This week in Spring Break 2008, Panama City Beach

Last week was indeed the big week, but it’s still not over. My in-laws own a rental management company on the beach that my wife works at on weekends. She said yesterday, “this must be the vomit and poop week.” She said they found human feces on the living room floor in one home and feces on a window sill in another home with vomit all over the place. gross.

Click the “more” link for a list of schools in town this week”

I guess everyone has a different outlook based on their experiences. It is easy to generalize with extreme cases like this.

Courtesy of PanamaCityBeach.com, the schools that are here this week are:

Louisiana Tech University
Eastern Michigan University
McNeese State University
Southeastern Louisiana University
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
University of Central Arkansas
Harvard University
West Virginia University
University of Missouri-Columbia
Texas A&M University
University of Cincinnati
University of Arkansas-Little Rock
Gulf Coast Community College
University of Illinois-Chicago
Southeast Missouri State University
Ohio University
Chemeketa Community College
University of Oregon
Idaho State University
Indiana University Southeast
Portland State University
University of North Alabama
Boise State University
Missouri State University
Berkeley College – NYC

The schools that were here last week were:

Ohio State University
Collin County Community College
Houston Community College System
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa
Colgate University
University of Northern Iowa
University of Dayton
University of Montevallo
University of Massachusetts
University of West Georgia
Normandale Community College
Howard University
University of IL at Urbana-Champaign
University of Iowa
Emporia State University
University of Rochester
Texas Tech University
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Cornell University
Sarah Lawrence College
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Nebraska-Omaha
Pace University
Miami University – Oxford
Tarrant County College
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
University of Chicago
Depaul University
Southern Arkansas University
University of Arkansas
George Washington University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Southern University
Drake University
Iowa State University
Fort Hays State University
Kansas State University
University of Kansas-Lawrence
Bridgewater State College
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Columbia University in the City of New York
Iona College
University of Central Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
Clemson University
South Dakota State University
University of Texas at Arlington
Liberty University
Auburn University
University of Alabama-Huntsville
Arkansas State University
Central Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University
Western Connecticut State University
University of North Florida
Des Moines Area Community College
St. Louis University
New York University
St. John’s University
University of Houston
Wichita State University
Louisiana State University
University of New Orleans
Hofstra University
Kent State University
University of Akron
Winthrop University
Madison Area Technical College
Samford University
Manchester Community College
University of St. Thomas
University of South Dakota
Oklahoma State University

88 thoughts on “This week in Spring Break 2008, Panama City Beach

  1. Hi Shell: No offense, but if you really think that Panama City Beach has not advanced and that our reputation is so bad, why are you here?

    There are plenty of communities like Sarasota or Clearwater where you may feel much more comfortable. For the rest of us, who have lived here all or most of there lives, and who have seen Panama City Beach develop from a dot on the map with 3,000 year round residents, unpaved roads, and little amenities – into the sprawling, vibrant, and dynamic beach destination it is today, your observation is invalid.

    Nevertheless, beauty and reputation are in the eye of the beholder and everybody is entitled to their opinion. But facts are undeniable….and the fact that sales taxes and bed taxes have only grown, not just in March but year-round, is an undisputable indicator that Panama City tourism is alive and well and that the TDC is on the right track.

    Sincerely,

    Patrick

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  2. First, all positive economic impacts of Spring Break are uneducated guesses at best. There has been no real study on the financial aspect of Spring Break and the data to support any figures is not currently available. So, unless someone can show an honest calculation with supporting data, it is impossible to attach any numbers or come to any educated hypothesis.

    Second, looking at soley at the revenue generated by Spring Break to make a decision does not consider all variables. For instance, what is the cost to property values due to a negative image? If I had to guess, it would probably be significantly more than any revenue generated by one month’s visitors. How much more is Destin property worth than PCB’s? There are many other economic factors that can’t be ignored in coming to a conclusion of the actual impact of Spring Break.

    Third, much of the revenue is collected by a small group, some of which take their profits outside of Bay County. Maybe this group has increased revenue during the Spring Break time period, but what impact does this source of revenue have on other businesses and individuals on a annual basis?

    It is short sighted to look at one month’s revenue, which has not been calculated in any credible manner, and ignore all the other economic impacts. What some gain in one month may be less than the whole community loses year round.

    You’re not looking at the big picture.

