(Editor’s Note: Most of you have already signed up to receive this info directly, however, just in case, am reprinting this last update in the HSMAI blog for you to do so. JWF)
VISIT FLORIDA President and CEO, Chris Thompson, participated in a number of media interviews this week including USA Today, Associated Press, Collective Travel Radio, Gannett, Sunshine State News, Capital News Service, and WTXL-TV in Tallahassee. In addition, he participated in the Governor's Economic Task Force working group on Communications and attended the BP Claims Process working group meeting.
Chief Marketing Officer, Will Seccombe, addressed the Florida Association of Broadcasters during their annual meeting and highlighted the "Share a Little Sunshine" campaign. He also participated in a CNN panel discussion on the impact of the oil spill on tourism.
In this week's Florida Live TV, Kevin Mims traveled to Blackwater River, Navarre Beach, Destin, Blountstown, St. Andrews State Park, Monticello, Topsail Hill and Sandestin. He posted nine videos, several blogs posts and 100 images on Flickr. Consumer response has been outstanding with this week's videos receiving more than 4,500 views. Since launch on June 1, Florida Live TV videos have received more than 17,000 views on YouTube. See for yourself at Florida Live.
Travel Leaders, the largest travel agency franchisor in North America, promoted Florida Live to its network of 370 travel agents via its Network News, Results and Daily News internal publications. In addition, they featured a special Florida newsfeed on their Twitter and Facebook pages. We are currently reaching out to other travel trade organizations to encourage similar campaigns.
Current advertising efforts have increased traffic to VISITFLORIDA.com so much that we are seeing the largest audience numbers ever recorded on the site. Over the last five months, the site has averaged more than 500,000 visitors per month.
Together with FRLA, VISIT FLORIDA sponsored a full page, four-color ad promoting Florida's beaches in yesterday's edition of the New York Times. The "Florida is Open for Business" ad drove readers to Florida Live at VISITFLORIDA.com to, "find live beach cams, up-to-the-minute local updates, daily video, great deals, live weather and real photos of real people enjoying the Sunshine State right now. " A companion advertorial emphasized that, "most of Florida's coast is completely unaffected by the spill" and "all those unique attractions that have made Florida our country's vacation capital remain as compelling as ever." Both pages feature photographs of great Florida destinations and vacation activities.
This week, print, online and broadcast reports supported by the work of our team generated 466 million impressions from media outlets that included, among others, CNN, CNBC and CBS News. VISIT FLORIDA is now sending regular updates to our PR counterparts at DMOs and tourism related businesses, keeping them informed of our crisis response.
VISIT FLORIDA was recently honored as the first statewide destination marketing organization (DMO) to achieve international accreditation through the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) with Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). The accreditation recognizes our excellence in best practices and leadership among statewide DMOs. These are the best practices that will help carry us through this oil spill crisis.
We held an all-industry webinar yesterday where Chris Thompson, President and CEO gave an update on the Deepwater Horizon Response Campaign and Florida Live. He also spoke about our consumer research efforts, as well as our evolving Hurricane Preparedness Plan as it relates to the oil spill. We answered questions from several of the 298 participants. If you weren't able to join us, a recorded version of the webinar is available on VISITFLORIDA.org.
RESOURCES
We will continue to post daily information to www.SunshineMatters.org and encourage you to sign up to receive e-mail alerts when new posts are added.
Copyright 2010 VISIT FLORIDA® 2540 W. Executive Center Circle, Ste. 200; Tallahassee, FL 32301 850-488-5607
Showing posts with label VISIT FLORIDA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label VISIT FLORIDA. Show all posts
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
VISIT FLORIDA PUSHES “SHARE A LITTLE SUNSHINE” CAMPAIGN
In Miami Beach on February 16th, Governor Charlie Crist joined more than a hundred Florida tourism industry representatives to re-launch the grassroots ‘Share a Little Sunshine’ campaign. The Governor and VISIT FLORIDA President/CEO Chris Thompson called on all Floridians to help strengthen the state’s economy by sending a personal invitation to out-of-state friends and family, encouraging them to visit Florida.
“Together we can let the world know how great Florida truly is, and help keep our state’s world-class restaurants, resorts, parks, and attractions strong,” said Governor Crist.
In 2008, tourism returned $3.9 billion to Florida in tax revenue and generated $65.2 billion in direct economic impact. The ‘Share a Little Sunshine’ campaign has the potential to increase visitation to the state and raise much-needed sales tax dollars.
