Sunshine Matters

VISIT FLORIDA continued its tradition of success at the 46th annual U.S. Travel Association’s International Pow Wow (IPW) held last week in Chicago.  IPW is the travel industry’s premier international marketplace and the largest generator of travel to the United States.  The three-day event welcomed 6,200 delegates from the U.S. and 70 other countries, including 1,400  international and domestic buyers and 500 media. Continue reading »

In 2013, an estimated 69 million international tourists visited the United States spending approximately $180.7 billion on tourism-related goods and services.  Florida captured 22% of these visitors as we hosted over 15 million international tourists last year, a 9% increase over 2012.  The United States’ Travel and Tourism Strategy, launched in 2012, sets a goal of attracting 100 million international visitors by 2021.  This is in sync with VISIT FLORIDA’s own goal to reach 100 million visitors by 2015. Continue reading »

VISIT FLORIDA’s newly released preliminary international visitor numbers show that Florida welcomed a record 15.2 million international visitors from 186 countries who spent nearly $16.1 billion in the Sunshine State in 2013.   These figures represent a 9% increase in visitation and an 8% increase in visitor spending over the previous year. Continue reading »

Florida Huddle 2014, held Jan. 14-16 in Palm Beach County, was a resounding success in its first year of being owned and operated by VISIT FLORIDA.  Three high scores for this travel trade show tell the story: more buyers, more time for appointments, more Florida travel business transactions.  Hosted by Discover Palm Beach County, the show was sold out, filling four local hotels and reflecting the tourism industry’s revitalized interest in the re-engineered show. Continue reading »

I am proud to share that Florida was voted “Best Americas Destination” at the 22nd Irish Travel Trade Awards, organized by the Irish Travel Trade News.  The ITTN awards, which are given out in 25 categories, were held last Wednesday at the Doubletree Hilton in Dublin.  The event honors excellence in product and service as voted by Irish travel agents from Northern and Southern Ireland. Continue reading »