GFLCVB News – Feb. 2009

The official tourism site for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (GFLCVB), sunny.org, has re-launched with a new look and feel, enhanced content, and “beach cams”. In addition, visitors can log onto www.sunny.org/win to register to win a 2009 Greater Fort Lauderdale beach vacation. The trip includes two certificates from Jet Blue Airways good for round-trip flights to FLL; a two-night stay at the Riverside Hotel on Las Olas Boulevard; two tickets to a performance of Jersey Boys at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts; dinner for two at Jackson's Steakhouse on Las Olas Boulevard and two VIP cards with complimentary admission for more than 20 attractions.

The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) has chosen Fort Lauderdale to host its 2011 International Convention. Greater Fort Lauderdale hosted its first IGLTA conference in 2002, and is now the organization’s world headquarters. In addition to a full schedule of educational workshops and host city tours, the convention will feature a consumer trade show, networking opportunities, and the organization’s gala dinner/awards ceremony.

Greater Fort Lauderdale’s spring calendar is sizzling from now until the end of May. Being promoted as “have a spring fling in Greater Fort Lauderdale”, the list of events (available on their website) includes activities as diverse as a music festival, cultural performance, rodeo, fishing tournament to a re-enactment of the second Seminole War.

Bad economy or not, GFL still says no to bring back Spring Break. President/CEO of the GFLCVB was recently quoted as saying: “Returning to spring break as a quick tourism fix in a tough economy is clearly not the answer. Our decision to end spring break in 1986 has driven visitor growth from one half million annually to 10.8 million visitors in 2008.” Market diversification is another reason Greater Fort Lauderdale can continue to bypass the spring break crowd. According to Grossman, family reunions and intercollegiate sports, in addition to traditional corporate group meetings, have proven to be recession resistant for our area.