Florida Attractions News

This month marks the official launch of the Florida Attractions Association Leadership Academy, an exciting new professional development initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders within Florida’s attractions industry.

Following a competitive application process, 35 rising leaders from FAA member attractions were selected to participate as inaugural cohort members. These individuals represent a diverse cross-section of disciplines and attraction types, united by a shared commitment to leadership growth, collaboration, and industry advancement.

The Academy is led by Dan Donovan (Universal Destinations & Experiences), Past Chairman of the FAA, who will serve as Dean of the program. Dan brings decades of industry experience and a passion for mentoring emerging leaders.

Participants will engage in a robust curriculum taught by an accomplished faculty of FAA past chairmen and industry leaders, including:

• Matt Johnson (IMAG History & Science Center) – Change Management & Resilience
• Kurt Allen (Mississippi Aquarium) – Problem Solving & Decision Making
• Bill Lupfer (Florida Attractions Association) – Advocacy & Government Relations
• Scott Rose (Zoo Tampa) – Strategic Planning
• Cindy Stavely (St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum) – Relationship Building & Networking
• Jennifer Berthiaume (Industry Statesman) – Leading & Influencing

The FAA Leadership Academy reflects the Association’s ongoing commitment to investing in talent, strengthening leadership pipelines, and ensuring the long-term resilience of Florida’s attractions industry.

The Jacksonville Zoo & Botanical Gardens stands as a beacon of excellence in animal care, conservation, and guest experience. With a deep commitment to the well-being of its diverse animal collection, the Zoo continually elevates standards through habitat innovation, enrichment practices, and conservation partnerships that protect species at risk. Guests are welcomed into beautifully designed botanical spaces where education and engagement seamlessly blend with Florida’s natural beauty.

A leader in guest service, the Zoo consistently earns praise for its warm, knowledgeable staff and immersive experiences that connect visitors to wildlife in meaningful ways. Whether guests are exploring the African habitat, admiring rare plant collections, or participating in behind-the-scenes encounters, the Jacksonville Zoo exemplifies passion, professionalism, and purpose—making every visit memorable.

The FAA is proud to have this celebrated zoological park among our esteemed members.

For more than 50 years, Guest Services, Inc. has set the standard for delivering legendary guest experiences at attractions across the country. As a trusted FAA associate member, Guest Services brings a service-first mindset to every interaction, ensuring visitors feel welcomed, informed, and delighted from the moment they arrive.

From ticketing and admissions to guest services staffing and front-line engagement, Guest Services’ teams are renowned for their professionalism, hospitality, and ability to create positive, memorable moments. Their customized training, technology solutions, and operational excellence empower attractions to exceed guest expectations while enhancing overall satisfaction and loyalty.

Whether operating a busy theme park entrance or supporting special events, Guest Services, Inc. consistently elevates the guest journey, reinforcing the value of exceptional service as a cornerstone of Florida’s attractions industry.

IAAPA, The Global Association for the Attractions Industry, is excited to invite all FAA attraction members to participate in the Q4 2025 Quarterly Outlook Survey! Your feedback is crucial in providing key insights into the current state of the attractions industry and will directly influence the strategies shaping our future.

This quick, forward-looking survey will assess your outlook on business and economic conditions over the next six months. It should take about 10 minutes to complete, and rest assured, all responses are confidential and reported in aggregate only. 

Key survey topics will include the following:   

      • Outlook for the global and respective regional economies
      • Sentiment regarding select business conditions (e.g., available work force)
      • Expectations for business performance (category ranges only)
      • Top opportunities and challenges
      • Tariff-related business impacts

The survey is available in the following languages: English, Español, Português, 简体中文.

Please respond by November 2, 2025. As a token of appreciation for your participation, you’ll have the exclusive opportunity to request a detailed summary of the results before they are shared publicly. Members can access prior results here. 

There’s still time to Share Your Perspective

We greatly appreciate your time and effort in completing this survey and look forward to your continued participation. If you have any questions, please contact Elaine Mathis, IAAPA’s Senior Research Analyst, at EMathis@IAAPA.org.

