MAY 2022

CELEBRATING NATIONAL TRAVEL & TOURISM WEEK
MAY 1-7

Visit Lauderdale reinforced it's welcome to "Everyone Under the Sun" by launching the "We Are" campaign to celebrate and support Broward's diverse population and to spread the message that inclusion and acceptance are embraced across all our 31 communities. 

LATEST AVAILABLE STATS

March was a record-setter. Spring season is typically our busiest of the year and 2022 did not disappoint. March recorded 19 of our top 50 days of most rooms sold in our history.

Corporate group business has rebounded and is running about 15% of overall demand. Historically, group business makes up 17% of our demand this time of year.

Leisure travel continues to be strong with fly- and drive-market visitation. Partners have reported slightly longer booking windows (30+ days) than we’ve seen in last 2-3 months; however, booking windows for the business traveler remain short (less than 7 days).

VISIT LAUDERDALE STAFF UPDATE

Visit Lauderdale welcomes two new members to the team. Cynthia Burroughs Wimberly has joined the Office of Administration as the Manager of Administration. Cynthia comes to us from Broward County Administration where she was contract administrator for several large projects.

Adetola "Tola" Adelekan has joined the Group Sales administrative assistant team and will be supporting our remote sales team.  Tola comes to us from the Bruce Carter Medical Center and had worked at the Westin Diplomat for three years.  

Tammy Moye begins supporting the Marketing and Communications team this coming Monday.  Tammy has years of experience in marketing and promotions in the radio industry with iHeart Media.  The MarCom team is anxiously awaiting her support.

Welcome, ladies!

 SEND YOUR LAUDERDEALS & HOLIDAY SPECIALS

LAUDERDEALS

We invite you to share your special in-market promotions with us so that we can stand out in the marketplace and actively raise awareness of these efforts.

MOTHER'S DAY & MEMORIAL DAY

Help us share your Mother's Day and Memorial Day specials.  Specials will be featured on special event pages we will be promoting for these holidays.  Please upload your specials through the partner portal and choose either Mother's Day or Memorial Day as your coupon category.  If you need assistance, please contact Rita Wells. 

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
OUR COMMITTMENT TO ACCESSIBLE TOURISM

Greater Fort Lauderdale is working to remove travel barriers and provide a quality experience for all visitors, including people with visible and invisible disabilities. We have added a new section of amenities to our partner portal and ask that you visit the portal and choose the accommodations you offer so we may promote how your business is ready to welcome everyone under the sun.

We are creating a new page to highlight partner hotels, attractions, beaches, transportation providers who go above and beyond to provide a seamless experience for travelers no matter what our visitors' needs might be.

Please visit the partner portal and update your accessible amenities under the account tab. For helpful portal tips, click here. If you need assistance, please contact Rita Wells.

Richard Gray was interviewed by numerous publications pertaining to Florida’s Don’t Say Gay Bill, HB 1558.  Richard shared the “We Are” campaign video with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce and to members of the LGBT Meeting Planners Association.  Stories are in the pipeline with Instinct, Passport, Q Digital, OUT Clique, Pride Journeys and the IGLTA e-newsletter. 

MEDIA & PR

Porthole Cruise and Travel
Fort Lauderdale is Focused on Travel for All

Travel Pulse
Visit Lauderdale Champions Diversity and Acceptance with new “We Are” Campaign

Local 10
Broward moves forward with luxury hotel at convention center

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
‘Champions of diversity’: Broward’s new ads counter the law dubbed ‘don’t say gay’

Fort Worth Star-Telegram
In new ads, Florida’s Broward County counters the law dubbed ‘don’t say gay’

WLRN
New Broward ad tells visitors ‘we welcome everyone’ in contrast to ‘anti-woke agenda

Metro News
WATCH: Ad Touts Fort Lauderdale as “Welcoming Everyone”

