Sunshine Matters

While the media and financial analysts debate the weakened Canadian dollar and signs of it strengthening, VISIT FLORIDA partnered with Vacay.ca, an online publisher focused on travel stories for Canadians.  Working with the publisher and its editorial team, VISIT FLORIDA and our Industry Partners organized press trips for three journalists from Vacay.ca during the spring. Continue reading »

When Emeril Lagasse selected the 13 Florida chefs who would be featured during the Taste of Emeril’s Florida event on September 16 in St. Petersburg, those of us planning the program began to salivate.  The chefs represented Florida’s diverse culinary scene, including both the familiar and the unexpected. Continue reading »

Florida offers families great choices when it comes to planning a vacation.  Kids’ ages and interests often dictate what kinds of activities families will seek out on vacation.  Moms, dads, and single parents make decisions based on a variety of factors, including input from their kids.  Thirty-nine percent of Florida’s domestic visitors are families.  Moms make roughly 80 percent of travel related decisions and are a market segment that is rapidly becoming more digital.  Fifty-eight percent of the moms in those homes use the Internet over TV or magazines when planning vacations, and 74 percent of moms have purchased products as a result of a promotion mentioned in a blog.  So naturally, the family blogging community is crucial in helping and inspiring parents with ideas and travel planning decisions. Continue reading »

Florida enjoyed more than 1.6 million visitors from the UK in 2014, making the region the third highest ranked feeder market among Florida’s top five international markets.  In conjunction with VISIT FLORIDA’s advertising and trade initiatives, communication strategies become increasingly important in maintaining and growing market share.  According to the Association of British Travel Agents, their Travel Trends 2015 report indicated continued economic recovery and a return to consumer confidence and spending. Continue reading »

VISIT FLORIDA’s annual consumer media reception in New York City was held last week at the exclusive Lincoln Ristorante, complete with views of the reflecting pool and grass lawn roof in the heart of Lincoln Center. The format included a networking mixer followed by a sit-down luncheon designed to provide our Industry Partners an opportunity to network with travel journalists and present updates about Florida travel stories while raising awareness of Florida’s diverse offerings. Continue reading »