 

Sincerely,

IAAPA Research Team

I’m pleased to announce the creation of the Florida Attractions Association Leadership Academy (FLA) — a new pilot program designed to develop and connect the next generation of leaders in Florida’s attractions industry.

The FAA Leadership Academy is a six-month, cohort-based professional development experience that brings together emerging leaders (manager level and above) for an engaging journey of learning and collaboration. Participants will explore key facets of leadership, operations, strategy, and innovation through a virtual classroom facilitated by former FAA Chairs and respected industry experts who bring real-world insight to every session.

• Change Management & Resilience – Matt Johnson
• Problem Solving & Decision Making – Kurt Allen
• Advocacy & Government Relations – Bill Lupfer
• Strategic Planning – Scott Rose
• Relationship Building & Networking – Cindy Stavely
• Leading & Influencing – Jennifer Berthiaume

Our goal is to identify, invest in, and inspire tomorrow’s leaders — those who will continue to advance our industry, represent their organizations within the FAA, and perhaps one day serve on our Board of Directors or as Board Chair.

For this pilot program, applicants must be emerging leaders employed by FAA Primary Attraction Members.

More details and the application are available [here].  Application deadline is November 1, 2025.

We look forward to launching this exciting new chapter in professional development and leadership growth within Florida’s attractions industry.

Sincerely,

Dan

Dan Donovan
Immediate Past-Chairman, Florida Attractions Association and Industry Statesman
Sr. Director, Marketing & Sales Talent Orchestration, Universal Destinations & Experiences

1. How long have you been in the attractions industry? 

I have been in the tour & travel industry for over 30 years and have worked in various areas including theme parks, hotels, attractions and theater. 

2. What is your favorite job you’ve had in the industry and why?

I am currently in my dream role as Director, Group Sales & Marketing, at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.  I have a passion for the arts and spent many years as a performer at Walt Disney World. 

3. What is the most rewarding aspect of working in/for the attraction industry? 

My role is rewarding because I get to build relationships with both customers and industry colleagues.  I love to welcome groups to the Dr. Phillips Center, many who are visiting for the very first time. 

4. What do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?  

No surprise, I love to travel.  I love to experience new destinations and to explore nature.  I love to go hiking and frequent the mountains of Colorado. 

5. Aside from Florida, what is your dream vacation destination and why? 

I am about to head out on my first European vacation.  My wife and I will be visiting London and Edinburgh to enjoy some shows in the West End and to check out the sites where Harry Potter was created. 

The Florida Attractions Association is proud to look back on another successful Florida Attractions District Days this September. During the month, attractions across the state opened their doors to legislative delegations to emphasize the critical role of our industry in local economies, job creation, and community life.

Florida Attractions District Days is an advocacy initiative created to build relationships between attractions and their county legislative delegations. By inviting legislators on educational tours, attractions make their voices heard—not as political actors, but as local economic and cultural stewards. Sharing tax impact, employment numbers, cultural contributions, and community engagement helps legislators better understand our industry’s value ahead of session.

This year’s kickoff message reminded members:

“Sooner or later, government will make decisions that impact your attraction. Having your county’s Legislative Delegation know your business gives FAA and its lobby team a better platform for advocacy.”

To support each site-hosted visit, FAA provided a toolkit: a legislative database, sample invitation and press release templates, talking-point guides, social media resources, and FAQs answered by our advocacy team.

• Dozens of attractions around the state participated, inviting state representatives and senators to tour and engage.
• A webinar held September 11 featured FAA Chair Samantha Palmer, lobby team Liberty Partners of Tallahassee, and Rep. Rachel Plakon, discussing strategies and best practices for hosting legislative visits.

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Many reported newfound or deeper relationships with local legislators, which will strengthen FAA’s advocacy capacity heading into the 2026 Legislative Session.

A heartfelt thanks to every participating attraction, every legislator who met with hosts, and FAA staff and lobby partners who made the month possible. Your efforts are shaping a stronger, more connected industry voice in Tallahassee.

Looking ahead:

• Use these connections to stay in touch with your delegation.
• Share insights and policy concerns with FAA so we can carry them forward.
• Begin thinking about next year’s District Days—how can your attraction make an even greater impact?