In an effort to grow its worldwide outreach, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater (VSPC) has helped secure direct air service from Zurich to Tampa Bay, via Swiss-based Edelweiss Airlines. The flight will be offered once a week---on Fridays---with service ramping up to twice a week over the summer.

Following their appearance at ITB in Berlin, representatives from VSPC---including Marion Wolf, Director of the Central European Office---Tampa Bay & Company and Tampa International Airport were on-hand to show their support for the flight. The contingent also met with Edelweiss officials to discuss continued co-operative marketing efforts.

VSPC and Tampa Bay & Company will hold a joint reception at the airport on the day of the May 25 inaugural flight, officially welcoming guests to the area as they arrive. The flight to Tampa Bay will be an excellent gateway with over 40 connections through Zurich to destinations across Europe.

The new service augments VSPC's already strong international footprint, with Wolf engrossed in-market in Germany, United Kingdom Director Venessa Alexander in London and Leslie Benveniste representing both VSPC and Tampa Bay & Company in Argentina and Brazil. In addition, Rooster PR and Kaus Media Services handle public relations efforts in the United Kingdom and Germany, respectively.

Visit St. Pete/Clearwater is the destination marketing organization for Pinellas County, Florida.