Sunshine Matters

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 »

I’m proud to announce that today VISIT FLORIDA launched our newest social media-based campaign to increase awareness of Florida as a summer vacation destination.  The campaign features “Florida’s Three for Free Giveaway” sweepstakes, where participants can enter to win a grand prize of three personally selected Florida vacation packages.  In addition to the three-vacation grand prize, VISIT FLORIDA will award nine other single-vacation prizes.  Participants may enter daily through June 30 at VISIT FLORIDA’s Facebook page or at VISITFLORIDA.com/3forfree. Continue reading »

VISIT FLORIDA and the Florida tourism industry definitely made waves at the recent Collaborate Marketplace 2012, held at the Red Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.  With over 70 Florida tourism partners present at the event, corporate meeting planners from all across the U.S. are definitely aware that “Florida Means Business” and that we’re serious about hosting their next meetings, conventions and incentive travel functions here in the Sunshine State. Continue reading »

Since re-joining the VISIT FLORIDA Promotions department in February after working here from 1998 to 2005, getting out to meet with our tourism industry Partners has been my top priority.  With the help of our Industry Relations department and Business Development Managers across the state, we have hosted four “Coffee & Conversation” events to showcase how consumer promotions can impact individual businesses, destinations and the Florida brand. Continue reading »

According to preliminary estimates* we released today, 23.4 million visitors came to Florida in the first quarter of 2012 (January-March), an increase of 2.4 percent over the same period in 2011.  Direct travel-related employment in Florida also rose 1.9 percent to 1,027,500, adding 19,200 jobs since this time one year ago and representing the largest employment total since first quarter 2008. Continue reading »