Jul 02, 2024

Air show expected to bring millions in revenue to Charlotte County

BY NANCY SEMON | JULY 2, 2024 | PHOTO CREDIT:FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW

If the upcoming Florida International Air Show in Punta Gorda is anything like past years, millions of dollars will be spent by the tens of thousands who attend the event, with tens of thousands being donated to local charities. 


There were 22,750 people from outside Charlotte County who attended the air show in November 2023, which produced an economic impact of $5,310,800, according to a study from Tallahassee-based market–research firm Downs & St. Germain. There were 1,616 room nights booked by visitors who stayed in hotels, motels and Airbnbs. 


Visitors from outside the county also spent their money on restaurant meals, shopping, groceries, entertainment and transportation. 


During the show, they spent $3,612,800 for a variety of things from food trucks to vendors on the premises. 


The tourism revenue of $5,310,800 does not include money paid directly by the air show. 


Dollars spent by the show support local employee wages, the purchase of products or services needed during the event and equipment rental, said Denise Dull, president of the Florida International Air Show, or FIAS. 


Sales inside the event were $672,729, and after expenses of $805,793, “we were able to give $41,000 to local charities,” she said. 


Among the charities helped last year were the Punta Gorda and Naples chapters of Civil Air Patrol, Gator Wilderness Camp, the Port Charlotte High School cheering team, 99’s Women Pilots & Women in Aviation, Charlotte County Parrot Heads, USMC 756, JROTC of Charlotte High School, Army Island Coast High School, Mariner Drone High School, Punta Gorda Rotary, Florida Sheriff’s Explorers Association, Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, Candlelighters—Childhood Cancer Family Alliance, Peace River Community Housing Partners, Loveland School, the North Port High School basketball team and more. 


The total estimated crowd for last year’s show was 45,000, but many view the show from outside the airport grounds, Dull said. 


“Attendance is a fluid definition in our world, as we know that there are folks who enjoy the entertainment that we work hard to provide from outside the gates, and who don’t always purchase a ticket,” Dull said. “We see them parked along the roadways and in the parking lots of businesses around the airport, in folding chairs in the lots that are meant for those who do purchase tickets to attend the event, and even from the backyards of their own homes.” 


During the event last year, Friday drew 5,000 attendees, Saturday’s attendance was 22,500 and Sunday drew a crowd of 17,900 inside the gates, she added. 


This year the air show will be a two-day event, Nov. 2-3. 


Certain acts attract the most attention, such as the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds, and this year’s main attraction—Air Combat Command F-16 Viper Demonstration Team from Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. The team displays precision aerial maneuvers, showcasing the capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, one of the Air Force’s premier multirole fighters. 


County Tourism Director Sean Doherty said that while Tourist Development Tax data was only available for the entire month of November 2023 when the air show occurred, the 5% tax on rooms during the three days of the air show last year was approximately $12,000. 


“Of course, the much more important number was the $3.6 million in direct spending that Denise (Dull) mentioned, which is a major boost to the local hospitality industry in our slowest tourism month and equates to the $5.3 million in total economic impact,” Doherty said. 

He said the 1,616 room nights and the expenditures mentioned “only include the spectators and do not include the out-of-area air show talent, vendors, sponsors, etc.” 


Dull said this year’s air show also will feature the P-51, which takes to the sky in a heritage flight and demonstration. The single-seat aircraft dominated the skies over Western Europe during World War II and were pivotal in turning the tide of the war in favor of the Allied Forces. 



Also appearing will be The Chuters Jump Team veteran-owned and operated parachute team, three-time U.S. National Aerobatic champion Patty Wagstaff Warbird Thunder featuring two Navy Advanced Training Aircraft, which will perform aerobatic formations, and jet demonstration pilot Randy Ball.


Read Article at: https://www.gulfshorebusiness.com/air-show-to-brings-in-millions-in-revenue-to-charlotte-county/

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Southeast Tourism Society Selects Florida International AirShow as a “Signature Event of the Southeast” Award Winner

12 Aug, 2024
PUNTA GORDA, FL. (August 14, 2024) – Southeast Tourism Society (STS) has named the Florida International Airshow one of the Signature Events of the Southeast for 2024. This year’s Florida International AirShow is November 2-3. 2024 held in Punta Gorda, FL. Signature Events of the Southeast, formerly known as “Top 20 Festival and Event Awards”, was launched as part of the 40th Anniversary celebration of Southeast Tourism Society in 2023. STS has recognized events and festivals around the Southeast since 1985. Travel industry experts select top events to be highlighted for the year, and STS publicizes them throughout the United States. The complete list is published on both the Travel Media Press Room and Escape to the Southeast® websites and recognized on all Southeast Tourism Society’s social media platforms. The AirShow will celebrate its 43rd year of presenting exciting entertainment to residents and visitors of Charlotte County on the grounds of the Punta Gorda Airport. Beginning as a single day event, the show has grown to a three day event with fan-friendly activities, a large variety of acts, interactive displays, and much more. “If you’ve not been to an AirShow before, it’s like taking Nascar, pizza, baseball, hotdogs, fireworks, football and Lynyrd Skynyrd and rolling it all into one giant rodeo “says Denise Dull, President of the Florida International AirShow. “There’s something for everyone in the family.” The Florida International Airshow also received a USA TODAY 10Best Readers Choice Award this year for their November 2023 AirShow, which featured the USAF Thunderbirds and was a record attendance year. “For more than 40 years, STS has been spotlighting the best festivals and events in the Southeast. Our goal is to highlight the efforts of devoted event organizers and provide additional media exposure and accolades for their events,” said Monica Smith, President and CEO of Southeast Tourism Society. “The Southeast offers so many unique, year-round, opportunities for tourists and festival goers to create memories and support the tourism industry-–a vital economic generator for communities.” Events considered for the STS Signature Events of the Southeast recognition must be at least three years old and have an attendance of at least 1,000. Nominations open in early spring. Members and non-members are eligible to apply. Winning submissions are automatically judged in the Festival or Event of the Year category for STS’s Shining Example Awards. About Southeast Tourism Society The Southeast Tourism Society (STS) is a not-for-profit membership association dedicated to the development of travel and tourism professionals and organizations within the southeast region. The association’s mission is to empower a diverse network of tourism professionals through Education, Advocacy, Recognition, and Networking. Member states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, plus the District of Columbia. About Florida International Air Show The Florida International AirShow is a Florida 501(c) 4 nonprofit organization staffed entirely by volunteers. The Airshow is a multi day event showcasing nationally known performers and exciting static displays of aircraft and vehicles. The Airshow offers attendees the opportunity to learn more about aviation, space, and military service. FIAS events provide beneficial exposure to the community and Punta Gorda Airport as a significant economic asset has donated over $3.6 million in contributions to local Southwest charities since its inception. For more information visit www.floridaairshow.com Florida International AirShow Denise Dull, President 941-626-9439 denisedull@floridaairshow.com www.floridaairshow.com

Air show expected to bring millions in revenue to Charlotte County

02 Jul, 2024
BY NANCY SEMON | JULY 2, 2024 | PHOTO CREDIT:FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW

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