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  3. Hi Christina: The total economic impact of Spring Break may be a guess, but its not and uneducated guess as you put it. Bed Tax and Sales Tax figures are readily available, and they are huge for March and early April, but negligibly small in starting in mid April and all of May when Spring Break is over.

    Again, the two competing factions on the Spring Break issue will probably never agree. Nevertheless, both sides surely have good points, want what’s best for the community, and are sincere in their opinions.

    But facts are facts. Mexico Beach is right down the road. No Spring Breakers there! Not much family summer business to speak of either!

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  4. Patrick: Bed tax and sales tax aggregate numbers do not reflect only Spring Break collections. In March, there are still snow birds here and other non-Spring Break vacationers. Last year, my husband and I, spent a great deal of time trying to come up with reasonable calculations. We were very frustrated with the lack of information available. I don’t know if you read our report, but you can see it at http://www.pcbspringbreakreport.com.

    It was our opinion that in order to isolate the actual bed tax collections attributable to Spring Break, the bed tax numbers need to be broken down by units that accept Spring Breakers and units that do not accept Spring Breakers. That would give a better picture because some of the visitors in March are not due to College Spring Break.

    We have no disagreement that Spring Break brings in a large volume of revenue. You can see from our calculations that we do not deny that it is significant. However, we just think that people are looking at things in a vacuum. It’s the difference between microeconomics vs. macroeconomics. Again, you have to look at the total impact to the entire community. Increased revenue to some businesses and indivduals is just one variable, albeit major. There are many other variables just as financially significant that are being overlooked.

    Contrary to what some might think, my husband Bryan and I have spent alot of time trying to analyze this from an objective standpoint. Before writing our report, we met with Bob Warren and Jim Lawson for several hours and spent a great deal of time going over alot of the TDC’s information. We spent alot of time writing our report. Bryan still goes to every TDC meeting.

    We have absolutely no connection to any business in PCB. We do not rent out property. We have no source of income which is dependent on tourism. Can everybody who is posting here say that? Are some of the opinions being shared here based on personal or family financial gain? No offense, but it is really hard to be objective if that is the case.

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  5. 1. During the last 20 years that PCB has been a major Spring Break destination, the local economy has exploded. Look at the number of new resorts and businesses that have been established… especiially recently. Pier Park? Town of Seahaven? Grand Panama? The new Airport? I’m not saying it’s because of Spring Break, but all of these companies and organizations invested here because they saw the growth we’ve had over the last 2 decades and see potential for more growth, despite PCB being known as a Spring BReak hotspot.

    Additionally, PCB has increased the amount of YEARLY visitors dramatically over the last 20 years, even if you exclude the Spring Break numbers.

    Could the local economy have done better if we weren’t known for Spring Break? Maybe, maybe not. Or maybe SB did have a positive effect on us. Impossible to say for sure, but when the local economy grows at a faster pace than the national economy, it looks to me like our leaders have been doing something right… and that includes Spring Break.

    2. I don’t know where you guys were this month, but I spent every day of March eating at local restaurants and shopping in local businesses and I can say that I’ve seen plenty of families in the crowd. And yes, most of them were obviously visiting. Doesn’t look to me like Spring Break scares away all families as many people have suggested. I also still see plenty of snowbirds and families going in and out of the hotels during March.

    Conclusion:
    I think the big picture is that the lure of our area is much, MUCH bigger than Spring Break, or any (percieved) negatives that may acompany our reputation for Spring Break. I predict our local economy will continue to outpace the growth of the national econmomy, regardless of Spring Break. I think we will have more businesses and initiatives like Pier Park open during the next 10-20 years, despite Spring Break. I think our visitor base will continue to grow over the next two decades even if we continue to be known as a Spring Break hotspot. And I think these new businesses and visitors will either love Spring BReak or tolerate Spring Break, but they will have to co-exist with Spring Break during the month of March.

    P.S. Surely you nay-sayers give credit to visitors to be intelligent enough to know that Spring Break is during March and not year round. I really think that saying our reputation for Spring Break affects our yearly visitors is an empty argument. 99% of the people I’ve met in my life are smart enough to know that Spring Break doesn’t happen in June and July.

    P.S.S. Open your eyes… PCB is as beautiful as it’s ever been (as long as you don’t mind all the new condos)… we’re receiving more visitors and revenue than we ever have before… why change a co-existence that IS WORKING????

    P.S.S.S. I think most of the objection to Spring Break is based on morals (including poeple from the comments above), rather than economic effect on our area. Can’t win a debate when you’re trying to convince someone to accept something against their morals… it just won’t happen.

