Sunshine Matters

Meetings mean business.  It’s a simple concept, but packs a powerful punch.  According to the U.S. Travel Association, U.S. business travel is responsible for $246 billion in spending and 2.3 million American jobs; $100 billion of this spending and nearly 1 million American jobs are linked directly to meetings and events.  For the past 28 years, we have recognized the importance of the meetings and conventions industry by hosting Florida Encounter, an annual tradeshow designed specifically to bring meetings business to Florida.

November 15-17 will mark the 29^th Annual Florida Encounter, the premier appointment-based tradeshow showcasing all the Sunshine State has to offer meeting and incentive professionals.  Attendees have the opportunity to discover Florida meetings destinations, event service companies and dozens of meetings properties in Florida at this exclusive event hosted at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club located in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area.  The Florida Encounter one-stop solution saves meeting professionals time and money with a registration fee that includes round-trip airfare, three or four night accommodations, all scheduled meals, activities and other networking opportunities.

Last year at VISIT FLORIDA’s 28th Annual Florida Encounter, which was held at the Sawgrass Golf Resort & Spa in Ponte Vedra, a total of 2,452 one-on-one appointments were conducted between travel suppliers and meeting professionals, resulting in a $25.6 million economic benefit to Florida.  Also in 2008, 17.5 percent of visitors traveled to Florida for business-related purposes and 8.3 percent of that travel was for group meetings and conventions.

A recent study by Oxford Economics shows that for every dollar invested in business travel, businesses experience an average $12.50 in increased revenue and $3.80 in new profits – while cuts in business travel have a negative impact on corporate profits.  The average U.S. business would forfeit 17 percent of its profits in the first year of eliminating business travel, and it would take over three years for profits to recover.  Now, more than ever, taking the time to meet your customers face-to-face, sharing best practices and incentivizing employees can strengthen your business and speed your recovery.

VISIT FLORIDA has more than 3,000 Partners in the Florida hospitality industry, ranging from hotels and resorts, amusement parks, convention centers and CVBs to transportation companies and DMCs.  VISIT FLORIDA’s Meetings and Conventions team assists meeting professionals from around the world by providing complimentary assistance and managing/producing industry networking events and trade shows.  Together, our efforts will continue to grow our share in the meetings and conventions industry, and help Florida’s economy recover and prosper.

For more information on Florida Encounter, please visit www.FloridaEncounter.com.  To learn more about VISIT FLORIDA’s official meeting professionals program, go to www.meetings.VISITFLORIDA.com.