Siesta Key Ranked in New Top 10 Beaches List

June 15, 2016 by

Siesta Key Ranks No 2 in the 2016 Top Beaches in the US

siesta-key-beach

 

Dr. Stephen Leatherman– (Dr Beach)–has come out with his 2016 list of America’s Best Beaches, and Siesta Key Beach is No. 2.

“With some of the finest, whitest sand in the world, this beach attracts sand collectors from all over,” Leatherman writes on his site. “Siesta Beach has clear, warm waters ideal for swimming. The beach is hundreds of yards wide in the shape of a crescent, due to anchoring of onshore rocks to the south. This beach is great for volleyball and other types of recreational fitness.”

“We’re really thrilled,” says Lynn Hobeck Bates, communications manager for Visit Sarasota County. “It’s not often that a former No. 1 beach makes it back on the list, so when we saw it this morning we were surprised and excited for the exposure. I think that the new renovations, which have made the beach even better, have to come to Dr. Beach’s attention.”

“I never dreamed we’d be back on the list, so I am just thrilled for the recognition,” said Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, the county’s tourism promoting agency.

Leatherman is an internationally known coastal scientist who has published 20 books and hundreds of scientific articles and reports about storm impacts, coastal erosion and ways to improve beach health and safety.

Lately, he’s putting more emphasis on environmental management and beach safety.

This year’s No. 1 beach is Maui’s Kapula Bay Beach, but two other Florida beaches also made their way into the top 10: Grayton Beach State Park in the Panhandle, and Caladesi Island State Park Dunedin/Clearwater.

Dr. Beach’s Top 10 beaches of 2016
1. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve; Oahu, Hawaii
2. Siesta Beach
3. Kapalua Bay Beach; Maui, Hawaii
4. Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach; Outer Banks of North Carolina
5. Coast Guard Beach; Cape Cod, Massachusetts
6. Grayton Beach State Park; Florida Panhandle
7. Coronado Beach; San Diego, California
8. Coopers Beach; Southampton, New York
9. Caladesi Island State Park; Clearwater
10. Beachwalker Park; Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Sarasota Magazine, Orlando Sentinel May 26. 2016

Filed Under: Sarasota Recreation, Sarasota Tourism Tagged With: , ,

Florida Sets Another Tourism Record

May 31, 2016 by

Florida TourismThe broader economy might be throwing out some mixed signals, but Florida tourism was showing no signs of waning during the first three months of 2016.

While the nation’s gross domestic product saw a mere 0.5 percent bump in annual growth rate during the first quarter, and as retailers struggled with a customer base that is more prone to save and to spend its money on experience that material goods, the Sunshine State continued to welcome droves of visitors at a record pace.

There were 29.8 million tourists in the first three months of the year — the largest ever first quarter, and a 4.8 percent spike over the same period last year, data released on Monday by Visit Florida, the state’s tourism agency, showed.

The average number of direct travel-related jobs in the first quarter also reached a record 1.23 million, up 3.8 percent from the same period in 2015.

Some experts expect those increases to continue, even if they are not the double digit hikes that the state has seen in the past. Consumers are still spending on fun, even if they may be tightening their belts elsewhere.

“You see a willingness to spend for those experiences,” said Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, the community’s tourism promotions agency. “We certainly see it with grandparents willing to splurge on a great condo unit knowing that kids are going to come down for the weekend.”

This kind of growth is a prime example of why tourism agencies need to keep promoting their areas even in good economic times, said Elliott Falcione, executive director for Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Visit Florida has pushed into markets that it wasn’t in five years ago. Even if the economy falters domestically or in an international feeder market, the increases in visitors and dollars spent will still come because the state agency is constantly drawing new people to Florida.

“Diversification is a key word when you talk about preparing for darker times,” Falcione said.

Haley expects the growth will continue albeit more slowly.

Sarasota County, for example, saw another record-breaking March for tourist tax collection, but it only came with a 1 percent increase in the number of visitors when compared with 2015. The upcoming presidential election, too, will limit what the agency can do as far as advertising, she said.

Meanwhile, the weak Canadian loonie did mostly stall growth from the Great White North, one of Southwest Florida’s largest international feeder markets. Travel through January from Canada was only up 0.4 percent.

“We haven’t seen a dip,” Haley said. “What you are seeing is continued growth but at a much lower rate. We’re seeing some of the international and national things impact us.”

