VISIT FLORIDA Relaunches Landing Page to Drive Destination Bookings Following Hurricane Michael

November 19, 2018

As part of a nearly $9 million marketing plan following Hurricane Michael and this year’s red tide blooms, VISIT FLORIDA has relaunched Florida Now, a landing page that provides real-time information from destinations across the state and is designed to encourage the continuation of tourism and event bookings to Florida. 

Relaunched Nov. 1, the new landing page features a collection of Hurricane Michael recovery information and updates including an interactive map with photos, videos, twitter feeds and webcams. 

“Following Hurricane Michael, VISIT FLORIDA has been working with both the public and private sectors, to ensure our neighbors in the impacted communities recover,” explained Ken Lawson, president and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA. “Through this revamped Florida Now page, we will shift visitor perceptions of Florida by enabling them to see for themselves that Florida is still the No. 1 travel destination in the world.”

Florida Now

The relaunched page also includes a new Northwest Florida blog section that can be filtered by city to show business openings, coming soon messages, upcoming events and other destination-specific information submitted by tourism businesses to help visitors make the most informed travel decisions.  

“As a VISIT FLORIDA partner, this page will be invaluable for our destination to showcase that we are open and ready to welcome visitors from across the globe,” said Curt Blair, administrator of the Franklin County Tourist Development Council. 

According to Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO Dan Rowe, following natural disasters such as Hurricane Michael, VISIT FLORIDA works to stay on the front lines in protecting the statewide tourism industry. 

“As the impacted communities continue to recover, this landing page will allow our destination to communicate with visitors in real time and let the world see what areas of the state are ready to welcome travelers now,” Rowe said.

Check out the Florida Now landing page HERE.

 

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Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact