This year’s St. Pete-Clearwater UK sales mission is doubling in reach and agent engagement after a successful debut last year. Through social events hosted in London on 20th April and Manchester on 21st April, combined with online and in-person training, the Florida region expects to reach more than 300 agents across the UK during the mission.
Training and events manager Peter Gregory told TTG: “Throughout the week, we are utilising a combination approach to engage with as many agents as possible. Alongside our solus destination evening events, we are filming a Travel Counsellors TV episode at their HQ in Manchester, attending Barrhead Travel’s B2B and B2C Florida spotlight day, plus we are training with Ocean Holidays and British Airways Holidays. We are reaching all corners of our market to ensure St. Pete-Clearwater is front of mind.
“The UK trade is extremely valuable to St. Pete-Clearwater,” he continued. “Our president Brian Lowack and Pinellas County commissioner Chris Scherer will be in attendance, along with a representative from JW Marriott Clearwater Beach, so we are expecting to make a splash!”
JW Marriott Clearwater Beach will be represented at the roadshows
Last year was the first time that St. Pete-Clearwater organised its own UK roadshows independently, meeting 150 key agents and tour operator partners.
Recognising that agents have access to abundant sales training opportunities, St. Pete-Clearwater is keen to stand out from the crowd with their trade events: “Abandoning the traditional ‘speed training’ run of show, we have chosen eye-catching, interactive venues where we swap beach balls for bowling balls. Agents are rewarded with an evening of fun, festivities, quality refreshments and short destination presentations that allow for information to be absorbed and retained.”
The evening events will conclude with a quick-fire Visit St. Pete-Clearwater interactive quiz, with the winner securing a spot on the upcoming St. Pete-Clearwater mega fam in June, when 30 agents from the UK will experience the destination.
“Word must have gotten out about the success of our events, because we nearly equalled our total sign-ups for our evening events this year within a few days of the invites going out,” said Gregory. “And with free stays, fam trip prizes and goody bags aplenty, it will be well worth turning up and tuning into the small details.”
Ninety minutes from Orlando, St. Pete-Clearwater is one of the most popular beach add-ons to the Florida theme parks. Clearwater Beach consistently features in world’s best beach lists. A beach nourishment programme has just taken place to restore shorelines and dunes damaged by previous hurricanes. Over 2.5 million cubic yards of sand has been dredged and used for beach restoration purposes.
A few spaces are available for travel agents at the Manchester roadshow on 21st April. To register interest, email TeamVSPC@Rooster.co.uk
Take five: selling St. Pete-Clearwater
The Luce, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio Hotel, is new for 2026, with 200 beachside rooms. The property was formerly known as Postcard Inn on the Beach.
The Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, an Autograph Collection in downtown St. Pete is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026. Recent renovations ensure the property – which appears on the National Register of Historic Places – remains pink and perfectly preserved.
Michelin Guide expanded its selection in 2025 to include St.Pete-Clearwater, with the inaugural class including Fortu, Il Ritorno, Sushi Sho Rexley and The Tides Market.
Celebrate Fourth of July in St. Pete-Clearwater, with fun runs, family-friendly activities, food trucks, fireworks and more.
National Ice Cream Day, July 26: St. Pete Pier will have dozens of vendors serving their best creations.
