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Weekly Update Newsletter
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March 19, 2014
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Greetings! Tourism Works! Last week was Tourism Day in Tallahassee. Over 360 tourism related leaders from the entire State of Florida were present to hear speakers in all high impact departments in Florida.  | |
Meeting with Senator Jack Latvala
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Keynote speakers there were: Will Secombe, President/CEO of Visit Florida; Carol Dover, President/CEO of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association; Bill Lupfer, President/CEO of the Florida Attractions Association; Bobby Cornwell, President/CEO of the Florida Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds; Robert Skrob, Executive Director of Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations (CVB's); Malinda Horton, Executive Director of Florida Association of Museums and John Webb, President of Florida Sports. Lieutenant Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera, Governor Rick Scott and Secretary of State Ken Detzner were present and gave speeches. Other State Representatives were also there and addressed the standing room only crowd. All spoke of Florida's number #1 Industry TOURISM!!! As the State continues to grow and tourism remains our number one focus, there was great conversation throughout our stay. We spent the afternoon walking the Capital corridors visiting with State Representative and Senators telling them of our needs and issues with certain Bills that are being presented. It was quite enlightening.  | |
Darlene Kole,Trisha Rodriquez, Rhonda Sanborn & Jason Gibertoni proud to be at the Capitol
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I am proud that several of our Beach Chamber Board Members were present and made such a difference when we entered the room. Clearwater Beach dominated the group and gained a great deal of recognition. Please thank them when you see them since they committed their time to speak on behalf of all of us and our livelihoods. Also, a huge shout-out to Rhonda Sanborn with Visit St. Pete-Clearwater for arranging travel for our group and Dannettee Lynch with the FRLA for including us in her scheduled appointments.  | |
Beach Chamber Executives Jason Gibertoni, Darlene Kole, Eric Waltz & Trisha Rodriquez
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Jason, Rhonda, Darlene & Trisha exploring Florida
down under at the Florida Caverns
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Making a difference,
Darlene Kole P.S. FRLA Capital Dish: Florida Tourism Day a Success!
Hundreds of tourism and hospitality representatives from across the state came to the Florida Capitol on Wednesday and met with more than 60 legislators and government officials. Thank you to those who made the trip to Tallahassee to lobby on behalf of Florida's number one industry! Governor Rick Scott kicked off the day's events at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, highlighting his commitment to the allocation of $100 million to bring in 100 million visitors to our state. |
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Chamber Mingle at
Sunsets At Pier 60 Daily Festival
April 4th:
Guppy's Gulfside Gallop 5k Sunset Run and 1k Fun Mile Walk
April 4-13th:
Frenchy's Sugar Sand Festival
April 24th:
Shephard's Mingle
May 9th:
Clearwater Beach Taste Fest
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March
21st: How To Eat Fried Worms
22nd: Last Vegas
28th: Frozen
29th: Hunger Games-
Catching Fire
April
4th: The Little Mermaid
5th: Fast and Furious
6th: Dolphin Tale
7th: Jurassic Park
8th: Harry Potter and
The Deathly Hallows
9th: E.T.
10th: The Clone Wars
11th: Finding Nemo
12th: Back To The Future
13th: Jaws
18th: Hop
19th: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
25th: Tad the Lost Explorer
26th: Saving Mr.Banks
*(Dusk)
weather permitting*
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March 20th
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Making Waves: An Evening with Experts
This month's presenter is Dr. Daniel Huber, Associate Professor at the University of Tampa, who will discuss an examination of nutritional physiology, aquarium design, and mechanical properties of the spine in the development of spinal deformities in captive Sand Tiger Sharks.
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John Dijulis:
What's The Secret?
to providing a world-class
customer experience
 April 9th, 2014 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm (Registration 1:30pm - 2:20pm)
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay 2900 Bayport Dr. Tampa, FL 33607 Prices: $30 FRLA Members(four or more from the same company $25)
$40 for Non-Members (Four or more from the same company $35)
Deadline for registration is April 7
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Member Spotlight
Symanski & McKnight John McKnight
727-725-8272
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It's A Great Week To: Take An Art Class  Dunedin Fine Art Center 1143 Michigan Blvd
Dunedin, FL 34698
(727) 298-3322
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What's On The
President's Plate?
