Why Sarasota should be spending more money to attract gay tourists
November 19th, 2009 by Mark Manning in News, Politics, Sarasota-Manatee
It’s a well-known fact that gay men tend to take better care of themselves than their straight counterparts. Add a great haircut, tanned and toned muscles, and fantasies start taking shape. Sometimes in Speedos. Let’s take two of these guys and make them a couple. The average income for gay men is higher than the average income for straight guys. So now we have two hot guys with a considerable amount of money between them and they look great in skimpy thongs. The gay guys have no children — in most cases. They have no college funds to pay into. Or braces to make payments on. That makes for expendable income. Wouldn’t that be a great couple to attract to Sarasota? Either to vacation or to live?
In 2005, the visitor’s bureau of Broward County (Ft. Lauderdale) spent about $350,000 (of their $5 million budget) attracting gay tourists. That’s about 7 percent of the budget. The returns? Of the 10.4 million visitors, 980,000 (just under 10 percent) were gay. But those gay tourist spent nearly 12.5 percent of all tourists dollars spent in Ft. Lauderdale.
Business isn’t my strong suit, but I can understand that this is a very good investment and return. Evidently so did the visitor’s bureau, because they increased the budget for advertising in the gay market by another $50,000 the following year. The benefit adds up to $1.1 billion being spent by gay men in Ft. Lauderdale. Some of that money could have been spent here in Sarasota if the visitor’s bureau of Sarasota advertised to the gay market. But that would require Sarasota to make an effort to be gay-friendly. That would be a cold day in hell! I guess that $1.1 billion will have to continue going to Ft. Lauderdale where the gay hospitality is warmer.
Gay men are primarily responsible for investing money and reinventing Key West and turning it into the “place to be and to be seen.” The gay men (and some lesbians and trendy straights) turned the run-down conch-houses into showplaces and then invited their friends to join them. After Key West was more or less maxed out, Gianni Versace was responsible for moving South Miami Beach from ignored old architecture into the hottest place on earth if you have the perfect body… or are in search of it.
Want to find the best places to invest your real estate dollars or tourist dollars? Follow the guys who follow the guys.
November 19th, 2009 at 10:22 am
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November 19th, 2009 at 10:34 am
I couldn’t agree more. I’m here until April and almost feel lost. My favourite bar closed over the summer. Advertising may bring the guys down, but what’s here that would keep them coming?
November 20th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
The gays spend their money north of the Skyway. It is dead in Sarasota. The gay bars are closing in sarasota because they are boring. Lousy music, same old shows.
November 28th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
Just visited St. Petersburg, FL. That place has the best looking and nicest people…gay and straight. I am moving there from Brooklyn. It’s the next South Beach! The vibrant diverse mix of people is amazing!
December 1st, 2009 at 5:40 pm
I read with delight this artical, it was well written and taken. Mark is totally with it and if the ‘Men of Sarasota’ would combine efforts to make this a destination, we’d all be better off. After living here (full times) for about 14 years, I’ve seen much change (and not for the good). Of course this is not going to be another Key West or Fort Lauderdale, but has so much to offer. I just wish that the ‘Men of Sarasota’ (and women) could step up and realize what we have here. Thanks for a great article.
GO SARASOTA