Sunshine Matters

With the 2013 Hurricane Season beginning tomorrow, I wanted to share the resources and action steps VISIT FLORIDA has developed to ensure Florida’s visitors have access to consistent, real-time, statewide information.  It is our hope that these efforts will allow our visitors to make the most informed travel planning decisions possible in preparation for a potential weather threat that might impact the state. Continue reading »

I am pleased to announce that VISIT FLORIDA has recently created a department tasked with increasing the involvement and investment by current Partners, key industry stakeholders and non-endemic business entities in our marketing programs.  The new Marketing Solutions and Sales department was created to take on the role of managing and selling VISIT FLORIDA’s owned and operated assets, which include our e-Newsletters, printed map, online Epic Vacation Maker and other website advertising opportunities.  These efforts, which were previously performed by an outside firm, have now been fully integrated into the operations at the VISIT FLORIDA corporate office. Continue reading »

Today during the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s International Days, Governor Scott held a press conference to announce the signing of HB 7059 which repeals a law requiring an International Driving Permit for all foreign drivers visiting Florida.  The bill, which is the first to reach Governor Scott’s desk during this year’s legislative session, takes effect immediately and is retroactive to Jan.1, 2013. Continue reading »

Today we celebrate Florida Tourism Day at the Capitol as the industry’s annual opportunity to ensure our legislators know just how important tourism is to the Sunshine State.  And coming off of two consecutive record years of tourism spending and visitation, Florida’s tourism industry has a great story to tell. Continue reading »

Today the Florida tourism industry mourns the passing of one of our Founding Fathers.  Tom Staed served as VISIT FLORIDA’s chairman of the board of directors in 1997-1998 and was inducted into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame Founders Club in 2001 and the Florida Council of Tourism Leaders in 2012.  Tom, a longtime Daytona Beach hotel operator, was a vital figure in the establishment of Florida’s Tourist Development Tax, as well as the assignment of the state’s tourism marketing responsibility to the Florida Commission on Tourism and the creation of VISIT FLORIDA as its operating company. Continue reading »