Sunshine Matters

I am sharing a message from U.S. Travel Association President & CEO Roger Dow on the importance of offering your support for the reauthorization of Brand USA.

Dear Travel Colleague:

Following testimony by U.S. Travel and other industry leaders last week to the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Tourism, Competitiveness and Innovation, media continue to report on the travel community’s appeal for Congressional support of programs that help grow the economy. Our work is far from done—and your voice is critical moving forward. Continue reading »

VISIT FLORIDA’s International Team and several of our Industry Partners recently participated in the Arabian Travel Market held in Dubai which attracted more than 20,000 attendees.  The VISIT FLORIDA booth, located in the Brand USA Pavilion in the America’s section, included a stand with Universal Orlando Resort and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau who brought in their partners World Wide Transportation and South Beach Boutique Hotels.  This is the second year that VISIT FLORIDA, Universal Orlando Resort and the Greater Miami CVB have had a presence at the show and both years proved to be highly successful. Continue reading »

A bipartisan bill to re-authorize Brand USA—the Travel Promotion, Enhancement and Modernization Act of 2014—was offered earlier this month by leaders in the U.S. House and Senate, a first step in the process to extend this vital program and provide continuity for the nation’s travel promotion program through 2020.  Special thanks go to Florida’s own Rep. Gus Bilirakis  and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), as well as Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), for introducing this critical legislation. Continue reading »

VISIT FLORIDA recently attended ITB Berlin, the world’s largest travel fair.  The international travel market proved to be highly competitive, with 189 countries on-hand to promote their destinations to 174,000 attendees.  The VISIT FLORIDA booth was the largest in the Brand USA pavilion, with 95 Florida industry representatives. Continue reading »

VISIT FLORIDA recently teamed up with Brand USA, Hainan Airlines, Visit Orlando and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau to bring 21 China travel trade, media and airline representatives to Florida.  China continues to be an important emerging international market for VISIT FLORIDA, showing 32% and 43% increases in visitation and visitor spending respectively in 2013. Continue reading »