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Sandpearl’s Press Tour Pays Off in Publicity for Yacht Charter Company

Redington Beach, FL, USA; July 11, 2011 –  In mid-May, the Sandpearl Resort on Clearwater Beach hosted five travel writers/editors for a press tour of its facilities and the neighboring environs of Clearwater Beach.

With the objective of showing the visiting journalists an experience that they wouldn’t soon forget (and would, hopefully, write about), the Sandpearl’s marketing staff enlisted the help of MEETINGS AFLOAT! Executive Yacht Charters to deliver the group to Caladesi Island State Park, just north of Clearwater Beach.  As an island, Caladesi is accessible only by water.

The results of that travel writers’ familiarization trip have started to come in.  The Orlando Style magazine has published a review of the Sandpearl in its July issue.  The review also mentions MEETINGS AFLOAT!’s primary charter yacht, “Dolce Vita,” and discusses our trip with the journalists to Caladesi Island State Park, near Dunedin, FL.

The writer, Dana Damato, said in her article:  “As  the Dolce vita  set  sail  into  the Gulf, Captain  Paul of Meetings Afloat,  took  the group on a fascinating excursion along the Intracoastal Waterway from Clearwater  to  Caladesi  Island  State  Park.  Cruising  through  the Mandalay Channel under the clear blue sky, we fnally reached  our  destination  at  the  park’s marina where we explored the private beach and enjoyed some R&R.”

Travel writers from Florida Travel + Life and Tampa Bay Weddings/Tampa Bay Metro Magazine also participated in the Sandpearl’s press tour.

MEETINGS AFLOAT! Executive Yacht Charters is a significant hospitality resource   in the Tampa Bay area for meeting and event planners, hoteliers, concierges, and business executives.  Its yachts provide a relaxing, yet luxurious atmosphere for business meetings, hospitality events, trade show support, team building, employee incentives, and company outings.  In addition to its Tampa Bay yachts, MEETINGS AFLOAT! Executive Yacht Charters can also provide yachts in other waterfront cities including Miami, New York, San Diego, Baltimore/Annapolis, and Washington, DC.

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Effective August 1, 2011

Hourly Rate for Additional Cruising Time (over 8 hours):  $200 per hour

Above Charter Fees do not include possible additional associated fees (yacht delivery, dockage, sales tax, ice, etc.)

** Yacht Charter Fees only.  Catering and other outside services not included in charter rates.

Note:  Gratuity for yacht crew (typically, 10% of charter fee) is also not included in these rates, but is definitely appreciated.

NOTE: $150 round-trip yacht delivery fee applies to all cruises that originate from pick-up/drop-off location in excess of 10 miles from yacht’s home port in Indian Rocks Beach, FL.  $250 round-trip delivery fee for St. Petersburg & Tampa destinations.  Tampa cruises also require a minimum ½ Day (4 Hours) fee.

Inquire About Discounts for Multi-Charter Commitments

Meeting Services (Creative)

Theme Development                                                    $75/Hour

Promotions                                                                     Quoted by Project Specs

Give-Aways/Souvenirs                                                  Quoted by Item Selection(s), Quantity

Speaker Bookings                                                         Quoted by Speaker Rates + Travel

Live Entertainment (Music, Comedian)                     Quoted by Artist Rates + Travel

Concierge Services

Limousines                                                                       Pricing On Request

Party Buses                                                                       Pricing On Request

Jet Ski/PWC/Paddleboards Rentals                            Pricing On Request

Theatre/Sport Tickets                                                       Pricing On Request

Meal Reservations                                                            $50 per Group Reservation

VISA               MasterCard                American Express                 Check

Events:  “Open Boat”  -  Fam Trips – Site Inspections

Press Releases

Where:         Clearwater to John’s Pass/Treasure Island & Return

Who:             The Matthews Family from Tennessee

With arrangements made through the concierge (Alison) at the Sandpearl Resort on Clearwater Beach, we took the Matthews Family from Tennessee on a water-borne tour on July 4^th.  We cruised from Clearwater Beach, going south on the Intra-Coastal Waterway, passing thru seven different beach towns on the Sand Key barrier island.

