SANCAP CHAMBER
\nLee County Economic Development Office Director John Talmage, standing, and Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau Executive Director Tamara Pigott, center seated, projected the impact of upcoming countywide rebuilding and developments.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on 2019 and ensuing years past while looking forward to 2026, Lee County leaders presented the State of the Local Economy overview at the SanCap Chamber\u2019s business luncheon on Feb. 18 at Sundial Beach Resort & Spa on Sanibel.<\/p>\n
Guest speakers Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) Executive Director Tamara Pigott and Lee County Economic Development Office Director John Talmage wrapped up masses of data and news with succinct expression of the direction the local economy needs to take today.<\/p>\n
\u201cBuild, build, build,\u201d she urged island hoteliers and other attending business people. \u201cThe coastal supply (of rooms) is what really drives our economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to focus on training; we need to focus on workforce. We need to focus on quality of life,\u201d Talmage said. \u201cIf we do those three things, everything else will come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amongst the data Pigott shared showing steady recovery and increasing visitations and visitor expenditures, she pointed out: \u201cThe inland average daily rate (for hotel rooms) is under $130, and the coastal average daily rate, closer to $250.\u201d<\/p>\n
The previous fiscal year, October 2024 to September, 506 hotel rooms opened in Lee County, but only 33 of them were on the coast, where most visitors want to stay, Pigott reported. Looking ahead, more rooms are forthcoming on the islands.<\/p>\n
Hotelier Tony Lapi revealed Beachview Cottages will open on Aug. 1. Beachview Villas are under construction. Island Inn is adding 34 units, but with no set opening date. The Captiva Inn is accepting reservations. The Blue Dolphin rebuild on Sanibel has been approved but was not yet underway.<\/p>\n
More accommodations mean more bed tax coming to the community, Pigott said. She named several events and improvements like the Shared Use Path, Captiva beach renourishment, and island attraction enhancements that bed taxes will directly benefit in 2026.<\/p>\n
Talmage credited the VCB for challenging the county to protect places that define the county\u2019s character.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to think more about placemaking, because our sense of place is what allows us to think about our story,\u201d he said. \u201cSanibel has its own story to tell. And it\u2019s a resilient story and it\u2019s a great story. And the energy in this room, after three long years, is palpable. And it\u2019s been wonderful to see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Talmage gave attendees a rundown on what the future holds across the county \u2014 from a new racetrack and medical school to a sports facility and manufacturing operations. He pointed to alternative types of tourism such as sports, agricultural, and medical tourism to spread out the visitation traffic that often burdens the islands in season.<\/p>\n
\u201cSanibel is Sanibel and Captiva is Captiva,\u201d Talmage said. \u201cWe don\u2019t need them to become Miami.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got the complete picture today on how the county\u2019s economy impacts us and we impact the county\u2019s economy,\u201d chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said.<\/p>\n
The luncheon was sponsored by Stevens Construction.<\/p>\n