    Disclaimer (for Bryan): I work for a local website that promotes Spring Break, but we don’t really profit from it.. other than a few extra pageviews. Spring Break as far as I’m concerned… I could take it or leave it… as long as leaving it didn’t hurt the local economy (doubtful).

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  6. Christina,

    How long have you lived here? Do you have moral oppositions to what goes on during Spring Break? You and Bryan seem to have put a lot of effort into getting rid of Spring Break. Do you feel like your efforts are being heard or ignored? What was Jim Lawson’s and Bob Warren;s response to your report?

    Thanks,
    Steve

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  7. Hi Steve: I think you nailed it on the head!

    Hi Christina: I totally understand where you’re coming from now that you have told us that you have no business interests in Panama City Beach and that you don’t rent your condo. If I was just a resident, I might be against Spring Break too. But the fact is that most of us in PCB either own businesses here, work for a business here, or own property here which we rent.

    This will be my final post on Spring Break, I have pretty much said everything I have to say. But I would like to add couple of important facts. I am what they consider a true local, not a transplant. I grew up here, went to High School here, and have seen Panama City Beach grow from “the redneck riviera” it used to be into the national and international tourist destination it is today. It accomplished this growth despite the presence of Spring Break. In fact, it owes much of this growth TO Spring Break.

    Spring Break has garnered Panama City Beach the necessary media attention not just from MTV, but also from E! Television, the Travel Channel, all the major networks, and dozens of international TV stations – to put it on the map. Just last night, for example, the Jay Leno show had extensive coverage of Panama City Beach (not Destin)….the feature was funny, and in my opinion, in good taste.

    I know there are people on this board who may have purchased condos during the height of the real estate bubble hoping for a quick flip, who are now seeing their values tumble and who blame Spring Break for their misfortunes. Yet research actually shows that the Panama City Beach real estate market is one of the most robust in the state, despite the huge statewide declines. Furthermore, Spring Break is not to blame since declines on a much larger scale have occurred elsewhere in the state including our neighbors to the west as well as South and Central Florida where Spring Break is a nonfactor.

    For the people who continue to express their discontent with Spring Break and who keep comparing Panama City Beach to Destin, Ft. Lauderdale, and other places, I have news: We are NOT Destin. We are NOT Ft. Lauderdale, we are NOT any other place. WE are what WE are: Panama City Beach, a place that’s always been my home, a place with its own culture, its own traditions, its own values, and its own identity. We’re not perfect, but we’re growing and evolving.

    Its impossible for EVERYBODY to be happy. There will always be some who are discontent and who wish we were more like some other place. To those people I respectfully say move to that other place and be happy, and let the rest of us be happy with what we have.

    With the utmost sincerity,

    Patrick

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  8. How exactly are things going at Pier Park, Towne of Seahaven, Grand Panama, etc.? Every time I go to Pier Park the business seems slow. There are still alot of vacancies to fill at Pier Park. Towne of Seahaven doesn’t look like they are breaking any new ground. Grand Panama has alot of commercial space empty of Front Beach. In fact, there is alot of commericial space available all over PCB, isn’t there?

    How are the condos doing? Bankruptcies, contracts that don’t close, empty rooms. Ever look up at a condo at night. Not too many lights on. How many condos are on the resale market? Quite a few. How many condo projects are at a standstill? Now the big business for realtors is marketing short sales. Scary stuff.

    Yes, there has been great progress in PCB even in the last 5 years and it is awesome. Hopefully there is more to come. However, we are still a long way away from being a community that can support itself. The people here need high paying, year round jobs. They don’t get that from one month of Spring Break or working seasonal tourist related jobs. Like it or not potential investors and residents do consider the morals of a community when making decisions. They consider many factors and what goes on at Spring Break does leave a negative impression in many peoples minds.

    Steve: Bryan and I do not take some moral high ground as a basis for our views. We really have never even stated that we are against Spring Break. We understand that right now many people do depend on it. If you read our report you would understand that.

    Our sole goal is to make this community a better place to live. Tourism is just one part of the local economy and it should not take precedence over everything else. Not everybody is dependent on it. We would rather see this economy become self supporting. In order to do that you need investors to bring industry. Big industry does care about the impression it makes. Companies spend billions of dollars a year managing their images.

    All we are saying is that image is important and it does translate into dollars. It is something people around here need to start paying attention to because binge drinking and provacitive behavior might impress teenagers, but the majority of corporate America wouldn’t dare associate themselves with it on a permanent basis.

