Sunshine Matters

VISIT FLORIDA and the Florida tourism industry definitely made waves at the recent Collaborate Marketplace 2012, held at the Red Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.  With over 70 Florida tourism partners present at the event, corporate meeting planners from all across the U.S. are definitely aware that “Florida Means Business” and that we’re serious about hosting their next meetings, conventions and incentive travel functions here in the Sunshine State.

Collinson Media and Events’ Collaborate Marketplace is an innovative appointment-only trade show designed especially for the Corporate Meeting Planner.  The reverse trade show platform allows the planners and suppliers to maximize the quality of time to discuss details and book business.  The Marketplace offers the opportunity for VISIT FLORIDA and our tourism partners to interact with over 350 corporate planners around the country and educate them on the opportunities available in Florida.

The conference also offers high-quality speakers and an array of networking opportunities to mix and mingle with the corporate planners and industry contacts.  This year’s featured keynote speakers included author and journalist Lisa Ling, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and Steve Forbes, Chairman of Forbes Media.

VISIT FLORIDA was front and center as the sponsor of the popular “Build-A-Buddy” Charity Workshop, where conference attendees stuffed over 400 toy animals to donate to a children’s charity.  This corporate social responsibility activity was a rewarding experience for VISIT FLORIDA to give back to the local community.

We look forward to participating in additional Collinson Media and Event’s trade shows, including the Connect Markeplace in August and the Rejuvenate Marketplace in October.  Florida will also play host to the organization’s Collaborate Bright Summit, September 25-27, 2012 at the PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens.

If you would like to learn more about how Florida tourism businesses can benefit from participation in VISIT FLORIDA’s corporate meetings programs, please contact me at chatcher@VISITFLORIDA.org.

Since re-joining the VISIT FLORIDA Promotions department in February after working here from 1998 to 2005, getting out to meet with our tourism industry Partners has been my top priority.  With the help of our Industry Relations department and Business Development Managers across the state, we have hosted four “Coffee & Conversation” events to showcase how consumer promotions can impact individual businesses, destinations and the Florida brand.

This fiscal year alone, the Promotions department has generated more than $57 million in media value and 2.1 billion consumer impressions for VISIT FLORIDA and our Partners by bartering Florida vacation packages with various media outlets.  Participating in VISIT FLORIDA’s promotions programs is a Partner benefit and requires no additional cash investment. Read more of this post »

According to preliminary estimates* we released today, 23.4 million visitors came to Florida in the first quarter of 2012 (January-March), an increase of 2.4 percent over the same period in 2011.  Direct travel-related employment in Florida also rose 1.9 percent to 1,027,500, adding 19,200 jobs since this time one year ago and representing the largest employment total since first quarter 2008.

“On the heels of a record year for the Florida tourism industry in 2011, it’s encouraging to see the trend of more visitors and more jobs extending into 2012,” said Governor Rick Scott. “As the state’s top industry and the leading driver of a rebounding economy, VISIT FLORIDA and the entire Florida tourism industry are well on their way to making the Sunshine State the No. 1 travel destination in the world.” Read more of this post »

VISIT FLORIDA was front and center during the 44th Annual U. S. Travel International Pow Wow held in Los Angeles.   The 5-day event had an estimated attendance of nearly 6,000 travel professionals, including more than 1,200 international and domestic buyers, 500 international and domestic media and 1,100 U.S. supplier companies exhibiting.  The appointment-based program attracted representatives from more than 70 countries who conducted more than 80,000 business appointments expected to generate in excess of $3.5 billion in future travel to the U.S. Read more of this post »

Each year, VISIT FLORIDA conducts a Return on Investment Influencer Study which measures the collective impact of our marketing efforts on visitors’ decisions to come to the Sunshine State.  Results from the 2011 study show that, of the surveyed respondents who had been to Florida in the past year, 38.1 percent were significantly influenced in their decision to visit the state by one or more VISIT FLORIDA marketing initiatives.  This figure represents a 1.2 percentage point increase over 2010 and marks the third consecutive year of ROI increases, rising a total of 11.4 percentage points since 2008. Read more of this post »