The Lee Island Coast Visitor and Convention Bureau (VCB) announces the launch of its newly enhanced Web site -- www.leeislandcoast.com. It features a fresh and fun look at travel and destination information about southwest Florida's most unique coastal vacation spot, the Fort Myers/Sanibel Island area.

The Web site's design allows consumers to instantly access details about attractions, accommodations, and travel reservations. It helps visitors plan every aspect of their trip to the area, and also features Internet discount offers. The VCB also enlisted six travel writers to provide over 20 additional pages of new and informative editorial to the site.

Suitable for every traveler's needs, the Web site includes many other pages allowing the viewer to plan a complete vacation to paradise.

Web site features include everything you want to know about the areas comprising the Lee Island Coast: Sanibel & Captiva islands, Fort Myers Beach, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs & Estero, Pine Island & Boca Grande, Lehigh Acres, and North Fort Myers. The site allows travelers to select a destination with relevant background information, obtain the current temperature for the area, view 360 degree IPIX images, scan an updated list of events and activities of interest in the area, send postcards to friends and family, link with MapQuest for maps to and from hotels, restaurants and attractions, and receive copies of comprehensive visitor information.

Vacation Planning Always on the leading edge in the tourism industry, www.leeislandcoast.com offers consumers a way to customize and personalize their vacation plans. One of the site tools is the ability to create a personal vacation itinerary file complete with activities before ever reserving a room. With over 300 accommodations and attractions from which to choose, visitors can create a customized itinerary that includes all of their vacation plans and print it, or e-mail it to a family member.

Search Engine In addition to the impressive amount of content now on the site, the VCB has made it easier for visitors to find the information they need. They have added an internal search engine that makes the site very user friendly. This feature allows visitors to search by key word within the site for anything they'd need to know about vacationing on the Lee Island Coast. Sweepstakes To launch the newly designed site, the VCB is conducting a sweepstakes contest called "Hotlink to Paradise," which gives visitors the chance to win a tropical paradise vacation package.

Visitors to the site simply complete and submit the entry form on the online guest book and are automatically entered for a chance to win a one-week grand prize vacation package for a family of four, or one of eight other fantastic getaways, to one of the country's most exclusive vacation spots.

The grand prize features a seven-day, six-night stay for a family of four at South Seas Resort on Captiva Island. The island offers miles of pristine beach, wildlife, kayaking, sailing, golfing, shelling and fishing. The winner will receive four tickets on Delta Air Lines from Delta Vacations; a $1,000 shopping spree at Tanger Factory Stores Sanibel with over 55 brand name outlets; a three-piece set of Samsonite/American Tourister luggage, and four passes to Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall.

Media Central and Travel Agent Help Desk Other highlighted Web site features include a Media Central and Travel Agent Help Desk. Media Central is the on-line news center for journalists, offering immediate access to comprehensive information and story ideas for the Lee Island Coast travel destination. Media Central contains all media material such as fact sheets, media kits and news releases.

It allows reporters 24-hour, seven-day-a-week access to all of Lee Island Coast's media materials. Media Central also simplifies information retrieval for all media by offering a convenient keyword/topic search, research assistance, on-line image samples and information on downloading high-resolution photos and on-line video samples of high-quality B-roll. The Lee Island Coast also includes tools for travel agents. The Travel Agent Help Desk offers personalized service from an experienced staff person to answer questions.

Acting as a support service for the trade industry, informative descriptions aid and teach the travel agent everything about the destination a client could desire to know. The new VCB site also offers extensive information to help Meeting Planners and Sports Organizers.

Overall, the interactive nature and beautiful layout of the Web site illustrate the tropical island paradise of the Lee Island Coast. Located on the Gulf of Mexico, the Lee Island Coast offers a relaxed environment for both business and pleasure vacations.