Three creators win $10,000 assignments to showcase St. Pete-Clearwater

Three content creators have been selected for paid assignments exploring St. Pete-Clearwater, with each receiving $10,000 to spend 10 days highlighting the area for potential visitors. Their roles divide the destination into three themes: food, culture and scenery, and nightlife and entertainment. Airfare and lodging are also covered.

Visit St. Pete-Clearwater opened its nationwide search for the temporary positions in October. More than 17,000 people applied, and the job posting drew more than 100,000 views. Applicants provided videos and social media profiles, with interviews forming part of the selection process. The winners will share photographs and videos of their visits on social media.

Alex P. Taylor, a food content creator from Hartford, Connecticut, was chosen as Chief Flavor Explorer. He has nearly 30,000 Instagram followers and published “Totally Nachrageous,” a cookbook containing 70 original nacho recipes. Taylor also appeared on Gordon Ramsay’s reality cooking competition “Hell’s Kitchen.” His assignment centers on discovering restaurants and sharing those experiences online.

Taylor is the first of the winners to begin his visit, which runs from Nov. 6 to Nov. 15. He recently sampled food and filmed social media content at Parkshore Grill in downtown St. Petersburg. “This is an amazing opportunity,” Taylor said of his selection. He described the chance to represent St. Pete-Clearwater as a gift.

Among the meals he has tried so far, Taylor named the chicken liver ganache at Bin 6 South in St. Petersburg as his favorite dish. He also enjoyed Vietnamese food at La V Vietnamese Fusion. His plans include a Wednesday trip to Dunedin to explore more restaurants.

Kansas City, Missouri, artist Michael Artis will serve as Chief Sunset Curator from Nov. 11 to Nov. 20. Artis has more than 100,000 Instagram followers and is known for portraits that convey personal stories. He plans to draw on his artistic background while exploring museums, murals, beaches and neighborhoods to showcase local culture and scenery.

Erica Ditton, a Seattle content creator and marketing professional, will visit from Nov. 13 to Nov. 22 as Chief Vibes Officer. Her experience includes organizing group travel and producing social media content. She will focus on nightlife, live music, entertainment and activities available to visitors.

The tourism agency hopes the campaign will draw attention to businesses and attractions travelers might otherwise miss. Chief marketing officer Steve Grimes said visitors from outside the area can offer a fresh perspective on surroundings that residents may take for granted. Through the creators’ experiences, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater aims to encourage travel throughout Pinellas County and support local businesses.