New events, including an offshore boat race, could soon lure visitors to Collier County.
A draft of a strategic plan for marketing the destination next fiscal year includes suggestions of a boat race and a food and wine festival.
Every year, the private Naples Winter Wine Festival draws people from around the world, including celebrity chefs and award-winning vintners.
The new food and wine festival would be open to the public and would be held at a different time of the year, most likely in the summer, said Jack Wert, Collier's tourism director, at a Tourist Development Council meeting Monday.
He said he'd already met with a national event promoter, who would require $150,000 upfront for such an event, and a promotions manager with American Express, a potential partner.
Wert said he'd already met with a promoter of offshore boat races in Sarasota and Key West too, but that holding one could be cost prohibitive, unless a local organizing committee can be formed to help raise the money for it.
With 30 miles of shoreline, the race could be a great one for this area, giving a nice boost to local hotels, he said.
County commissioners will vote on the strategic plan in October.
May After Five, Marco Island Chamber
Catch of the Day: May 23, 2013
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
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