Sunshine Matters

This week in Boston, the U.S. Travel Association held it’s annual Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) conference.  During the event, the winners of the National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD) 2012 Mercury Awards were announced.  I am very proud to share that VISIT FLORIDA won the Mercury Award in the Special Promotion category for our Florida Fan Game contest. Continue reading »

Today, VISIT FLORIDA’s President and CEO, Chris Thompson, was re-appointed to the U.S. Travel Association Executive Committee.  The U.S. Travel Association, made up of more than 2,100 members, is the national non-profit organization representing all components of the country’s $1.8 trillion travel industry.  Its 27-member Executive Committee is tasked with addressing pressing issues facing the travel industry and serves as a direct link between industry members and the U.S. Travel Board of Directors.

Four other travel industry executives from Florida also serve on the committee, including Gary Sain with Visit Orlando, Christine Duffy with Cruise Line International Association, Randy Garfield with Disney Destinations and Kelly Miller with Tampa Bay & Co.  Sain and Duffy both serve on the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors. Continue reading »

The U.S. Travel Association recently held its annual Marketing Outlook Forum in Ft. Worth, Texas.  The forum provides an opportunity for attendees to network with fellow tourism industry representatives from other states and serves as a great chance to learn and gain insight into what experts see as the trends for the coming year.

The following are some of the key takeaways I learned from the conference related to the economy, consumer confidence, business travel, international travel and the changing U.S. population. Continue reading »

Visa reform is a quick way back to new jobs through increased visitation and economic development from international markets.  These reforms will have significant positive impact on Florida’s tourism industry.  I urge you to read the alert below from the Power of Travel Coalition and support the cause as directed.

Urgent Action: Contact Congress to Support Visa Reform
in the State Department Funding Bill

The clock is ticking! While Congress decides how to keep the federal government funded through 2012, we need your help to ensure that important reforms to our visa system are included in any final spending bill.  In September, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2012 State Department funding bill (S. 1601), which includes reforms that make the U.S. visa system more efficient.  Now, both the full House and Senate must approve this bill before it becomes law. Continue reading »

For months now I have been touting the benefits of joining the Power of Travel Coalition.

The Power of Travel Coalition is the grassroots army of the American travel community.  The Coalition seeks to amplify the voices of millions of travel employees with a vested interest in rewarding leaders who champion our industry and advocating for policies that promote travel to and within the United States.

I am pleased to announce that Florida’s participation in the Power of Travel Coalition has reached 50,000.  That is a great milestone, but with nearly one million Floridians directly employed by tourism, we can definitely increase our numbers. Continue reading »