A husband and wife team who produce a local entertainment show is spearheading a private effort to revamp tourism in the city by tapping into Floridians from the east coast.

José Marquez Stefani and Lila Marquez, of North Naples, own MHTV Productions and produce the local weekly half-hour TV show "Take a Look," which airs at midnight Thursdays on the WB network. The show, geared to tourists, highlights restaurants and shopping in Naples.

Set on driving tourism dollars into Naples, the couple has decided to launch an aggressive TV advertising campaign connected to their show called "Escape to Naples." They've made contact with two other major networks that have agreed to air "Take a Look" on the east coast and plan to reach about 6 million residents who live from Key West to Fort Pierce. The show is scheduled to air on the east coast Nov. 28.

All the Marquezes say they need is support from local businesses and others who want to pitch in and advertise on the show or offer travel packages to tourists. They say they want to turn the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist strikes against the country into something productive for Naples.

"I think that by us doing this, it creates an environment of uplifting people to entice them to come to Naples," said Marquez Stefani, 43, whose credentials include having launched a tourism campaign Hilton International Hotels and producing commercials for MasterCard, Mattel and Visa, among others, during his 20-year career.

"When people come to Naples, they are retreating into an escape away from the traffic jams and the big-city stress," he said.

Any local initiative from the private sector to boost Naples' lagging tourism is welcomed and would be very beneficial to many, said Kathy Prutos, president of the Tourism Alliance of Collier County.

"We applaud anyone who is working to help the Collier County tourism economy," Prutos said. "At this time we have no plans to participate in this show because the Tourism Alliance doesn't have the budget."

Earlier this week, Collier County commissioners agreed to allow the Tourism Alliance to spend $250,000 from a Disaster Recovery Fund for a campaign aimed at countering a downturn in tourism in the county. The fund will be used for a separate television campaign targeting Florida residents and northerners.

Prutos said the organization's marketing committee will meet Tuesday and discuss the private mission the Marquezes have launched, but emphasized that the alliance has a limited budget. She said there's no doubt that Collier needs to establish a kind of "top-of-mind" awareness for the drive market made up of visitors from all parts of Florida.

"People still look to television and advertising," Prutos said. "People need to know about us because they are traveling. So, when they're ready to travel, Collier is at the top of the list."

The Marquezes are optimistic about the project.

"The show will cause impact because it's high energy combined with Naples style," said Lila Marquez, 40. "The people in Florida need to know that it's paradise in Naples."

Heather Burt, of the Moorings, is a general manager of a North Naples dance studio and is the show's host.

"I think people need to know that there's a lot more to Naples than just the beach, the pier and the malls," said Burt, 24.