This browser does not support the Video element.
Content creators land jobs exploring Pinellas County
Imagine getting paid $10,000 to go on vacation for 10 days and tell people all about it. Three lucky people have landed that dream job created by "Visit St. Pete-Clearwater," the local tourism agency. FOX 13's Blake DeVine reports.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Three lucky winners are getting paid $10,000 to vacation in paradise. They beat out more than 17,000 applicants for dream jobs exploring St. Pete-Clearwater.
Tourism campaign winners announced
Big picture view:
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater launched a nationwide search in October for three temporary positions promoting tourism in Pinellas County. The campaign attracted more than 100,000 views on its job posting.
PREVIOUS: How to get paid $10,000 to spend 10 days in St. Pete-Clearwater
Applicants submitted videos and social media profiles before finalists were selected through interviews. Each winner receives $10,000 for a 10-day assignment, with airfare and lodging covered.
The three positions focus on different experiences throughout St. Pete-Clearwater, from local restaurants to art and entertainment.
Meet the winning applicants
Chief Flavor Explorer:
Alex P. Taylor, a food content creator from Hartford, Connecticut, is spending 10 days discovering local restaurants and sharing his experiences online. Taylor, who has nearly 30,000 Instagram followers, previously published a cookbook called "Totally Nachrageous," featuring 70 original nacho recipes.
He also appeared on Gordon Ramsay's reality cooking competition "Hell's Kitchen."
Taylor recently visited Parkshore Grill in downtown St. Petersburg, where he sampled dishes and filmed content for his social media accounts. Taylor says being selected from thousands of applicants is an incredible opportunity.
"This is an amazing opportunity," he said. "Again, out of 17,000 people, I feel super special. And to be here representing St. Pete Clearwater, it's a gift."
Chief Sunset Curator:
Michael Artis, an artist from Kansas City, Missouri, will explore local museums, murals, beaches and neighborhoods. Artis, who has more than 100,000 Instagram followers, is known for creating portraits that capture personal stories.
He plans to use his artistic background to highlight the area's culture and scenery.
Chief Vibes Officer:
Erica Ditton, a Seattle-based content creator and marketing professional, will explore local nightlife, live music and entertainment. Ditton has experience organizing group travel experiences and creating social media content.
Her assignment will focus on showcasing the area's social scene and activities for visitors.
Driving business traffic in Pinellas County
Why you should care:
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater hopes the campaign will introduce potential visitors to businesses and attractions they might otherwise overlook. Steve Grimes, the agency's chief marketing officer, says bringing in people from outside the area offers a fresh perspective.
"When we live here we tend to take it for granted," he said. "So we wanted to figure out how do we bring some new blood, how do we bring people from the outside in here, to really experience what beach culture is all about?"
The campaign encourages the winners to document their visits through photos and videos posted to social media.
Content creators' arrival
What's next:
Taylor is the first winner to arrive and is exploring Pinellas County from Nov. 6-15. He says his favorite dish so far was chicken liver ganache at Bin 6 South in St. Petersburg. He also enjoyed the Vietnamese cuisine at La V Vietnamese Fusion.
Taylor plans to visit Dunedin on Wednesday to discover more local restaurants.
Artis is scheduled to arrive Nov. 11 and remain through Nov. 20. Ditton will visit from Nov. 13-22. The tourism agency hopes their experiences will encourage more travelers to explore Pinellas County and support its local businesses.
The Source: Information for this story came from statements from Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, interviews with Visit St. Pete-Clearwater's Chief Flavor Explorer and previous FOX 13 reporting.