Awards season is here, and movie stars aren’t the only ones earning accolades. In what may as well be the Pinellas County Oscars, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater’s (VSPC) annual awards are among the most prestigious local honors on our fine peninsula, and they are officially back.
Unlike the Academy Awards or Grammys, this one is all voted on by the fans and those who know the subjects best, and the nominees are officially in. The Best of St. Pete/Clearwater awards run the gamut of all things loved locally, from restaurants and breweries to waterfront experiences and even area influencers. Got a favorite beach? You can vote for that, too. Check it all out here.
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Voting opened earlier this month and runs through 11:59 pm on February 29. Voters can submit their picks once per day per device, and it should be noted that write-in candidates are allowed if your favorite isn’t on the list. (We told you this was more democratic than the Emmys.) Find the full list of categories here.
We certainly have our personal favorites, but half the fun of the voting process is discovering places or things you haven’t been to or experienced before. It’s an excellent resource to fill out your to-do list for the spring and summer. Because what good to-do list doesn’t include brunch?
In all, there are 35 voting categories, and new categories this year include Best Local Influencer, Best Market, Best Visitor Center, and Best Newcomer to the destination. VSPC is the tourism arm of Pinellas County, helping to promote the area, and as a result, bringing tons of big revenue into the cities and businesses that call Pinellas home. Read more about that impact here.
It can often be easy to forget, and these VSP awards serve as an annual reminder that we really do live in paradise. Make plans to get out and enjoy it.
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