Lee County Tourism Officials will release January sales figures Friday – and the numbers are forecast to be excellent.

Tourism Director DT Minich says after some somewhat slow winter occupancy rates following two tough hurricane seasons in 2004 and 2005 – things are hopping.

“the planes are full the hotels are full it’s our time of the year to be making money for our hotel and tourism industry and they’re definitely doing this these last few weeks and its looking good all the way through mid April.”

Minich credits bad weather up north and good weather in Southwest Florida for the high occupancy rates – along with baseball fans here to see the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins for Spring Training. South Seas Plantation – one of the areas largest resorts – and badly damaged by Hurricane Charley in 2004 also reopened this week.

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South Seas Plantation Resort on Captiva Island officially re-opened last night. It was badly damaged by Hurricane Charley in August 2004. Director of Tourism for Lee County D.T. Minich says the opening caps off what’s been the busiest tourist season in several years.

“they’ve done an incredible job out there of redoing that resort and it’s like having a brand new resort in our area we’re real excited. This is really our first good season since Charley”

Minich says planes and hotels are full and will be until at least mid-April. He says other travel destinations in Florida are also doing well this season – but that Lee County is doing exceptionally well.