Click here to see a story published by reporter Noah Hertz of Jacksonville Today.
-Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
Welcome to beautiful Nassau County, located in the northeast corner of Florida along the Atlantic Ocean and Interstate 95. We are proud to serve as the Eastern Gateway to the Sunshine State. From our historic island, sandy beaches, and championship golf courses to our scenic rivers, green pastures, and majestic timberlands, we truly offer something for everyone.
5/10/24 @ 11:30 a.m. - According to a poll from Global Traveler's Magazine, Amelia Island is the best island in the U.S.! This accolade was determined after an eight-month-long survey, reaching 850,000 Global Traveler Readers.
Click here to see a story published by reporter Noah Hertz of Jacksonville Today. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer
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11/17/23 @ 8:45 a.m. - At the Board of County Commissioner's meeting held on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, Gil Langley, President & CEO for the Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau (AICVB), presented their fourth quarter report which reflected the total economic impact tourism had on Nassau County during the 22/23 fiscal year from October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023. During his presentation, Mr. Langley reported that in over the last fiscal year, tourism had a total overall economic impact of over $932 million derived from bed taxes and taxable sales. Mr. Langley also provided an update on the AICVB's new marketing strategies and an overview of special events, including an update on this year's Dickens on Centre event. Attached is a copy of Mr. Langley's PowerPoint presentation. If you would like to watch his presentation, you can do so by clicking here. Note: The AICVB is the managing agency of the Amelia Island Tourist Development Council which was established in 1988 to collect bed taxes for overnight stays on Amelia Island. Funds generated from the TDC are used to promote tourism on Amelia Island, but are also used for beach improvements and cleaning, as well as for various special events that add to the quality of life for Nassau County residents. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer Amelia Island Tourism Marketing Wins Back-to-Back Top Honors at VISIT FLORIDA's 2023 Flagler Awards9/15/2023 Media Contact:
Britney Guertin Hayworth Public Relations (386) 677-7000 x4 britney@hayworthpr.com 9/18/23 @ 1:30 p.m. During the 2023 Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism (Sept. 6-8), the Amelia Island Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) won a total of five Flagler Awards for outstanding tourism marketing, including Best of Show. Their second consecutive Best of Show award, the Amelia Island CVB has now won six “Best of” honors, the most of any entrant since the award was introduced in 2005. The CVB took top honors in the Social Media Marketing and Mobile Marketing categories, accepting two Henry Awards and the Best of Show trophy during the award ceremony, Wednesday, Sept. 6, at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida. The CVB also won two Bronze Awards in the Print Advertising and Radio Advertising categories. “Once again, our outstanding team has found its way onto the award stage to be recognized among Florida’s best and brightest marketers, taking a well-deserved bow as much for its consistency as its creativity,” said Gil Langley, president and CEO of the Amelia Island CVB. “We’re proud to be honored for our hard work and our commitment to strengthening of our local community through strategic, sustainable tourism.” A fixture on the Flagler Award podium, the CVB this year won Henry Awards for its Social Media Travel Guides (Social Media Marketing), and for the Amelia Island Weather Trigger campaign (Mobile Marketing), which also won Best of Show. The CVB also won Bronze Awards for the “It’s an Island Thing” campaign (Print Advertising), and its Amelia Island Podcast Advertising (Radio Advertising). As the state’s annual tourism marketing competition, the Flagler Awards recognize Florida’s travel businesses and organizations that demonstrate outstanding tourism marketing efforts. Each year, the Flagler Awards honor many of the countless individuals and organizations that help position Florida as a premier travel destination and pay tribute to the determined efforts of those who help ensure the continued success of the state’s most important industry. For more information about Amelia Island, visit AmeliaIsland.com. 8/22/23 @ 11:30 a.m. - The Amelia Island Tourist Development Council (AITDC) has announced that they are seeking applications for an individual to fill a vacancy. The AITDC is a volunteer, citizen-based committee who is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). The AITDC is charged with providing recommendations to the BOCC on tourism related matters including, but not limited to, the creation of marketing plans, new product development, and the expenditure of Tourist Development Tax (TDT) funds.
In order to be considered for this vacancy, you must:
To apply for the vacancy, please click here. Applications will be accepted beginning at 8am on Thursday, August 24th - 5pm on Friday, September 22nd. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer 7/18/23 @ 11:00 a.m. For this Turtle Talk Tuesday, we would like to take a moment to thank our lodging partners for helping us educate visitors about sea turtle nesting and what is being done locally to protect the species. We recently visited the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island to see strategies they employ for sea turtle safety which includes placement of signage, double checking that all outdoor lights are turtle friendly, and by securing their courtyard switch so it can’t be turned on by guests during turtle nesting season. Through their two staff environmentalists, they also work hard to ensure that guests are aware of local regulations that enhance sea turtle safety. This includes suspending bonfire activities, ensuring all beach furniture is brought in daily, and by placing informational magazines in the room of all guests educating them on sea turtle nesting season and what they can do to keep our beach safe for nesting sea turtles. We greatly appreciate the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island for doing their part to protect this wonderful species! -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer 5/4/23 @ 10:20 a.m. At the April 24th meeting, the Board approved Resolution No. 2023-052 proclaiming the week of May 7 - May 13, 2023, as "National Travel & Tourism Week" in Nassau County, Florida. This week has been recognized nationally since 1983 to celebrate the U.S. travel community and travel's essential role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating vibrant communities, creating quality job opportunities, inspiring new businesses, and elevating the quality of life for Americans every day. Tourism is extremely important to Nassau County as 26% of our residents rely on tourism in their careers in retail, hospitality, and service industries. In 2022, tourism had an overall economic impact of $907 million, with $618 million total in taxable sales within Nassau County including purchases on gasoline, retail, food, attractions, grocery stores, and more. $11.4 million was collected from the 5% Tourist Development Tax on short-term hotel, bed and breakfast and vacation rentals. Funds generated from the Tourist Development Taxes cover 100% of beach cleaning on all of Amelia Island, we well as cleaning of all beachfront park restrooms. Funds are also used to support local programs and events such as Dickens on Centre, Restaurant Week, and the Chamber Music Festival, among others. We appreciate our partners at the Tourist Development Council for all they do to make Nassau County a world-class travel destination and for their efforts in enhancing the quality of life for Nassau County residents by boosting of local economy, engaging with the community, and providing a visitor experience that our guests will remember for years to come. Also, the Amelia Island Convention & Visitor's Bureau has released the 2022 Year in Review which provides valuable insights on the performance of the local tourism industry. It also tells a story about our visitors... where they're from, how they spend their money when visiting, how that money supports local jobs, and the overall impact those dollars have on our County. The 2022 Year in Review can be found here. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Office 4/17/23 @ 4:45 p.m.