Havana Club Sandwich
Columbia Restaurnt
For more
President's Plate pictures
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Concierge Comics
Concierge Comics features actual guest occurrences as related by Gary Hidu, Lead Concierge and Les Clefs d'Or USA Society Member at Hyatt Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa.
The Wallaces visited Clearwater Beach in July and Mr.Wallace had read about manatees amassing in Crystal Springs and wanted to see them. I told him manatees are an endangered species whose body metabolism prefers water temperatures to be above 68 degrees or else they go into cold shock and perish. In the winter months, when the gulf waters dip in the low 60s & 50s, they gather in the 72 degree hot springs to huddle together to keep warm, but in the summer when the gulf is in the 80s, they disperse and could be anywhere. Well he decided they would get up before sunrise and drive the 2 hours up to Crystal River anyway. When they returned late that evening, kids asleep over their shoulders, as they trudged by the concierge desk, they sheepishly admitted they saw no manatees in the hot springs, but when they walked through the Clearwater Marina on the way to Crabby Bill's for dinner, a fisherman who was hosing down his boat, was spraying 2 thirsty manatees who emerged alongside with their mouths gaping open gulping down the water. Mrs. Wallace quipped the manatees looked like "laughing elephants", making fun of them for driving so far when here they were all along.
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The Rotary Club Of
Clearwater Beach
March 20th, 2014
Program: Board meeting and club assembly
12:15pm - 1:15 pm
Meeting Location:
Carlouel Yacht Club
1091 Eldorado Ave
Clearwater, FL
To Learn More
Click Here
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The Beach Chamber is
proud to have formed an Elite Partnership with:
Clearwater Gas System.
They sponsor ALL of our events.Thank you Clearwater
Gas System!
for details on
environmentally-friendly
natural gas energy
for appliances,
water heating, cooking
and pool/spa heating.
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Greenlight Pinellas is a community conversation about transportation
in Pinellas County.
Get Involved
For more information please
visit their website  |
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Tourism Video
Beach Chamber Staff:
Darlene Kole
President/CEO
Liz LaJoy
Office Manager
Ann Locke
Special Events
Jessica Howe
Administrative Assistant
Peter Vandernoot
Seasonal Assistant
Office Volunteers:
John Cagle
Maria
Beach Chamber Mascot
Eric Waltz
Chairman of the Board
Louie Stavropoulos
Vice Chairman
Carol Mears
Secretary
Jason Gibertoni
Treasurer
Darlene Kole
President/CEO Surf Style Visitor Center  Donna Dennis Manager Kathy Murray Concierge Donna also does "House Calls"
to businesses that have groups of people wanting to learn more about our beautiful piece of paradise.
She puts together welcome bags filled with all kinds of useful information for our visitors. Visitor Center Volunteers: Nancy Gardinier Ed Patch Christie Hanna
Pat Kangas
Connie Maynard
Lynne Dagg
Tell Your Guests Our Visitor Center's Sell tickets for:
 The Beach Chamber sells discounted Busch Gardens half day tickets too!
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TripAdvisor Names Three Area Beaches
"Best In the U.S." for 2014
Trip Advisor announced yesterday that three St. Pete/Clearwater area beaches were named to its annual list of the 25 Best Beaches in America. Leading the way was St. Pete Beach---TripAdvisor's No. 1 Beach in 2012---at No. 9. This accolade joins a host of others, including being named one of America's Top 10 Best Beach Towns last year by Parents magazine.
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Sunsets At Pier 60 Mingle!
Music,Treats,Giveaways and
a Beautiful Sunset!
Come Join Us on March 27th from
5:30pm - 7:30pm
for the Sunsets at Pier 60 Daily Festival
 Sign In at the Pavilion to pick up your event tickets!! |
A Trade Fair for Family Vacations
and Summer Camps
An opportunity you don't want to miss!
April 6,2014
10am - 4pm
The Straz Center in Tampa
Where's All The FUN
This Summer??
Let US Tell Them All About YOUR
Summer Fun Opportunities!
Tampa Bay Parenting Magazines Summer Trade Fair is a one-stop shopping opportunity for families planning their summer activities. The Clearwater Beach Chamber will attend this trade fair representing your business, as well as Clearwater Beach, and all that we have to offer! 
We will promote your business to several thousand families, handing out your marketing materials and sharing information on your family-friendly opportunities!
