Charlotte County Press Releases 
Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands Welcomes Southeastern Outdoor Press Association Annual Conference
Outdoor Writers Association Holding Annual Conference in Punta Gorda, Fla., Oct. 7 – 10, 2009CHARLOTTE HARBOR & the GULF ISLANDS, Fla. (September 23, 2009) – Top outdoor communicators from throughout the Southeastern United States will convene in Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands October 7 – 10, 2009, when the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association (SEOPA) holds its annual conference at the Best Western Waterfront Hotel, Benedetto’s Steakhouse and the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center in Punta Gorda, Fla. Hosted by the Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau, the four-day conference is anticipated to attract more than 150 outdoor journalists, conservationists and corporate members.
Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands was selected as the host site for the annual conference in 2007 following a competitive and rigorous bid process.
“We are honored to be hosting this prestigious group of journalists and showcasing the destination’s many visitor amenities,” said Becky Bovell, Director for the Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau. As a result of SEOPA meeting in Charlotte County, the Visitor & Convention Bureau anticipates seeing significant editorial coverage about the area published in various regional print and electronic publications and eventually resulting in more visitors.
The Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau will be hosting the opening night’s dinner on October 7th at the new Laishley Crab House. The VCB has worked for over a year on logistics for this conference including, meals, exhibitor and seminar site selection, transportation, permitting, and equipment rentals. Field trips are planned to Babcock Wilderness Adventures, Englewood Visual Arts Center, and Pies & Plates. Staff also coordinated more than 20 individual familiarization tours with area tourism partners and Florida destinations with assistance from Visit Florida, the state’s official tourism marketing corporation. Acme Bicycle Shop, Capt. Ralph Allen, Capt. Van Hubbard, Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, Fishermen’s Village, Grande Island Vacations, Grande Tours, King Fisher Fleet, and Islander Properties extended invitations to host conference delegates on pre- and post-conference excursions.
SEOPA’s annual conference includes craft improvement sessions where members enhance their travel, outdoor writing and photography skills; a corporate member showcase where new and established products are introduced to conference attendees; and shooting day at the Cecil M. Webb Shooting Range where attendees will be given the chance to shoot competitively with firearms supplied by various corporate sponsors. Fishermen’s Village will be hosting the group on Thursday, Oct. 8 with a reception and a dine-around with specially priced meals for conference attendees will be available in the Village.
As an added incentive to explore and write about Charlotte County, writers who generate the best stories about the area will receive cash prizes totaling $400. The stories will be judged by the Visitor & Convention Bureau and winners will be announced during SEOPA’s annual conference in Branson, Missouri, set for Oct. 5 – 8, 2011.
Founded in 1964, the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association is a nonprofit professional organization serving a membership spanning 14 southeastern states. Members include magazine writers, newspaper journalists, photographers, radio and television personalities, industry representation and others in the outdoor communications field. The 2010 conference will be held in Huntsville, Alabama, Oct. 6 – 9.
About Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands
Located halfway between Tampa and Naples on the Southwest Florida Gulf coast, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands is a charming collection of nine coastal communities surrounding the state’s second largest harbor. Florida’s premier year-round eco-tourism destination, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands offers a pristine unspoiled beauty that has served as the backdrop for seven major feature films as well as countless memorable vacations. A haven for outdoor enthusiasts, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands has been named to SAIL magazine’s “10 Greatest Places to Sail in the United States,” ranked by Golf Digest as “Third Best Place to Live and Play Golf in America,” and rated by MONEY magazine as one of the “Best Places to Live in the South.” Port Charlotte was named “Best Place to Retire” by MONEY magazine in September. The city of Punta Gorda was named in 2008 as one of “Top Ten Places to Retire Healthy” by U.S. News & World Report. Englewood, Fla. was named as #2 of the Top Ten emerging travel destinations in the U.S. by TripAdvisor.com.
For information about area events, activities and attractions, contact the Charlotte Harbor Visitor’s Bureau, 18501 Murdock Circle, Suite 502, Port Charlotte, FL 33948; 941-743-1900, or call toll free at 1-800-652-6090 for a free Visitor’s Guide; or visit the Web site at www.CharlotteHarborTravel.com.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Huber
Tourism Public Relations Manager
Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau
Tel: (941) 743-1900
jennifer.huber@charlottefl.com
Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau
18501 Murdock Circle, Suite 502
Port Charlotte, FL 33948
941-743-1900, FAX: 941-743-2245
www.CharlotteHarborTravel.com
Release Date: 9/23/2009
