Sunshine Matters

Last month, VISIT FLORIDA’s Public Relations team conducted a cross-Canada media tour to hold one-on-one appointments with Canadian media. International visitors are critical to Florida’s tourism revenue. On average, they stay longer and spend 1.9 times more per person than domestic visitors, making them an essential component in delivering high yield. Canada is Florida’s number one international market, welcoming 3.2 million visitors in 2016. Continue reading »

Educational Forums in Chicago and Philadelphia

Travel trade, including travel agents, tour operators and other buyers and sellers of travel trade products, are a vital distribution network for Florida’s tourism industry. Research shows that nearly three percent of domestic visitors to Florida use a travel agent to book accommodations and five percent use a travel agent to reserve their air transportation. To stay top of mind with travel trade representatives in some of our key domestic markets, VISIT FLORIDA and our Industry Partners recently hosted several educational events for travel agents in Chicago and Philadelphia. Continue reading »

As you may have seen, Governor Scott traveled the state yesterday celebrating VISIT FLORIDA receiving full funding and thanking the tourism industry for their hard work and hospitality in welcoming more than 112 million visitors last year. This victory would not have been possible without the help of the Governor, the Legislature and all of our Industry Partners. Continue reading »

I am proud to share that during a press conference at Jungle Island in Miami this morning, Governor Rick Scott announced that Florida set another record by welcoming 31.1 million visitors in the first quarter of 2017, the highest quarterly number ever. This represents a 2.5 percent increase over the same period in 2016. Even though Florida’s tourism industry is booming, the Florida Legislature cut VISIT FLORIDA’s budget by 67 percent for the upcoming fiscal year, putting Florida’s incredible growth and the many families and businesses that rely on the tourism industry at risk. Continue reading »

Today the Florida tourism industry mourns the passing of one of its greatest leaders.  Arthur Hertz was a pioneer in local and state tourism development, including serving as Vice Chairman of the Florida Commission on Tourism and was part of the team that led to the formation of VISIT FLORIDA.  Arthur served as VISIT FLORIDA’s Chairman of the Board of Directors in 1998-1999, was inducted into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame in 2004 and continued his service as a member of the Florida Council of Tourism Leaders.   Continue reading »