Still, nearly 30 million visitors already have come to Florida this year, and last year the state exceeded its goal and welcomed 105 million people. The Sunshine State also is expected to topple its record again this year and with 115 million visitors, Gov. Rick Scott said in a statement on Monday.

But it’s not all about putting new heads in hotel beds.

Visit Florida announced in September the agency a plan to bring in $100 billion in annual visitor spending by 2020. That means attracting visitors willing to stay long and spend more on Florida’s luxuries. These consumers with larger pocketbooks can boost the industry without necessarily diluting the quality of an area.

The Bradenton area targets households with an income greater than $125,000, Falcione said.

Consumers in that market are more likely to spend money on travel even in tougher times. They may limit their annual trips, but it is important to attract a market that will come back to Florida even when times are tough.

That old Florida feel in the southwestern part of the state is often an escape from the rat race of everyday life. It’s the kind of place people want to be even when times are tough, he said.

“Every day in life is more challenging in society today,” Falcione said. “People are always on technology and high energy, you never get a chance to break away. It makes our destination quite appealing.”

Herald Tribune 5/16/2016

Filed Under: Florida Economic News, Sarasota Tourism Tagged With: ,

The Grande – Downtown Sarasota Condos

April 27, 2016 by

the grandeThe Kolter Group will continue its sweeping changes along Sarasota’s bayfront with The Grande, an 18-story luxury condominium next to the Ritz-Carlton hotel.

The development company plans to break ground in spring 2017, with 86 residences that will offer services managed by the Ritz-Carlton.

Prices for three- and four-bedroom units, including penthouses, will run from $2 million to more than $5 million.

The tower will be built over the Ritz’s support facility, just east of the hotel. Kolter acquired air rights from Ritz-Carlton developer Slab LLC in February, court records show.

The building will run north and south, and residents will have views facing east and west, Kolter said.

“Our market research and recent experience have confirmed that there is strong demand for contemporary luxury residences, and we believe The Grande’s combination of unique architecture, unparalleled amenities and exceptional service standards will satisfy the needs of the discriminating Sarasota buyer,” Kolter Group president/CEO Bobby Julien said in a statement.

Kolter expects to complete the building in about 26 months.

Along the bayfront, the West Palm Beach-based company is building Vue Sarasota Bay, an 18-story, 141-unit condo, and a 255-room Westin Hotel at Tamiami Trail and Gulfstream Avenue.

It will also begin construction this summer on The Mark, a mixed-use 12-story tower with 157 residences, on State Street between Pineapple and Lemon avenues.

The Grande joins a number of new condominiums that are going up in the city after years of recession-era slumber. But most are smaller than the Kolter projects, ranging from six to 40 units each.

Amenities at The Grande will include a rooftop pool, fitness center and “The News Room,” a casual lounge.

Residents will have access to Ritz in-home dining and use of the restaurants, salon and spa at the hotel.

The 17-story hotel, which opened in November 2001, already includes more than 200 Ritz residences that utilize those services.

Herald Tribune April 15, 2016

Filed Under: Downtown Sarasota Condos, Downtown Sarasota Real Estate, Sarasota New Construction Tagged With: , ,

Home Prices Continue to Rise During Seasonal Sales Dip

March 29, 2016 by

Sarasota Real EstateThe beginning of 2016 has seen some fluctuations in total sales and home prices as the housing market steadies itself after a record-breaking 2015. Even with a dip in sales, median home prices remain strong and the market appears solid.

For the month of February, total sales in Sarasota County were down 6.4 percent with a 13.2 percent dip in single family sales offset by a 9.6 percent increase in condo sales. Similarly, in Manatee County, total sales were down a mere 2.4 percent, with a 10.7 percent decrease in single family sales offset by an impressive 19.5 percent increase in condo sales. More buyers may be considering condos because there are not as many single family listings under $200,000 as there are condo listings.

Contracts for sales closed in February were likely written in December, a typically slower month because of holidays, and January, when we were experiencing stock market fluctuations and oil industry uncertainty. Mid-December, the Federal Reserve raised the target funds rate for the first time since June 2006. The area is also seeing fewer Canadian buyers this year, because of the exchange rate with the US Dollar.

“With record sales last year and extremely low inventory, it only makes sense that we would slow down a bit,” said Linda Formella, RASM President. “However, we are seeing an increase in inventory, as owners appear to be entering the market to take advantage of the price recovery we have experienced.”

Inventory of available properties is on the rise in both counties.

