Amelia Island tourism continues to flourish

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
December 30, 2014 6:20 a.m.

The Amelia Island Tourist Development Council (TDC) held its final meeting of 2014 on December 17 at Fernandina Beach City Hall. Gil Langley, TDC Managing Director, and staff of the Convention Visitors Bureau provided the TDC with an extensive overview of tourism marketing efforts and results.   The beaches continue to be a major draw for visitors followed by many other activities reflected in the graphic below:

DMAI Accreditation

Langley announced that the Amelia Island TDC was recently notified that it has been awarded status as a Destination Marketing Organization by Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). As the global trade association for official destination marketing organizations (DMOs), Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) protects and advances the success of destination marketing worldwide.

According to its website, DMAI’s membership includes over 600 official DMOs with more than 4,100 staff members in over 15 countries that command more than $2 billion in annual budgets. Membership is open to all official DMOs recognized by their respective governments from the smallest town to the largest country, including convention and visitor bureaus, regional tourism boards, state tourism offices and provincial tourism offices and national tourism boards.

To receive this prestigious accreditation, the Amelia Island TDC met 58 mandatory and 30 voluntary standards across 16 disciplines. Since 2007, fewer than 200 destination marketing organizations have achieved this distinction.

Growing Tourism

By all measures FY2014 has been a successful year for tourism on Amelia Island. Langley presented several graphs and charts showing upward trends across the board.

What’s in store for 2015?

The year ahead will pack in many major tourism opportunities, starting with the TaxSlayer Bowl on January 2 and Restaurant Week January 16-25, to be followed by Amelia Concours Week (AmeliaConcoursWeek.com) in March. Marketing efforts targeting print and visual media continue strong as well, with an initiative directed toward Canadian, British and German markets, in addition to regional markets in the U.S. such as Atlanta, Chicago and Charlotte. With its new advertising campaigns, the TDC will also promote vacation rentals on Amelia Island.

Board changes

The TDC ended the year by saying good-by to two of its members, Sarah Pelican and Charlie Corbett, whose terms ended as their tenure on the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) concluded. Recommended as their replacements for the New Year are current FBCC members Pat Gass and Tim Poynter. The TDC also welcomed Donald Stamets, Managing Director of the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, and elected Fernandina Beach business owner George Sheffield to a full term.

Lots more in store for visitors and locals

Social media has proven to be hugely successful for people researching tourist destinations.  The AITDC has tapped into this market and regularly uses social media to promote local events.

For a complete rundown of TDC/CVB events and activities, visit the websites ameliaisland.com and AmeliaIslandTDC.com.

Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.