Sunshine Matters

I am pleased to announce VISIT FLORIDA’s 2012-2013 Media Missions and Receptions Program schedule.  The PR Department will lead four desk-side missions and two receptions this fiscal year.  Each mission takes four VISIT FLORIDA Partners to desk-side meetings with top media in Atlanta-Birmingham (Oct. 22-25), Dallas-Fort Worth (Jan. 14-17), Chicago (March 25-28) and Boston (April 22-25).  The two media receptions, both held in New York City on February 20, will connect Partners with top travel writers for consumer and LGBT media. Continue reading »

Reminding families in national and statewide drive and fly markets that the time is right for planning that last summer vacation before school starts up again, VISIT FLORIDA conducted a satellite media tour (SMT) from St. George Island State Park on July 16 and a radio media tour (RMT) on July 18. Vacation expert and “kid wrangler” Jill Martin – VISITFLORIDA.com’s Family Insider – leveraged Dr. Beaches’ announcement this year that St. George Island is the No. 4 beach in the nation during his annual top 10 beaches list to talk about Florida summer vacation opportunities. She was interviewed by more than 100 TV stations from across the country, including two nationally syndicated daytime shows. Jill shared family vacation planning insights and invited viewers and listeners to check out Florida’s Hot Deals and other vacation planing tools on VISITFLORIDA.com. Continue reading »

Florida’s diverse culinary offerings include a cast of celebrity chefs from around the Sunshine State. VISIT FLORIDA’s Public Relations department is working with our industry partners and the producers at WCTV-TV – a CBS news affiliate in Tallahassee – to provide a platform for awareness and inspiration by showcasing Florida’s local culinary stars and their specialty dishes.  The earned media opportunity with WCTV provides VISIT FLORIDA and its partners a regional broadcast outlet to reach viewers in North Florida and South Georgia. Continue reading »

Each Spring, VISIT FLORIDA conducts its New York City Media Receptions Program to bring  Florida tourism industry partners and New York-based travel journalists together in their own backyard.  This year, VISIT FLORIDA’s Public Relations team and our agency of record – Harrison & Shriftman/Ketchum – were joined by 15 industry partners in hosting both a blogger reception and a consumer media reception. Continue reading »

The VISIT FLORIDA Public Relations team and participating industry partners recently completed an annual series of media missions in Florida’s key feeder markets, which included Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Chicago and Washington, D.C.

During the missions program, appointments were made with a total of 38 key media representatives, consisting of both traditional media outlets and bloggers who are influential among readers and followers in social media. Highlights included meetings with Southern Living Magazine, Cooking with Paula Dean, Orbitz, The Chicago Tribune, Ebony Magazine, USA Today, National Geographic Traveler, The Boston Globe, Wicked Good Travel Tips, Family Travel Network, WCIU TV in Chicago, AAA World and The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Continue reading »