Visit St. Pete-Clearwater Pays Three Creators $10,000 Each for Local Tours

Three individuals will receive $10,000 each to spend ten days documenting life in Pinellas County, Florida. Visit St. Pete-Clearwater announced the selection of these temporary workers on November 9, 2026. The winners beat out more than 17,000 applicants for the paid positions. The agency covered airfare and lodging for each participant as part of the compensation package.

The tourism agency launched a nationwide search in October for these specific roles. The job posting generated over 100,000 views during the recruitment period. Applicants submitted video portfolios and social media profiles for review. A panel of interviewers selected the final three candidates from the pool of applicants.

Alex P. Taylor, a food content creator from Hartford, Connecticut, holds the title of Chief Flavor Explorer. Taylor has nearly 30,000 Instagram followers and previously appeared on the reality cooking show Hell's Kitchen. He also published a cookbook titled Totally Nachrageous, which features 70 original recipes. Taylor arrived in St. Petersburg on November 6 and will remain in the area through November 15.

Taylor focused his initial days on local dining establishments. He sampled dishes at Parkshore Grill in downtown St. Petersburg and filmed content for his online platforms. He cited chicken liver ganache at Bin 6 South as his favorite dish during the first week. He also visited La V Vietnamese Fusion for a meal. He plans to travel to Dunedin on Wednesday to visit additional restaurants.

Michael Artis, an artist from Kansas City, Missouri, was selected as Chief Sunset Curator. Artis maintains an Instagram following of more than 100,000 users. He is known for creating portraits that depict personal narratives. His assignment involves exploring local museums, murals, beaches, and neighborhoods. He is scheduled to arrive in Pinellas County on November 11 and stay through November 20.

Erica Ditton, a content creator and marketing professional from Seattle, serves as Chief Vibes Officer. Ditton has experience organizing group travel and producing social media content. Her role focuses on showcasing the local nightlife, live music, and entertainment scene. She will be in the area from November 13 through November 22.

Steve Grimes, the chief marketing officer for Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, stated that the campaign aims to provide a fresh perspective on the region. He noted that residents often overlook local attractions. The agency wants to demonstrate the beach culture to new visitors. The winners are expected to post photos and videos of their visits to encourage travel to the area.

The three positions are designed to cover different aspects of the county's offerings. Taylor focuses on food, Artis focuses on art and scenery, and Ditton focuses on social activities. The agency hopes this content will introduce potential visitors to businesses they might otherwise miss. The campaign runs concurrently with the three distinct ten day assignments.