Showing posts with label Florida Beaches. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Florida Beaches. Show all posts

Friday, October 15, 2010

BP (NYSE:BP) Asked To Pay Millions More For Florida Tourism

BP (NYSE:BP) has already paid out millions to Florida for its tourism industry after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, to deal with the misperceptions the beaches in the state were filled with oil.

That worked during the oil spill successfully, as tourism did very well over the duration of the oil spill in Florida. Now the state is asserting wrong perceptions still remain, and BP should pay to have that removed through advertising campaigns.

The problem is it's quite possible this is a recessionary slowdown and not related to BP at all.

Allegedly some surveys have potential tourists saying they still believe the Florida beaches are filled with oil, but the question that should be asked is whether or not they were going to vacation there in the first place as colder weather hits the nation.

As far as next summer, to ask those making vacation decisions on whether or not they'll come there next year doesn't make much sense. After nine months or so, most would have to think the beaches are are clean of debris and oil.

Either way, Florida has asked for another payment of $75 million to use for their advertising budget. I think this time around BP should say no, as they're increasingly being tapped to pay for budget shortfalls that are result of the ongoing recession and not necessarily the oil spill.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

BP (NYSE:BP) Oil Says No To Florida's $50 Million Request

Florida's Governor, Charlie Crist asked BP (NYSE:BP) within the first month of the massive oil spill for $25 million to pay for advertising promoting how clean their beaches are, BP complied. Crist has asked BP for $50 million more two weeks ago, the company refused.

After the first $25 million was spent, tourism dropped anyway. Crist's main complaint is about how much money BP is using to promote themselves. He talked about how it appears the company is spending a lot on newspaper and television ads plugging their efforts on coping with the oil spill.

Looking annoyed and upset the governor said, " To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement." The state has lined up an expert legal team, " and we're ready if BP doesn't do the right thing." He didn't use the word lawsuit but did continue on saying, " We're trying to force them to do the right thing, like they say they're doing in there commercials."

According to Crist, the whole state has been tarred by the perception that their beaches are tainted. In reality, only 10 percent of Florida's beaches have actually seen any oil. The Panhandle beaches are the only ones that have seen tar balls, thick oil, or tar mats. He claims its destroying Florida's $65 million tourist industry.