  • For single family homes in Sarasota County, inventory is up 3.7 percent from February last year, and up 7.1 percent in Manatee County.
  • Condo inventory is likewise up in both counties, with Sarasota County up 17.0 percent, while Manatee County saw an increase of 18.2 percent.

“Our inventory has been down over the past few months, so seeing this bump is great news for our market,” said Formella. “New construction has aided in this increase, and provided more opportunities overall.”

The median sale price across both counties has seen fluctuations as well. Single family median prices rose 28.7 percent in Sarasota County to $252,250, while decreasing only slightly in Manatee County, down -0.7 percent to $255,000 from last year. Sarasota County remained stable with no change in condo prices year over year, remaining at $190,000. Manatee County on the other hand, experienced a 9.3 percent increase in condo sales price over last year, to $165,000.

The months’ supply of inventory in the two-county area remains in the range from 4.6 to 5.4 months’ inventory this year, compared to 4.6 to 5.1 months last year. This statistic reflects the time it would take to sell all the active listings on the market at the current month’s rate of sales. A six-month supply is considered a balanced market, so it is still a seller’s market, though buyers seem to be taking more time and showing less urgency with the increased inventory.

The drop in the percentage of distressed sales (foreclosures and short sales) signals another sign of health in the market. Both the number of distressed sales and the share of the market have continued to decline, signaling our continued recovery. Distressed sales for single family homes in the two-county area represented only 11.49 percent of all closed sales for the month, compared to 23.94 percent last year. Similarly, distressed condo sales came in at 6.12 percent of those closed sales, compared to 12.05 percent last year. At their peak a few years ago, 48 percent of all sales were distressed.

“The fluctuations we see in today’s market are normal, healthy even,” added Formella. “We are experiencing smart and sustainable growth. I am encouraged by the hard work of our Realtor® members and the positive attitudes I witness every day. There is no doubt: our future is bright.”
Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee March 21, 2016

Filed Under: Downtown Sarasota Condos, Downtown Sarasota Real Estate Tagged With: , ,

Most Home Sales in Southwest Florida Still Cash

March 28, 2016 by

cash sales SarasotaCash buyers remain major players in the Southwest Florida housing market.

The Sarasota-Manatee area ranked fifth among the largest U.S. metro areas for cash home sales at the end of 2015, according to a new report by data provider CoreLogic.

Cash sales accounted for 51 percent of all home deals in the two counties, CoreLogic said, reinforcing other reports that buying without borrowing is still the most popular way to acquire residential real estate here.

That was up from 47.2 percent in September, but down from 54.3 percent one year earlier.

Cash buyers have dominated the regional real estate market for several years, even leading the nation for the top share early last year.

While the impact of large institutional investors — who dominated the market during its early rebound — has slowed, smaller investors have become more active. Baby boomers at or near retirement also are selling homes up north and paying cash for homes here.

Florida tied for third nationally for the share of cash sales at 46 percent, CoreLogic said.

Nationwide, cash sales made up 33.4 percent of all homes sales in December and 33.9 percent for the full year, the lowest annual level since 2008.

“The cash sales share peaked in January 2011, when cash transactions accounted for 46.6 percent of total home sales nationally,” CoreLogic said. “Prior to the housing crisis, the cash sales share of total home sales averaged approximately 25 percent.

“If the cash sales share continues to fall at the same rate it did in December 2015, the share should hit 25 percent by mid-2017,” it said.

Herald Tribune March 24, 2016

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

Florida Breaks Tourism Record for Fifth Consecutive Year

February 24, 2016 by

105 million people travel to Sunshine State in 2015, governor says

florida tourismFlorida welcomed 105 million visitors last year, making 2015 the fifth consecutive year where tourism records were broken.

The new record exceeded the previous high of 98.5 million in 2014 by 6.6 percent, according to Visit Florida, the state’s tourism promotion arm.

The total number of visitors to the Sunshine State last year exceeded the populations of most of the world’s countries. It was about 3 million more people, for example, than inhabit the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the average number of direct travel-related jobs in 2015 also was a record high, with 1,199,200 Floridians employed in the tourism industry, up 4.7 percent compared with the same period last year.

“Tourism plays an important role in supporting our economy, and we will continue to make strategic investments in the tourism industry to keep Florida on track to becoming first for jobs,” said Gov. Rick Scott, who revealed the preliminary tourist count Thursday at Walt Disney World in Orlando. “With five consecutive record years for tourism, it is time to set our goal even higher, and I look forward to welcoming 115 million visitors to the Sunshine State this year.”

