A Resolution By The Board Of County Commissioners Of Pasco County, Florida, Recognizing Florida's Sports Coast For Achieving The Destination Marketing Accreditation Program Accreditation

39:16And now we'll go to RS four.

39:19Okay. R S four. So if you're here from

39:22Forts

39:23Coast, yep, Adam.

39:25And the board members?

39:27Okay, it is freezing in here and I have a jacket on. Oh, okay.

39:34All

39:34right.

39:38So this is resolution number twenty-six two seven nine. A resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida recognizing Florida's Sports Coast for achieving the destination marketing accreditation program accreditation. Whereas Florida Sports Coast, Pasco County's destination management organization, is responsible for promoting Pasco County as a premier destination for sports, leisure, and group travel. And whereas the

40:08Pasco County tourism Fiscal year 24 through 28 Strategic Destination Plan identifies achieving Destinations International Marketing Accreditation Program, DMAP. Accreditation as a priority initiative in support of the strategic goal to attain optimal resources and performance results. And whereas Destinations International is the world's largest and most trusted

40:38resource for destination organizations representing more than 10,000 members and partners from over 770 destinations worldwide. And whereas the DMAP is an independent, globally recognized accreditation body that defines excellence and destination management across a comprehensive set of standards. And whereas DMAP's nearly 100 accreditation standards cover a wide variety of topics including governance,

41:09finance, management, human resources, technology, visitor services, group services, sales, communications, membership, brand management, destination development, research and market intelligence. Innovation and stakeholder relationships. And whereas achieving DMAP accreditation requires a destination organization to successfully comply with rigorous, mandatory, and voluntary standards that evaluate nearly

41:40every aspect of organizational performance, accountability, transparency and industry best practices. And whereas on June 5, 2026, Destinations International formally notified Florida Sports Coast that they had achieved DMAP accreditation.

42:04And recognize the organization as part of a distinguished group of accredited destination organizations worldwide. And whereas by earning this accreditation, Florida's Sports Coast joins nearly 200 accredited destination organizations worldwide, including 23 in Florida. Demonstrating Florida's sports coast leadership. credibility and commitment to operational and strategic excellence

42:34within the tourism industry. And whereas this achievement strengthens Pasco County's position within the global travel and tourism community and affirms that Florida's sports coast meets the highest standards of destination management, benefiting residents, visitors, industry partners, and the broader community. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said board hereby commends the Florida Sports

43:04Coast team for achieving the destination marketing accreditation program accreditation and extends its appreciation for the organization's continued commitment to excellence, accountability, and the advancement of Pasco County's tourism industry. Done and resolved in regular session with a quorum president voting this 14th day of July 2026.

43:29Approval.

43:30Second.

43:30All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Adam, quite an accomplishment. I know it takes the team to do it all, uh to put it together, but it takes the leadership from the top to make sure we want to see it happen. So for you, I know you've been smiling all morning long uh about this, Matthew for about three weeks now.

43:47Uh

43:48but it's a great accomplishment. It shows government working the way it's supposed to work and the and the way you can hold your head high that you're running a great organization. Yes, sir.

43:55Thank you. Thank you so much, uh Chairman Mariano, for uh for recognizing this and then sponsoring this resolution. This is uh a monumental day for Pasco County and the Florida Sports Coast, but specifically for Pasco County, we've done some tremendous things um during my tenure here. I mean, I've looking at it coming up on 10 years next year, but we've rebranded, we've repositioned, we've won awards at the state level, at the national level, at the international level, we've built uh a world-class Facility in Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus, which is now managed by a premier operator that's bringing in events

44:25from all corners of the world. We have a marketing uh team that is very creative in positioning and telling the community story to the global marketplace. So we've done a lot of things leading up to this point here. But this This moment is so monumental because it tells the whole industry of the tourism industry that we're doing things the right way in Pasco County. That we're governed by a board, by a TDC board that oversees all of our policies, all of our expenditures, all of our initiatives, all of our programming

44:55to make sure that we're good stewards of the tourist development tax and we're good stewards of this industry. Um, I can't, I am very humbled uh to to stand here and and work side by side with with this amazing marketing team with Florida Sports Coast. But but more importantly, we get to present every single month to the Tourist Development Council that that that that that's here with us today, and um we couldn't do it without their support, without Mike Cabarla's support without Kathy Kathy Pearson's support. But there's a couple other of departments

45:25that were left out that I really want to highlight because this is, even though we we champion this accreditation, we wouldn't have been standing here today if it wasn't for the many different departments: IT, OMB, fiscal purchasing, HR. Facilities, fleet, parks and rec, county attorney's office, the county administration's office, the clerk's office, the PIO office. It all everyone had a hand in making this accreditation possible. So I can't thank them enough. I can't thank you enough for your supports and the team behind me.

45:56We stand again with giants across this industry of Florida, and Pasco County is shining brightly. So with that, I'll turn it over to Kevin. Kathy or Consuelo, if you have anything else you want to add?

46:07Have we not spoken? Yeah. I like to put things in perspective. So I figure that it's important to mention that this is an international recognition. We have over a hundred and ninety five countries in the world. Just in the United States we have over thirty one hundred counties and yet we are one of the only two hundred destinations globally that get these certifications. So this is a tremendous undertaking from

46:37our team. Many hours, hundreds of hours, day to day for over uh probably six months. Meanwhile, we were traveling, promoting our destination, uh dealing with day-to-day operations and projects. So I'm very proud of our team, very trap very proud of the support of everybody here. But most importantly, the certification is just not one paper, it's basically a validation that we're doing things the right way. So thank you for your support.

47:11Kathy Pearson, Assistant County Ministry of Public Services. I am so proud of this team. Um I have watched Adam for a long time. I've watched Consuela Kayla. Oh my gosh, the girl who's done the trance. She has become known in the industry. I watched how shy they were when they first started to see them grow and blossom. into an amazing team is I am probably the most proudest assistant county administrator today with all the teams I have and I just gotta say thank you to all of them.

47:42Right.

47:47And uh newest board member Roger's got a good thing to show you at the uh at the break here, so I'll take it down and show you something that's gonna be really cool to elevate a little bit more for that international tourism which you guys are doing such a great job with. So I'll come down and take a picture.

48:27Yeah.

48:30Well look at the mayor here, deputy mayor. He's bigger.

48:47I'm ranked up. Yes. Yes sir. Congratulations. No, it's good.

48:51Really, congratulations. Congratulations.

48:53Don't get the kill though. Yeah.