Sunshine Matters

A bipartisan bill to re-authorize Brand USA—the Travel Promotion, Enhancement and Modernization Act of 2014—was offered earlier this month by leaders in the U.S. House and Senate, a first step in the process to extend this vital program and provide continuity for the nation’s travel promotion program through 2020.  Special thanks go to Florida’s own Rep. Gus Bilirakis  and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), as well as Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), for introducing this critical legislation. Continue reading »

VISIT FLORIDA continued its tradition of success at the 46th annual U.S. Travel Association’s International Pow Wow (IPW) held last week in Chicago.  IPW is the travel industry’s premier international marketplace and the largest generator of travel to the United States.  The three-day event welcomed 6,200 delegates from the U.S. and 70 other countries, including 1,400  international and domestic buyers and 500 media. Continue reading »

Our VISIT FLORIDA Marketing and Events team, with the help of our Partners, recently hosted two VIP (Very Important Planner) events.  The first took place in Minneapolis, which is a top ten air market and top 15 origin market for visitation to Florida.  The other was in Chicago, Florida’s third ranked top designated market area (DMA).  Both events proved to be highly successful, providing industry Partners with one-on-one networking opportunities with large numbers of meeting professionals. Continue reading »

Last week, VISIT FLORIDA exhibited with Universal Orlando Resort and Visit St. Pete/Clearwater at the Ignite Business Expo (iBE) in Toronto.  This appointment trade show attracts meeting professionals from the Greater Toronto Area and northern U.S.  Two key topics during our appointments were securing meeting space for 2016 and learning more about possible incentive components to incorporate into an existing event. Continue reading »

VISIT FLORIDA recently ‘shared the sunshine’ with a large and receptive group of travel agents at our annual Chicago Travel Trade Luncheon.  Illinois is the fourth ranked feeder state for visitors to Florida and the Chicago area is the Sunshine State’s third leading origin Designated Market Area (DMA). Continue reading »