Visit the Florida tab for the new Michelin restaurant stars expected to reach $ 150,000.

The state’s tourism marketing arm is finalizing a contract for a recently announced partnership with the international publication that will lead Visit Florida to cover part of the production costs of the 2022 guides that will feature restaurants in Orlando, Miami and Tampa.

Visit Florida spokesperson Leslie Pearsall called it “a great opportunity to elevate Florida’s food scene and have a positive economic impact on the state.”

The agency is also relying on the guide to help business travelers extend their stay in Florida, Pearsall added. Business travel has been hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating concern for hoteliers and other parts of the hospitality industry. “The inclusion of Tampa Bay in the US Michelin Guide is huge news! Visit Tampa Bay President and CEO Santiago Corrada posted on Twitter. “Travelers often choose destinations to visit based on a region’s culinary scene and the timing couldn’t be more perfect with the reopening of international borders. ”

The current contract is expected to give Visit Florida the use rights for editorial content that includes restaurant reviews; the ability to develop promotional efforts on behalf of the new guide; and the rights to the Michelin online restaurant database for the highlighted restaurants.

Send anonymous news tips to [email protected]. Support local journalism in these crazy days. Our small but powerful team is working around the clock to bring you news on how the coronavirus is affecting Tampa and the surrounding area. Please consider making a one-time or monthly donation to help support our staff. Every little bit counts.

Subscribe to our newsletter and follow @cl_tampabay on Twitter.