The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA), in conjunction with the Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau and Hess Entertainment, today is pleased to present Country Music superstar Clint Black – Live in Concert – at Pier Park in Panama City Beach, Florida.  The concert will be held Friday, November 5, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. CST and is free to the public.  Pier Park, 600 Pier Park Drive, is conveniently located between the World’s Most Beautiful Beaches and Back Beach Road in the heart of Panama City Beach, Florida.

The concert is part of the FRLA’s “Back to the Beach – Fall Back into Summer” marketing campaign and Northwest Florida’s premier Wine and Food Festival “Taste of THE Beach.”  FRLA’s marketing campaign began in October when Florida Governor Crist allowed for the transfer of $700,000 from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s trust fund to speed the economic recovery for Florida’s hospitality industry.

“What a tremendous honor to have someone of Clint Black’s talent and stature to agree to host a free concert for the families and employees of our hoteliers, restaurateurs, and everyone impacted by the perception of oil washing ashore Northwest Florida beaches,” said Carol Dover, President/CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.  “This is a great time for tourists and residents alike to discover the beauty of Northwest Florida during the fall season and we encourage everyone to come enjoy one of the many fishing tournaments, concerts, seafood and arts festivals all promoting Florida’s unique culture and cuisine.”

Clint Black and his band will perform outdoors and under the stars immediately following Taste of THE Beach’s “Taste of Bay” to be held from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. CST at Pier Park.  NOTE:  All Taste of Bay ticket holders will receive VIP Stage-Front Access for the concert.

“As part of Taste of THE Beach, we are proud to be co-sponsors of the Taste of Bay event, which brings thousands of residents and visitors alike to our beautiful beaches,” said Dan Rowe, President/CEO of Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Fall is the perfect time of year to visit Panama City Beach and this year’s event will reach a new level of excitement with the free Clint Black concert on Friday evening,” said Rowe.

“Taste of Bay enjoys more than 1,000 guests each year as they taste wines offered by hundreds of vineyards and sample culinary delights from area restaurants at Pier Park,” said Beth Oltman, President and CEO of the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce.  “To have country superstar Clint Black top off our event is sure to attract an even bigger audience from our local community,” continued Oltman, organizer of Taste of Bay.

“Southwest Airlines, who have been tremendous community partners through the opening of the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, will offer a 10 percent discount on their ‘Wanna Get Away’ fares,”said Kitty Whitney, President/CEO of the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce. “These exclusive discount fare savers card will be given to every guest and at every event upon check in. This is truly an event you won’t want to miss!” concluded Whitney, who also serves as Chair of Taste of THE Beach.

For additional concert information please visit www.FRLA.org.  For a complete listing of all events, times and locations for Taste of THE Beach activities being held November 4-7, go to www.TasteoftheBeachFla.com.

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FRLA’s mission is to Protect, Educate and Promote Florida’s hospitality industry – which represents a $57 billion industry, 20% of Florida’s economy, $3.4 billion in sales tax revenue, and more than 900,000 employees, making it Florida’s largest employer.  In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill that has devastated areas of Northwest Florida, FRLA has led the charge in representing the industry through marketing, communications, tourism briefings, claims procedures, and paid advertisements to let the world know that Florida is Open for Business.  FRLA is among the most influential trade associations in Florida, counting among its 10,000 members some of the largest businesses across the state in lodging establishments, restaurants, and thousands of suppliers to the industry.  For more information, go to www.FRLA.org.

Panama City Beach is situated on 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordering clear, emerald-green waters where the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay converge.  With more than 300 days of sunshine annually and attractions such as St. Andrew’s State Park and Pier Park, the region has long been favored by travelers seeking an affordable beach vacation with year-round offerings for families, couples, groups and adventure-seekers.  These include championship golf courses, spas, sporting events, award-winning dining and diverse recreational activities. Panama City Beach recently opened the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, offering non-stop flights on Delta Airlines and Southwest Airlines. To learn more, please visit www.VisitPanamaCityBeach.com

Held November 4-7, 2010, Taste of THE Beach – an annual food and wine celebration on Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast – was formed to showcase the area’s beaches, culture and restaurants, paired with unique wine events and a charity auction. As the presenting sponsor, Southwest Airlines will help expand awareness of Taste of THE Beach with a broader regional focus through its daily service to and from the area at the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.  The charity auction will raise much needed funds for several charities supporting children in critical need.  Savor the flavors, sights and sounds of Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast through Taste of THE Beach.  For a complete listing of all events, times and locations, go to www.TasteoftheBeachFla.com.