Sunshine Matters

Each Spring, VISIT FLORIDA conducts its New York City Media Receptions Program to bring  Florida tourism industry partners and New York-based travel journalists together in their own backyard.  This year, VISIT FLORIDA’s Public Relations team and our agency of record – Harrison & Shriftman/Ketchum – were joined by 15 industry partners in hosting both a blogger reception and a consumer media reception.

The annual program in the NYC market sustains and grows media relations with key influencers while positioning VISIT FLORIDA and its partners as leading experts on what’s new and trending in tourism consumer news.  More than 70 writers, editors and media contacts from national broadcast, digital and print outlets attended the receptions, including Good Morning America, The Huffington Post, Ladies’ Home Journal, Meetings and Conventions magazine, New York Daily News, The Wall Street Journal, Town & Country magazine, Travel + Leisure magazine, Foodie City Mom, and Prime Time Parenting.

VISIT FLORIDA’s Senior Editor, Kevin McGeever, joined the program this year to share story ideas with the media and discuss ways they can leverage VISIT FLORIDA’s original content.

Participating partners in the “On the Road in the Sunshine State” receptions included Charlotte Harbor & The Gulf Islands, The Dali Museum, Daytona Beach CVB, Florida Keys & Key West, Florida’s Space Coast, Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, Greater Miami CVB, Naples-Marco Island-Everglades – The Paradise Coast, Visit Orlando, Visit Pensacola, St. Augustine-Ponte Vedra & The Beaches VCB, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, and Sarasota & Her Islands CVB.

VISIT FLORIDA also conducts a highly-successful annual Media Missions program in other key feeder markets such as Atlanta, Boston and Chicago that wrapped up in March.

For Florida tourism businesses interested in learning more about the 2012-2013 Media Missions & Receptions Programs, the schedule will be published this summer through the Marketing Planner at VISITFLORIDA.org and via VISIT FLORIDA’s bi-monthly News to Use industry e-newsletter.  For more information, please contact me at kmorgan@VISITFLORIDA.org.