Sunshine Matters

I am pleased to announce that VISIT FLORIDA has selected our new leadership to serve on the Executive Committee, Board of Directors and industry committees.  Nearly 240 VISIT FLORIDA partners, including some of the industry’s foremost experts, have been selected to represent the tourism industry for the upcoming term. Continue reading »

I am pleased to share that today Governor Rick Scott announced during a press conference at the Miami International Airport that Florida has set another record in tourism by welcoming the highest amount of visitors of any six months in the state’s history with 54.1 million visitors.  This record amount of visitors represents a 5.8 increase over the same period last year.  In the second quarter of 2015 (April-June), 25.8 million visitors came to the state, an increase of 5.5 percent over the year.  The average number of direct travel-related jobs in quarter two of 2015 was also a record high, with 1,213,500 Floridians employed in the tourism industry – up 4.9 percent over the year. Continue reading »

The U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board recently released the four recommendations they made to Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker as priority issues for our industry to be examined over the next three years.  Their recommendations fell into four key buckets:  improving the visa and entry process, substantial investment in transportation infrastructure, reauthorization of Brand USA and expansion of public/private partnerships modeled after the relationship between the TTAB and Commerce Department. Continue reading »

While Viva Florida 500 is a year-long commemoration of the discovery of the Sunshine State by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon and his crew, April marks the celebration’s biggest push.  To kick things off, VISIT FLORIDA participated in a press conference hosted by Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner on April 2 to coincide with the actual anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s landing.  One of the big announcements was the impending arrival of El Galeón, a replica of Spanish ships from 500 years ago, that would be sailing from Spain to Puerto Rico and on to four ports of call in Florida. Continue reading »

Patrick and his #40 Mazda RX-8 in their 'Share a Little Sunshine' attire for the Grand Prix of Miami

As you may be aware, in our ongoing efforts to promote the great state of Florida, we have created a strategic marketing partnership with Mazda.  This past weekend, during the Rolex Racing Series Grand Prix of Miami, VISIT FLORIDA and Mazda had an opportunity to showcase the ‘Share a Little Sunshine’ campaign to national and international audiences through a celebrity endorsement with Patrick Dempsey and his #40 race team.  Continue reading »