07/18/2025
Happy Friday friends! Let me warn you, this is a long read, but I hope you find it in your heart to read through it and consider the favor we are asking of you.
It seems that recently, some misinformation about our services / our industry has been given to the Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth. She was told that the cabana rental companies that deliver their services to Anna Maria Island are actually trying to advertise and conduct business on the beach. She was told that they place setups on the sand without reservations attaching a barcode so individuals could pay for it on the spot and have the cabana. That is absolutely against regulations, and that is not true of our company, and we can certainly vouch for our competitors, My Beach Concierge as well. We could probably vouch for a couple of the other companies that are out there as well. However, do not know them personally.
Logistically, this would be a nightmare, does not make sense, and the cost of labor would put you out of business. As a matter of fact, on our website or if you ever called our office line, you would see and be told that we require at least 24 hour notice to set up for you anywhere.
She is choosing to have a meeting this coming Friday at 8am to vote on whether or not or how these services would be allowed, if at all…. moving forward. She has communicated and engaged the city of Anna-Maria and the city of Bradenton Beach in her stance against these services.
The city of Anna Maria is already not permitting our cabanas to go up. Due to her conversation with them, without any notification apparently, there was an ordinance placed last week that names the north end of the island a conservation. This means you cannot have any business transactions or operate on that sand. I am searching for clarification because this does not make sense to me, and I am certain Anna Maria will clarify.
Examples of things that would no longer be allowed .
If you paid an officiant to walk out on the beach with you and your bride and perform a wedding ceremony, that would not be allowed.
If a wedding company wanted to set up wedding chairs, arch etc, that would not be allowed. The handful of food deliveries that walk out to the sand , would not be allowed. If you purchased a photography session and wanted to meet the photographer to execute that session / purchase on the sands of the north end of the island, that would not be allowed. Picnic set ups, nope! Do you see how this can be very confusing? Not to mention change a city of Anna Maria stay considerably for any tourist visiting. To all of our customers that stay on the north end and are so grateful for our services.... putting up shade and chairs for you is seemingly a no go now.
Bradenton Beach is looking into the matter still and not rushing to judgement or punishment either.
Examples of people that enjoy our services include,
Older individuals who struggle caring all of their items out to the sand and spend a lot of time and money planning to enjoy the island beaches.
Individuals with disabilities who use our services.
Families with small children that are already carrying a lot of needs to spend the day on the beach with their kids.
People who arrive on an airplane and do not own any of the beach equipment would now have to go purchase this and set it up themselves.
We really do offer a nice service.
FACTS
Collectively, our cabanas do not make up more than potentially…. 1%. If that of the cabanas that are on the beach on any given day. Refer to pics
Our cabanas are aesthetically pleasing not an eyesore. Refer to pics
Our cabanas are securely in place in the event of wind or weather of any sort. Refer to pics
Our cabanas are anchored safely and not the run-away umbrellas / murder weapons that are out there often LOL
Our Cabanas do not increase tourism, however, do make their stay more pleasant if they use us.
We will not be changing the face of the island because we help people that can’t carry things to the sand, FYI
We engaged Manatee County for clarification as they technically run all the public beaches in the County. Unfortunately, they are in recess during this meeting taking place Tuesday, but we did reach out to the Chairman Kruse and asked him to attend. Fingers crossed.
We did speak to the tourism office, they are WONDERFUL! They are very much interested in this and had actually also heard from the mayor . They are looking into this matter as it would impact tourists for sure.
As a matter of fact, I am including pictures from the Manatee County, Visitor’s Bureau website, where they clearly show a beach loaded with beachgoer cabanas proving that we do not make up the bulk of cabanas on the island, where they show families and couples enjoying cabana setups that have been placed there for them as well.
My Kids went to Anna Maria Elementary, King Middle Manatee HS. I moved to Anna Maria in 2010, eventually we ended up in Holmes Beach and owning this business. We work and play on this Island. When the Hurricanes hit, we sponsored an event where 100% of the proceeds went to Island Workers that were out of work and hurting, Rock N The Sand. We even ended up on TV due to those efforts. We are legitimate locals and lovers of the Island and run companies that play by the rules as are our competitors, My Beach Concierge.
PLEASE, PLEASE, if you have used us, followed us for local info, planned on using us, or if you just support the small business owners of America. Would you please reach out to one or all of these individuals in support? Just a quick message? Hell, write one and copy them all in.
Please do not harass these people, again I believe they have been misinformed, and some are trying to help, but they need to understand the truth and that we are supported by you guys.
I believe they all need to know that we are legitimate, we care about the island, and that this issue, of what equates to an extra 25 tents on any given day on a 7-mile stretch of sand between all of us…. Is a silly battle that will do more harm than good. If there are individuals that have not followed regulations then they should be cited, but you can’t take down an entire industry , put small business owners out of business and make the beach a horrible experience for some that visit us yearly .
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
The Dogs,
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