Charlotte County Press Releases 
30th Annual Florida International Air Show Makes Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 List
CHARLOTTE HARBOR & THE GULF ISLANDS, Fla. (November 5, 2009) – Aerial stunts, high-speed military jets, and acrobatic pilots are some of the thrills attendees can expect during the 30th Annual Florida International Air Show scheduled for April 10 and 11, 2010 at the Charlotte County Airport in Punta Gorda, Fla. The event was recently named one of the STS Top 20 Events in the southeastern United States for Spring 2010 by the Southeast Tourism Society (STS). The air show is all-volunteer organized and to date has raised more than $2.5 million for local charities. During the 2009 Florida International Air Show attendance reached 65,000."We at the Florida International Air Show are truly honored to be designated as one of the top 20 events in the Southeast for the spring of 2010 by the Southeastern Tourism Society,” said Florida International Air Show Chairman Fred Buckingham, “This is especially meaningful since this is our 30th Annual Florida International Air Show Anniversary."
Through a nomination process, STS chooses the Top 20 events in the Southeast for each month of the year and publishes the list of winners quarterly. The Top 20 Events publication is distributed to more than 1,600 media outlets including magazines, newspapers, radio stations, and television stations. The Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau submitted the event to STS for consideration.
Information about the Florida International Air Show may be found at www.floridaairshow.com.
About the Southeast Tourism Society
Atlanta-based STS was founded in 1983 as a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the development of industry organizations and the promotion of tourism within and to STS member states. The organization has 900 members including state travel offices, convention and visitors bureaus and other related industry segments in 12 southern states. States represented are: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
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.
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Contact:
Jennifer Huber
Tourism Public Relations Manager
Tel: (941) 743-1900
Charlotte Harbor Visitor
& Convention Bureau
18501 Murdock Circle, Suite 502
Port Charlotte, FL 33948
941-743-1900, FAX: 941-743-2245
www.CharlotteHarborTravel.com
Jennifer.Huber@CharlotteFL.com
Release Date: 11/5/2009
