Pinellas Launches 1st-Of-Its Kind Video Series To Promote Tourism

CLEARWATER, FL — It's a first-of-its-kind project for the tourism industry, and Pinellas County is at its center.

“Life’s Rewards," a groundbreaking new series from Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, St. Pete/Clearwater Film Commission and VISIT FLORIDA, premiers Monday on Amazon’s Prime Video.

While showcasing the amenities and advantages of visiting Pinellas County, the series follows the exploits of a down-and-out traveler.

“Following a uniquely challenging year for the travel industry, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater is excited to embark on this new frontier of destination marketing by bringing forth compelling programming that inspires wanderlust,” said Steve Hayes, president and CEO of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater. “‘Life’s Rewards’ is an entertaining series that is both heartwarming and binge-worthy.”

The first original scripted series developed by destination marketing organizations for streaming services, the show follows the life of Dan Kinney, played by actor Sebastian Rocha, as he adjusts to an unexpected shift in lifestyle and circumstance. A privileged son of a high profile wealth manager, Dan had it easy until he waged everything on a big gamble and lost.

After a business trip gone bad, Dan is forced to live off the only two assets he has left — his charisma and a massive cache of hotel points. He is left stranded at The Don CeSar on St. Pete Beach, the No. 1 Best U.S. Beach in 2021 by TripAdvisor, but he must pick up the pieces of his former life and build anew.

Despite his overly ambitious narcissism, his clients, friends and hotel employees recognize there is something worth redeeming at his core.

Dependent entirely on others' generosity and goodwill, Dan embarks on a hero's journey with no shortage of drama and humor along the way, but abandoning his ego proves a lot harder than expected as he discovers the true rewards of life are often achieved in unexpected ways.

The result of a years-long partnership with Odyssey, the Studio at Miles Partnership and Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, the scripted dramedy is a new genre of television marketing by a tourism organization. Its entertainment-first content aims to build destination engagement with viewers and spark a desire to travel.

Written by Tom Crehan and directed by Damian Fitzsimmons, 'Life’s Rewards' premiered for a limited audience at the Sunscreen Film Festival on May 1.

The first season of “Life’s Reward” will feature eight 10-15-minute episodes accessible on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, GoUSA TV and Places.Travel starting May 10.