Sunshine Matters

VISIT FLORIDA staff, along with nearly 20 Florida tourism industry Partners, were in Boston on February 7-10 before, during and after the “Blizzard of the Decade.”  Each year, the tourism industry travels to Boston for the annual Boston Globe Travel Show to spread some sunshine.  The show attendees this year included over 25,000 consumers from around the Boston and surrounding Northeast region, plus 2,200 travel industry professionals.

In addition to organizing an aisle on the trade show floor for our Partners, VISIT FLORIDA also orchestrated a reception for travel agents to showcase the state’s destinations, hotels and attractions to the qualified buyers and agents in the metro area.  This year’s travel trade event was held at the Ames Hotel in the heart of Boston proper on the eve of the storm hitting town. Even as the local media continually broadcasted for all to hurry home before the storm started,  35 of the top travel agents attended the event and agreed that the timing was perfect for Florida to come to Boston.

The next morning the blizzard roared in, postponing the show for most of Friday and cancelling it completely on Saturday.  But the Northeasterners rebounded back as the show opened on Sunday morning and the Florida aisle enjoyed a constant flow.  While all did not go entirely as anticipated, I am certain that after this storm many Bostonians are busy making their travel arrangements to come to Florida.

Thank you to all our participating Partners who hung with us bravely through the storm, including Panama City Beach CVB, PGA National Resort & Spa, Visit Orlando, Streamsong Resort and Spa, Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, Visit Sarasota County, Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Greater Miami CVB, Floridays Resort Orlando, Florida Keys & Key West, Emerald Coast CVB, Embassy Suites Orlando-Lake Buena Vista South, Banyan Tree Properties, Westgate Resorts & Villas, Central Florida CVB, Martin County CVB and Florida’s Space Coast.

To learn more about upcoming travel trade events, please check out the VISIT FLORIDA Marketing Planner or contact Whitney McQueen at wmcqueen@VISITFLORIDA.org.