Sunshine Matters

Yesterday, VISIT FLORIDA and nine other statewide organizations hosted the industry’s annual Florida Tourism Day at the Capitol. This year, there is no doubt that because of the participation of more than 600 of our Industry Partners from 44 counties, Tourism Day was a complete success.  The strength and importance of our industry was on full display for lawmakers in the Capitol.  Without the support of the job creators in our tourism industry, we would be fighting an uphill battle on our own.

Between the morning program and lunch, more than 50 legislative meetings, our Fight for Florida Jobs Rally with Governor Scott, and Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association’s well-attended street party, the full influence of our industry could not be ignored.  We sent the message that although the Florida House passed a bill to harm VISIT FLORIDA last week, we are continuing to communicate our value to everyday Floridians and we will not stop until VISIT FLORIDA is fully funded and set up for success.

Click here to watch Governor Scott talk about the importance of VISIT FLORIDA during our Fight for Florida Jobs Rally.  Many thanks to Cabinet members Adam Putnam, Jeff Atwater and Pam Bondi, plus Rep. Wengay Newton and Carol Dover with FRLA, for their support at the Rally as well.  Four industry representatives also spoke at the Rally about how vital their partnership with VISIT FLORIDA is to the success of their businesses – Ed Caum, Pam Fuqua, Matt Tuchman and Christina Schwartman.  We’d also like to thank Sens. Jack Latvala and Wilton Simpson, and Rep. Ray Rodrigues, for speaking at the morning program.

The 2017 Florida Tourism Day hosts included the Partnership for Florida’s Tourism -which is comprised of VISIT FLORIDA, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, the Florida Attractions Association, the Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations and the Florida Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds – as well as the Florida Association of Museums, the Florida Sports Foundation, the Florida Vacation Rental Managers Association, the Florida Cattlemen’s Association and the U.S. Travel Association.

Thank you to our fellow hosts, those who traveled to Tallahassee and to the entire industry for your work to protect the 1.4 million tourism jobs in Florida.