On the ‘Share a Little Sunshine’ Web site, www.ShareaLittleSunshine.org, Floridians can select one of several free video invitations or custom e-mail postcards that can be sent to friends and family directly from the site. To encourage Floridians to send invitations, a Florida vacation package will be given away each quarter to someone who sent an invitation through the site.
In addition to the video and invitation components, the integrated campaign is supported by statewide promotions and public service announcements. Through partnerships, the message of ‘Share a Little Sunshine’ appears on TV, radio, and billboards throughout the state. Also, the Governor’s Office of Film and Entertainment, Florida Lottery, Florida Attractions Association, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, and Florida State Parks will use the ‘Share a Little Sunshine’ for advertising and promotion. The campaign is on Facebook and Twitter as well.
“Together we can let the world know how great Florida truly is, and help keep our state’s world-class restaurants, resorts, parks, and attractions strong,” said Governor Crist.
In 2008, tourism returned $3.9 billion to Florida in tax revenue and generated $65.2 billion in direct economic impact. The ‘Share a Little Sunshine’ campaign has the potential to increase visitation to the state and raise much-needed sales tax dollars.
On the ‘Share a Little Sunshine’ Web site, www.ShareaLittleSunshine.org, Floridians can select one of several free video invitations or custom e-mail postcards that can be sent to friends and family directly from the site. To encourage Floridians to send invitations, a Florida vacation package will be given away each quarter to someone who sent an invitation through the site.
In addition to the video and invitation components, the integrated campaign is supported by statewide promotions and public service announcements. Through partnerships, the message of ‘Share a Little Sunshine’ appears on TV, radio, and billboards throughout the state. Also, the Governor’s Office of Film and Entertainment, Florida Lottery, Florida Attractions Association, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, and Florida State Parks will use the ‘Share a Little Sunshine’ for advertising and promotion. The campaign is on Facebook and Twitter as well.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Florida Governor Recommends Tourism Marketing Budget
Governor Crist allocated $25 million in public funding for tourism marketing for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. The budget recommendations were announced on January 29th as VISIT FLORIDA begins its advocacy and education campaign for the 2010 Session in an effort to increase awareness and demonstrate the importance of tourism marketing.
Public investment is needed for VISIT FLORIDA to continue to provide cooperative marketing programs. Tourism marketing is a catalyst to stimulate our economy, a fact proven by the $3.9 billion in total state sales tax revenue returned to the state in 2008.
Tourism marketing is of great importance to our state:
• For every $1 in tourism marketing, VISIT FLORIDA generates $55 in tourism spending and more than $3 in new sales tax is collections.
• More than 1 million Floridians are directly employed by Florida’s tourism. That means 85 visitors equals 1 Florida job.
• Tourism provided 21 percent of our total state sales tax in 2008—more than any other industry.
Christopher L. Thompson, VISIT FLORIDA’s President and CEO, released the following statement in response to Governor Crist’s budget recommendations, which includes $25 million in public funding for VISIT FLORIDA’s tourism marketing efforts:
“Governor Crist has been and continues to be a great advocate in helping Florida become the No. 1 travel destination in the world. The tourism industry deeply appreciates Governor Crist’s recognition of tourism’s strong economic impact and return on investment to the Sunshine State with his budget recommendation of $25 million in public funding for tourism marketing.”
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Governor and the legislature in an effort to demonstrate the value tourism brings to every part of Florida through the return of crucial state sales tax revenues and jobs, which benefit all Floridians.”
Public investment is needed for VISIT FLORIDA to continue to provide cooperative marketing programs. Tourism marketing is a catalyst to stimulate our economy, a fact proven by the $3.9 billion in total state sales tax revenue returned to the state in 2008.
Tourism marketing is of great importance to our state:
• For every $1 in tourism marketing, VISIT FLORIDA generates $55 in tourism spending and more than $3 in new sales tax is collections.
• More than 1 million Floridians are directly employed by Florida’s tourism. That means 85 visitors equals 1 Florida job.
• Tourism provided 21 percent of our total state sales tax in 2008—more than any other industry.
Christopher L. Thompson, VISIT FLORIDA’s President and CEO, released the following statement in response to Governor Crist’s budget recommendations, which includes $25 million in public funding for VISIT FLORIDA’s tourism marketing efforts:
“Governor Crist has been and continues to be a great advocate in helping Florida become the No. 1 travel destination in the world. The tourism industry deeply appreciates Governor Crist’s recognition of tourism’s strong economic impact and return on investment to the Sunshine State with his budget recommendation of $25 million in public funding for tourism marketing.”
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Governor and the legislature in an effort to demonstrate the value tourism brings to every part of Florida through the return of crucial state sales tax revenues and jobs, which benefit all Floridians.”
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