Fudgies of the SouthSnowbirds cause the same sort of excitement (and grief) in Naples as fudgies do here. By Becky KalajianThe same group that spends millions crowding Traverse City hotels, shops and restaurants during the summer heads south as soon as the leaves hit the ground.And for year-round Florida residents, this seasonal influx brings with it a similar double-edged sword.Snowbirds - a particular subspecies that in October takes I-75 south 'til it ends - are …

Numbers don't lie. Last year, more than 3.3 million visitors made trips to the region, many of them here to attend events. It's a number that has grown a steady 4.5 percent annually since 2006.

It's no surprise that new event-friendly venues have popped up to meet the increased demand.

According to Allison Beers, owner of Events North, the event industry has been bolstered by corporate clients now able to entertain and educate on a …