    P.S. Our report was featured on the front page of the News Herald the day the entire TDC was removed by the County Commissioners. It got peoples attention and it helped stir the debate. Many people read it and our only hope was that we could bring some new ideas to the table. We continue to do so today because we care about this community even though we have only lived here for about six years.

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  9. Patrick: Thank you so much for opening yourself up to this discussion and sharing your insight. Nobody would put forth as much time and effort into this if they didn’t care. By your statements, I know you do and that is very much appreciated.

    With respect,

    Christina

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  10. Hi Christina: I want to thank you and your husband Bryan for all your input and thoughts as well. Though we may disagree, I know both of you deeply care about this community and only want what’s best.

    Much respect,

    Patrick

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  11. Christina – the available space in Pier Park and Grand Panama… that happens with any new development, especially when you factor in the current “recession.” I don’t think it’s fair to blame that on Spring Break at all.

    Also, I’ve talked to the owners of Five Guys and Sunglass World recently… and the AE for Margaritaville’s agency… and they’ve all beat projections for the first month. Pier Park has been busy every single time I’ve been there (10 or so) How do you figure they’re struggling?

    And all the empty condos… that is a direct result of 1) building too many condos at one time – supply outpaced demand (that’s what happens when you force change too much, too quickly) and 2) the current (nationwide)real estate market and the “credit-crisis… duh! I can’t even fathom how you could blame THAT on Spring Break.

    And, sorry but, I’ve lived here for more than 30 years and PCB Is a self-sustained economy. Look around you. Salaries are higher than they’ve ever been. Sure, they didn’t grow as fast as the cost of living here (property values) but that is an issue in dozens of previously hot real estate markets all over the country. It’s already beginning to equalize as property values decline (you gonna blame that on Spring Break, too?!?!)

    I’m open-minded… but, I’m having a hard time buying any of your points in your most previous comment.

    And, did anyone on the TDC respond to your report? Has it been presented to the new TDC? I’m really curious what their response would be. And, I hate to burst your bubble… but the Spring Break controversies and arguments have all been around for longer than you’ve even lived here.

    One thing I think transplanted locals don’t understand as well as people who were raised here… is that.. we’re a pretty laid-back community. We tend to let things evolve naturally. Sure, we might help push it in this direction or that direction, but expecting a community like ours to make an about-face is setting yourself up to be disappointed. Eveolving from PCB of the 90’s to the ultimate family destination is gonna take longer than 6 years. But, you should be able to look around you and see that the change IS happening. You’ll just have to be patient and it will eventually happen. I’m all for it… you just have let things run their course sometimes.

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  12. Christina – I finished reading your report. I don’t disagree that the TDC could make better use of their money… in fact, they’ve been cutting the SB budget every year forthe last 4 or 5 years without any real negative impact on Spring Break.

    I however, disagree with many of the assumptions made in your report on how Spring Break affects our image or our overall tourism. Most of your assumptions are based on numbers that can be interpreted to support spring break just as easily as they can be used against it.

    Props for being proactive, though. At least you stand up for what you believe and present your opinion very professionally. I wish more people would be as committed to research and professionalism as you were with your report. And I thank you for doing what you feel is the right thing for your community. I just don’t think SPring Break affects PCB as negatively as you claim in your report.

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  13. Charles,

    If I had the time to “figure all this out”, I’d get a job with the chamber or consult for the TDC. This a simple discussion, thus I used “simple” numbers garnered from what other posts had used above. At the end of the day (pun intended) neither one of us is right…because nobody really knows the true numbers as readily admitted by the TDC board. The Durta’s did much more work on their report, so use their numbers. I just don’t believe it would be impossible to replace SB’ers with families….and it’s just that, my humble opinion. As with anything it will take time, but I believe it’s time to get moving down that road.

    The fact is it will not be easy to phase out Spring Break nor will it be easy to attract more families (if that’s the direction we go as a community). As my grandpa used to say…”if making money were easy, everybody would be rich!”

    Just my humble opinion.

    Chris

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  14. Wait a minute…. HOLD THE PHONE!!!!!

    Christina:
    “We have absolutely no connection to any business in PCB.”

    Visit this website:
    http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/123559/christina_durta.html
    “Affiliations: The Chocolate Mold Factory, Panama City Beach Spring Break Report”

    Looks like the same Christina Durta to me.

