St. Johns County Tourist Development Council

10/08/2015

Renowned Cuban preservationist to give talk at Flagler College on his work in Cuba

Dr. Eusebio Leal, Cuba’s leading preservationist who is lauded for saving the country’s Habana Vieja district, will give a talk on his lifelong endeavors at Flagler College on Sunday, Oct. 11.

“He is dynamic and daring in his passionate commitment to preserve Havana,” said Dr. Leslee Keys, Flagler College’s director of historic preservation. “He has become legendary in his work.”

Keys pointed out parallels between the rise of the preservation movement in Cuba, as well as in St. Augustine and the greater United States.

“His work in Havana began just as St. Augustine had completed its 400th anniversary celebration,” Keys said. “Announcements were made in 1967 about the Hotel Ponce de Leon closing to become the centerpiece of the soon-to-be founded Flagler College. Also, the U.S. had just passed the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Call this timing a ‘perfect storm’ for preservation, if you like.”

As relations with Cuba rapidly grow, Leal’s visit is an opportunity to learn from the renowned historian, and to showcase historic St. Augustine — a town that arguably shares Havana’s colonial evolution.

Leal is also Deputy to the National Assembly of the Popular Power in Cuba’s legislature, Ambassador of Good Will of the United Nations, president of the Commission of Monuments in the City of Havana and a specialist in Archeological Sciences. He received his master’s degree in Latin America, the Caribbean and Cuba from the University of Havana in 1996 and his doctorate in Historical Sciences from the same university in 1997.

The event, sponsored by the college’s Public History program and Humanities Department, is free and open to the public, and will be held in Lewis Auditorium, 14 Granada St., at 5 p.m. For general information about the event, call (904) 819-6205.

07/14/2015

The Florida Humanities Council announced today, the launch of its Florida Stories app. The app is available on all Android and Apple smart phones and allows visitors to delve behind the scenes of your favorite Florida towns to learn more about our history, culture and architecture.

The 10 stop St. Augustine tour is up and we are looking to expand to more cities over the next few years.

You can download the Apple Version here https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id1012015225 and the Android Version here https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flahum to your smartphone. Or you can find a sneak peak here: flstories.org

06/29/2015

Fireworks Over The Matanzas is St. Augustine's Great Independence Day Tradition
There’s no better place to celebrate the nation's Independence Day than in the Nation’s Oldest City

Saturday, July 4 - Downtown St. Augustine
6:00pm - The All Star Orchestra in The Gazebo
9:30pm - Fireworks Over the Matanzas

Holidays are built around traditions and few holidays have more great family traditions than the Fourth of July: great food, outdoor band concerts, a day with friends and family, and of course, fireworks! They all come together in a grand celebration and there’s no better place to celebrate the nation's Independence Day than in the Nation’s Oldest City and no better way than Fireworks Over The Matanzas.

First, there’s music
Starting at 6:00pm one of the region’s most popular big bands, The All Star Orchestra, returns to the Plaza de la Constitución for a two-hour show filled with big band and swing music along with all the traditional patriotic favorites. The All Star Orchestra’s performance from the Plaza’s Gazebo runs from 6:00pm until 8:00pm. The concert is free and those attending should bring lounge chairs for seating.

Then there’s fireworks!
Fireworks over the Matanzas, the highlight of St. Augustine’s traditional July 4th activities, has become synonymous with celebrating Independence Day in the Nation’s Oldest City. The spectacular aerial display of pyrotechnics high over Matanzas Bay begins at 9:30pm.

The 20-minute display is tightly choreographed to a stirring soundtrack of great popular and patriotic music delivered over an extensive sound system transforming the entire Bayfront between the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and the Bridge of Lions into a theatre of sight and sound.

For over two decades Fireworks Over The Matanzas has been produced by Fireworks by Santore, a company based in nearby Flagler County, that’s been in the fireworks business for 125 years. Fireworks Over The Matanzas is just one of more than 250 shows produced by Fireworks by Santore annually including shows for Daytona International Speedway, Sea World Orlando, Walt Disney World and a large number of corporate and private events all across the country.

