Sunshine Matters

VISIT FLORIDA and the Florida tourism industry made a big splash at the recent Collaborate Marketplace 2014, held in Portland.  With more than 90 Florida tourism partners present at the event, corporate meeting planners from all across the U.S. are definitely aware that Florida is serious about hosting their next meetings, conventions and incentive travel functions here in the Sunshine State.

Collinson Media and Events’ Collaborate Marketplace is an innovative appointment-only trade show designed especially for corporate meeting planners. The reverse trade show platform allows planners and suppliers to maximize the quality of their time to discuss details and book business.  The Marketplace offers the opportunity for VISIT FLORIDA and our Industry Partners to interact with more than 600 corporate planners around the country and educate them on the opportunities available in Florida.

The conference also offers high-quality speakers and an array of networking opportunities to mix and mingle with the corporate planners and industry contacts.  This year’s featured speakers included Emmy Award-winning television show host Martha Stewart, author and columnist Guy Kawasaki, author and presenter Simon Sinek, and author and career coach Kaplan Mobray.

VISIT FLORIDA was front and center as an alliance partner of the popular CSR Charity Workshop, where conference attendees stuffed over 400 back packs full of school supplies, craft activities and toiletries to donate to the Albertina Kerr charity that works to empower children and adults with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges to live richer lives.  This corporate social responsibility activity was a rewarding experience for VISIT FLORIDA to give back to the local community.

We look forward to participating in additional Collinson Media and Events trade shows, including the upcoming Connect Marketplace 2014 event in Orlando August 21-23, 2014.  If you would like to learn more about how Florida tourism businesses can benefit from participation in VISIT FLORIDA’s corporate meetings programs, please contact me at chatcher@VISITFLORIDA.org.