While the strategy of courting organizers of large conferences to host their events in Charlotte County is nothing new, having the year-old, 785-room Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor in its portfolio is a big selling point for the county.
The Allegiant Travel Co.-owned resort is currently booking large events into 2025, including the 600-attendee Oil Price Information Service Natural Gas Liquids Summit on March 9-12. That is welcome news for the resort and county, which benefit from the 5% Tourism Development Tax on the gross rental amount.
“Conferences of that size, some even slightly larger, are regularly being targeted by both Sunseeker’s sales staff, as well as ours,” Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau Tourism Director Sean Doherty said.
Despite a setback in October when hurricanes Helene and Milton slammed the area within two weeks of each other, visitor activity and interest in the area has been increasing, Doherty said.
Tourist Development Tax collections for October ($343,320) were down 5.9% year over year due to the disruption of the hurricanes. However, fiscal year 2024’s collections ($8,716,898) were up 16.1% compared to the previous year.
Doherty said larger conferences generate revenue throughout the area, as attendees will “overflow into other nearby hotels, particularly those in downtown Punta Gorda. In addition, many conferences host off-site functions, which benefit area attractions and restaurants. To date, Sunseeker has hosted conventions and meetings of all sizes, some generating up to as many as 3,000 to 4,000 room nights.”
Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis for Oil Price Information Service, said he chose Sunseeker Resort partly for its golf course, Aileron Golf Club, as several attendees are golfers.
VCB recently hosted the U.S. Sports Congress, which brings together top-level decisionmakers from the world of amateur sports and events. County staff was responsible for recruiting the event, Doherty said.
“The conference had a little over 200 attendees for three days, and in addition to having sessions and social functions at Sunseeker, they also hosted functions at TT’s Tiki, Perch 360 [on Wyvern Hotel rooftop] and the Village Brewhouse. Attendees also were able to select an area activity to participate in on one of the days and had a choice between golf at Sunseeker’s Aileron, an airboat ride, kayaking with SUP Englewood or a cruise on the Oasis tiki boat.”
Economic impact data from the event earlier this month wasn’t yet available.
Management and staff at local hotels and resorts aren’t the only ones glad to see interest in the county ramping up now that tourist season has arrived.
Realtor Carla Nix, of The Nix Team at Coldwell Banker Sunstar Realty, on Dec. 13, said the week saw 279 new home listings, 113 listings pending and 89 are in the process of closing.
She said increasing activity is due in large part to those seeking to establish their homestead status in the state before the first of the year.
Meanwhile, most of the restaurants and shops that were flooded during the recent hurricanes in the downtown area of Punta Gorda have reopened.
Leroy’s Southern Kitchen, F.M. Don’s, River City Grill, Italia, The Perfect Caper, The Celtic Ray Irish Pub, Dean’s South of the Border, Winesett House, Ortigia Cucina & Bar and more are open. Some opened shortly after Hurricane Milton.
Fishermen’s Village has been crowded with visitors, and all of its restaurants are open.
Ichi Hibachi, which is between City Hall and Shorty’s Place, never closed, and Shorty’s Place and CJ’s Tavern are both open for business.
Nearby Carmelo’s Italian Ristorante has been busy since shortly after the hurricanes and reservations are required well in advance.
On Olympia Avenue, Sandra’s Restaurant and Mint Thai Cuisine are open, and on Taylor Street, Pizza Gorda and Fresco also have been busy.
