You have to play to win, and luck was with Connie Delgado from the very start of summer.

That’s because the Atlanta resident is Visit St. Pete/Clearwater’s first lucky “100 Days of Summer” weekly sweepstakes winner, a title that earned her a 3-night stay at the Sirata Beach Resort — complete with a cabana every day — and 4 tickets to the Rays game at the Trop. Connie took home one of 116 prize packages that will be won during “100 Days of Summer”.

The sweepstakes, which is in its second summer, has seen participation surge tenfold in the first four weeks this year, with more than 70,000 entries and 69 days still left in the promotion.  Visitors can enter via a variety of platforms, including Visit St. Pete/Clearwater’s mobile web site. The sweepstakes is advertised through online banner ads, via its highly-trafficked Facebook page and through print ads, along with other traditional outlets as well.

This increase in participation, along with VSPC’s meteoric social media growth, illustrate how the brand is resonating with the traditional summertime drive markets of the greater Tampa Bay and Orlando metro areas.

“Summertime visitation is very popular with Floridians,” said David Downing, Deputy Director of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater. “That’s because they know the best way to beat the heat in summertime is head to the Gulf for soothing breezes and a dip in the gentle, clear surf — and there’s no better place to do that than here in St. Pete/Clearwater.”

Site visitors can enter every day to win daily, weekly and two grand prizes, and there’s no limit on how many times you can win. Upcoming weekly prizes include 3-night stays at Shephard’s Beach Resort, the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club and the Sheraton Sand Key Resort, as well as luxurious perks such as massages, yacht cruises, Busch Garden tickets, jet-ski rides and parasailing.

The highlight of the sweepstakes will be the two grand prizes, each of which includes a brand new Vespa scooter, a 5-night stay at the TradeWinds Island Resorts on St. Pete Beach and more.

In addition to the sweepstakes, 100 Days of Summer offers an action-packed calendar featuring 100 of the coolest things to see and do this summer, from going Greek at the Tarpon Springs sponge docks, to touring beautiful Clearwater Beach on a Segway.

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