Branding makeover for Florida Gulf Islands

Florida's Gulf Islands in the Bradenton area have been rebranded for promotion in the UK as: 'Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key'.

The new UK branding campaign aimed at the trade is backed by a new UK microsite launching this month (January) and a commitment to invest in building UK business further.

Jessica Grace, marketing director for Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key CVB, said: "Our problem has never been demand, it’s always been supply but now that we’ve freed this up, we are able to deal with wholesalers particularly on our private homes. The UK is such an important market for us and with recent figures showing that at certain times of the year the international market makes up 70 per cent of the area’s visitors making it our biggest international market, we felt now was the time to increase our UK presence through trade, marketing and online opportunities."

The microsite at: www.annamariaisland-longboatkey.com will allow smaller properties in the area to be booked by UK customers and will have a dedicated 'Agent Area' for UK travel agents offering training and competitions.

In the past it has been difficult for the CVB to sell its bedstock to UK travel agents and tour operators but now the CVB has encouraged the big management property companies to make these available to the UK travel trade. Private homes are a growing market and the area boasts a wide variety of well-designed luxury, beachside homes.

The area covered by the new branding and site include Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, mainland Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch all on the west coast of Florida, just a 45 minute drive from Tampa airport. The area has beautiful, white sand beaches, wildlife and a string of unspoilt natural islands, comprising what many refer to as 'Hidden Florida'.

www.annamariaisland-longboatkey.com

0870 033 1502