Press-Telegram
Long Beach Convention Center general manager to move to Florida

WFLX FOX 29
Broward Co. tourism campaign says ‘we are welcoming everyone’

Yahoo! News
No more ‘Sunshine.’ National LGBTQ rights group has new nickname for Florida in billboards

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook
Total reach: 5M
Total impressions: 5.6M

Instagram
Total reach: 1.9M
Total impressions: 2.4M

Twitter
Total impressions: 24k

CONVENTION SALES

TRAVEL:

May 3 Destination Celebration Columbus Tradeshow, Liz Kara
May 9-11  HelmsBriscoe Annual Business Conference in Las Vegas,  Dion James and Elena Gladstone
May 21-25  Connect Sports Spring Marketplace in San Juan, Puerto Rico -Mike Pouey and Gilbert Villard
May 24-27, Midwest Sales Mission, Chicago – Liz Kara with Marriott Harbor Beach

SPORTS DEVELOPMENT & ENTERTAINMENT

TRAVEL:

May 2-5, Sports ETA Symposium, Fort Worth, TX - Saskia Fisher and Gonzalo Rubio 
May 21-25, Connect Sports Spring Marketplace, San Juan, PR - Dawson Pritchett, Gonzalo Rubio, Mike Pouey, Gilbert Villard

EVENTS:

April 30-May 1, Fort Lauderdale Air Show
May 5-8, Alpha Romeo Grand Prix Beach Party at Las Olas Oceanside Park
May 10-23, National Senior Games (throughout Broward County)

GLOBAL TRADE DEVELOPMENT

Cruise One Dream Vacations continued its training series and confirmed additional training classes through the end of the year. The team is thrilled to meet the upcoming classes and continue to show them the pre/post-cruise options Greater Fort Lauderdale has to offer.

Caitlan attended the Atlanta Travel & Adventure Show with the City of Pompano Beach, Marriott Hollywood Beach Resort, and Ocean Sky Hotel & Resort. Caitlan and our partners represented Visit Lauderdale at this two-day consumer show where consumers and travel advisors discover destinations around the globe and Caitlan hosted a travel advisor breakfast training sharing the best tips for booking in Greater Fort Lauderdale.

Tracy, Caitlan, and Ava attended Seatrade Cruise Global with Port Everglades, where thousands of cruise professionals from over 100 countries meet to see the latest trends and services in cruising. Port Everglades announced its partnership with FPL to explore having Shore Power at our cruise terminals.

The Global Trade Team visited the newly opened Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale, where luxury and comfort come together with a yacht vibe that encompasses our nickname, “Yachting Capital of the World.” The Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale delivered stunning ocean views, delicious baked goods, and a sophisticated style. The team also visited Everglades Holiday Park, taking an adventure through the alligator park on an airboat tour.

TRAVEL:

May 2-4, GTM West (Global Travel Marketplace), Tucson - Caitlan Etchevers met with 60 pre-qualified North American Travel Advisors who sell $1 million-plus annually.

May 4-5, Explore 22 Conference, Las Vegas - Tracy Vaughan attended this conference hosted by Expedia to learn about new innovations focused on improving the end-to-end experience for travelers everywhere.

IN DESTINATION:

May 16-19, The team is also hosting 6 Signature Travel Network Travel Advisors from all over the US for a destination preview / FAM focusing on luxury accommodations and experiences.

May 24, ASTA South Florida Spring Affair, Doubletree Deerfield Beach - Visit Lauderdale is a sponsor, and will be exhibiting with several local partners.

As a reminder, Lauderdale Loyalist, Visit Lauderdale’s agent training platform, is available to partners to freshen up your knowledge of the destinations selling points! Don’t forget to log on and take the course!  Log on with your email as if you were a travel advisor to access the program.

CONSUMER UPDATES

Our latest consumer newsletter featured Earth Day, outdoor dining spots, Mother's Day specials and our new montly fishing report.

101 NE Third Avenue, Suite 100, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 | 954-765-4466