Sunshine Matters

I am pleased to announce our redesigned VISITFLORIDA.com homepage that has been live for just over a week has already resulted in visitors spending more time on the page and scrolling down further to view more content and more ads.  The new look features a cleaner, more responsive design that delivers a consistent view of the homepage across a wide range of devices and screen sizes, providing an optimal viewing experience like never before.  The new, visually-stimulating design was created after careful consideration, incorporating lessons learned from user testing interviews VISIT FLORIDA conducted earlier this year.   Continue reading »

The Sunshine State’s tourism industry was well represented at the 100th Annual Destination Marketing Association International Convention in Las Vegas this week, with a contingent of nearly 60 Florida attendees.  There were numerous members of the Florida delegation who received accolades during the convention for their continued excellence and engagement with DMAI, including: Continue reading »

I am pleased to announce that yesterday evening the U.S. House of Representatives resoundingly voted to reauthorize Brand USA by passing H.R. 4450, the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014.  Clearing the House is a major step toward achieving renewal of this vital travel promotion program.

“This victory would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our travel community who engaged in a wide range of activities including hosting round table meetings and tours in local markets, lobbying on Capitol Hill, sending emails and letters, recording video testimonials and utilizing social media to urge elected federal representatives to support re-authorization of Brand USA,” said Roger Dow, President & CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.  “We also could not have won the House vote without the leadership of Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Peter Welch (D-VT), who introduced the Brand USA re-authorization measure in April and shepherded the bill through the chamber’s process.” Continue reading »

The Capitol Welcome Center managed by VISIT FLORIDA has recently undergone a stunning renovation.  The new look and feel of the space elevates it from a Capitol information booth to a digitally-enhanced Welcome Center of the Future that invites visitors to enjoy a true Florida Experience. Continue reading »

Today, the Partnership for Florida’s Tourism unveiled its newly revamped website TourismWorksforFlorida.org.  The site, previously known as Florida’s Tourism Counts, includes an advocacy toolkit, an upcoming news and events section with dates for delegation meetings, Florida Tourism Day and National Travel & Tourism Week, and details on how to contact elected officials and track tourism-related legislation. Continue reading »