PANAMA CITY BEACH – Visit Panama City Beach and the Bay County Tourist Development Council announce collections for the month of May 2017 were up 14 percent compared to May 2016, and the destination is currently up 14.8 percent for the fiscal year, which began October 2016. This growth, a result of a new highly targeted advertising campaign entitled “Make it Yours,” along with inaugural and long-standing special events, visitor loyalty, and great weather have helped the destination drive lodging revenues.

“Our continued success has brought an energy and excitement to Panama City Beach that is contagious for both our visitors and the entire community,” shares Visit Panama City Beach President and CEO Dan Rowe.

Named the “Top Trending Spot for a Summer 2017 Vacation Rental Stay,” by TripAdvisor.com earlier this spring, the destination provides ample opportunities for visitors to live the Panama City Beach brand of Real.Fun.Beach. and “make it theirs” throughout the summer season.

The Tourist Development Tax is a five percent tax on short-term rentals including hotels and condominiums. The tax funds marketing and promotional activities led by the Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau. It is also used for beach cleaning and grooming, product improvement and beach renourishment.

For more information on Panama City Beach visit www.visitpanamacitybeach.com or the Bay County Clerk website https://tdc.baycoclerk.com/TouristTax/ to learn more about the bed tax.

---

About Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach is situated on 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordering clear, emerald-green waters where the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrew Bay converge. With 320 days of sunshine annually and attractions such as St. Andrews State Park and Pier Park, the region has long been favored by travelers seeking an affordable beach vacation with year-round offerings for families, couples, groups and adventure-seekers. These include championship golf courses, spas, sporting events, award-winning dining and diverse recreational activities. In addition, Panama City Beach’s Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport offers non-stop flights on Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. For more information, call 850-233-5070 or visit the official website of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau at http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com. Live HD video of the world-famous beach is now available at http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com/webcam/. Stay connected with Panama City Beach on Twitter (@Visit_PCB), Instagram (@Visit_PCB) and Facebook (@Visit_PCB).