This year's Fireworks Over The Matanzas will include 5,000 individual shells ranging in size from 1" to 12" in diameter. Some will explode as low as 100 feet above Matanzas Bay, others as high as 2,000 feet and everywhere in between. In addition to St. Augustine, Santore crews will be firing shows in 40 other locations on July 4 to celebrate our nation's birthday.

Getting in, parking, and getting out
St. Augustine’s annual Fireworks Over The Matanzas draws more people--and cars--into the downtown area than any other single event all year long.

Rerouting of traffic will begin at 8:30pm and will include prohibiting vehicular traffic on the Bridge of Lions, Avenida Menendez and South Castillo Drive in order to accommodate the vast number of pedestrians. The best advice is to arrive early, explore the city, enjoy the show, and be patient during departure.

Complete parking information is available at www.FireworksOverTheMatanzas.com including a map illustrating public parking locations including the Historic Downtown Parking Facility and adjacent Francis Field; the location of a number of private parking lots made available for a fee on July 4th; locations of suggested park-and-bike parking lots; and a printable map illustrating all of the parking options.

Enjoy downtown after the show
Many visitors attending Fireworks Over The Matanzas remain downtown at the conclusion of the show for a late dinner or to visit the shops that have learned the value of extended hours on July 4. Given the choice between spending time strolling downtown with friends and family or waiting in traffic, more and more people are taking their time for departure.

Keep it safe and legal
Those attending Fireworks Over The Matanzas should remember two important safety rules that will be strictly enforced:
• Alcohol is prohibited on public property, including parks, streets and sidewalks; and
• Possession of fireworks that explode or leave the ground is illegal and those found with such materials will have prohibited fireworks confiscated and be subject to $100 citation or arrest.
Simply put: Have a great time with friends and family, but keep it safe and legal!

In the event medical assistance is needed, the St. Augustine Fire Department along with St. Johns County Emergency Medical Services will have a base station at the main entrance to the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and will have personnel roving on bicycles throughout the evening.

Additional information about Fireworks Over The Matanzas is available at www.FireworksOverTheMantanzas.com.

05/18/2015

Gov. Scott: Florida Smashes All-Time Record Quarter for Tourism

More than 28 million people visited the Sunshine State in Quarter One of 2015 ~

Governor Rick Scott announced that Florida set another record in tourism numbers today by welcoming the highest amount of visitors of any quarter in the state’s history according to VISIT FLORIDA. In the first quarter of 2015 (January-March), 28.4 million visitors came to the state, an increase of 6.2 percent over the same period in 2014. The previous high for a quarter for tourism was 26.7 million visitors in quarter one last year. The average number of direct travel-related jobs in quarter one of 2015 was also a record high, with 1,186,900 Floridians employed in the tourism industry - up 4.8 percent from the same period in 2014.

VISIT FLORIDA estimates that 2.9 million overseas visitors and 1.7 million Canadians came to Florida in quarter one of 2015, both of which are record highs and represent 7.1 percent and 1.2 percent increases over quarter one of 2014 respectively. Estimates also show that 23.8 million domestic visitors traveled to Florida in quarter one of 2015, reflecting a 6.5 percent increase over the same period last year.

Tourism and recreation taxable sales for Florida increased year-over-year for January and February 2015 (last reported month), representing a 10.0 percent increase over the same period in 2014. For quarter one of 2015, the average daily room rate (ADR) rose 7.6 percent, the occupancy rate for Florida hotels increased 3.7 percent and the demand in rooms sold grew 5.1 percent compared to quarter one of 2014.

“With all indicators continuing to climb, Florida tourism has strong momentum,” said Will Seccombe, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA. “In addition to the record visitation, our market share is outpacing the rest of the nation, putting us well on our way to making Florida the No. 1 travel destination in the world.”

