The Bay Area Renaissance Festival is back in Tampa until
April1. Come and see community members role-play 16th century villagers for one
serious blast from the past experience. More than 100 vendors create an
atmosphere of fun, food, shopping, and eating that’s endlessly Entertaining.

This weekend’s theme is “Wonders of the World.” There
will be a BBQ competition, a world market, a belly dance competition, and free
wine tastings. Tickets are under $20 and the parking is free. Tickets can be
purchased at participating Walgreens, Circle K’s

10% of travelers say they have stayed in a vacation rental for a business trip

There are many luxurious amenities a business traveler enjoys while sleeping on the
road: fluffy beds, room service, decked-out fitness centers and concierges.

These amenities make traveling more comfortable. But when it comes down to it, take
it from Dorothy: There’s no place like home.

Some business travelers say they prefer staying in furnished vacation rentals, corporate
housing and inns versus hotels, particularly for lengthier stays.

That’s not just because alternative accommodations usually come with more space, free
Wi-Fi, free laundry facilities and free parking, but doing so helps battle the
lonesome blues while offering homey and off-the-beaten-path experiences.

“Living in hotels can be very depressing,” says Mark Mule, a traveling pit
orchestra musician who is usually on the road for weeks or months at a time.
“Corporate and vacation rentals are homes. This is good for your
head.”

Hotel occupancy rates have slowly declined in recent years. Nationally, hotels
enjoyed 63% average occupancy in 2005, according to Smith Travel Research. By
the end of 2010, that figure had fallen to 57.6% (but it’s up from its
five-year low in 2009 of 54.6%). That’s partly because of increased supply and
less demand since then. As the economy recovers, travelers seek value. Continue reading “Business travelers opt Vacation Rentals while on the road.” »

'blue skies and palm trees'

LEE COUNTY, FL – Fort Myers was ranked second for the lowest tax-burdened central cities out of 50 U.S. destinations recently rated in an annual study by the Global Business Travel Association Foundation.

The 2011 survey — which reviewed general sales tax and tax on travel-related services such as car rentals, hotel stays and meals — revealed drastic tourism tax differences between cities, in some cases 80 percent more in comparison, according to Joe Bates, the foundation’s director of research.

“This is yet another reason for meeting planners to consider The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel for their events,” said Tamara Pigott, executive director of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB), which markets The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel on southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast. “Choosing a city with lower taxes helps planners manage the rising cost of business travel, especially meetings and events. The study provides important information for planners to take into consideration in their site selection.”

Gary Young of Universal Vacations commented that the area was still well visited by the international traveller but with the meeting space available the domestic coporate market is also eyeing Fort myers as a venue to host annual events.

The annual study provides several different views of travel taxes to help visitors make informed choices. The top 50 markets are ranked by overall travel tax burden, including general sales tax and discriminatory travel taxes, and by discriminatory travel tax burden, excluding general sales taxes to count only taxes that target car rentals, hotel stays and meals. Separate data is offered for central city and airport locations, as the tax regimes are often distinct.

The foundation’s findings were collected using the ERS Group, a statistical and economic consulting firm that calculated taxes paid by travelers staying at a hotel, renting a car and eating restaurant meals for one day and one night, as well as for a longer stay of three days and two nights, according to the study.

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel offers a variety of meeting room options via its many hotels and resorts and also vacation rental properties on the beach or close by. A total of 256,129 square feet of meeting space is available throughout the county, with area properties offering from 600 square feet up to 73,000 square feet at one venue. There also are meeting options in myriad off-site venues, including one-of-a-kind museums, parks and other attractions. The area offers a full range of properties from inexpensive motels to idyllic cottages to condominiums and full-service resort properties. Many are located within 30 minutes of Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), featuring 20 carriers making non-stop flights to 43 domestic and four international destinations.