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TDC introduces Downes & St. Germain as new visitor research firm for regional tracking and economic impact study
Summary
The TDC welcomed Downes & St. Germain Research, which will conduct a 12‑month visitor tracking and economic impact study across southwest Florida for Manatee and neighboring counties; initial fieldwork and intercept interviews were described.
The Tourist Development Council on April 21 met Downes & St. Germain Research, the consulting firm that will conduct a visitor‑tracking and economic impact study for Manatee County and other Southwest Florida partners.
Joseph “Joe” St. Germain, president of Downes & St. Germain, said the firm—working with local staff—will run intercept surveys at high‑traffic visitor locations, hire local data collectors and produce reports intended to be usable by the CVB and county staff. He described goals that include documenting tourism’s economic impact and improving visitor targeting and marketing effectiveness.
Elliott Feltownie said the county will receive geographically representative data and that the first reporting from the new vendor should appear at the June TDC meeting. The firm will collect spending and trip‑profile data through in‑market intercept interviews (iPads at visitor sites), and the study will be representative by geography, the presenters said.
St. Germain said methodological consistency is important and that the initial year’s methodology may differ from previous studies, so year‑to‑year comparisons will be handled carefully. Staff emphasized that the research is intended to be actionable and to provide context for visitation figures, average daily rates, occupancy and airline negotiation data.
No formal vote or contract approval was recorded in the public discussion; the presentation served as an introduction and planning update for the research project.
