Island Hopper Songwriter Fest

The Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau aimed to draw visitors to the Fort Myers area in September for the 10th anniversary of its Island Hopper Songwriter Fest (IHSF), a 10-day series of intimate performances by some of Broadcast Music Inc.’s most talented singer-songwriters. The event was promoted through an integrated marketing campaign with the intent to increase visitation during the slower shoulder season, which is a needs period for our industry partners, and to contribute to an overall 2024 increase in visitation. 

A July through September 2024 quarterly visitor report was a testament to the event's success, with a 28% increase in visitors, 18% increase in room nights and 23% increase in direct economic impact over the previous fiscal year. The festival also contributed to 2024's overall success: a 15.5% increase in visitation and a 15.1% increase in room nights over 2023.