Sunshine Matters

Visitation to VISIT FLORIDA’s five Official Florida Welcome Centers – located at I-10, I-75, I-95 , U.S. 231 and in the State Capitol – is already at 1.9 million travelers so far in 2013, reflecting a 3.2% increase over the same time period last year.  A big draw for these visitors is always the great travel planning tips our knowledgeable staff have to share and, of course, a free cup of Florida orange or grapefruit juice.  But what brings them back each time they pass through on their way to another fabulous Sunshine State vacation are the interactive displays of quintessential Florida destinations and activities that provide information as well as fun photo ops.

In order to offer our guests a wide variety of displays with which to engage, VISIT FLORIDA invites our Partners to participate in the Lobby Booth Program.  This program offers a very visual and cost-effective way for Florida tourism businesses to get the word out about their latest offerings.

Here are just a few examples of the displays currently being featured in the Welcome Centers:

• As part of a pilot program with Monster Media, digital photo stands have been set up that allow visitors to superimpose their own images onto iconic Florida visuals, as well as register to receive email alerts on Florida vacation ideas
• The Amelia Island CVB is in the midst of a takeover at all four Welcome Centers that will go on through the end of November
• The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has provided statues of astronauts in space suits for visitors to pose with through the end of next February
• October is Florida Camping Month and a host of vendors have set up campsites inside the Welcome Centers replete with tents, grills, coolers and folding chairs – plus the Florida Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds are bringing a caravan of RVs and campers to each of the Centers that visitors can tour in the parking lot

Other VISIT FLORIDA Partners who have recently had displays in the Welcome Centers include SeaWorld, Universal, Disney, the University of West Florida, Daytona Beach CVB, Titusville Chamber of Commerce and Jacksonville and the Beaches CVB.  To learn more about the Lobby Booth Program and other Welcome Center marketing opportunities, please click here to view related items on the VISIT FLORIDA Marketing Planner or contact Annette Larson, Visitor Services Coordinator, at alarson@VISITFLORIDA.org.