Sunshine Matters

The U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board recently released the four recommendations they made to Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker as priority issues for our industry to be examined over the next three years.  Their recommendations fell into four key buckets:  improving the visa and entry process, substantial investment in transportation infrastructure, reauthorization of Brand USA and expansion of public/private partnerships modeled after the relationship between the TTAB and Commerce Department. Continue reading »

VISIT FLORIDA was just recognized as one of the top 50 marketing teams in all of travel by Skift, a leading travel news and information company.  While my name and picture were used, this award is clearly a result of the collective efforts of the whole VISIT FLORIDA family.  I am incredibly proud of this amazing honor acknowledging the great work by our entire team. Continue reading »

VISIT FLORIDA was on site today as the Miami Seaquarium held a reception and press briefing to announce a special celebration of the 50th anniversary of the “Flipper” television show that will bring “A Year Full of Wonder” to South Florida.  I was proud to be asked to kick off the event by reminding those in attendance of the worldwide attention “Flipper” brought to the Sunshine State back in the sixties. Continue reading »

I am proud to share that last night travel industry veteran Randy Garfield of The Walt Disney Company was honored as a 2013 inductee into the U.S. Travel Hall of Leaders. Garfield, and fellow honoree Mike Gallagher of CityPASS, were recognized during a dinner attended by more than 100 travel industry leaders as part of the U.S. Travel fall board meeting at the Fairmont in Washington, D.C. Continue reading »

While in Washington, D.C. for the Connecting America Through Travel conference and the U.S. Travel Association Board of Directors meeting, I was privileged today to have the opportunity to meet with Congressman Gus Bilirakis, U.S. Representative for Florida’s 12th Congressional District, and Patricia Rojas-Ungár, Vice President of Government Relations for the U.S. Travel Association. Continue reading »