Sunshine Matters

It was my distinct priviledge, during the 43rd Annual Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism, to announce the 2010 Florida Tourism Hall of Fame inductee and the winners of the 2010 Flagler Awards.  Annually, leaders in Florida tourism are chosen by a selection committee to receive these prestigious honors and awards. 

Florida Tourism Hall of Fame
Since 2001, one individual is chosen annually to be inducted into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame. This honor, presented by VISIT FLORIDA and the Florida Commission on Tourism, recognizes contemporary and historic figures whose vision, creativity and drive has had a positive and significant impact on the development of Florida as a desirable visitor destination.

This year’s inductee is Harris Rosen, whose love and devotion to the hospitality industry, combined with his belief that education can change lives, has led him to be a true industry innovator and a strong hospitality advocate.  From championing a referendum in the early 1980s to build the Orange County Convention Center to donating a 20-acre site and $10 million in 1999 to the University of Central Florida for the creation of the School of Hospitality Management which bears his name, VISIT FLORIDA is extremely proud to induct Harris Rosen into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame.

Flagler Awards
Named for Henry Flagler, the Flagler Awards were established in 2000 to recognize outstanding tourism marketing in Florida. The annual awards are open to all individuals, private businesses and not-for-profit organizations offering a tourism product or service that promote tourism to or within Florida. Presented by VISIT FLORIDA and the Florida Commission on Tourism, the program is designed to recognize the outstanding tourism marketing achievements of Florida’s travel businesses, destinations and attractions. This year’s competition drew 136 entries.

Finalists and a single winner were announced in each of 15 categories during the Flagler Awards Dinner at the Epcot World ShowPlace Pavilion on Monday, Sept. 27, 2010.  The top winners were presented the program’s highest honor, the “Henry.”

The following companies were recognized:

Creative Partnering category:
Finalists
• Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau – “Sweet Tea Giveaways”  Ad Campaign
• Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau – We Love Cruisers
• Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau – Tour Sarasota Architecture
• Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau – We Just Got Back Online Promotion

Henry
• Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau – Tour Sarasota Architecture

Creativity in Public Relations category:
Finalists
• Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau – “Pack Your Bags” News Release
• Florida Keys & Key West – Sinking of the Vanderberg
• Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau – 67 Days of Smiles
• Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau – Paradise Coast Getaway Radio Promotion

Henry
• Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau – 67 Days of Smiles

Direct Mail category:
Finalists
• Florida Keys & Key West – “Keys Traveler”
• Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – New Year’s Eve 2010

Henry
• Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – New Year’s Eve 2010

Internet Marketing category:
Finalists
• Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau – iVisitFortLauderdale: Official Fort Lauderdale Travel iGuide
• Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau – Consumer E-Newsletter Campaign
• Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau – Breaking Ice Ad
• Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Launch of Social Media Program

Henry
• Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau – iVisitFortLauderdale: Official Fort Lauderdale Travel iGuide

Magazine category:
Finalists
• Florida Keys & Key West – Road to Recovery
• Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau – Container Series Campaign Updates

• Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau – Panama City Beach Summer Campaign
• Seminole County Convention and Visitors Bureau – Crappie Ad

Henry
• Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau – Container Series Campaign Updates

Mixed Media Campaign category:
Finalists
• Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau – Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key “Island Culture” campaign
• Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau – Charlotte Harbor ECOnomical Summer Escapes Campaign
• Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau – Canadian Campaign
• Walton County Convention & Visitors Bureau – Beaches of South Walton Marketing Campaign

Henry
• Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau – Canadian Campaign

Multicultural Marketing category:
Finalists
• Florida Keys & Key West – Put Us On Your To-Do List; More Male Bonding Than a Beer Commercial; Meet Your Soul Mate In One Of Our Unique Chatrooms
• Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau – Rich Media Banner GLBT
• Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau – Florida Classic Promotion

Henry
• Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau – Florida Classic Promotion

Newspaper category:
Finalists
• Florida Keys & Key West – Down here everything’s water under the 7-Mile Bridge; Decompress; There’s nothing like the end of the road to turn you around
• Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau – 8 Beaches of Gr8ter Fort Lauderdale Insert
• Visit Tallahassee – Visit Tallahassee, Where it all comes together Co-Op Ad

Henry
• Florida Keys & Key West – Down here everything’s water under the 7-Mile Bridge; Decompress; There’s nothing like the end of the road to turn you around

Out-of-Home category:
Finalists
• Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau – New York City/Times Square
• Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau – Union Station Takeover
• Space Coast Office of Tourism – Space Coast BeachBus
• Visit St. Petersburg-Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau – New York Station Domination – Where the Beach Takes You

Henry
• Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau – Union Station Takeover

Radio category:
Finalists
• Florida Keys & Key West – Key Largo Summer
• Florida Keys & Key West – Road to Recovery
• Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau – Miami Winterrupted
• Seminole County Convention and Visitors Bureau – Monday Morning

Henry
• Florida Keys & Key West – Key Largo Summer

Resource/Promotional Material – Trade category:
Finalists
• Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau – Greater Fort Lauderdale Meeting Professionals Program
• Seminole County Convention and Visitors Bureau – Sports Guide
• Visit St. Petersburg-Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau – World Travel Market “No Coats Required”
• Visit Tallahassee – Visit Tallahassee, Where It All Comes Together Brand Video

Henry
• Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau – Greater Fort Lauderdale Meeting Professionals Program

Resource/Promotional Material – Consumer category:
Finalists
• Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau – Anna Maria Island & Longboat Key Visitors Guide
• Florida Keys & Key West – Wreck Trek Passport
• Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau – Greater Fort Lauderdale Rainbow Calendar
• Visit St. Petersburg-Clearwater Convention & Visitors Bureau – Brand Videos

Henry
• Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau – Greater Fort Lauderdale Rainbow Calendar

Special Event category:
Finalists
• Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau – Virgin America Comes to FLL
• Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau – Orlando Magical Dining
• Pensacola Bay Area Convention & Visitors Bureau – Pensacola’s 450th Anniversary
• Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – 5th Anniversary Celebration

Henry
• Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – 5th Anniversary Celebration

Television category:
Finalists
• Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau – Amelia Island TV Campaign
• Florida Keys & Key West – Cat Cam; Road to Recovery
• Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau – Where Worlds Meet TV Campaign
• Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau – Revelations TV Campaign

Henry
• Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau – Revelations TV Campaign

Website category:
Finalists
• Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau – Sunny.org
• Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau – ParadiseCoast.com
• Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau – SarasotaFL.org
• Seminole County Convention and Visitors Bureau – AFreeNight.com

Henry
• Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau – SarasotaFL.org

The Best of Show in three budget categories were also announced.

The following companies were recognized:

Marketing Budgets for less than $100,000:
Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau for Charlotte Harbor for ECOnomical Summer Escapes Campaign

Marketing budgets between $100,000 and $1 million:
Seminole County Convention & Visitors Bureau for Sports Guide

Marketing budgets for greater than $1 million:
Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau for Union Station Takeover