Sunshine Matters

Florida Encounter, presented by VISIT FLORIDA, was held last week at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach County.  Now in its’ 32nd year, this Florida Encounter was recharged and re-energized with a variety of new or improved features that definitely added to the success.

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 80 meeting professionals from across the U.S., Canada and Europe.  Sixty-four percent of the registered planners were new or had not attended Florida Encounter since 2007, with ninety-three percent having previously held meetings in Florida.  A large percentage of the planners were either corporate (32%), independent (40%) or association (15%).  In total, over the 2.5 days of the conference, 7,422 one-on-one appointments took place, showcasing the Sunshine State as the perfect place for their next meeting, convention, board meeting, retreat, sporting event or incentive travel.

Our Florida tourism industry was well represented, with 79 suppliers attending from destinations, hotels and resorts, and other meeting services.  In addition, five major meetings media attended, with several posting, tweeting, blogging and publishing stories while the conference was still taking place.

New at Florida Encounter this year was the addition of quality keynote speakers and educational presentations, with CEU (certified education unit) values for all sessions through PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association).  Paul Phipps, VISIT FLORIDA’s Chief Marketing Officer, kicked off the conference with a welcome that stressed the importance of all their events to the Sunshine State.  He reminded each of them that while they have a number of choices, in Florida, they can count on a sense of relaxation for their attendees that adds more energy and productivity to the business meetings.

Scott Stratten, President of UNMarketing, used humor to speak on viral, social and authentic marketing during the keynote address that kept the crowd in stitches.  Wrapping up the conference were two high-powered and engaging breakout speakers, Izzy Gesell, an organizational alchemist who works with individuals and organizations in transforming thinking from commonplace to extraordinary with IMPROV, and Sarah Michel, a networking expert who’s focus is on helping individuals, associations and organizations increase their NETWORTH by strengthening connections and communication skills.

We also added smaller additions to the conference lineup that worked well in creating personality and inspiration, including a live disc jockey playing our favorite hits between the 12-minute appointments on the trade show floor, and an assortment of food trucks to choose from for lunch on our closing day.  Each brought a new energy and excitement to the show.

Our networking events were amazing as well, all in an open air format for attendees to enjoy one of our top selling points – the WEATHER!  PGA National Resort & Spa played host to the opening night event titled “Unexpectedly Hot…Undeniably Cool.”  The event showcased the newly redesigned resort with a chic night under the stars, including mojito bars, glow in the dark golf, an oxygen bar and the chef’s award-winning tastes of PGA cuisine.

Visit South Walton sponsored  the VIP Reception, complete with moonlight and cocktails, and Jupiter Beach Resort played host, along with the Marriott Delray Beach and Discover the Palm Beaches, for the closing event, “5 O’Clock Somewhere” which showed there’s no better place to be than a poolside party on the ocean.

All fun aside, the 32nd Annual Florida Encounter could not have happened without the support of all the sponsors, including:  PGA National Resort & Spa, Discover the Palm Beaches, Visit South Walton, Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa, Marriott Delray Beach, Experience Kissimmee, MIG (Multi Image Group), PCMA, PMSI, Deco Productions, EES (Eddy Exhibition Services), Pegasus Transportation, Goben Convention Services and SITE Florida & Caribbean.

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.