ABOUT OUR HOST CITY - Bonita Springs, FL
Ideally located north of Marco Island and just between Naples and Fort Myers, the community of Bonita Springs offers the unique and inviting Old Florida lifestyle of a charming small beach town. Beautiful beaches along with the sparkling Gulf of Mexico and the natural beauty of Estero Bay offer sun-lovers and anglers the ultimate paradise. 
In addition to the beaches, Bonita Springs also has extensive freshwater lakes and streams. Boating, Fishing, Shelling and Sunning and, of course, Golf are just some of the wonderful outdoor activities that Bonita Springs offers.
There are also extensive shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities as well. The Promenade is a fine example of stunning blend of exquisite shops and excellent restaurants in a beautiful setting where you can find something for everyone. Bonita Springs is also home to a wide variety of entertainment options and art museums/galleries and also includes the Germain Arena with its hometown hockey team, The Florida Everblades.
For more information on Bonita Springs please visit http://www.bonitasprings.com
SPONSOR - Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau
The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) is focusing on providing the most in-depth service possible for meeting and convention planners, who, until recently, thought of the area as strictly a leisure destination.
"The meetings market has discovered that The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel is more than just an idyllic location for leisure vacations," said D.T. Minich, CDME, executive director of the VCB. "This area is abundant in unique meeting facilities and outstanding accommodations, with extraordinary options for planners. And, with the recent opening of our brand new airport terminal, the area is more easily accessible than ever. We're doing everything we can to make bringing a meeting here a simple and rewarding experience."
Below are just some of the services that the VCB offers meeting planners to support their on-site events:
Site selection
The VCB sales staff can help locate hotels and meeting venues that are just right for a group event. Whether the group numbers 20 or 500, the VCB staff does everything from help compile meeting or convention bids to scheduling site inspections. All planners need to do is outline their criteria, and a staff member responds with the requested information. There is an easy-to-use RFP form housed on the VCB's meetings Web site at www.FortMyersSanibelMeetings.com.
Pre-Convention planning
The success of any event is greatly enhanced through early planning. The VCB is available to assist in finalizing the details of any meeting, accommodation request and meeting or convention facilities needs. They also can assist in planning entertainment -- such as a variety of theme parties at local attractions as well as spouse and youth activities -- and introduce planners to key people and services in the area who can facilitate smooth logistics for their events.
Spouse and youth activities
Accompanying guests will find plenty of entertainment during the hours attendees are participating in meetings or conventions. In addition to the local attractions to explore, staff can assist in arranging a number of delightful spouse and youth programs.
Attendance building
To promote attendance at group events, the VCB offers the following: a comprehensive Web site at www.FortMyersSanibel.com that helps potential attendees learn about the destination and plan their trip; a full-color Visitor's Guide that identifies key points of interest in the Fort Myers/Sanibel area and includes a version without accommodations information and advertising that's perfect for meeting planners' use; The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel videos, which promote Lee County and feature attractions, entertainment and leisure activities in the area; and beautiful postcards featuring the area's famous sunsets.
Marketing materials
In addition to its Web site and Visitor's Guide, the VCB offers meeting planners a Travel Planning Signature Series, which features marketing tools to assist planners in selling the destination to potential attendees. A destination overview brochure is a more general information piece that helps sell the destination to undecided attendees, and the VCB's official newspaper called Tradewinds also can be used to target attendees who haven't heard of the area or who haven't yet decided about their meeting attendance. Additionally, a special meeting planner version of Tradewinds is available to planners who wish to sign up to receive periodic updates about the destination, including hotel information, air service, spouse programs, team-building activities and more.
One final element of the destination's customized Signature Series program is a Paradise.calm e-newsletter, which is distributed periodically to past visitors who request it. At no charge, the VCB can customize this e-newsletter for a specific meeting to help drive attendance to the event.
The VCB also has printed information on attractions, shopping, dining and entertainment, which can be placed at group registration areas for attendees to review. Each group is entitled to a specific allotment at no charge, with a nominal fee charged for any amount over that allotment.
Communications department
The VCB's communications department offers valuable suggestions for media coverage of group events. The staff can provide a publicity list that includes newspapers, television and radio stations in the area. Also available to event planners is a selection of images for The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel online from which to create promotional pieces and press kits with valuable background information.
Visitor Service Center
VCB staff and a team of approximately 100 ambassadors assist the traveling public from four domestic and international visitor information booths, located at the Southwest Florida International Airport. German is spoken at the visitor information booth located in the international arrivals building.
These are just some of the essential services the VCB provides to support meetings on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. For further information, meeting planners can visit www.FortMyersSanibelMeetings.com or call (800) 237-6444.
