Subject:
Title
Tourism Promotion Agreement with the City of Madeira Beach for a Fiscal Year 2026 Elite Event.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Tourism Promotion Agreement with the City of Madeira Beach (City) for a Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Elite Event.
• Agreement with the City for a total of $50,000.00 supports the John’s Pass Seafood Festival.
• Funding is allocated between sponsorship benefits and marketing and advertising expenditures and is paid post event:
o $15,000.00 for sponsorship benefits.
o Up to the sum of $35,000.00 for pre-event marketing and advertising expenditures.
• FY26 Elite Event funding was recommended by the Tourist Development Council on June 25, 2025, and approved by the Board of County Commissioners (Board) on July 22, 2025.
• As determined, the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) will leverage the use of available data sources to substantiate attendance and estimate economic impact and total room nights for Elite Events.
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Strategic Priorities:
Prosperity and Opportunity
3.2 Provide and promote tourism opportunities
Summary:
The Tourism Promotion Agreement is for the John’s Pass Seafood Festival, which is scheduled to be held October 24-26, 2025, at John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk. Funding will be paid on a post event basis upon receipt of a report and other supporting documentation.
Background/Explanation:
On July 22, 2025, the Board approved a total of 49 events for the FY26 Elite Event Funding Program (Elite Program) for a maximum (or “up to”) total funding amount of $2,685,000.00.
This will be the 7th year the County has supported this event through the Elite Program. According to the CVB’s research firm, the FY24 event resulted in a direct economic impact of $3.5 million to the County. New this year, as determined, the CVB will leverage the use of Street Level One LLC and Placer.ai market intelligence data, Destinations International’s Event Impact Calculator and other sources to substantiate Elite Event attendance and to estimate economic impact and total room nights, which play a role in the evaluation of an event for future funding.
Funding for this event is allocated between sponsorship benefits and pre-event marketing and advertising expenditures which are detailed in Exhibits A and B of the agreement. Funding is paid on a post event basis upon receipt of a report and other supporting documentation and is due within 45 days of the event.
Fiscal Impact:
$50,000.00 Total Cost
Funding to support the Elite Event Funding Program is included in the CVB’s Annual Operating Budget. The source of funding is the Tourist Development Tax Fund.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Tourism Promotion Agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Brian Lowack, Director, Convention and Visitors Bureau
Partners:
Tourist Development Council
Attachments:
Tourism Promotion Agreement