A survey was done of local Gulf Coast hotels to determine the success of the Jimmy Buffett & Friends Gulf Concert back on July 11th and the results were mixed. There’s no doubt the concert helped businesses the weekend of the show, but there doesn’t appear to be lingering benefits:
A survey of 25 hotels located within 75 miles of the concert in Gulf Shores, Ala., reveals that the concert packed local hotels – yet, despite the mass exposure for the destination, it didn’t boost future hotel bookings.
The Knowland Group, a meetings and convention industry tracker based in McLean, Va., conducted the survey on July 19 and 20. The results give us a glimpse into how travelers perceive Gulf Shores as much as how much help a benefit concert may provide, at least in this situation.
Highlights from the McLean, Va.,-based Knowland Group’s survey:
* 49% of responding hoteliers said that more than half their guests on the night of July 11 attended the concert.
* 45% of the hoteliers who responded to the survey said that less than half of their guests attended the concert.
* Of the responding hoteliers’ concert-going guests, 41% of guests stayed one night and 53% stayed two nights.
* 89% of the hoteliers said the event was “very helpful” to their business, with the rest saying it was “somewhat helpful.”
Despite the influx of concert-going guests, however, Gulf Shores-area hotels haven’t seen many people make plans to return to the area. Based on survey results, none of the hotels reported an increase in future room bookings after the concert was over and 59% of hoteliers reported a decrease in future hotel bookings.
Radio Margaritaville is re-airing two Gulf Coast concerts this weekend: the show at Lulu’s on June 30th and then the Jimmy Buffett & Friends show on the beach in Gulf Shores on July 11th. Here are the show times:
The mayor of Biloxi aired out some frustration on Wednesday over the Margaritaville Casino project that’s sat idle for two years:
“I think Margaritaville is through — at that location,” Holloway said during Breakfast with the Mayor, sponsored by the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce at the Donal Snyder Community Center.
Last week, he talked with John Payne, the central division president of Harrah’s Entertainment, who told him the company is not in negotiations with any investors, Holloway said.
The mayor said he is frustrated when he reads that Harrah’s is buying properties when the project in Biloxi has remained idle since 2008.
Asked what’s going to happen to the metal skeleton on the site, Holloway said Harrah’s would “probably knock it down. I don’t know what else they can do with it.”
LuAnn Pappas, vice president of marketing and non-gaming operations at Harrah’s Grand Biloxi Casino, said that isn’t planned.
“Our position on that property remains the same,” she said. “We continue to maintain that site as we evaluate options.”
First announced in 2007, original plans called for a $700 million resort with 798 rooms, a full-service spa, a pool/deck area with cabanas, bar and tropical landscaping, all on 46 acres of land south of U. S. Highway 90 (view artists rendering).
Do you have a parrothead story to tell? Submit your story in lyrics and it could become part of a song! Vicki at the Examiner has more:
Are you living your life like a tale from Margaritaville? Have you met Jimmy Buffett or do you have a Parrot Head story that could be the verse of a tropical song? If so, here’s your chance to add a few verses to the “ParrotHead Story” song.
Drummer/songwriter and author (check out his book here), Mark Nemcek came up with the idea for the “ParrotHead Story” song about a year ago while reminiscing with his wife about a vacation they had a few years back in Key West. It was a cold and dreary day and they decided to go to the original Sloppy Joes. They were greeted by Captain Tony Tarracino himself. The place was empty and their entertainment for the day was free drinks and the privilege to hear the Captain’s stories (true or not) about Jimmy Buffett. If you’re a Buffett fan, you’ll know this was (almost) as magical as spending a day with Jimmy himself.
”The song popped into my head “I have a ParrotHead Story, I’m sure you have one too…” says Nemcek. When he hooked up with guitar buddy, Dave Rubinstein and vocal master and recent acquaintance, Marcel Rasa, he came up with the idea to create a song and give Buffett fans and songwriters the chance to come up with their own lyrics. The joined together to bring this project to reality and are now taking contest submissions for the “fan verse”. “Yes, I have a Parrothead Story,” said Nemcek. “But you have some great ones, too.”
So, here’s your chance Parrot Heads… turn your memorable concert, tailgating or Parrot Head party memory into a song verse and submit it (free of charge of course) to the “ParrotHead Story” song contest. Three winners will be selected by September 30, 2010 and the best verse will be used in the final studio recording. Here is your chance to be like Jimmy Buffett and have your life and words become music. The winner will be announced at “Meeting of the Minds”, the Annual Parrot Head Convention, this November in Key West. The winners will also be rewarded some cool Margaritaville loot.
Jimmy Buffett boosted spirits along the Gulf Coast on Sunday evening, playing to 35,000 fans on the beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Joined by Mississippian Jesse Winchester and New Orleans native Allen Toussaint, Buffett played all the favorites, plus his collection of Gulf Coast songs including The Pascagoula Run, I Will Play For Gumbo, Biloxi, and a beautifully re-written rendition of When The Coast Is Clear that brought tears to the eyes of many.
Tonight’s the night! Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band, plus several other acts, will perform on the beaches of Alabama to bring awareness and dollars to a hurting Gulf Coast economy. We’re told Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn will make surprise appearances. A few other big name acts may surprise as well.
You’ll be able to watch the show live on CMT television and CMT.com beginning at 7 pm ET. Radio Margaritaville will also carry the show live on the web at RadioMargaritaville.com and on Sirius 31 / XM 55.
We’ll host a live chat here on the homepage during the show. So stop in and have some fun with us during the show.
Here’s a local news story about Jimmy’s impact on local businesses:
A survey was done of local Gulf Coast hotels to determine the success of the Jimmy Buffett & Friends Gulf Concert back on July 11th and the results were mixed. There’s no doubt the concert helped businesses the weekend of the show, but there doesn’t appear to be lingering benefits:
The mayor of Biloxi aired out some 
Tonight’s the night! Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band, plus several other acts, will perform on the beaches of Alabama to bring awareness and dollars to a hurting Gulf Coast economy. We’re told Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn will make surprise appearances. A few other big name acts may surprise as well.
