think that's also key.

[01:39:21]>> Yeah. Well, but then we've got places like Lann's the Cove where it's a local color, local flavor, and local owners.

[01:39:29]And >> she's the best. I mean, she's she's the only place on Henderson Lake, if not mistaken, that has a commercial property.

[01:39:34]>> Bringing in these big chain restaurants and all this stuff is not really enhancing the Citrus County flavor.

[01:39:42]>> It's catch 22. Um so uh my uh what do they other business uh Iness is having its July 3rd event because in our agreement with um uh Gristle River they have July 4th for the fireworks and we do July the 3 and we're having uh two concerts uh one a Leonard Skannard um band uh and uh the other one is a top three Spotify country and western singer independent. Um he came here a couple of years ago. It's going to be a really good night. Plus, we have uh the big slam wrestling at 3:00 before that and uh all the food and vendors at uh 4:00 start opening up and uh so there's a lot going on in Inberness.

[01:40:34]>> Are you going to be doing the firework display?

[01:40:36]>> Yes, it's uh 9:45.

[01:40:39]>> So the city can shoot off fireworks, but private people that I I'm wondering by that time will we still be in a no burn and therefore would we be able to I that was a personal feeling I never asked anybody but yeah certainly that's an issue >> it's hopeful that it's going to rain >> yes like yesterday >> yesterday was nice but >> not enough >> I do I do I know I do know a lot of shows uh a lot of cities and not to belver the the meeting but uh you've seen a lot of light shows now and drone lights. So, I know you see a lot of that and those are pretty spectacular.

[01:41:16]>> Yeah, they are. They're great. They have one at uh Lakeland uh Sun and Fun that's just you can't imagine what they how it works >> so well. Cool.

[01:41:28]>> All right. So, um open to the public. We have another session of open to the public. Anybody would like to speak uh hear you now. Audra, >> since Chris wasn't here to uh highlight what's going on in Crystal River, I wanted to go ahead and add that to your to your notes. Uh May 23rd is our next concert. Thanks to Inesse lending us their stage. We have our Crystal River Nights concert series. That night, it'll be Jojo and Jay opening for the Almighty Queen tribute.

[01:41:59]>> And obviously on Fourth of July, we are obviously having our big batch. Uh for those of you that don't know, the cranes are rolling into Kings Bay Park right now. And construction is breaking on uh Riverwalk on phase 2A. The bridges across between King.

[01:42:14]>> I don't believe it. I don't believe it.

[01:42:15]>> It's happening. The cranes are there. I just got a picture. Um so because of the cranes rolling, um we are going to have a groundbreaking with our city council and and we'll get that information out to the county and out to all of our partners. But um Fourth of July is now downtown. We'll have it along Citrus Avenue and in Town Square. We've rented a big 40 by60 tent because it's going to be hot. It's going to be hot. And uh we'll have a smaller stage under the tent and try to conduct most of our music. We have a AC/DC tribute band called AC Deucec that is fabulous. They even have bag pipes. So, uh we'll be doing that on Fourth of July. So, we'll have a Fourth of July concert from 4:30 till 8. And then we'll have all our vendors up and down the the avenue there. and we will allow people into Kings Bay Park, but simply to watch fireworks. So, we won't be having a VIP view viewing area, anything like that this year. The the chamber was unable to participate. So, we will just allow people down to watch the fireworks, but we won't be able to have that VIP type area this year, but because of the construction mainly. So, that's our update for upcoming. Then, the concert series will continue. We will also have concerts in September, September 19th.

[01:43:28]That concert is a um the block party band will open and then the Phil Collins experience and Phil Collins Genesis Turn it on Again Genesis tribute on September 19th dual bands and then October 10th is Scarecrow Fest and normally Scarecrow Fest is a daytime event that's mainly just for the families and the kids. We've expanded that that night to include another concert and we're going to have two country bands who often play as a duo at St. John's Tavern, but they both have full bands and both have done some work in Nashville. And that is the uh Clint Byron band and the Rick Lynn band. So, they're gonna they're going to play off each other. One's going to open and one's going to headline. So, I don't know who's doing what yet. They're still talking. The the guys are talking. But anyway, um that takes us through October. And then there'll be other concerts in November and our Christmas tree lighting in December. So, that'll round out our year. One last announcement. Our last first Friday is June 5th. We're not doing First Fridays anymore. We've moved them to Saturday night in town square because by popular demand, a lot of our working folk were complaining, "We can't go to First Friday. We're tired. We work all week.

