Sunshine Matters

Each year, the VISIT FLORIDA Marketing and Events Team hosts a series of VIP (Very Important Meeting Planner) events.  The sites are strategically located in major feeder cities with a high concentration of meeting professionals that have the potential to bring their meetings to Florida.  Making an impression, and creating fun and unique events, is our ultimate goal in developing a future relationship with the planners.  We look at each feeder market differently, and work to plan each event around a theme or activity that will foster engagement and networking.  And engagement was certainly strong with an average of 12 VISIT FLORIDA Partners and more than 50 planners attending each event.

In Chicago in January, we hosted a culinary affair “Let’s Get Cooking” done Viva Florida style by creating an interactive evening of preparing Spanish themed tapas at The Chopping Block in the Chicago Merchandise Mart.

In Atlanta in April, we invited meeting planners to “Relax and Refresh” Florida style by offering Florida tranquility and spa treatments while networking with the Industry Partners at Spa Sydell.

In Washington DC in April, we asked planners to “Unleash their Inner Artist” by having a palette full of fun at ArtJamz Studio.  They each created a masterpiece on canvas with the “Must Be the Sunshine” theme for their future meetings in Florida.

In New York City at the end of  June, we are having “Cocktails in the Garden” at the Humphrey Restaurant in the Eventi Hotel.  The event will feature Jon Carloftis, award-winning master gardener, author, television guest, and an expert creator of small space container gardening and rooftop gardens in New York.  Space is still available for our New York event for Industry Partners.

Planning and implementing each of these VIP events creates value for our Industry Partners, and builds knowledge and exposure for Florida meetings.  I want to thank all the Industry Partners who have participated with VISIT FLORIDA in this series of VIP Events.  For more information on how you can become involved, contact me at (850) 205-3831 or chatcher@VISITFLORIDA.org.