We do all of the work for you...
For ONLY $50!
For more information and to sign up
Contact Ann Locke
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Attention Hotels!
Do you have a discount available during
Clearwater Beach Restaurant Week?
We want to list your discount on the Restaurant Week website for our foodie fans!
March 9th is the Clearwater Beach Taste Fest
&
Restaurant Week is May 12th-18th, 2014
Click here to see where your listing will be
Get us your discount
Fax: 727-443-7812
E-mail: Maria@beachchamber.com
Call Jessica at 727-447-7600
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 Please Vote!
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Quality Martial Arts Clearwater Beach had its March Promotions at the Studio. Sasha Post and Eshan Mane, both of Clearwater Beach, were each promoted to their respective ranks. Pictured here are: Terry O'Toole, Senior Instructor - Quality Martial Arts Clearwater Beach, Eshan Man, Sasha Post, and Master Martin Hayes of Quality Martial Arts.
The Studio is lo cated at 57 Baymont St, Clearwater Beach
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PIER 60 SUGAR SAND FESTIVAL
April 4-13, 2014
This year's theme,
"Iconic Hollywood Movies"
featuring iconic movie characters & scenes
Admission
$8 Adults
$4 Students
$5 Seniors (55+)
$5 Military,
Police and Firefighters
Children 5 & under are FREE when accompanied by a paying adult
visit the Facebook Page and on Twitter
Festival Information: (727) 449-1036
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From Donna's Corner
of the Beach...
It's March and the beach is filled with visitors here for Spring Training and spring break. Great for the local economy, but oh, the traffic and parking issues! So how do we handle these without losing our minds? It's definitely a challenge!
First, assume you will need twice the time to get wherever you're going. And before you head out, use the bathroom. You don't know how long it will be until you next have one available.
Use the shortcuts you know as a local, tho' those will probably be packed too.
Clean your glasses--cars, motorcycles, bikes and humans will be popping out of everywhere. We know pedestrians should only cross at designated crosswalks and not against stoplights, but in reality, they will cross wherever and whenever they choose. Note the roundabout: You'll see folks crossing daily from the marina to Walgreens on Memorial Causeway--right after the speed goes from 45 to 30mph. I cringe every time I see it!
Parking--the scourge of the beach. Some park in town or on Island Way and take the trolley in. Others park in the structure at Surf Style or the Hyatt and walk, use FL Free Rides or other shuttle to get to their final destination. We know many employers and employees alike are utterly stymied by the lack of spaces where we need them. And using a bike or skateboard just isn't a solution!
In all cases, keep your sense of humor. Stay as patient as possible; March will end and those visitors will head back to their homes. Listen to an audiobook in the car; for many it helps to keep one from getting irate in traffic. Carry a water bottle and snacks for traffic survival. You will survive to drive another day!
There's also more parking info available on our website: www.beachchamber.com. We now have a parking icon to assist you as well as our visitors. With sand between my toes,
donna
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Call us and we'll be glad to pick up your items!
(727) 447-7600 |
Get Ready For...
May 12-18, 2014
Check the website frequently to see which restaurants have signed up to participate
Clearwater Beach Taste Fest
May 9th from 5:30-8:30pm
Presenting Sponsor:
  
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 The Greater Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce Presents:
The 6th Annual
Citrus Festival
April 3-6, 2014
Thursday April 3, 2014
5:00-10:00 pm:
Carnival
6:00 pm:
Dancing with the Palm Harbor Stars- Harbor Hall
Friday April 4, 2014
4:00 pm - 11:00 pm:
Carnival
7:00 pm:
Greg Billings Band
9:00 pm:
Black Honkey's
Saturday April 5, 2014
10:00 am - 11:00 pm:
Carnival, Vendors, Children's Area, Community & Sponsor Displays, Corn Hole Tournament, Food Trucks
12:00 pm -1:00 pm:
Citrus Queen Pageant- Main Stage 1:30 pm- 3:00pm: Dancing with the Palm Harbor Stars Main Stage 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm: Galbraith Group 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm: Ben Bryan Band 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm: Kettle of Fish Band Sunday, April 6, 2014 11:00 am - 6:00 pm: Carnival |
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*Discounts not valid on holidays*
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333 So. Gulfview Blvd.
Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
(727) 447-7600
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