[01:44:37]This is just too too hard." And our vendors and our bands appreciate attendance as much as the city and our businesses do. So, we've decided to try Saturday nights and we'll be doing Saturday nights on Town Square starting with August 1st and September 5th. Those will be the first two. So the same event that you always saw as first Friday will now be on Saturday nights. Same same first Friday event, just can't call it that now. So but anyway, trying to make it so that all of our folks, not just our retirees and our g visitors and guests, but our working people can come and enjoy it with their families after a day on the water or a day playing ball with the kids or whatever. So just wanted to let you all know of those little changes going on in Crystal River. Thank you for your time.

[01:45:18]>> That's really fantastic. number one to see the minor reinvention and number two especially to see the cooperation uh with Inverous I hope you're deconlicting Saturday nights >> and that's the kind of thing that will bring people to stay somewhere in the county you know one night or the other so bravo >> and we also have on Saturday the American Rolling Stones downtown Saturday night in Inbert this Saturday come on >> up morning uh my name is Buddy Johnson had been up here before. I just wanted to I'm a volunteer at Three Sister Springs.

[01:45:54]Wanted to say go back to the opening. I I appreciate the professionalism and the desire on the on behalf of the uh the tour groups to raise professionalism.

[01:46:04]You know, we see it on the water all the time uh on the boardwalk and it it's good good to see that. Max talked about the fractionalism and the the the fact that we we people need to stay together.

[01:46:16]Um, it reminded me of that the Ben Franklin quote about something about we got to hang together. We're gonna surely hang separately and we need to all be on the on the same page. Uh, I'm hoping you read the Chronicle article that had uh Stacy um uh the Duns talking about ingestion on the on the uh in Kings Bay.

[01:46:41]And then that that got into a Spectrum News article uh Spectrum News talking about with the Duns also and Avis was on you were in that thing. We we were lucky in a way that that happened at the end of Manatee season and not the beginning because it looks like it's dying off now. But that's something we've got to be aware of right now. You talk about fractionalism. There's also fractionalism of people who are opposed to tourism with the manatees. And if they ever get their act together, don't underestimate the anger out there. You know, I I hear it when I'm on the water.

[01:47:17]I hear it when I you know, you see it on the on the social media. There is everything from concern to anger. And if those people get their act together, we all are going to be in a a world of hurt. So, I'm just saying that, you know, we are blessed to have this. you know, the videos that show harassment of vid of of manatees that if that gets into the national news, we're going to have a a big issue here. And I think you're all aware of that fact. So, we've got a wonderful thing here. We are blessed that we are the only place you can legally swim with manatees. We just all have to be careful we don't blow it.

[01:47:53]So, thank you very much.

[01:47:54]>> Thank you.

[01:47:54]>> Thank you.

[01:47:55]>> Thank you.

[01:47:56]>> Anyone else?

[01:47:59]>> All right, Marty. Well, I'm going to touch on some of the things you said there. My name is Dylan. I own and operate Big Three Charters in uh Chris River, Florida. Homassa, Chaz, don't don't uh mix that up. I operate all over the county. Um some things that worry me about planning for the future or implementing things like the eco compliance program are misinformation.

[01:48:21]Some things that uh are seem to be misinformed about that I hear uh every day or every time I tune in on this is the fact that this is not the only place in the world that you can legally swim with manatees. Mexico you can do it and not in the US either. We can swim with them all over the state. There's no thing that makes us special over someone else.

[01:48:45]Um, some other things that I seem it seems to be there's some misinformation about is that you do not need an SUP to operate in Crystal River. I heard you and Peter talking about that earlier.

[01:48:59]There's nothing that supports that Chris River has different rules than Homosasa.

[01:49:04]There's nothing in the CFR code that says that. And same thing with the CFR code and swimming with manatees in here or Miami. You guys should really educate yourselves when we're planning for the future or implementing the eco compliance program because if not, just like the SCP, it's going to fail. All right, so those are just my two concerns at the moment. I'm sure you guys will see me in the future. But for now, sit on that, read some CFR code, see what you learn because it seems to be a lot of misinformation, misunderstandings um as far as those two things go. All right, thank you guys.

[01:49:37]>> Thanks for coming.

[01:49:39]>> Anyone else?