Visit Florida estimates that a record 89.8 million domestic visitors traveled to Florida in 2015, reflecting an 8 percent increase from 2014. Estimates also show that 11.2 million overseas visitors and 4 million Canadians came to the Sunshine State last year. The number of people boarding planes at 18 Florida airports during 2015 increased 8.2 percent when compared with the previous year, representing a record 6.1 million more passengers than in 2014.

Sarasota

The state’s success wasn’t a surprise to Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County and a board member for Visit Florida. Once Sarasota County saw that it had reached its own goal of welcoming more than a million visitors in 2015, she suspected the state as a whole would topple its goal.

“It’s nice to know that Sarasota played its part in that goal,” Haley said. “We know that first and foremost for us, a visitor has to be interested in Florida. Then we can make our case that the best place to be is Sarasota.” The state continues to draw more tourists, but Florida promoters and local agencies have shifted their goals for the future, Haley said. Lately, there’s been a greater emphasis on attracting visitors with a higher spending power and bringing in more tourists during the off season. Visit Sarasota County, specifically, has focused on attracting sporting events in the late spring, summer and early fall to boost tourism in the slower seasons.

“We as a state have shifted our focus,” Haley said. “I think it’s a very important shift.”

Locally, the Baltimore Orioles released an economic impact analysis by Sarasota County government this week suggesting that the team’s activities and presence at the Ed Smith Stadium and Buck O’Neil Baseball Complex generated about $81 million in Southwest Florida in the past year. That figure exceeds the $40 million to $50 million estimate reported by the state of Florida in a 2009 analysis of communities that host Major League Baseball Spring Training. The Orioles’ year-round presence, job creation, economic activity, commerce and direct club spending also contributed substantially to the results.

State Collaboration

Five years of record-setting visitation does not happen by accident, said Visit Florida CEO Will Seccombe, who credited the success to the agency’s global marketing strategy that focused on maximizing the economic impact of Florida tourism.

The collaboration with destination marketing organizations and the money the state has continued to pump into Visit Florida has made all the difference, said Elliott Falcione, executive director for Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“You’ve got to thank the Legislature and the governor for believing in Visit Florida,” Falcione said. “It’s now proven four years in a row that as the budget increases that visitation increase.”

In pushing to continue the increases, Scott has asked lawmakers to set aside $79.3 million for Visit Florida in the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The funding would be an increase of $6 million from the current year. The House and Senate have each budgeted $80 million for Visit Florida. Of that money, the House has proposed that $1.8 million go to a contract with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to craft an in-state tourism campaign. The Senate has pitched $2 million for the marketing contract with the Tallahassee-based hospitality trade association. Tourism and recreation taxable sales for Florida as a whole increased every month year-over-year from January through November 2015, representing an 8.6 percent increase over the same period in 2014.

The state is aiming to bring in $100 billion in total tourism related spending by 2020.

2015 FLORIDA TOURISM BY THE NUMBERS

Total 2015 Visitors: 105 million, up 6.6%

Total Floridians employed in tourism: 1,199,200, up 4.7%

Domestic visitors: 89.8 million, up 8%

Overseas visitors: 11.2 million

Canadian visitors: 4 million

Number of people boarding planes at 18 Florida airports: 74.3 million, up 8.2%

Taxable sales increase January to November 2015: 8.6%

Average daily room rate increase: 5.9%

Number of rooms sold increase: 4.5%

Average room occupancy rate: 72 percent, up 3.2 percentage points

Source: Visit Florida

Herald Tribune February 18, 2016

Filed Under: Florida Economic News, Sarasota Tourism Tagged With: , ,

Ringing in the New Year with Record-Breaking Sales

January 26, 2016 by

Sarasota Real Estate Market NewsAll-time Record

The year 2015 was one for the record books in real estate sales for both Sarasota and Manatee counties, closing out the year with an all-time record of 20,691 in combined closed transactions, 1,302 sales above last year’s numbers.

“These truly are exciting times for the real estate community, and reflects the hard work and dedication of our Realtor® members,” said Linda Formella, 2016 RASM President. “Our industry has been steadily and soundly rebuilding and I am so proud of our professional Realtors® and all the industries that support the real estate community.”

Record-Breaking Sales

  • There were 1,671 combined sales in both counties in December 2015, 28 percent higher than November, but down slightly from December 2014.
  • Median sale prices increased across the board. Single family prices rose 22 percent in Sarasota County to $239,900 and nearly 12 percent to $262,963 in Manatee County.
  • Condo prices were also up 22 percent in Sarasota County, at $217,000, compared to $178,249 for Manatee County, an increase of 6 percent.

