Sunshine Matters

With the start of our new fiscal year on July 1, VISIT FLORIDA ushers in new leadership to serve on our Executive Committee, Board of Directors and industry committees.  I am proud to share that more than 220 VISIT FLORIDA partners, including some of the industry’s foremost experts, have been selected to represent the tourism industry for the upcoming term.

Andrew Hertz, President & General Manager of Miami Seaquarium, will take over as the new Chair of the 2014-2015 VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors.  Hertz succeeds Tammy Gustafson, Senior Director of Sales Integration with Universal Orlando Resort, who served as Chair during a year in which Florida welcomed a third consecutive record number of visitors, visitor spending and tourism-related employment.

As a tireless and inspiring promoter of Florida tourism, Tammy has done a tremendous job leading the industry this past year.  As we build on this momentum, I cannot think of a better successor than Andrew who brings years of experience and extensive travel industry knowledge to his new leadership position with VISIT FLORIDA.

The Board of Directors is the organization’s private sector governing body who, along with the members of its 11 committees, provide guidance, input and insight into the evolution of VISIT FLORIDA’s marketing programs.  The 31-member board, which is appointed by Enterprise Florida in conjunction with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, is comprised of representatives from key sectors of the tourism industry and is balanced geographically throughout the state.  The nine-member Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, made up of the officers and standing committee chairs, serves as the highest level of VISIT FLORIDA’s volunteer leadership.

“Throughout its history, VISIT FLORIDA’s greatest strength has been that it is industry driven,” said Tammy Gustafson, out-going Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors. “The best and brightest minds in the Florida tourism industry have helped guide VISIT FLORIDA to make it the pre-eminent model of how the private and public sectors can successfully work together in support of destination marketing.”

During his upcoming year as Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors, Hertz has indicated he will focus on promoting the strength of the state’s No. 1 industry by generating increased opportunities for leadership to address key audiences.

“I’m honored to be able to serve the tourism industry as its Chair.  With so much breadth and depth of experience on the Executive Committee, Board and committees, I look forward to tapping into that collective expertise to expand VISIT FLORIDA’s presence in the state,” said Hertz. “Coming off of three record setting years, the future of Florida tourism looks bright – and with the additional funding provided by Governor Scott and the Legislature for tourism marketing, we are in a great position to have Florida become the No. 1 travel destination in the world.”

To view a sortable list of all Executive Committee, Board of Directors and Committee members, please click here.  To read brief bios on each of the nine Executive Committee members, please click here.