Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, absolutely! FAA advocates for Florida's attractions industry, not only our members. If you operate a Florida-based attraction, you're welcome to participate in Florida Attractions District Days and use the resources FAA has developed to help you plan a successful legislative visit.

Of course, we'd also be happy to tell you more about becoming part of the Florida Attractions Association!

It's easier than you might think.

1. Review the Guide to Conducting a Successful Legislative Visit.
2. Identify the State Representatives and Senators who represent your attraction and county.
3. Send a personalized invitation to their District Offices using FAA's customizable invitation template.
4. Register your attraction's participation with FAA.
5. Contact the FAA office if you need help with outreach, scheduling or preparing for your visit.

Our government relations partners at Liberty Partners of Tallahassee are also available to assist.

At a minimum, invite the State Representative and State Senator whose districts include your attraction and their district staff AND candidates if they're opposing the incumbent Representative or Senator.

You may also extend invitations to other members of your County Legislative Delegation — the State Senators and Representatives whose districts lie wholly or partially within your county.

Depending on your community and existing relationships, you may also want to invite appropriate city or county elected officials.

Yes. With Florida's Primary Election completed on August 18 and the General Election approaching on November 3, 2026, September provides an especially valuable opportunity to meet individuals who may be representing your community in Tallahassee next year.

For an open legislative seat, consider inviting the candidates advancing to the General Election.

If an incumbent legislator is seeking reelection in a contested race, you may also invite the challenger. Keeping these visits educational and nonpartisan provides candidates with an opportunity to better understand your attraction, your employees and the importance of Florida's attractions industry.

FAA or Liberty Partners can help you identify the appropriate legislators and candidates to contact.

Don't be discouraged. Legislative offices receive a tremendous number of invitations and requests.

Send a brief follow-up email and consider calling the legislator's District Office to speak with a member of the district staff. A personal phone call can often make the difference.

If you still don't receive a response, contact the FAA office. We can coordinate with Liberty Partners of Tallahassee to assist with your outreach.

Not every legislator's schedule will allow for a visit during September — but every contact helps build the relationship. Be persistent, but respectful.

A member of your senior leadership team should serve as the primary host.

You may also want to involve members of your team who can bring your attraction's story to life. A front-line employee, educator, operations leader or other subject-matter expert can provide a perspective that legislators rarely get to see.

The goal is not simply to give them a tour — it's to help them understand your business, your people and your contribution to their community.

Focus on the things that make your attraction important to the legislator's district and to Florida.

Possible topics include:

• Employment and workforce
• Taxes generated and collected
• Visitor demographics and where your guests come from
• Capital investment and future growth
• Educational programs
• Community involvement and charitable activities
• Tourism marketing and the importance of your local TDC/CVB/VCB
• The importance of VISIT FLORIDA
• Safety, accessibility and operational considerations
• The family experiences and memories your attraction creates

Whenever possible, make it local and personal. Numbers are valuable, but stories about employees, guests and community impact are often what legislators remember.

Because Florida's ethics and lobbying laws contain specific restrictions regarding gifts and expenditures involving legislators, lobbyists and lobbying principals, keep the District Days visit focused on education rather than hospitality or entertainment.

FAA recommends that you not provide gifts, merchandise, complimentary attraction tickets for future use, meals or other items of value as part of the visit without first confirming that doing so is permissible.

Your educational tour, informational materials and discussion about your attraction should be the focus.

If you have a question about a particular situation, please contact the FAA office or Liberty Partners of Tallahassee before the visit.

No.

Florida Attractions District Days, September 1–30, creates a statewide focus for our industry and encourages attractions throughout Florida to build relationships with their elected officials at the same time.

But legislative visits can — and should — happen throughout the year whenever schedules permit.

If your legislator cannot visit during September, schedule the visit for another date rather than losing the opportunity altogether.

Invite them again!

An attraction changes. Leadership changes. Issues change. And relationships become stronger through continued contact.

Use the visit to show them something they haven't seen before — perhaps a back-of-house operation, a new investment, an educational program or a member of your team whose story illustrates your attraction's impact.

Absolutely.

District and legislative staff members are important relationships in their own right. They work closely with legislators, help manage constituent concerns and often serve as a legislator's first point of contact on local issues.

If the legislator cannot attend but a senior staff member can, host the visit. It is still time well spent.

Yes, unless the legislator or candidate requests otherwise.

Take photos, thank your guest for visiting and share the experience on your social channels. FAA provides District Days logos and social media resources to help.

Please tag the elected official or candidate, Florida Attractions Association, and appropriate tourism partners whenever possible so we can help amplify your post.

And please send photos and information about your visit to FAA so we can showcase District Days activity from across Florida.

Relationships.

Sooner or later, state government will consider legislation, regulations or policies that affect Florida attractions. The best time for a legislator to learn who you are isn't when we need their vote — it's before we need it.

Florida Attractions District Days gives us the opportunity to introduce legislators and future legislators to our businesses, our employees and the important role attractions play in Florida's economy and quality of life.