Sunshine Matters

I am pleased to announce that VISIT FLORIDA’s Public Relations Representative, Lucille Spann, was named as a PR News 2015 Rising PR Star.  This program honors the top PR professionals in the nation age 30 and under.  As a great representation of VISIT FLORIDA, Lucille was recognized this week at the PR News’ Rising PR Stars 30 & Under Luncheon at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

When asked about her thoughts on the award, Lucille humbly stated, “There are so many talented young professionals at VISIT FLORIDA who are working every day to make the Sunshine State the No. 1 travel destination in the world.  It is an honor that the organization chose to nominate me for this award.”

Lucille is a dedicated public relations professional with talent, integrity and enthusiasm, and is a model for up and coming PR practitioners everywhere.  In the past year, she received her Master of Science in Integrated Marketing & Management from Florida State University while serving full time on VISIT FLORIDA’s Global Public Relations team.

In addition to executing a successful media trip in the past year with several reporters from India, which continues to garner wide reaching press coverage for the state of Florida and several of its popular destinations, Lucille ran the organization’s annual domestic media reception. The event included top trade and consumer media and featured destination marketing organization partners from around the state, resulting in state-wide, and destination-specific, press coverage.

Lucille also manages strategy and day-to-day public relations efforts for Florida’s largest international region, Canada, and directly contributes to an increase in activity and press coverage in the region, which in 2014 saw more than 4.2 million visitors to Florida.

Lucille’s international prowess has also benefited the organization through her direct work with reporters on familiarization tours from Brazil, Germany, the Ukraine, Slovakia, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Belgium.  Throughout the past year, she also took the initiative to redesign the department’s ROI measurement structure, which has increased overall reporting and value to internal and external constituents.

Lucille is an important asset to our team and her creativity, work ethic and expertise is a great benefit to VISIT FLORIDA.  Please join me in congratulating her on this honor.