Tourist Development Council Agenda Results: December 7, 2015

BRADENTON – At Monday's TDC meeting, members presented Charlie Hunsicker with an award naming him Tourist Ambassador of the Year. In other business, Kimberly Faulk gave a presentation on Visit Florida. Members didn't have a Quorum, so they refrained from voting on any agenda items.

1. Invocation / Pledge Allegiance

2. Approval of October 19,2015 Meeting Minutes (no vote)

3. Public Comments

4. National Award won by Manatee County Parks & Natural Resources

Presented by Charlie Hunsicker, Manatee County Parks and Resources – (full Story)

5. SRQ Update – Overall airport traffic is up 1.6 percent this month. United's non-stop to Newark returned this month through April and Air Canada will be running year round instead of seasonal. Canada's West Jet (similar to U.S. Southwest airlines) starts running December 18, from Toronto, and the remodeling of SRQ's terminal is finished. This year Airlines in the U.S will be posting $9 billion in profits.

6. ArtCenter Manatee - Update

Presented by Cathy Mijou, ArtCenter Manatee – Mijou asked, "What gets more visitors per square foot than the Louvre Museum? She answered, The ArtCenter Manatee. Mijou said for 78 years it has been the premiere museum in Manatee County and that it contributes $1.7 million to the local economy.

7. Manatee Technical College - Sports Marketing Program

Presented by Barbara Lasser, Manatee Technical College – Lasser was promoting her Sports Marketing Program by saying there is a real appetite out there for sports publishing. Lasser said her students volunteered to help at the RAM (Remote Area Medical) event to get handle at "putting on events." Lasser said they would be having a "Job Fair" at the college on December 9, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and that it was "open house."

8. Southeast Marketing College - Presentation

Presented By Michelle Stewart, CVB – Stewart said they were looking to start a "internship program" over the next year and was any inviting ideas that might help.

9. Visit Florida - Update

Presented by Kimberly Faulk – Faulk, Vice President of Sales at Visit Florida, delivered a presentation that included short commercial videos that reiterated the stats previously stated and introduced her "2020 Strategy Plan" for Florida to be the largest tourist destination in the world.

ADJOURN