Sunshine Matters

VISIT FLORIDA staff and Industry Partners recently participated in the 2015 Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Education Conference in Fort Lauderdale.  Of course, we would like to think the beautiful Florida sunshine is the reason this year’s “PCMA Educon” had record-breaking attendance, with more than 600 international industry professionals.

The first highlight of the conference was an opening night reception done “Florida Style” on the Seafair Mega Yacht while it cruised the Intracoastal Waterway. Numerous educational sessions taught by industry experts offered meeting professionals the opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) toward their CMP – Certified Meeting Professional designation.  In addition, the networking functions allowed VISIT FLORIDA staff and Industry Partners to foster relationships with the meeting planners in attendance.

As a result of the Premier Plus Partnership with PCMA, VISIT FLORIDA was given the opportunity to co-sponsor the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) Global Scholarships that were awarded to several international meeting planners for their Education Conference registrations.  These same scholarship recipients, plus other international attendees, went to the Global Partner Breakfast that started with presentations by VISIT FLORIDA and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

VISIT FLORIDA was a sponsored co-host of the special Florida Focus Group, where attendees were asked to discuss how Florida and Fort Lauderdale are perceived by international meetings professionals and attendees.  Thought provoking topics discussed involved key issues impacting global meetings; the ways global shows and events are sourced and serviced; the role of DMOs in the development of trust between planners and suppliers; and evaluation of key Florida marketing messages to U.S. planners vs. international planners.

The finale of the event was the Closing Night Reception held at B Ocean Beach Hotel co-sponsored by VISIT FLORIDA and the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB.  Attendees enjoyed barefoot networking on warm Florida sand, with the waves of the Atlantic Ocean providing a beautiful backdrop for the event.  Flavorful Florida-style tropical cuisine was an added bonus and provided an example to meeting planners of the type of memorable events they could plan in the Sunshine State.

VISIT FLORIDA certainly appreciates and recognizes the opportunities for networking and relationship building that are provided through such professional meetings industry events, and it is rewarding to provide access to these events for our Industry Partners.  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 kmoore@VISITFLORIDA.org.