Sunshine Matters

Florida Encounter 2014, presented by VISIT FLORIDA, was held Dec. 3-5 at the Bonaventure Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale. Now in its’ 33rd year, this Florida Encounter showcased a variety of new or improved features that definitely added to the success, including the addition of “Bleisure” – the combination of business and leisure activities.

Florida Encounter is VISIT FLORIDA’s premier meetings and conventions trade show and conference that showcases the vast array of Florida’s meetings destinations, hotels and resorts, and services to meeting professionals from across the globe.  In the early 1980’s, it became one of the first appointment-based trade shows where the Florida tourism industry meets one-on-one with meeting planners to experience the endless opportunities available for selecting the perfect location and backdrop for their meetings, conventions and incentive travel.

This year, VISIT FLORIDA hosted over 85 meeting professionals from across the U.S. and Canada.  Sixty-nine percent of the registered planners were new or had not attended Florida Encounter since 2007, with ninety percent having previously held meetings in Florida.  A large percentage of the planners were either corporate (33%), independent (40%) or association (17%).  In total, over the 2.5 days of the conference, 10,052 one-on-one appointments took place, showcasing the Sunshine State as the perfect place for their next meeting, convention, board gathering, retreat, sporting event or incentive travel.

Our Florida tourism industry was well represented, with 91 suppliers attending from destinations, hotels and resorts, and other meeting services.  In addition, nine major meetings media attended, with several posting, tweeting, blogging and publishing stories while the conference was still taking place.

This year’s keynote sessions were fun and entertaining.  The opening breakfast featured Billy Beck III,  one of the world’s most elite and accomplished personal trainers, who spoke to the audience on “How to Live Like a Lion, Not a Lamb.”  Billy shared tips on embracing change and making a positive impact through mastering your mindset.  Thursday’s lunch session featured The Passing Zone, a comedy duo who demonstrated the power of partnership and teamwork by juggling chainsaws, machetes, knives and other dangerous items.  The duo have appeared on The Tonight Show, The Today Show and were finalists on America’s Got Talent.

On Friday afternoon, we kicked off the “Bleisure” activities with a fun and games lunch.  Attendees enjoyed a delicious meal while listening to the sounds of our Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin tribute band, as well as playing shuffleboard, mini golf, cards and other games. To round out the afternoon, planners had their choice of iconic offsite events, including airboat rides at the Sawgrass Recreation Park, shopping at Sawgrass Mills Outlet Mall, and golf and spa at the Bonaventure Resort and Spa.

Our networking events were amazing as well, with the receptions held in an open air format so attendees could enjoy one of our top selling points – the WEATHER!  The Bonaventure Resort & Spa played host to the opening night event.  Visit South Walton sponsored the VIP Reception.  The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau sponsored a cocktail reception at Stache Drinking Den before an open night dine-around on famed Las Olas Boulevard, as well as the closing night event poolside under the moonlight at the Diplomat Hotel.

All fun aside, the 33rd Annual Florida Encounter could not have happened without the support of all the sponsors, including: Bonaventure Resort & Spa, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Diplomat Resort & Spa, The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel, Pegasus Transportation, AV Media, Eddy Exhibition Services, Visit Sarasota County, PMSI, Visit South Walton, ZAZZ Events, Alan S. Maltz Gallery, Sawgrass Recreation Park, Stache Drinking Den, Koncept Events and Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau.

I welcome any feedback you may have on Florida Encounter and appreciate any additional thoughts, ideas, comments and suggestions on how VISIT FLORIDA can continue to improve and build the conference in the future.  Thank you to everyone who attended – meeting professionals, Florida industry, media and VISIT FLORIDA’s staff and team!

For more information on meetings in Florida, please visit our website at FloridaMeetings.com or follow us on Facebook and @FLMeetings.