Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
Big corporations cancel trips to Southwest Florida
By
Tami Osborne, WINK News
Story Created:
Feb 13, 2009 at 11:36 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Feb 13, 2009 at 11:36 PM EDT
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. - Big businesses are canceling trips to Southwest Florida. The Collier County Convention and Visitors Bureau says that's keeping thousands of potential customers away from local businesses.
Traditionally, CVB President Jack Wert says the first quarter of the year is the busiest, but he calls the trends for bookings and cancellations in the Naples area for the first part of 2009 very disturbing.
Collier County isn't the only area seeing cuts. Officials at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs say they're definitely feeling the effects of the economy.
"The economy has definitely softened. We're seeing a little fall back with some of the groups and everything," Sales and Marketing Director Joe Thompson says.
Thompson says about 60 to 70 percent of their business is large corporate functions. So far, he says most of their cancellations and cut backs have been from the financial sector.
"The groups that are concerned about the perception, more so than actual financial results," Thompson explains.
Collier County tourism officials say with the large group visits slowing down, they're making a push to attract individuals to the area to help counter the effects.
Local resorts would not comment on which companies are canceling their plans to bring groups to Southwest Florida.
