St. Petersburg, Fla. – The Visit St. Pete‑Clearwater tourism campaign announced three temporary positions that each include a $10,000 stipend, airfare and lodging for a ten‑day assignment exploring Pinellas County. The initiative, launched nationwide in October, attracted more than 17,000 applicants and over 100,000 views on its job posting.
Winners and their focus areas
Chief Flavor Explorer – Alex P. Taylor, a food‑focused content creator from Hartford, Conn., will tour local restaurants and share his meals on Instagram, where he counts nearly 30,000 followers. Taylor, author of the cookbook “Totally Nachrageous,” recently filmed at Parkshore Grill in downtown St. Petersburg and praised the opportunity, saying, “Out of 17,000 people, I feel super special.”
Chief Sunset Curator – Michael Artis, an artist from Kansas City, Mo., will document museums, murals, beaches and neighborhoods. With more than 100,000 Instagram followers, Artis plans to use his portrait‑making skills to highlight the area’s culture and scenery.
Chief Vibes Officer – Erica Ditton, a Seattle‑based marketer and content creator, will focus on nightlife, live music and entertainment venues, aiming to showcase the social scene for prospective visitors.
Why the campaign matters
Visit St. Pete‑Clearwater’s chief marketing officer, Steve Grimes, explained that bringing outside creators into the area offers a fresh perspective on the local economy. “When we live here we tend to take it for granted,” Grimes said. “We wanted to bring new blood and show people what beach culture is really about.” The creators are expected to post photos and videos on their platforms, directing their audiences to the featured businesses.
Schedule and next steps
Taylor arrived first, exploring Pinellas County from Nov. 6‑15. He highlighted a chicken‑liver ganache at Bin 6 South and Vietnamese cuisine at La V Vietnamese Fusion, and plans to visit Dunedin on Wednesday. Artis is set to arrive Nov. 11 and stay through Nov. 20, while Ditton will be on the ground Nov. 13‑22. Their combined coverage aims to boost tourism traffic and support local establishments that might otherwise be overlooked.
Community impact
The $10,000 grants not only provide a paid vacation for the creators but also serve as a marketing investment for Pinellas County’s small businesses. By leveraging the creators’ sizable followings, the campaign hopes to attract visitors who will spend money at restaurants, galleries, hotels and entertainment venues, strengthening the county’s economic base.
Local business owners have expressed optimism that the social‑media exposure will translate into increased foot traffic, especially as the region continues to recover from pandemic‑related downturns. The tourism board will monitor visitor numbers and sales data throughout the creators’ stays to assess the program’s effectiveness.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