The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and the Amelia Island Tourist Development Council (TDC) believes that special events are vital to the successful development of Amelia Island as a year-round tourist destination. The collection of additional Tourist Development Taxes (TDTs) generated by overnight stays, along with additional sales tax collected on retail items, meals, and entertainment, enhances the local economy and the quality of life for our residents. The TDC is excited to announce a new Sponsorship Funding Policy designed to invest in projects and events with the potential to attract visitors who will occupy overnight accommodations on Amelia Island. Organizations hosting events or programs that showcase tourism drivers and attributes of Amelia Island such as nature, culture and heritage, culinary, beach, wellness, performing arts or sports, may be eligible to apply for financial support from the TDC. An application process has been established for sponsorships to be considered. Applications will be accepted now through June 30, 2023, to be considered for support during the 23/24 Fiscal Year (October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024). The funding application, conditions for funding and other relevant information can be found at: https://bit.ly/TDCSponsorship. Upon receipt of completed applications, all applications will be reviewed to ensure that they meet the criteria for use of bed-tax funds as outlined in Section 125.0104, Florida Statutes, and that the proposed event follows the established policy guidelines. After reviewing the applications, the TDC Managing Director may recommend approval of the funding request to the TDC Board. If a recommendation is approved by the TDC Board, the TDC Board shall execute a Resolution recommending approval by the BOCC. The BOCC will consider the TDC’s recommendation at a regularly scheduled and noticed meeting. Any organization approved for sponsorship funding will be required to enter into a contract with the County defining the performance requirements. “This formalizes a process for organizations to apply for dedicated funding support for events or programs which have a main purpose of attracting visitors to our community”, said Gil Langley, TDC Managing Director. “Our goal is to partner with entities that will help build need periods, drive economic impact, and create a sustainable tourism industry throughout Nassau County.” If you have any questions, please contact Mariela Murphy at (904) 277-4369 or via e-mail at mmurphy@ameliaisland.com. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer 3/17/23 @ 9:30 a.m. - At the Wednesday, March 15th Board of County Commissioners meeting, Gil Langley, President and CEO of the Amelia Island Convention and Visitor's Bureau, provided a quarterly update on tourism in Nassau County. The presentation included information on visitors to the area, the economic impact of those visitors from sales and bed taxes, and the economic impact of special events including the recent Concours d'Elegance and Restaurant Week. To view the presentation, please click here to be directed to the Clerk of Courts website. The presentation can be found under "Tab C". The 1st Quarter Report can be found here on the Amelia Island Convention & Visitor Bureau's website. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer 6/30/22 @ 10:40 a.m. - At the Monday, June 27, 2022 meeting, the Board approved Resolution No. 2022-130 proclaiming the week of July 1 - July 7, 2022, as Clean Beaches Week in Nassau County, Florida. Clean Beaches Week is recognized annually across the nation to spread awareness regarding the effects of pollution on marine life, oceans and coastal landscape. Public Works Director, Doug Podiak, and Convention & Visitor's Bureau Executive Director, Gil Langley, were in attendance to accept the Resolution. Nassau County beaches have long been a source of beauty and enjoyment, drawing thousands of visitors per year. The Board strives to ensure that Nassau County beaches remain pristine. By collection of the Tourist Development Tax by lodging establishments on Amelia Island, the County is able to fund 100% of beach cleaning efforts. These efforts including removal of trash and debris from both City and County beaches, emptying of all trashcans along the beach, removal of trash and debris from all beach front parks, and cleaning of all beach front park restrooms. In 2021, the beach contractor removed approximately 100 tons of trash and debris from City and County beaches, beach access areas, and parking lots. The Amelia Island Convention and Visitor's Bureau works tirelessly to ensure that visitors understand the importance of keeping our beaches clean by providing printed materials for lodging establishments and supplying signage in beach front parks encouraging residents and visitors to "leave no trace". By caring for the beach and keeping it clean, the Board of County Commissioners is investing in preservation of the environment and wildlife by ensuring that harmful materials do not end up in the ocean or destroy beach habitats. This week, residents and visitors are encouraged to make a positive impact by cleaning up trash and debris that have been left behind and encouraging others to do the same. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer 6/17/21 @ 10:35 a.m. - According to the Amelia Island Convention and Visitors Bureau (AICVB), Nassau County's tourism industry is booming and lodging taxable sales are at a record high. The AICVB has issued a Press Release providing information on estimated lodging taxes sales for April which were a near record of $18.4. They also indicated that May is expected to show similar increases, due to a successful Amelia Island Concours Week and the Memorial Day weekend.
Please click here to review the AICVB's Press Release and learn more! -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer |
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