Living in the Sunshine State presents its own set of challenges, and last week's display of Mother Nature's fury undoubtedly ranks high on that list. While most of us have returned to our daily routines, some of our members have suffered damage that will require extensive repairs. The FAA recently provided an update on our members' operating status and that report is included below in this newsletter.  We are proud of the mutual assistance our members have offered each other during this time of crisis.

Our inaugural Expedition FAA was unfortunately postponed due to Helene, but we are pleased to announce that it has been rescheduled for Thursday, November 7 at ZooTampa at Lowry Park. Registrants have been notified of the new date.

In August, your Board of Directors convened in Tampa to further our strategic plan and develop programs tailored to meet the needs of our members. Part of this work was refreshing our mission statement and core values. One of our values is building a strong and supportive community, fostering collaboration. To spotlight this value, we introduced a new networking initiative, Mystery Connect.   This new program  was scheduled to launch last week, but due to the intervening storm, we'll delay that until November.  While Mystery Connect is currently available to our attraction members, we anticipate extending this program to our associate members next year.

We extend our gratitude to the members who participated in September's Florida Attractions District Days. Showcasing our attractions to members of the Florida Legislature is an excellent way to establish connections with our elected officials. As the General Election approaches on November 5, I urge our members to exercise their right to vote.

I appreciate the trust you have placed in the Florida Attractions Association. Your membership serves as a source of inspiration for the Board as we strive to continuously refine and enhance our association to better serve your needs. It is a shared responsibility that we all bear for the strength and resilience of our industry.

Warm regards,

Dan Donovan

Sr. Director, Marketing & Sales Talent Orchestration

Universal Destinations & Experiences