Of Dreams and Discoveries

Here at Gulfshore Life, we're embarking on a new adventure; and it all started, as so often has been the case, when a visitor discovered Southwest Florida. Let me explain.

Last February, Bill Curtis, CEO of CurtCo Media, checked into the Ritz-Carlton, Naples. From its headquarters in Malibu, Calif., CurtCo publishes a collection of magazines for the world's most affluent readers, including Worth and Robb Report. Curtis, a connoisseur with a zest for the lifestyle his magazines showcase, had come to town for the four-year-old Naples Winter Wine Festival, that elite gathering of 500 of the world's most passionate food and wine lovers, which was just about to become the highest-grossing charity wine auction in the world.

It was Curtis' first visit to Naples; and he was impressed by the town's beauty, cosmopolitan atmosphere and the congenial, sophisticated people he met at his first festival event. "The combination of lifestyle and social tone was striking," he says. As a publisher who has constructed a fast-rising media empire by focusing on "the passions and dreams of an audience that can be extremely difficult to reach," Curtis realized he was seeing, in Southwest Florida, "a regional personification of that very narrow and select demographic."

Back at the Ritz-Carlton, "I picked up a copy of Gulfshore Life," Curtis recalls. What he saw intrigued him; and when he discovered that our company published not only Gulfshore Life, but also Sarasota Magazine, he realized we were kindred spirits: dedicated to quality and to the lifestyle and concerns of our exceptional readers. Discussions began; and on Oct. 1, CurtCo Media acquired Gulfshore Media and its 16 different titles.

We're thrilled about what this will mean for us-and you. Our homegrown team is staying in place, and now we'll be collaborating with some of the most creative publishing minds in the country. Expect expanded coverage of the best in luxury living, and a continued commitment to our beautiful region. From the minute he arrived in Naples, "the place opened its arms and embraced us," Curtis told guests at a recent dinner honoring Gulfshore Life's Men and Women of the Year. We'll return that embrace, supporting more great community causes and special events. And our advertisers and community partners will share in the opportunities, gaining a voice and presence far beyond our shores.

But momentous as this new alliance is to us, it's really just another chapter in a long-running Southwest Florida story. Generations of visionaries have come for a visit only to fall in love with the region and return to bring their dreams and passions with them. They range from legendary entrepreneurs-Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, today's high-flying, telecommuting CEOs-to ordinary people with big dreams, like those airmen who, after World War II, brought their young families back to the sunshine and seashore they'd discovered while stationed here. All have left their mark upon the region, adding their talents and energy to our ever-evolving story.

Whether you're an old-timer and already part of that story or a first-timer beginning your first chapter, this Visitor's Annual will help you discover the best of the Gulfshore. In addition to comprehensive information about beaches, attractions, arts, entertainment and more, you'll also find stories on such quintessential Southwest Florida pleasures as sailing, shopping and (be warned: it starts as a pastime and turns into an obsession) looking for a second home.

But to get into the proper vacation state of mind, we suggest you start with "The Spirits of Southwest Florida" (page 160). In our ever-zealous pursuit of investigative journalism, we invited some of the region's best bartenders to create a drink that captures the color and flavor of the Gulfshore. We held our ultimate cocktail contest beachside at the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club; and while the sun sank into the shimmering Gulf, our judges sipped, scored, and mused about the benevolent fates that had brought them to this glorious place. Hold that thought; it's something those lucky enough to land along the Gulfshore like to muse about.