Emeril's Florida to feature South Walton in 2013

[Teresa]

"What you think you become."

Then I am food. Anyone hungry? Christiano's has Half-Priced Pizza on Wed night, Dine-In, or Take-Out!

I am food too! And I think showcasing our gorgeous coastal town on Emerill can be one of the best ways to tell the story. Hopefully local businesses, restaurants and people will be very involved for lots of local flavor! The farmers market should be featured along with local food shops, farms, charter fishing,, dining, picnicking at state parks, bays and beaches. Bon fires & shrimp boils. Hiking and biking. Festivals, art, music. And a little Emerill.

 

[lenzoe]

I have no issue with Emeril being the brand for marketing South Walton, like the idea, but do have a hope locals are to be chosen to participate in the TV show.; not that I have inside information that this will/will not happen. In my work of food writing, and being the owner of 30AEATS.com, I have gotten to know personally many of our great chefs, restaurateurs, fisherman and kitchen talent in our area. They should be highlighted, as Florida has always been the proverbial red-headed step child in the foodie world, and Emeril has the fan base to showcase our area talent and draw the attention that the TDC is looking for. If it is to be more Emeril
focused, then it is not helping our community. Many have problems with the TDC for many reasons, one being from the bad taste they got from the TDC looking outside our local population for talent to handle the name change from Beaches of South Walton to Visit South Walton. I won't get into the details, as all pretty much is aware, I just hope it does not happen again, and the chefs that cook in many of our beautiful restaurant kitchens will finally be seen and heard, and we can share out wonderful 30AEATS (SoWal Eats) with the world!

Well put. It seems like from the written agreement the intention is to highlight multiple South Walton locations. I'm hoping that means more than just cooking at a Sandestin site. I think the appeal of the show to most viewers (not just SoWal viewers) will depend on them carrying through on that intent.

I also hope viewers walk away from viewing the episode NOT thinking it was all about Destin again.

 

[lenzoe]

"What you think you become."

Then I am food. Anyone hungry? Christiano's has Half-Priced Pizza on Wed night, Dine-In, or Take-Out!

Oops. I guess I'm about 50 percent Cheetos then.

 

[1amos1]

Even with our outrageous bed tax of 4.5% it will take an additional 3.33 million dollars of revenue by bed tax collectors to collect the $150,000. to pay for this. Does anyone think that will really happen?

 

[Kurt]

[video=youtube_share;o1SG_VwaAUw]http://youtu.be/o1SG_VwaAUw[/video]

 

[Teresa]

How is the project funded?? Good question. I don't know if these dollars are BP or in reserve for advertising. In any case, they will be used for marketing purposes. What kind of marketing?

In my opinion, showcasing South Walton on an hour cooking show which will be rebroadcast many times in many places - is a unique way to tell our real story - and the best kind of marketing possible. I can see this kind of marketing attracting tourists and potential new residents who really identify and want to be here. Because they are seeing much more than a quick 30 second commercial with a shot of the beach, some non-native palm trees and an elegant couple with 1.2 perfect children in their khaki's and white shirts posing in a place that could be on any beach, anywhere - and never showing that we offer far more than a perfect beach.

I think it is the kind of creative marketing we should be doing. Real people and area businesses, beautiful scenery of the beach & bay, coastal lakes and state parks, and area culture may even be included! (they had better). I am hoping the Emeril segment will start showing early 2013 - but I haven't seen a date.

Meanwhile, I blame Walton County and our leaders on the BCC for not being proactive in planning for the growth which has been happening for years and years. That is another matter altogether, but still related to growth in tourism and our full time population.

 

[tsutcli]

What part of STOP don't you understand? Not another dollar should be spent marketing this area until the problems we have are resolved and a coherent plan to handle future growth is agreed to and put in place.

 

[Kurt]

What part of STOP don't you understand? Not another dollar should be spent marketing this area until the problems we have are resolved and a coherent plan to handle future growth is agreed to and put in place.

Would you mind giving us a list of what you think are our top problems, relating to tourism?

 

[Teresa]

We don't stop marketing but we do start marketing carefully and creatively. I am not sure but my guess is that the BP ad dollars are done. So we won't be seeing mass marketing. At the time though we needed it. Enough already. I hear ya.

We also need to do more to protect lives and ensure safety such as marketing beach safety locally, fund more lifeguards, and ask the sheriff to provide more security & ticket out of control people and crazy drivers. This is TDC, BCC, WCFD & WCSO. we are a kind of resort town with very little enforcement of rules, laws and oversight. Do counties really provide these services at the level they are needed? We are having growing pains. Who is addressing those problems?

we also start expecting our Fla county govt to completely restructure into a model charter govt to address the needs and services of our unique community. we start expecting proactive leadership and professional town planning and hard work for the best possible future for those who live, work and visit here.

Sorry but I do like seeing local businesses thrive. I have experienced many crazy spring breaks and summers. Nothing new. The BP summer was pretty awful though for businesses and for all of us who were so depressed about the spill and it's effect on our environment. As a local, can't say I love the month of July. It is crazy always. The Fall season has really grown because of several very cool events. Plus the weather is perfect. Beyond 2 months of summer and 2-3 busy spring break weeks, the rest of the year is heavenly. February is dead and I love it.

 

[tsutcli]

Would you mind giving us a list of what you think are our top problems, relating to tourism?

I would say that Teresa said it pretty well, especially in the second paragraph of post #39. Money should be spent on improving security be it on the beach , road or other places. Why would you continually invite more people to an area than it can reasonably accomodate? The weak link in the chain is transportation, with the concurrent parking problem. I don't know what the perfect solution is but at least a discussion is finally being had. In the meantime can't we at least dial it back a little.