[01:49:44]Peter Weber, owner of Go Local Manity Tours. Um, while we were you guys were talking and I heard all of us mentioning like airplanes and things like that, it kind of drew this thing in my head that um, it is not standard in any type of industry when it comes to water born activities in Florida to have a brickandmortar business. When you go to the Keys and you go to everyone knows But Marys, right? um none of them have brick and mortar businesses. They operate out of a legal marina and that marina then allows um you to bring your boat there and you run fishing charters, go to St. Pete, you can get on a parasailing tour, you go to Crystal River, you can get on a manatee tour.

[01:50:24]But as long as you're operating out of a legal marina and you have commercial waterfront access, that is the standard and that is a broad standard throughout the entire state of Florida and all places in um in the US that I know of.

[01:50:38]Um so you know when we're talking about setting these standards we need to make sure that these industry standards are you know not just used because someone oh said oh yeah you need a brick and mort that doesn't make sense you know the standard in the US and in all of Florida is um to have a a commercial waterfront lease and a commercial waterfront access. Um and then as for um the special use permit, um Crystal River is all a state navigable waterway. Um you can go anywhere in the Crystal River and is a state navigable waterway. So you do not need a special use permit to be in any of that. I can take my boat from Crystal River and drive it into Home Assassin and swim with manatees. And vice versa, I can take my boat from Home Assassin and drive it into the Crystal River and swim with manatees. Um, so those two tools that were created for this program were definitely um, I think overlooked and there wasn't much research done into them. And I think if you guys want this program to continue, uh, you guys should remove those and that way um, I think Marty said, you know, we got to get together, right? like we shouldn't create inclusion and oh, we're better than the other because there's great operators there and just because one person rents a building or one person rents a slip at a marina doesn't make you any different. We're all doing and we're all here for the same things and that's to protect manatees and to um bring tourists here and educate them and you know that ultimately goes on to protecting manatees. Uh so the more that we can come together as a whole the better it off is for our industry. All right, great. Thank you guys. Thanks for your to talk. Um I I do know that we're you can have a seat. Uh we we're following a format from a particular organization that is a great first step and possibly you know foundation can't speak. You already spoken your three minutes. So the forum for that discussion is certainly what you've done before talked to the county. Um these are not we're we're providing a a guideline for um better work with the um tour operators and the the the nature.

[01:52:56]Um it's not necessarily the ultimate uh but it's a huge leap ahead from what we had which was nothing. Yeah, >> board. I just wanted to be very clear that this program was created as a standard for us as the tourism board um as to who we wanted to represent the county when we send out journalists, when we send out trade um international people. Um, we wanted to have a set of standards that we knew we were guaranteed if we're investing in bringing these people here, we wanted them to have X experience. We wanted to be guaranteed that they would have that education, the positive, you know, the whole works, right? So, this isn't a a program by any means that's meant to eliminate anybody. It's not a club. It's none of that. Mhm.

[01:53:52]>> We are simply trying to make sure that we put our best foot forward when we have these people in our destination. That's it.

[01:54:02]>> Mhm.

[01:54:04]>> All right. Um, anyone else want to speak publicly?

[01:54:12]>> Uh, so for the record, Kim Alman again with Explora. um just hearing you guys talk um you know you made a suggestion Max uh to bring in a consultant that was kind of eyes from outside and I do welcome that. Um I think though that the inside opinion is also very important and so a couple things that I just wanted to uh just mention before we leave today. Um, you know, just listening again to you all speak, Holly, she mentioned a couple things about keeping your voice uh when we were talking about the AI um, uh, projects there, keeping your voice and not wanting to be flatly homogeneous. And that kind of stuck out to me because I think that that's really important when we talk about the eco compliance partnership. You know, this program I it's to elevate the standard, not just make it inclusive to everybody. Um, and while some people may not be included now, I do believe that this program was made and created in a way that people can obtain it, um, they can get to it.

[01:55:11]There are special use permits out there that are for sale, maybe not at the price anyone wants to, you know, put up front, but if, you know, we have to sacrifice growth to ensure that we can, you know, be compliant with this program, if we do so passionately believe we should be a part of it, I think that is an opportunity. Um, one other thing is, uh, we don't want to be, I think Max, you said this, uh, when referencing the AI, we don't want to be dragged down just to be like everybody else. And I think that's what's so important with the inaugural partners of this eco compliance partnership is that again, our goal is to elevate the standard. And while we do realize that not everyone is a part of this right now, we are all fully supported in elevating our industry as a whole. Um, so that I think is probably all I need to say today. Uh, thank you all for your time.

[01:56:02]>> Thank you. Would anyone else like to speak publicly?