Inventory of available properties continued to decline in both counties. For single family homes in Sarasota County, inventory is down 2.8 percent from December last year, and down 3.2 percent in Manatee County. Condo inventory for Sarasota County is down a mere 1 percent, while Manatee County increased 4 percent.

New Pending sales, which reflect new contracts written in the two-county area, were down 11.3 percent for single family homes, and remained unchanged for condo sales year over year. This may be a reflection of the declining inventory of properties for sale, as buyers face the challenge of finding the right property and even then may face a multiple-offer situation, competing against other buyers for the same property.

  • The two-county area saw the month’s supply of inventory remain well below the 6-month level, that typically defines a market in equilibrium between buyers and sellers, with a 3.8 month’s supply, in Sarasota County compared to 3.9 in Manatee.
  • The month’s supply of condos in Sarasota County is 4.1, and 4.3 months in Manatee.

The drop in the percentage of distressed sales signals another sign of health in the market. Both the number of distressed sales and the share of the market have continued to decline, signaling our continued recovery. Distressed sales for single family homes were down 49 percent from last year in Sarasota County and 46 percent in Manatee. Condo distressed sales were down 25 percent in Sarasota County and 47 percent in Manatee County. In December, there were only 195 distressed sales in the two counties reported in the MLS. That represented just under 12 percent of all sales, compared to the peak of 48 percent a few years ago.

“2015 has been such an exciting and historic year for our two-county area,” noted Formella. “We live and work in paradise and more and more people want to be a part of it. I am looking forward to a healthy year of steady growth in 2016.”

Realtor® Association of Sarasota and Manatee, January 22, 2016

Filed Under: Downtown Sarasota Real Estate, Sarasota Real Estate Market News Tagged With: , ,

Marina Jack wins ‘National Marina of the Year’

December 27, 2015 by

marina jack-downtown-sarasota“What struck me most about Marina Jack was how much it had changed over the last 15 years or so, continuing to evolve when many marinas were struggling with the economy,” said Anna Townshend, editor of Marina Dock Age Magazine.”

Marina Jack has been chosen as the 2015 “National Marina of the Year” by “Marina Dock Age” magazine. The award is given each year to one marina with under 250 slips and one marina with more. Marina Jack won in the large marina category.

Marina Jack has 316 wet and dry slips, a full-service fuel dock, ship’s store and on-site yacht services department. It can accommodate mega-yachts up to 228 feet in length on Sarasota Bay.

The business also offers a waterfront restaurant of the same name overlooking Sarasota Bay.

“This award is truly a testament to, not only our ownership, but our staff and customers,” said Sam Chavers, Marina Jack’s director of marina operations, in a statement on Monday.

“We’re honored and proud to represent the marina industry, the city of Sarasota and our community with this nationally recognized distinction. Our business plan has always been to create points of difference for the customer in order to build one of the best marinas in the United States, and this award exemplifies our efforts towards that goal.”

Marina Jack’s submission highlighted that it is partnership between public and private sectors; its strong ties in community events; its experienced staff; its industry involvement with boat shows and local brokerage affiliations; the development of the city of Sarasota’s first mooring field; and its certification as a clean marina for the past 12 consecutive years.

“What struck me most about Marina Jack was how much it had changed over the last 15 years or so, continuing to evolve when many marinas were struggling with the economy,” said Anna Townshend, editor of Marina Dock Age Magazine. “The marina invested a lot of money in its facilities, but it also listened to its customers and partnered with the city of Sarasota on important projects. ”

“The growth and success at Marina Jack over the last 10 years is no surprise, when you read about all the marina has done to get there.” Townshend said. “The hard work is important, but each facility needs the right vision.”

Chavers and owner Robert L. Soran accompanied by the Marina Jacks’ management team to accept the award at the inaugural Docks Expo industry conference in St. Louis this month.

This year’s small marina winner was the Harbour Town Yacht Basin in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

HeraldTribune 12/7/2015

Filed Under: Downtown Sarasota Real Estate, Sarasota Lifestyle Tagged With: ,

New Hotel Planned for Rosemary District

December 21, 2015 by

Sarasota-ModernA Boston developer plans to build a boutique hotel in Sarasota’s Rosemary District, joining a throng of new projects targeting the hospitality industry. The 76-room hotel, called The Sarasota Modern, is planned on about one acre at the southwest corner of Boulevard of the Arts and Cocoanut Avenue, just east of U.S. 41.

