Travel and Tourism Week in Pasco County, resolution 25-205

34:07I have no idea who it's doing. I'm sorry I couldn't be here to say good words, but I gave 'em to you last week. Okay, P, no, R, res four, three, three, three, three, three.

34:20If you're here for Travel and Tourism Week, please step up to the podium.

34:27All right.

34:28Where where in the world is Consuelo today?

34:30She's in Tulsa.

34:32Again. Wait till you see the mountain bike uh BMX place in Tulsa.

34:39Right, I'll go ahead and read the resolution. Resolution number twenty-five dash two zero five. A resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida declaring the week of May 4th through 10th, 2025 as Travel and Tourism Week in Pasco County. Whereas National Travel and Tourism Week, established by a congressional resolution in 1983, is an annual tradition during the month of May, during which the United States travel community celebrates the value travel holds for our

35:09economy, businesses, and personal well-being. And whereas tourism in Florida's is Florida's top economic driver. Awareness of the tourism industry integral part of the easement. Industry's integral part in Florida's economic success will encourage promotion of tourism activities and continue to increase the number of visitors to the state and to Pasco County. And RAS Florida Sports Coast, Pasco County's destinations management organization, works hard year-round with industry partners to

35:40promote great reasons for visitors to come to Pasco County for sports, leisure. and business activities. And RAS in fiscal year 2024, visitors to Pasco County had an economic impact of $985 million, including over $675 million in direct spending by approximately 1.5 million visitors. Visitors spending in uh twenty twenty-four saved each Pasco household three hundred and forty-nine dollars in state and

36:10local taxes. And whereas in fiscal year twenty twenty-four, the tourism industry supported ten thousand four hundred and forty jobs in Pasco County, generating three hundred and four thousand two hundred this is a gonna be a fun number. Three hundred and four million two thousand three hundred in wages and salaries. Thank you for that exact number.

36:34Thank you for reading it.

36:37And Raz on May 22nd, 2025, Florida Sports Coast was sell uh will celebrate Travel and Tourism Week by hosting their fifth annual tourism banquet and awards, recognizing those who take a leading role in the tourism industry in Pasco County with a keynote speech from former National Football League coach Tony Dungey. Now therefore, be it Resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said board hereby proclaims May 4th through 10th, 2025

37:07as tourism. No, as Travel and Tourism Week in Pasco County and urges all Pasco residents, Pasco County residents, to recognize the importance of this vital industry to our area. Done and resolved in regular session with the quorum present and voting the sixth day of May twenty twenty five.

37:24Move approval. Second.

37:25All in favor? Aye. Aye. Well

37:28what what a few weeks you've had with all the fun stuff going in the legislature.

37:32Yes ma'am.

37:33Um but we're we're we have such wonderful numbers and uh I just wanna thank the whole team for um all the hard work you do and So proud of our county and all the great things we have to offer and You know, some of the places I haven't been to yet, I have can't wait to take my my grandchildren to feed those giraffes. So um lots going on with travel and tourism and uh why don't you speak to the

37:58Thank you, Madam Chair, Adam Thomas, Executive Director of Florida Sports Coast in Pasco County. Um I'm here today with uh with the Florida Sports Coast team and and some members from our Taurus Development Council, but uh uh we can't do what we do without the support of our team and the TDC and more importantly of the Board of County Commissioners. So first of all, thank you for your support and the supporting our industry, not only here uh locally in Pasco County but statewide, um speaking about the legislature. Um You know, travel and tourism are are major factors uh uh when when driving the Florida economy, generating

38:28billions of dollars in revenue, supporting millions of jobs, and contributing significantly to the state and local tax revenue. It's considered that the state's leading industry and a significant source of economic stimulus. So some examples of that are some local businesses. Tourism supports a wide range of local businesses from restaurants and hotels to shops and attractions. Infrastructure. Tourism spending contributes to the funding of essential infrastructure projects such as roads and transportation. Community

38:59development, tourism Tourism can help promote community development by creating jobs, attracting investments, and improving quality of life for residents. So, in essence, tourism is a powerful engine for Florida and Pasco County's economy, driving revenue, creating jobs, and supporting communities across this great county. So, thank you so much for supporting us and sponsoring this resolution, Chairman Sarkey, and I just thank you so much.

