Visit Pensacola COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update #14 June 5, 2020

Media Contact:

Nicole Stacey
Visit Pensacola
(850) 434-2142
nstacey@visitpensacola.com

Dear Tourism Stakeholder:

As we move into Phase 2 of Governor DeSantis reopening plan, Visit Pensacola will strive to remain a resource to our partners, and stakeholders with the most current updates. As we being Phase 2, our team will resume our weekly Flash Friday emails. Please be sure to utilize our calendar of events, and update your partner listings so we can provide the most up to date information.

Phase 2: Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida’s Recovery

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-139 to begin today, June 5, 2020.

With appropriate social distancing and sanitization protocols, the order provides the following:

  • Restaurants may allow bar-top seating with appropriate social distancing,
  • Bars and pubs may operate at 50 percent capacity inside and full capacity outside with appropriate social distancing. Patrons may only receive service if seated,
  • Retail establishments may operate at full capacity with responsible social distancing and sanitization protocols,
  • Gyms may operate at full capacity with appropriate social distancing and frequent sanitization,
  • Entertainment businesses, including but not limited to movie theaters, concert houses, auditoriums, playhouses, bowling alleys and arcades, may operate at 50 percent capacity with appropriate social distancing and sanitization protocols,
  • Pari-mutuel facilities may submit a request to open to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The application must include an endorsement from their county mayor or county administrator if there is no mayor,
  • Personal services businesses, including but not limited to tattoo parlors, acupuncture establishments, tanning salons and massage establishments, may operate while adhering to guidance from the Florida Department of Health.

To view, the PowerPoint presentation click here.

Short Term Vacation Rentals

Escambia County updated its short-term vacation rental plan effective Friday, June 5, at 12:01 a.m. This plan was adjusted to name the states that are currently still excluded from travel to Florida based on Executive Orders 20-80 and 20-82. Reservations are not allowed from New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut with exceptions for persons involved in commercial activity and students traveling for the purpose of academic work, internships, sports training and any other activity or program approved by the educational institution. Previously, visitors from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana and Michigan, as well as Washington D.C. were not allowed to rent short-term vacation rentals in Escambia County.

Have you downloaded the Experience Pensacola app? The app is designed to assist both locals and visitors in navigating Escambia County. With a built-in location finder, app users can find experiences closest to them. Some of the core features include:

  • Travel deals for an affordable vacation (locals can indulge, too!)
  • Local restaurant listings
  • Trails and Interactive Tours
  • Custom itinerary builder
  • Happy Hours
  • Current events
  • Local transportation options
  • Museums and attractions

The Experience Pensacola app is available for download on the Apple Store or Google Play. Our team has created a media kit to aide in our partners and stakeholders sharing this information. Click Here for banner ads, static social imagery and talking points to help us share this new feature for experiencing our community. To learn more about the Experience Pensacola app, or to download it, visit www.visitpensacola.com/app/

Visitor Information Centers Set to Open – The Visitor Information Centers (Pensacola and Perdido Key) are scheduled to open Monday, June 22. With the safety of our staff and our guests in mind, we have installed plexiglass guards at all of our front desks, increased cleaning protocols in our lobbies and guest facilities and will have masks available for use. We ask that if guests do not feel well that they refrain from entering. Our team is dedicated to serving as resources for all questions visitors, partners and stakeholders may have regarding the Pensacola Experience.

Downs & St. Germain Research

Visit Pensacola’s newest research company, Downs & St. Germain, is still in need of our partner's help. Due to the pandemic, the team has had to transition by moving all data collections online from face to face interviews during April and May. To document the economic impact of the crisis, Visit Pensacola needs our partners and stakeholder's help. In return for participating, your property will receive a free, detailed report of your guest visitation.

You can participate by either:

  1. Sending out an email with the survey link to your April and May visitors. Downs & St. Germain Research will supply a turnkey email invitation.
  2. Send Downs & St. Germain Research a database of your April and May visitors. Downs & St. Germain Research will then email the survey invitation to your visitors. We realize that some properties cannot participate in this way but wanted to mention it as an option.

If you would like to discuss this research or have questions, Joseph St. Germain, President of Downs & St. Germain Research, is available to discuss by email (joseph@dsg-research.com) or cell phone (850.321.1782).

Resources Available

While You’re Here: Similar to the Healthy Travel page, this page is detailed with business operating hours, menus, beach safety precautions, and more. We want to ensure our residents and our guests have the information needed while experiencing all that Pensacola has to offer safely.

Video Conference Backgrounds: snap a selfie and tag us in your next meeting.

The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County Coronavirus Call Center is now available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1 (866) 779-6121 or you can email your questions to COVID-19@flhealth.gov

Visit floridahealth.gov for the most up-to-date resource for information and guidance regarding COVID-19 in Florida.

We will continue to keep you informed of any new developments.

Sincerely,

Darien Schaefer

President/CEO

About Visit Pensacola

Visit Pensacola is the destination organization for Escambia County which includes Pensacola, Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. With over 450 years of rich history and 18 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordered by the emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, visitors from all over the world are lured to our pristine shores every year. Visit Pensacola supports the community vision of tourism by serving as the central body responsible for building tourism as an economic engine for our community through leadership, connection, collaboration and communication.