Sunshine Matters

During a press conference at the Clearwater Aquarium this morning, Governor Rick Scott announced that 29.8 million out-of-state and international visitors came to Florida in the first quarter of 2016 (January-March), marking the highest number of visitors in one quarter in the state’s history.  This is an increase of 4.8 percent over the same period last year and exceeds the previous high of 28.5 million in the first quarter of 2015. Continue reading »

Ranked within Florida’s top 10 visitation and spending markets, Mexico brought in 435,000 visitors to the state in 2015 who spent $371 million.  Florida is currently ranked as the third most important vacation destination for Mexicans in the world.  With Orlando being the top destination for this market, VISIT FLORIDA planned a press trip for four key Mexican journalists to experience all that area and surrounding markets have to offer. Continue reading »

VISIT FLORIDA and nineteen Industry Partners, including Florida DMOs, CVBs, attractions, restaurants and even an airline, embarked on our second Digital Innovation Forum last week in Silicon Valley and San Francisco.  For five days, the group met with key staff – including Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe Systems and Gopi Kallayil, Chief Evangelist of Brand Marketing for Google – and other product, brand and business leaders from Adobe, Facebook, Google, Twitter, Airbnb and Uber.  Attendees spent the week learning how to leverage each digital company or social platform for their own digital needs, while also being privy to up and coming products, trends and insights. Continue reading »

VISIT FLORIDA today unveiled the Florida Attractions Finder, an interactive vacation planning tool that allows travelers to virtually experience their Florida thrills from a front-row seat. Point-of-view videos send users careening and diving on the newest roller coasters, zip-lining over alligators (look down if you dare), and skimming the Everglades aboard an airboat.  Whether visitors are looking for a first-time Florida experience or wishing to repeat their favorite Florida vacation moment, the Florida Attractions Finder puts the power of discovery in the user’s hands. Continue reading »