39:22And um what is the date of the tourism banquet?

39:25Uh May twenty second at Saddleburg Resort.

39:28And do we still have some tickets left?

39:29We do, yes ma'am.

39:30So and if people want to join us and listen to Coach Dungey, how do they get some tickets?

39:35Well it's not Chuck Norris, but it is uh it is Coach Dungey. Uh so next year.

39:40Who's that Chuck Norris?

39:41Next next year we we might have an opportunity. Um but yeah, so you can go online. Um you can go on our website and um our events page on our website and uh and and purchase tickets that way or just reach out to us and we'll we'll we'll guide you.

39:53And do we have that drone show again? Since I

39:55don't have the drone show. We have something we have some other things that are supplementing the drone show that's gonna be more entertaining. Really? Yes.

40:03I have to say that's my favorite event. Yeah he

40:06does have some more

40:06pretty high, so I can't wait for the share. Um anyone else have any comments?

40:12Yeah, go ahead.

40:13We'll start with Commissioner Weightman. I certainly appreciate everything you've done and and your team stepping up and and taking charge and doing what you've done for the citizen of Pasco County. It's been going very well and certainly appreciate each and every one of you of what you do for the citizen of Pasco County. Thank you.

40:31Mr. Waiting.

40:33You

40:34you

40:34okay Jack? Thank you, Chair. I'm

40:35working my way here. I'm good.

40:38Obviously everybody coming coming to Pasco and Etertainment's a thing now and you know, thanks for making keeping Pasco fun and thinking innovatively and and not just from, you know, Pascal and his team at Van Berg Tennis, but over to Jack's area at Sun West and all the different sports parks, Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus. I mean there are options for Pasco and we're on the map. And uh y'all do exciting

41:08and fun work for us and I know it can be a little daunting. Going all the different places that you have to go, but somebody's gotta do it. It's it's tired. It is somebody's gotta do it. And um, you know, just grateful for for putting us on the map and and showing us in a positive light. And uh next year I'm I'm really looking forward to Chuck coming to town. And uh so no no pressure there. Yes, sir.

41:36And uh

41:36Commissioner Mariano.

41:38Uh I'd like to say, Adam, you've done a phenomenal job since coming on board here. Um your willingness to just go after the market using technology as well has been incredible. Um I think the relationship you're building is great. Um such as like B B L with Bobby, I mean just phenomenal just keeping them in and and keeping everybody in the loop. When when you have done such a great local job great job with the local businesses as well. All those daily things that go on that we sponsor like Chasco Fiesta, the the uh Comequad Festival, all those things matter

42:09because when people are here they got something to do, it makes them want to come back and that's why the numbers have got stronger and stronger as we go. So as much as we're doing right there, the other things we're doing to expand it out is gonna bring even more more tourism and make a great impact because your uh study's gonna show it's saves the taxpayers here I think we figured this year three hundred eighty four dollars a year and what they would normally pay for taxes is now sponsored by people coming in from out of town having a good time. And I will tell you like with the Chasco Fiesta it's like my family's vacation we're gonna bring them all down. We have like twelve family members come

42:39down this year just to celebrate that week and whatever but I'm sure around area whether it be tennis, paddle, whatever. People got people love to have things to do when they get here. Absolutely. And you're helping make that happen, which wasn't always the focus before. There was struggles with that. So you're doing that and it's going great. So thank you.

42:58You're the chair.

43:01I am the chair. Um for the last few years we have auctioned off um a scalloping on our boat. At for different 501c3s this year, we donated it to the AMSkills, and you know it goes for thousands of dollars. So um We use that as a a a great money raiser for our charities. And then um I had a dinner party Saturday and we served the Pasco County's official pie. The frozen kumqua pie, not one person there had ever had it and they were just blown away. So,

43:32um I wanna make sure we get that into Saddlebrook. I have suggested that they put that on their menus for their banquets uh when uh they have businesses and conventions. So um We're very proud of our official kumquat pie. All right, let's take a

43:45photo.

43:48Oh yeah.

44:28Again. Go ahead and start by the resolution.