04/10/2015

Including indirect and induced impacts, visitor spending in St. Johns County generated $140.8 million in Federal taxes and $134.6 million in state and local tax revenue.
THANK YOU VISITORS!

04/10/2015

In 2014, visitor spending sustained 29% of all jobs in St. Johns County.

Tourism industry employs approximately 22% of the St. Johns County workforce.

04/10/2015

Total Impact of the visitor spending on the St. Johns County Economy $1.6 Billion.
Including indirect and induced effects, Visitor spending supports 18,324 jobs and $622.7 million in labor income in St. Johns County.

03/13/2015

The March 16th meeting of the Tourist Development Council has been cancelled. It will be rescheduled for later this month.

02/20/2015

02/20/2015

Visitor spending in St. Johns County rose 12.3% in 2014 compared to the previous year. Visitors left behind $1.3 BILLION in local establishments. One-third of the spending was in the commercial lodging category but it wasn't just hotels or motels. Rental vacation homes, condominiums and time-share rentals have increased in share of the lodging market in SJC. Only spending by visitors staying with friends or relatives, and those staying in RV resorts or campgrounds declined when compared to 2013. That is likely to change when a new upscale RV community comes online in the next year. Visitors spending the night in commercial lodging establishments generated approximately 85% of the spending.

Visitor spending estimates comes from data collected from our visitors and is based on average per visitor-party expenditures by day only and overnight visitors to St. Johns County.

02/17/2015

VISIT FLORIDA 4th Quarter 2014 Tourism Numbers
As of February 16, 2015

Q4 2014 Tourism Numbers (October-December)

• For Q4 2014, VISIT FLORIDA estimates a record 22.4 million people visited the Sunshine State, representing the largest fourth quarter visitation number Florida has ever seen and reflects an increase of 2.8% over Q4 2013.

o An estimated 765,000 Canadians came to Florida in Q4 2014, a 5.6% increase over Q4 2013.

o An estimated 3.1 million overseas visitors came to Florida in Q4 2014, a 0.5% increase over Q4 2013.

o An estimated 18.5 million domestic visitors came to Florida in Q4 2014, a 3.0% increase over Q4 2013.

Overall 2014 Tourism Numbers (January-December)

• For 2014, VISIT FLORIDA estimates a record 97.3 million people visited the Sunshine State, representing the fourth consecutive record year for visitation to Florida and reflects an increase of 3.9% over 2013.

o A record 3.8 million Canadians came to Florida in 2013, a 2.4% increase over 2013.

o A record 11.5 million overseas visitors came to Florida in 2014, a 2.6% increase over 2013.

o A record 82.1 million domestic visitors came to Florida in 2014, a 4.2% increase over 2013.

o Travel-related employment in Florida for 2014 was estimated to be a record 1,135,700, up 39,000 jobs, reflecting a 3.6% increase over 2013 and marking 57 straight months of job growth.

o Data collected at 17 Florida airports in 2014 showed there were 1,899,177 more enplaned passengers than in 2013, which reflects a 2.6% increase.

o Tourism and recreation taxable sales for Florida were $74.5 billion year-over-year for January through November (last reported month), representing a 7.7% increase over the same period in 2013.

o For 2014, the ADR rose 5.7% to $124.96, the occupancy rate for Florida hotels reached 69.7%, an increase of 4.4%, and the number of rooms sold grew by 5.3% compared to 2013 – each of which are records.

General Tourism Stats

• Visitors spent nearly 572 million vacation nights in the Sunshine State in 2014.

• On any given day, Florida has 1.8 million visitors – that represents more people than live in 12 different U.S. states plus the District of Columbia.

• For every dollar the state invests in VISIT FLORIDA, $3.20 in tax revenue is generated.

• VISIT FLORIDA’s vision is to establish Florida as the No. 1 travel destination in the world.

• Every 85 visitors supports one Florida job, which means a growing tourism industry equates to increasing employment and a stronger economy.

12/01/2014