b'72 PGD ARTSCAPES#Social Media PresenceEver mindful of marketing, Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) isover the local harbor. The project team providing guests with life-size scenes for selfies and grouphung Palmers mural pre-security to photos that highlight southwest Floridas best features. Inmake it accessible the general public mid-February, PGD estimated that posts to social media, associatedas well as passengers, and staged the area with Adirondack chairs. shares and general media attention about the photo spots haveReaction to the sunset vignette was so positive, PGD recently garnered a reach of about 260,000.added two more photo op spots. This time, the airport used People are embracing the concept, but they still have to wearphotographs for the backdrops and partnered with the Punta masks in the terminal, says Kaley Miller, the airports marketingGorda/Englewood Beach Visitor and Convention Bureau. Scenes and communications manager. We expect it to be even morejust outside the baggage claim feature two popular local activities: popular when the mask mandate is lifted.fishing and stand-up paddleboarding. Full-size props add to the In the meantime, staff members remind guests to keep theirvisual appeal, and signage reminds guests to post their photos with masks on and smize (smile with their eyes).#FlyPGD, #Best SideOutside and #PGDSmize.The airports first photo op spot debuted last fall, through aIn February, airport marketing personnel were devising a prize partnership with the Arts and Humanities Council of Charlotteprogram to reward guests who use the hashtags when posting or County. Local artist Larry Palmer, whose commissioned workssharing their photos.appear elsewhere in the airport, donated his time to paint a sunset March | April2022AirportImprovement.com'