FREE ESSAY ON HOSPITALITY TOURISM

HOSPITALITY TOURISM

Brevard County Tourism
D. Grulich
12/8/98
Brevard County is a nice place to visit for the sun, surf, and sand. In addition to the
beautiful beaches of Brevard there are other attractions tourists to the area frequent.
Such attractions consist of the Kennedy Space Center, Ron Johns Surf Shop, the Astronaut
Hall of Fame, the Ace of Hearts Ranch, the Sebastian Inlet and Reserve, the famous
Wednesday night Jamaican-Me-Crazy night at the Holiday Inn Melbourne Oceanfront, Cape
Canaveral Cruise lines, Cocoa Expo Sports Center, the Cocoa Beach Pier, the Baseball
stadium in Viera, and the Brevard Zoo. These places, besides the beach, are Brevard's
most attended area attractions. Most of our tourists who come to this area to see these
attractions come from the Central Florida cities of Orlando, Daytona Beach, and Ft.
Lauderdale. 
Brevard is a family-oriented county. Almost all of our attractions are made for families
to enjoy and as well as vacationing couples. The families that come here are mainly on
vacation or seeing family/friends. Some demographics about them are that they probably
drove to the area from their home in state or from the Orlando Airport, they will
probably stay for about one week, booked accommodations themselves, and are middle class
due to their income. There are many things in Brevard that visiting families can do, it
all depends on their taste and duration of stay.
Vacationing couples come to this are for cruises, a weekend getaway, or to see family and
friends. Some demographics about these tourists almost the same as the families. They
come from the Florida area mainly, have an average income (in most cases both partners
are working and have more money to spend due to a double income), the ages for couples
vary in range 
from 18-65 because it doesn't matter how old or young you have to be in a couple when
visiting Brevard. The couples that decide to go on a cruise may stay in Brevard to see
the sights. But the percentage is less because they just spent all that money on the
cruise. The couples that like to stay for a while are snowbirds (people who come down
from up north to get away from the cold). These particular tourists are more of the older
generations 55 - 65+, retired, and have a lot of money to spend. They like the beach and
are here to get a tan so when they go back up north they have something to show all of
their friends who couldn't get away. 
Our competitor as a county would be Orange County, Orlando specifically. Orlando has
Disney and who can truly compete with Disney. They have helped our County by putting a
resort in our south beaches area, and a cruise ship out of the Port. That draws Central
Florida tourists' eyes toward the Brevard area. Orlando does take business away from
Brevard. One area is airfare. It costs more to fly into the Melbourne International
Airport. Plus our airport only has two airlines flying in and out, so that limits our
incoming traffic as well. So not only does Orlando hinder they help as well. 
Disney is helping steer eyes toward our county but we can use the city of Orlando and its
services and lack there of, to our advantage as well. A lot of people who come to Florida
seek the sun and a tan. In Orlando it is true they can receive that, but they can't get
real sandy beaches, ocean breezes, and the ocean itself with waves so people can surf.
For some people sitting by the pool is soaking up the rays makes them content. But if I
was paying all that money to come to Florida I would want actual sand to make a castle
with, and water that if I opened my mouth I wouldn't be afraid of what someone may have
done in the water. All of Orlando's bodies of water are lakes, which don't run into the
ocean, therefor they aren't being cleaned because they are not moving. In Brevard we have
it all the sun, sand, and real beaches. The beach is what we can market to the out of
state visitors. But what makes the Brevard area and its beaches better than our other
competitors beaches Ft. Lauderdale and Daytona Beach. Our area has less traffic on the
roads and on the beach, they are kept in great shape because we don't allow cars to drive
on them, and we are noted for Ron John's and the Cocoa Beach Pier. I have not heard of
any attractions that either locations are noted for. Ft. Lauderdale does have more clubs
in the city but not on the beach. On the beach in Melbourne we have Jamaican -Me-Crazy
which people from those cities come to see. These are the areas and events we can market
in comparison to other well known cities.
In the Orlando area we can use different avenues for promotions. We can use the
Conventions and Visitors Bureaus of Orlando, the information guides in the Orlando
International Airport, the Internet, billboards not just for Ron John's but for the real
sandy beaches and ocean breezes, be in the Florida Trend Magazine frequently with coupons
for in area restaurants, and events to come, and keep a running ad and frequent stories
about Brevard's events in the Orlando Sentinel.
Benefits to visiting Brevard's coast are the real beaches, ocean breezes, more stars to
see than in the heavily populated areas, the sea turtles in the summer, and the warmth of
the sun in the winter. Our area offers more educational things to do in a low traffic yet
high, friendly customer service environment. The prices for the attractions are way more
reasonable than the surrounding areas. I think Brevard is a better deal for the families,
and/or couples that want to see sights, and have a relaxing yet fun filled vacation on
the real beach.