SAVE THE DATE & NOMINATE: May 8, 2019 We need your nominations for the 2018/2019 SUNsational Service Courtesy Awards! We will recognize front line hospitality employees who go above and beyond during our National Tourism Appreciation Day luncheon & SUNsational Service Courtesy Awards, Wed, May 8 at the Broward County Convention Center. As we strive to provide SUNsational Service to Greater Fort Lauderdale visitors, we invite you to submit a nomination to recognize the most helpful and courteous hospitality industry employees - valet, lifeguard, bellman, housekeeper, taxi driver, server, baggage handler, reservationist, etc. CLICK HERE to nominate. DECEMBER STATS
NEW OPENINGS AND Fish Kitchen + Bar, a fresh-catch culinary experience inspired by Pompano Beach’s casual coastal charm, world-class fishing and abundant diving, opens this month at the Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa. The 115-seat indoor restaurant will boast an exceptional wine list with hand-crafted cocktails and signature dishes served in a contemporary nautical setting. The patio, which used to be a part of McCoy’s, will now be its own entity called Patio 1200 and will serve lunch. W Fort Lauderdale launched an AWAY Spa with full-service body and beauty treatments to help guests detox, retox, and repeat with a comprehensive new menu, refreshed space and a lineup of beauty products from Comfort Zone. PUBLIC RELATIONS CORNER The PR team hosted a group media FAM centered around Art Fort Lauderdale. Journalists experienced the burgeoning local arts scene, artwalks, artistic culinary experiences, as well as the “Art Fair on the Water.” Journalists included Maria Birger (Forbes), James Sloteck (Toronto Sun), Robin Tierney (Artsy) and Hilary Chan Latos (Resident Magazine). The CVB joined VISIT FLORIDA for the “Moments of Sunshine” takeover in Toronto, where a pop up activation in the Union Rail Station had commuters preview the destination experience with holograms. Ivonne MacMillan interacted with commuters showcasing Greater Fort Lauderdale. As part of the activation, Ivonne also met with 60 journalists and influencers at a separate media reception. Snapshot from the UK: TOURISM SALES UPDATE What We've Been Doing: FLL NEWS 2018 Total Traffic: 35,963,370, up 10.6%, Domestic traffic: 27,355,007, up 8.0%, International traffic: 8,608,363, up 19.8%, Double digit international growth for the last 5 years, positive growth in total traffic every year since 2010, 13 more scheduled daily domestic departures vs 2017 and 12 more scheduled daily international departures vs 2017. ACI Rankings for October YTD include FLL was the fastest growing large hub with traffic up 11.3%; ranked 18th in total traffic and ranked 10th in total international traffic. New Service scheduled for 2019:
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION MARKETING Last month, Richard Gray hosted the LGBT+ Media reception at the New York Times Travel Show with a booth in the LGBT+ section promoting Pride Fort Lauderdale taking place Feb 21-24 and Pride of the Americas coming April 2020. Richard also spoke at the Connect Sports Diversity Events Summit in Fort Lauderdale and will be hosting an international LGBT+ press trip during Pride Fort Lauderdale with media from Brazil, Canada, the UK and the U.S. UNDERGROUND Upcoming Underground EVENTS: FLL Fashion Week (Mar 14-16) Fort Lauderdale's premier fashion event offering an international platform for designers from the region to seamlessly connect with media and buyers, increasing the domestic awareness of home grown fashion and increase the global presence of Fort Lauderdale design, while highlighting the culture and sophisticated glamour that solidify FLL as a style capital. Click here for more info. The Tortuga Music Festival hits Fort Lauderdale beach Apr 12-14 with headliners Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney and Thomas Rhett. Get you tickets now! FILM PERMITS IN JANUARY = 44 MULTICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT The CVB hosted the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce for a destination preview which included a performance of Porgy & Bess at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. (Pictured here is Jacqueline Lorber with Symphony of the Americas, Lloyd Williams with the Greater Harlem Chamber, Pam Adams with Adams Consulting Group and Albert Tucker with the CVB). FEBRUARY GROUP SALES & SERVICES UPDATE Groups meeting in February will generate more than $11 million to Broward County. Groups include: Feb 2-8: Pfizer Inc. National Sales Meeting (650 attendees) HAPPENINGS AROUND TOWN Through Feb 10: The Producers Lauderhill Performing Arts Center For more events visit sunny.org/events. If you would like to submit an event for approval, go to sunny.org/submit. Stacy Ritter, President |
We invite you to create special offers including spa treatments for two, wine pairings or other creative ideas for our visitors looking for romance. We will promote your packages on sunny.org/valentines
The Boston Globe: The under-the-radar, unsung beach towns of Florida
Times Union (Albany):
Journey back to the 16th century as you step through castle gates and into the days of yore at the
The 18th Annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food (SOBEWFF®) festival returns, along with the Crave Greater Fort Lauderdale series, Feb 20-24. Click here for a list of the star-studded line-up of talent coming to Greater Fort Lauderdale. SPORTS DEVELOPMENT Sports Development welcomes more than 20,000 athletes, coaches and families in February including: Dig the Beach Volleyball Series and A1A Marathon and Half Marathon in Fort Lauderdale, International Water Polo Tournament in Coral Springs, Southern Collegiate College Hockey Showcase at the ICEDEN in Coral Springs, Orange Blossom Festival and Rodeo in Davie, Sunshine Cup Flag Football at Central Broward Park and Broward County Stadium, and Weston Cup Soccer Tournament.
Congrats to Kelly Tortoriello for 25 years of service to Broward County/GFLCVB and promoting the destination! CVB TEAM Feb 3-7: IITA Summit, Savannah, GA (Gabriel Martinez) GFLCVB TEAM Dion James, Jennifer Sena and Liz Kara at PCMA in Pittsburgh with partners Claudio Lupo and Emily Orsini with Marriott Harbor Beach. Click here to check out more of our CVB team in action at various events and functions around the world. |
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