Sunshine Matters

Two consecutive years of record visitation.  A record 26 million visitors in Q1 2013.  Thirty-six consecutive months of job growth and a record 1,080,000 Floridians employed in the hospitality industry.  Florida is the No. 1 domestic vacation destination, the top family vacation destination, the top U.S. beach destination, the top vacation destination for Baby Boomers and Millennials, the  No. 1 destination for African American leisure travelers and one of the top international travel destinations. Continue reading »

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. Continue reading »

With the start of our new fiscal year beginning July 1, I am proud to announce the 2013-14 leadership who will serve on VISIT FLORIDA’s Executive Committee, Board of Directors and industry committees.  More than 200 partners, including some of the industry’s foremost experts, have been selected to represent the tourism industry for the upcoming term.

Tammy Gustafson, Director of National and Group Sales for Universal Orlando Resort, will take over as the new Chair. Gustafson succeeds Glenn Hastings, Executive Director of the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council, who served as Chair during a year in which Florida welcomed a second consecutive record number of visitors, visitor spending and tourism-related employment. Continue reading »

I am pleased to announce that VISIT FLORIDA has recently awarded $378,353 to Florida tourism industry organizations as part of our 2013-2014 grant program.  The grants are given in four program categories, including Advertising Matching Grants; Cultural, Heritage, Rural and Nature Tourism Grants; Minority Convention Grants; and Small Business Grants.  This year, VISIT FLORIDA received a record 126 applications and was able to award grants to 85 deserving businesses. Continue reading »

Attendee registration for the 46th Annual Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism is now open.  This year, VISIT FLORIDA’s signature event and Florida’s premier educational conference for the tourism industry, will be held September 11 – 13 at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando. Continue reading »