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The Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau has undertaken a summer marketing campaign throughout the region to attract more business for local restaurants in the area.
The marketing campaign titled “Savor the Shore,” has included media advertisements to draw visitors to Fort Myers Beach as well as Lee County’s other islands and destinations.
Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau Executive Director Tamara Pigott said the campaign is geared to bringing more visitors to a region which has lost many hotel and staycation units since Hurricane Ian — particularly on Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel.
“We have lost a lot of accommodation units,” Pigott said.
“We have two different commercials talking about communities each week until August,” Pigott said. “The intent is each week we are highlighting different areas. During the whole seven weeks, these commercials are running along with print placements.”
The advertisements are intended to focus on Lee County communities from Fort Myers Beach to Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Sanibel, Pine Island and Boca Grande.
Pigott said the campaign is being geared towards regional and statewide consumers who are more willing to travel this time of year — as opposed to tourists from northern climates who may not be as willing to visit Florida during the hotter temperatures of the summer.
“We want to see businesses make it through these challenging times,” Pigott said. “Summer is the slow season.”
Peter Ennis, a partner at Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant and Wahoo Willies Tiki Bar and Grill on Fort Myers Beach, said the restaurants have been offering a lot of lunch and dinner specials during the summer to entice customers.
“Locals and visitors seem very appreciative of our early bird specials at Snug and great happy hour deals at Wahoo Willies. Weekends have been busier than weekdays for sure,” Ennis said.
Cape Coral restaurants and eateries included on the site, visitfortmyers.com, include Bubba’s Roadhouse Saloon, Marker 92 Waterfront Bar & Bistro; Nevermind Awesome Bar & Eatery, Iguana Mia, Maria’s Restaurant, Siam Hut Thai, Ariani Restaurant & Lounge, Eight-Foot Brewing, The Nauti Mermaid Dockside Bar & Grill, Rumrunners, Jungleside Tiki Bar, LadyCakes Bakery, and Scotty’s Bierwerks, each with both details and a link to its website.