Our route took us past waterfront condos and residential communities, waterside restaurants, large clusters of mangrove trees growing in the salt water and dozens of other boaters enjoying the long holiday weekend.  We even passed by the only McDonald’s Restaurant with its own marina.

Meanwhile, everyone onboard was enjoying the relaxing gentle motion of the boat’s rocking, the fresh sea air, and the bright Florida sunshine.

Our destination was John’s Pass, between Madeira Beach and Treasure Island.  We docked at Gator’s on the Pass, a popular waterfront restaurant and sports bar.  The Matthews sat outside on the deck for their mid-day meal, joined by some friends who were staying in St. Pete Beach, a bit further down the beach from John’s Pass.

After everyone’s appetite was satisfied, we re-boarded “Dolce Vita” and entered the Gulf of Mexico for the return to Clearwater.  The north-bound trip took us along the 17-mile long beaches of Sand Key.  Along the way, we were visited by a couple of dolphin, but we were unsuccessful at getting them to play in our wake.

Finally, the afternoon’s cruise was over and the family disembarked in time to freshen up and catch the great fireworks shows that all the beach communities stage on this national holiday.

Where Would You Rather Meet – PDF

Ad #2: Think You Can’t Afford A Cruising Meeting?

Ad #3: Help Stamp Out Boring Meetings!

Ad #5: Meeting Seating: Your Choice!

Ad #6: It’s Tough to get Closer to the Racing!

License to Thrill – PDF

Meeting Planners – See Tampa Bay FROM Tampa Bay

Holiday Boat Parades

We’re All Business @ MEETINGS AFLOAT!

Business Casual

B4 U MEET …

Close More Deals!

Take Your Business in New Direction

Caterers – Add a Sea Cruise to Menu

Holiday Boat Parades, Tis the Season

Our Customers Are Talking About Us

See Our Brochure

Browse Our PowerPoint Presentation

If you would like to find out more, e-mail us or call (877) 860-MEET (6338).

“I’ve known Paul since 1996: as a public relations and event planning consultant who guided our company for several years and as a seasoned, professional sailor and captain. I always know we’re in the very best hands with Paul, whether aboard or re-writing an executive speech minutes before the stage lights go up! Meetings-Afloat is a perfect combination of Paul’s skills and passions- we can’t wait to have our first sales meeting aboard!”

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Eric Polins – Managing Partner, HCP & Associates
International Marketing Consulting Firm, Tampa, FL

“We have hosted a number of corporate meetings over the years, but the unique experience offered by “Meetings-Afloat” really enables your team to get away together and bond in a special way — away from all the hustle on shore. Captain Paul Warren is also a former corporate guy and completely understands what you need to make this scene work.”

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Tim Tobeck, Sr. VP & Group Publisher, ENERGY CENTRAL
Energy Industry Publisher & Conference Organizer, Aurora, CO

Thanks to you and MEETINGS AFLOAT! for exceeding our expectations during our recent yacht charter at the Tampa Convention Center.

Our “yacht meetings” during the DistribuTech 2010 trade show were highly successful. We had over 40 individual meetings, sometimes with several meetings happening simultaneously on different parts of the yacht. Our advertising and business partners that we were meeting with truly enjoyed the intimacy and the outdoors environment that your yacht offers.  TESTIMONIAL LETTER, Energy Central, Apr 2010 – PDF

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Other Satisfied MEETINGS AFLOAT! Shipmates:

Sheraton Sand Key Resort — Visit St. Peterburg & Clearwater (CVB) — Sandpearl Resort — JTM Training Group — Verizon Wireless of Central Florida — IBM Corporation — Tampa Bay & Company — FMS Purchasing & Services — Precision Images LLC — AT&T — Weiss Family — Amdahl Family — Matthews Family — Janice Hill & Family — The Bregman Group — Hunter/Warfield Collections

If you would like to find out more, email us at info@meetings-afloat.com or call (877) 860-MEET.