What they're saying about us

Public relations is recognized as one of the most effective and important tools in any successful marketing initiative. By capturing attention and touting the diverse attributes of our tourism product to traditional and social media worldwide, the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau’s communications department generates millions of dollars worth of editorial coverage of our destination and tourism partners. In turn, potential visitors are engaged by journalists’ stories, which aids in choosing Lee County for vacations and meetings. Here’s a sample of what they’re saying about us . . .

Staten Island Sunday Advance
“For those who love a good game of golf, Sanibel Island has two top-rated public golf courses – The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club and Beachview Golf and Tennis. Judy Comella, executive director of the Golf Association of Florida, said ‘both courses were lovely and well worth the trip.’ She described the 18-hole Dunes as the more ‘resort-oriented’ of the two, while adding that Beachview is a very user-friendly resort golf course. ‘This particular golf course is an ‘Old Florida’-style course, and is accessible to players of all handicaps,’ she said.”

Associated News
“In Cape Coral, the new high-rise Resort at Marina Village was designed with condominiums and more than 20,000 square feet of space. Nearby Bonita Springs is home to the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, the region’s largest convention property with 73,000 square feet of space.”

www.joyoftravel.ca
“The passengers lining up to board the ‘Lady Chadwick’ probably don’t recognize the sharp class distinction among them. But it’s there, all right – because about half of these Captiva Cruises voyagers will visit Cabbage Key, in laid-back, Jimmy Buffett territory; while the other half will spend an hour or two in the lap of luxury, on privately-owned Useppa Island. The two tiny islands, only minutes from one another, are on the Intracoastal Waterway on Florida’s Gulf Coast, just north of Fort Myers. Between them, they are a microcosm of Floridian history and culture.”

Minnesota Monthly
“If you want to get a glimpse of Florida as it looked long before Walt Disney erected his Magic Kingdom, head to Sanibel and Captiva, a chain of islands off the southwest corner of the state, near Naples and Fort Myers. You’ll discover soft sand beaches, great birdwatching and wildlife viewing, kayaking, fishing and other diversions.”

An Explorer’s Guide to South Florida
“After hours spent walking on sand and stooping to pick up shells, I could think of no better pick-me-up than a massage to erase my burnout from the beach. And wrapped in flickering candlelight amid the muted earth tones at Esterra Spa & Salon (239-765-4SPA; www.esterraspa.com) 6231 Estero Blvd., it was more than a massage; it was a ritual of relaxation.”

enRoute (Air Canada in-flight magazine)
“If you thought a trip to Florida meant choosing between a family vacation and a sophisticated beach escape (like the kind you’d get at Miami Beach’s Fontainebleau), think again. The alternative lies at the other end of Alligator Alley on the Gulf Coast. Newly rebuilt after Hurricane Charlie in 2004, Captiva Island’s South Seas Island Resort is renowned for its kids’ programs but still offers refined accommodations, one of the best golf courses in the Fort Myers area and easy access to great eating. Check out Mad Hatter on Sanibel Island or the Old Captiva House at Captiva’s ‘Tween Waters Inn.”

Essentially America
“Although some of its restaurants offer live music along with exotic tropical drinks and excellent seafood – and there’s seasonal theatre in the local playhouse – visitors, including many Brits, come here mainly to relax in the sun, swim in the gentle Gulf waters, view the swamp and marine wildlife, cruise to the out islands and search the wide, sugar-white beaches for the 50-60 types of shells the island collects because of its unusual east-west alignment in the Gulf of Mexico.”

The Salt Lake Tribune
“Florida travelers looking for information on vacations in the Fort Myers/Sanibel Island area have a new website to peruse for information. The County Visitor and Convention Bureau launched its next-generation site, www.FortMyers-Sanibel.com, on April 13. The new site uses photography and an introductory video. It also features interactive user interfaces, content ratings, social sharing, multiple paths to access content, full-screen videos, immersive maps, large backgrounds and booking and planning tools. It also features tabs for accommodations, attractions, activities, events, deals and maps.”

L’Express de Toronto
“Lodging recommended: Outrigger Beach Resort in Fort Myers Beach. Nice hotel on the beach (near Lovers Key State Park) with kitchenettes. 800-749-3131 or 239-463-3131.”

Sport Fishing
“Bedlam in the pass! Anglers who tangle with tarpon in Florida’s famed Boca Grande Pass are advised to keep their rods up and their heads down.”

www.theurbanologist.com
“You don’t know the work of J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling? He found time over his 50-plus year career to draw 50,000 editorial cartoons that dealt with foreign policy, presidential elections and the human condition. Along the way, he also was honored with two Pulitzer Prizes and other awards of distinction. On a recent trip to south Florida, I found myself exploring the J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. It is truly a testament to Darling’s lifelong obsession with the conservation of natural areas and his abiding personal connection with this corner of the United States.”

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