PANAMA CITY BEACH — Business owners and sports tournament groups networked at a sixth annual sports workshop Wednesday.
With the local sports industry generating about $55 million in direct spending annually, a platform for local businesses to provide rewards and incentives to sports tournament guests is an asset event-rights-holders — organizations that hold sports events — and business owners alike, do not take for granted.
“We’re holding strong, we’re still increasing annually from 10 to 15 percent,” said Richard Sanders, vice president of sports and events at Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Our economic impact is now right around $55 million in direct spending and our room nights produced continues to be over 100,000 room nights.
“For a community this small, that’s very strong,” he added.
Panama City Beach Tourist Development Council hosted the expo.
Roger Hockey, national program director for USSA military softball, traveled from Maryland to attend Wednesday’s workshop. He considers Panama City Beach “first class.”
Although a four-day rain episode flooded out last year’s softball tournament for 119 teams, he said, the area is a prime location and he’ll keep coming back.
“The main thing is how Panama City Beach treats the military,” Hockey said. “We’ve never been treated this well consistently. It’s worth it.”
Sanders briefly addressed indoor facilities, saying the city is at a “stalemate” with some sports organizations due to the lack of venues and an indoor facility in the future will generate more business.
However, he said, sports events are part of what generates jobs and the future only is getting brighter, he said.
“I think it’s in Panama City Beach DNA now and it’s here to stay,” Sanders said.
The event drew 27 event-rights-holders and a number of businesses.
“I believe it makes our destination, Panama City Beach, more evolved, year around and it brings people to the area that may not have otherwise,” said Dana Lent, sports sales manager at Resort Collection, which operates several resorts in the area, including Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort.
“They’re choosing to invest in our community, spend time in our restaurants, compete on our fields and stay at our hotels,” she said. “So it’s important as a lodging partner to realize the significance of this industry.”
Will Lumpkin, of Birmingham, Ala., appeared eager to secure partnerships for his upcoming paintball tournament on May 31 and June 1 this year.
“We wanted to pick a destination venue people can enjoy during the summer,” he said.
This year is the first time his paintball group will host a tournament in the area. About 50 teams will compete.
“I came to the workshop to make connections with local businesses and restaurants and attractions to make deals and provide savings that I can pass on to my customers,” he added. “The workshop was a lot more than I anticipated; it was a lot more helpful and resourceful.”