[01:56:09]>> I, uh, was inspired by Tracy, Paul Cross. Again, I represent three, uh, businesses in Crystal River. And being inspired by Tracy, I think it's important to note only one of the three companies that I uh, manage is part of the eco- compliant partnership. There's a reason for that because I don't feel like as a business owner that my other two operations hold the standard that paddle tail holds, right? I don't have power poles on all the boats. I have them on the majority of the boats, right? I don't have a designated area where I can show people a video um at the Manatee swim center, right? And I think that's hugely important. Could I go and apply for the partnership now and and follow the guidelines? I think I could, right? But I don't feel that I am meeting that standard yet right now. Right. So as Tracy, I'm trying to get to that point.

[01:57:00]So we can do that. And I would argue like don't take away. Add two. Add two.

[01:57:05]Could you put a component in there where that the company had to at least give $5,000 annually to a nonforprofit to help in Crystal River? Like is that something that we could add to it? What other things could we add to that program to make it not necessarily harder, but to raise the level of service that we're doing to the community? You know, I spend a lot of time I go to Tallahassee every year. I serve on the board of Save Crystal River where we're trying to get funding for the Save Chrystal River Project. That everybody on that board when something happens on social media, they get blasted. every person on that board is not paid a dime with the exception of uh the the one grant writer, but everybody else donates their time. Like I would like to see some more of that added to the component of what we're doing. So make it make it even harder to to join that uh exclusive community. That's it.

[01:58:02]>> Thank you.

[01:58:03]>> Anyone else?

[01:58:06]>> Hi again. Kimberly Stibsminster, owner of Salty Siren Tourism Charters. I don't want to beat a dead horse and be redundant here, but um I think it is worth mentioning that in the ecoourism compliance program, you are required to donate time to two different projects and or donate funds. I do support Save Crystal River. I can give you a dollar amount if you'd like. We do bay cleanups. Um, having that educational component and that special use permit is integral to keeping this industry where it needs to be. Um, I hate the idea that people think we're fractionalized. I've worked very well with Dylan and Peter.

[01:58:44]They will they will tell you that when I have overage and no one else can take it. I will call them. However, it's attainable by anyone in this industry to get one of those special use permits.

[01:58:54]You have to come off of the money to purchase a business that already has one. It takes money to make money. I'm not independently wealthy. My husband and I are both military veterans. Yes, I have loans. I have credit card debt because I wanted to go into this business because I care about manatees and I care about protection and education of those manities. So to say that people are being excluded, I do take issue with that completely because you can rent a brick and mortar. You can get a special use permit and it is to go ahead and recognize those people that have taken those steps to go above and beyond what maybe the norm is for some other people. So again, um fractionalization, no, I don't think so.

[01:59:37]I think we all care about manatees. We wouldn't be here. But for people to feel that they're excluded when this is the American dream. You want to be the best that you can be, right? So it is attainable. People have to jump through hoops. Maybe they don't want to. Maybe they can't afford to. However, they're trying to go ahead and lift up the industry. We're trying to lift up the industry. And I want everyone in this room to understand that we're not fighting against each other. Again, it's not big versus small, but it does take it does take an investment financially and you know, personally.

[02:00:11]>> Thank you. Thank you very much. Anyone else?

[02:00:15]>> Just one last thing I would I would like to say is the reason I I recommend bringing in a a true expert consultant and I've been in places where we did that is it's great to have goals and this is exactly what what's been done.

[02:00:29]We're we've started, we're moving forward, but you have to assess the things. So, I'm going to I'm going to live dangerously here. What I used we used to talk to Matt about was that literally somebody from out of town can come in with boats that they bought at Walmart that has no ballast in it, has no safety training and and go out and rent. And we want that to not happen.

[02:00:51]So, we need to look at what's our intent and what are we doing. But we don't want to discourage the folks who are not where you are from having it from having and knowing they have a chance to get there, nor to give the impression that they're unprofessional because they haven't hit that standard yet. It's a balance we have to strike. And if if you're right and there's no fractionalization now, it's important to protect that because that's what happened last time and we paid the price of losing the program all together and we'd invested a lot in it and it created bad feelings and that that that doesn't help. So, >> okay, upcoming meeting Wednesday July 8th 2026 at 9:00 am here uh room 166 July 8th at 9. Thank you everybody. Can I hear a motion to adjurnn?

[02:01:42]>> So moved.

[02:01:43]>> Second.

[02:01:44]>> All in favor?

[02:01:48]>> Thank you.

[02:01:53]>> Actuated.