In the wake of Hurricane Ian’s landfall in the Fort Myers area on September 28, 2022, many attractions throughout Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods were restricted for visitors and residents, and accommodations became very limited. By December 2022, most inland attractions, restaurants and some beaches had become operational. Many businesses and neighborhoods desired to inform residents and loyal visitors that they were ready to welcome them again. At the same time, varying operational statuses and outdated information online had these residents and visitors wondering what was actually open and what the larger destination looked like.

We put together a video series, titled “What’s Open,” for YouTube and Instagram to help spread the word about openings and availability throughout the destination. Our core objectives were to answer questions about businesses’ operational statuses, to authentically and transparently show the current state of the destination and to showcase the resilience of our community. Through the video series, residents and loyalists were able to find out where to stay and which local businesses were ready to welcome them back. We aimed to be a consistent and engaging resource through our social media channels.