Lee VCB reports on business news
– Awards news
Employees throughout Lee County are eligible to be recognized in six nomination categories for the Elaine McLaughlin Outstanding Hospitality Service Awards: Accommodations, Attractions, Good Samaritan, Restaurant, Transportation, and Other Services/Businesses. The E Awards will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011.
Tell us in detail why they are a Customer Service Super Star by submitting nominations online at E Awards, or request nomination brochures to give to your guests. For more information, contact Simone Behr at Sbehr@leegov.com.
The E Awards, produced by the VCB and The News-Press, is sponsored in collaboration with local businesses to encourage and support service excellence being provided by Lee County hospitality professionals. The event is also a part of the VCB’s year-round Team Tourism informational program to strengthen destination teamwork.
The Chrysalis Awards: Watch for details soon about how you can nominate individuals or business partners in the local community, whether tourism or non-tourism, in the categories of Business Development, Eco-Innovation, Cultural Achievement, Education, Sports and Sales & Marketing. The Chrysalis Awards will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2011. For more information, contact Christine Davlin at CDavlin@leegov.com.
The 2011 Celebration of Business & Tourism Awards Luncheon & Trade Show, produced by the VCB and the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, is held to commemorate National Travel and Tourism Week and celebrates the value of tourism and the community teamwork involved in maintaining and enhancing tourism as a major economic engine for Lee County. The event is also a part of the VCB’s year-round Team Tourism informational program to strengthen destination teamwork.
– Transportation news
During October 2010, 532,025 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, an increase of 13 percent compared to October 2009. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 0.4 percent from the same period last year.
AirTran Airways recently inaugurated nonstop service between Fort Myers and Rochester, N.Y. The flights between Southwest Florida International Airport and Greater Rochester International Airport will depart Fort Myers at 10:23 a.m. and arrive in Fort Myers at 11:15 a.m. This is the first time RSW will have nonstop scheduled service to Rochester..
– Accommodation news
The Half-Crazy Sale Castaways Beach & Bay Cottages on Sanibel Island discounts January by 50 percent for Facebook fans of the resort. Guests who stay one night at the regular rate and mention the Facebook coupon can enjoy additional nights during their stay at half off. Offer applies seven days a week on all rooms and cottages.
Join the Gasparilla Inn & Cottages in Boca Grande for its fifth annual Food & Wine Weekend on Jan. 14-16, 2011. During the weekend you’ll learn the cooking techniques of leading chefs, taste wines from the world’s famous regions and experience delectable cuisine, which is specially priced for overnight guests. For details, call 800-996-1913 or 941-964-4500.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs has launched its new Toy Box program, designed to ease some of the challenges parents face when traveling with children. Filled with an assortment of age-appropriate toys and games for toddlers to teens that parents can check out for free, the Hyatt Resorts Toy Box is powered by Toy Tips, a toy-testing group.
Local SunStream Hotels and Resorts properties — The Resort at MarinaVillage in Cape Coral and Fort Myers Beach’s Diamondhead Beach Resort & Spa, Pointe Estero Beach Resort, and GullWing Beach Resort are celebrating the group’s 25th anniversary by offering guests $25 off the best available rate per night when staying four or more nights.
– Attraction news
Captiva Cruises, in partnership with The Edison & Ford Winter Estates of Fort Myers, will be offering Boat Cruises & Tours from Captiva Island to the Estates Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. starting Dec. 15. The new tour will provide a look at the Caloosahatchee River and its importance ecologically and culturally, a view of the Estates from the water, lunch at the Royal Palm Yacht Club, and a tour of the Estates.
Southwest Florida Museum of History in Fort Myers debuts a new traveling exhibit, Darwin and Dinosaurs, on Jan. 15, 2011. It will explore — through paleontological displays, models, drawings, and journal entries — the origin of species as it follows Darwin’s biological studies from his epic Voyage of the Beagle. The exhibit will run through May 14, 2011.
A new exhibit, Monsters of the Deep, will be on display at the Imaginarium Hands-On Museum & Aquarium in Fort Myers from Jan. 22 to May 22, 2011. The exhibit spans 360 million years to explore a prehistoric reef, whales, sharks, turtles, and other creatures that inhabit the oceans.
Southwest Florida Museum of History in Fort Myers will offer downtown photo tours of Fort Myers with an experienced photographer and tour guide on Jan. 8, Feb. 5 and March 5, 2011. Guests will explore distinct points of interest and learn how to photograph the details.
– Shopping and dining
Tanger Outlets in Fort Myers announced the opening of its newest store, N Style Direct, the first N Style Direct store in Florida. The ladies accessories store features jewelry, boots, sandals, scarves, handbags, and more.
Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria and DaRuMa Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Lounge recently opened in the Bell Tower Shops in Fort Myers. Grimaldi’s is known for its hand-tossed pizza, calzones, salads, and desserts. DaRuMa opens its third authentic Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Florida.
Nathaniel Reid, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, has joined Norman Love Confections in Fort Myers. A rising star in the pastry world, Reid was recently selected as U.S. Pastry Competition Pastry Chef of the Year 2010 in New York City.