    So your statement about not being connected to any business in PCB was untrue??

    That makes this statement untrue as well:
    “Contrary to what some might think, my husband Bryan and I have spent alot of time trying to analyze this from an objective standpoint.”

    Less money for Spring Break, more money to attract visitors that will benefit The Chocolate Mold Factory.. whatever your affiliation with them is.
    http://www.gatheringguide.com/event_directory/fl_florida/vendor_party_favors_decorations_23873.html

    Shame, shame.
    You just lost all bit of credibility in my eyes… unless you have a really, really good explanation.

    You almost had me fooled!

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  15. WJHG has the opinion that this year’s spring breaker was better behaved than years past. “For the most part, the spring break season has been peaceful. There were only two seriously disturbing incidents. . . That’s a far cry from the number of injuries and deaths back in the 90s when visiting students were balcony jumping, getting into motor scooter crashes and overdosing on ecstacy, scoop and roofies.”

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  16. Christina-

    Per our email conversation, I apologize for jumping to conclusions about The Chocolate Mold Factory. I should have contacted you instead of blasting you in this post. At any rate, I wish you well and hope I haven’t offended you beyond making amends.

    Steve

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  17. Steve: Thank you very much. It takes an honorable person to come back to clear the air. It is deeply appreciated.

    To be clear, Steve is right. I do own a website called The Chocolate Mold Factory. The Chocolate Mold Factory is an informational website directed to people who are interested in confectionery arts and mold making. It provides free instruction on making custom chocolate molds. In addition, chocolate molds, books, mold making supplies, and mold making equipment can be purchased through Amazon.com, eBay and other companies with whom I am an affiliate.

    I did not disclose it because to me it is a hobby related website that most people in PCB probably would not find very interesting. I became involved in making custom chocolate molds several years ago. When I became pregnant I had to discontinue my efforts because the process involves using chemicals. Now that we have a child, I simply don’t have the time to operate this as a business because it is very labor intensive work. Any income I receive from the affiliate relationships is very minor and believe me, does not cover the time I spend working on the site and answering questions from people all over the world.

    I will end my Spring Break discussion on this note. My hopes for this town extend beyond tourism. I would love for the future PCB to be a place where people live and work year round. If all those condos were filled with people who actually live here, I heartly believe that PCB would become a more vibrant and economically stable community. That is what I referred to when I said a self-sustained economy. An economy that does is not dependent on the whims of tourists, but is able to support itself from the people within.

    So, to the extent, if any, that Spring Break and the promotion of the party scene distracts from that goal, I believe that it is not in the best interest of the community. That is all I have been trying to say.

    Thank you to those who have listened and engaged in this discussion. It is the free thinkers who will make this a better place.

    Sincerly,

    Christina Durta

    Like

  18. Please let me know the truth about your beach area this week of april 8th…. My high school son is putting on the pressure to go to panama beach and destin with a friend’s family. Is the roudy part of spring break over and is this a place I could safely send a 16-year-old.

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  19. Carol,

    First questions is, is your son a personally responsible young man? Can he easily be led into a bad situation of drinking or doing something not well thought out?

    Second questions is, what do you consider “rowdy”?
    I.E. “The local cruise strip, here is our city has many kid mostly honking, hooting/hollering and trying to meet young girls of similar age. We don’t think it’s rowdy and we let our son go cruising with his responsibly friends on the weekend.”
    OR
    “The local cruise strip, here is our city has many people adults and kid mostly drinking, honking, hooting/hollering and trying to meet girls, cops are regularly involved and we hear of situations about some fights or crime, but nothing really news worth… there young adults and it the cruise strip, We don’t think it’s too rowdy and we let our son go cruising with his responsibly friends on the weekend.

    Now with that said, PCB and Destin are the first example. The cops DO pull kids over regularly but mostly for loud music, people hanging out the windows (hooting and hollering), or in the back of trucks seating on the edge, driving too slow and yes, some for drinking underage (a single beer here with all minors in the car will land the driver a night in jail, isn’t a permanent record from what I understand and mostly to scare the heck out of them!), and other little things… nothing on the scale of rape, murder, or mass drugs.

    PCB and Destin, care about the well being of the family and do their best to keep spring break as safe as possible. PCB is more of the spring break destination for kids as it is spring break central and thus more kids are here, enjoying their youth.

    Hope that help and please feel free the visit PanamaCityBeach.com to ask more questions.

    Best regards,
    Charles

    Like

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