The five-story building would include a 151-seat restaurant, outdoor pool, juice bar and gym and spa, according to plans recently filed with the city.

“The vision for the hotel is to create a resort-like atmosphere in an upscale facility with a high level of on-site amenities,” planner Joel Freedman said in the filing.

Developer Jason F. Cincotta and his Cocoanut Arts LLC have acquired two parcels for the project. A one-story, 24-space parking garage also is proposed to go along with 11 surface parking spaces.

With tourism activity hitting record levels in the region, developers have invested tens of millions of dollars on hotel projects that are planned or under way in and around the downtown core. If they all come to pass, those projects will add about 1,600 guest rooms over the next two to three years, a boom that could be challenging to absorb, said downtown economic development coordinator Norm Gollub.

“I have legitimate concerns about the number of hotels that may come online, all within a short period of time,” Gollub said. “I know the market shows there is a demand for hotel rooms, however I’m concerned about the occupancy rates year round.”

A downtown conference center could help fill those rooms by attracting large business groups, but proponents of such a facility have been unable for years to put together a viable plan.

Additional Projects

Several of the hotel projects are nearing completion, under construction or about to get started.

The Aloft Sarasota, a 138-unit hotel and restaurant with 139 apartments at Ringling Boulevard and Palm Avenue, is slated to open in February.

A 255-room Westin hotel is under way at U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue with an expected fall 2016 completion. Vue Sarasota Bay, a 141-unit condo tower, is going up next door.

Floridays Development Corp. is expected to break ground soon on Hotel Sarasota, a 163-room accommodation adjacent to the Palm Avenue garage.

Jebco Ventures has pulled permits for a 180-room Embassy Suites & Spa at 202 N. Tamiami Trail.

Others plans have yet to come to fruition. Developers of a proposed 200-room Marriott hotel on the North Trail presented plans back in February, but nothing else has happened.

Two developers also have submitted plans for hotels on county-owned land at Main Street and U.S. 301, while the new owners of Sarasota Main Plaza say a hotel is a possibility there.

HeraldTribune 12/10/2015

Filed Under: Downtown Sarasota Condos, Downtown Sarasota Construction, Downtown Sarasota Real Estate, Sarasota Lifestyle

Florida Breaks Tourism Record in 2015

November 24, 2015 by

welcome to florida-1The Sunshine State welcomed an estimated 79.1 million visitors during the first nine months of 2015, the most of any such period in Florida’s history.

The nine-month count was a 5.5 percent increase when compared with the same period in 2014.

The third quarter of this year saw an estimated 25.5 million visitors, an increase of 6.8 percent, according to a report from Visit Florida, the state’s tourism promotions agency, released on Thursday.

The average number of direct travel-related jobs in the third quarter also was a record high, at 1,195,400, 5.2 percent more than a year ago.

Gov. Rick Scott has set a goal of drawing more than 100 million tourists to Florida this year, and that now seems within fairly easy reach.

Visit Florida estimated that there were 22.1 million domestic travelers to Florida in the third quarter, an 8.2 percent increase. There were another 3.4 million international visitors.

Preliminary figures for the nine-month period show 67.4 million domestic visitors, 8.3 million overseas visitors and 3.4 million Canadians.

Tourism and recreation taxable sales for Florida increased year-over-year for January through August, which was the last month reported, by 8.2 percent, while the average daily room rate rose 5.1 percent. The occupancy rate for Florida hotels increased 3.6 percent and the demand in rooms sold grew 4.8 percent compared with a year ago.

“The continued growth of tourism for the third quarter, including a record number of tourism-related jobs, puts Florida on pace for a fifth consecutive record breaking year. These records also emphasize the power of tourism as an economic leader and job creator for the state,” John Tomlin, Visit Florida’s chairman, said in a statement.

Local data has been equally impressive, with Sarasota County collected more than $19.02 million from its 5 percent tax on overnight accommodations during the recently ended fiscal year. That amounts to a 27 percent increase in those revenues from just two years ago. Meanwhile, that same revenue source in Manatee County was $11.74 million, a 30 percent jump from two years ago.

For the first time, too, Sarasota County broke 1 million visitors in paid lodgings.

In the July-to-September quarter, the number of visitors to Sarasota County was up 2.3 percent and their spending grew by 3.8 percent.

Herald Tribune November 2015

Filed Under: Downtown Sarasota Real Estate, Florida Economic News, Sarasota Tourism Tagged With: ,
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