Sunshine Matters

Today during the 47th Annual Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism, VISIT FLORIDA executives Paul Phipps and Susannah Costello announced several upcoming marketing initiatives.  To view the infographic, press releases and videos on these initiatives, please click here. Continue reading »

During the 47^th Annual Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism, held September 22-24, at the Boca Raton Resort & Club in Boca Raton, VISIT FLORIDA announced the 2014 Florida Tourism Hall of Fame inductee, as well as the winners of the Flagler and Iris Larson Awards.  Annually, leaders in Florida tourism are chosen by a selection committee to receive these prestigious honors and awards. Continue reading »

I am proud to share that VISIT FLORIDA participated in today’s announcement by the Florida Department of State on the launch of the Florida Historic Golf Trail program during a press conference at Winter Park Golf and Country Club.  The Florida Historic Golf Trail celebrates Florida’s early golf heritage from the 1890s through World War II, by featuring historic, publicly accessible golf courses that can still be played on today.  Along with VISIT FLORIDA’s Vice President of Domestic Sales Kimberly Faulk, Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner, Winter Park Mayor Kenneth Bradley, LPGA player Michelle McGann, and Florida’s State Historic Preservation Officer Robert F. Bendus were among those who addressed the media at today’s press conference. Continue reading »

This week in Louisville, the U.S. Travel Association held its annual Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) conference.  During the event, the winners of the National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD) 2014 Mercury Awards were announced.  I am very proud to share that VISIT FLORIDA won the Mercury Award in the Public Relations Campaign category for our Google Street View Trekker project, as well as the new Judges Choice award. Continue reading »

I am pleased to share that during today’s Cabinet meeting, Governor Rick Scott announced that according to our preliminary estimates* 24.0 million visitors came to Florida in the second quarter of 2014 (April-June), an increase of 3.0 percent over the same period in 2013.  This represents the largest second quarter for visitation Florida has ever experienced, exceeding the previous high of 23.3 million in Q2 2013.  Visitor spending is up 7.4 percent for January through May 2014, over the same time period in 2013, at $35.7 billion. Continue reading »