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Florida Attractions News

Here you can find the latest stories and announcements from the Florida Attractions Association.

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Attraction Member Spotlight | Cox Science Center and Aquarium

September 25, 2025 9:30 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

This quarter, the Florida Attractions Association proudly spotlights the Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach — a premier destination where curiosity meets discovery!

The Center inspires learners of all ages through hands-on exhibits, a world-class aquarium, a state-of-the-art digital planetarium, and the brand-new Fellows Discovery Center currently under development as part of its major expansion. With interactive science demonstrations, STEM programs, and traveling exhibits, Cox Science Center and Aquarium continues to ignite curiosity and cultivate a lifelong love of science in visitors from across Florida and beyond.

We celebrate the Cox Science Center and Aquarium for its ongoing commitment to education, innovation, and community engagement — hallmarks of Florida’s thriving attractions industry.

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Associate Member Spotlight | Parrot Fish Studio

September 23, 2025 11:42 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

The Florida Attractions Association is proud to spotlight Parrot Fish Studio, one of our valued Associate Members and a creative partner dedicated to helping attractions tell their stories in bold, memorable ways.

Based in Miami, Parrot Fish Studio specializes in design, branding, and storytelling for the attractions and tourism industry—from immersive exhibit graphics and signage to marketing campaigns and guest experience design. Their creative team brings a unique blend of artistry and strategy that helps destinations capture attention, inspire emotion, and drive engagement.

We’re grateful for Parrot Fish Studio’s partnership and continued contributions to our industry’s success.

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Access the Recording for District Days Webinar and Additional Resources

September 15, 2025 9:45 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

It's Your Turn to Share Your Attraction's Story w/ Your Representatives

In case you missed it, last week we were joined by several FAA attraction members to share their stories on how impactful inviting your legislators to your attraction can be.

The recording is available below where you will hear from FAA Chair, Samantha Palmer (Historic Tours of Flagler College), Bill Lupfer (FAA President & CEO), Jennifer Green, President of Liberty Partners of Tallahassee, FAA’s government relations firm, and Rep. Rachel Plakon, who all provide insight into why building relationships with Legislators in your home district is so critical.

District Days in Underway & Here is Everyting You Need...

It’s time for YOU to invite your legislators to your attraction and show them what tourism means to Florida! It's easy and the FAA has compiled a hub of resources for you to plan and execute a successful visit from your county’s Legislative Delegation. You can access them here.

Florida Attractions District Days Resources include:

A database of your county legislative delegation with contact information for elected officials and key staff members
Suggested topics to cover with your Legislator
Guide to Best practices for hosting your Legislator
Sample Invitation
Sample Press release
Florida Attractions District Days logos
FAQs to answers common questions regarding legislative visits
Florida Attractions Day social media tips (Compliments of NetWeave Social Networking)
A database of the social media tags/handles of Florida Legislators

If you would like FAA's assistance with setting an appointment, please click below and sign up to confirm your attraction's participation.

Sign Up to Participate

If you have any questions, please contact the FAA office (850) 222-2885 or info@FloridaAttractions.org or bring them to the Sept. 11 Webinar to ask our lobbying team.

Sept. 30 | Expedition FAA - Miami: Where Art Meets Attraction

August 25, 2025 12:52 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Expedition FAA - Miami: Where Art Meets Attraction

Revolutionizing Attractions Through Art, Experience & Partnership

Expedition FAA Miami is a dynamic, one-day event presented by the Florida Attractions Association and explores the power of cultural collaboration in unexpected spaces. Discover how attractions across Florida are partnering with artists and arts and cultural organizations to reach new audiences, increase revenue, and elevate guest experiences.

From pop-up exhibits to immersive installations, discover the business case for embracing the arts as a growth engine. Creativity will ignite as we gather at the Rubell Museum where bold ideas and artistic energy fuel an unforgettable day of inspiration. As the evening falls, we’ll move to the world-renowned Wynwood Walls district to witness how art lead to the revitalization of the area.

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

12:30 – 7:30pm

Rubell Museum

1100 NW 23rd St.

Miami, FL 33127

$95/each for FAA Member Attraction & DMO Representatives

ACT NOW --- Space is limited! Registration Closes when capacity is reached.

Full Details

Register Now

View the Agenda

Your Registration Includes:

Topical Roundtables & education sessions led by local Miami attraction and artistic event experts
Q&A with panel led by Greater Miami Convention & Bureau's John Copeland, Director, Arts & Culture Tourism
Group Dinner at the Rubell Museum
An Evening at Wynwood Walls - Immerse yourself in Miami’s most iconic outdoor art experience during an unforgettable evening at Wynwood Walls

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

District Days Starts Sept. 1 | Invite Your Legislators to Your Attraction

August 21, 2025 2:46 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Starts Sept. 1 -- Invite Your Legislators to Your Attraction

Join your fellow FAA Attraction members and be a part of Florida Attractions District Days! It’s easy and the resources you need to plan and execute a successful visit from your county’s Legislative Delegation are online and available for you to access now.

Florida Attractions District Days Resources include:

A database of your county legislative delegation with contact information for elected officials and key staff members
Suggested topics to cover with your Legislator
Guide to Best practices for hosting your Legislator
Sample Invitation
Sample Press release
Florida Attractions District Days logos
FAQs to answers common questions regarding legislative visits
Florida Attractions Day social media tips (Compliments of NetWeave Social Networking)
A database of the social media tags/handles of Florida Legislators

Sign Up to Participate

Once you sign up to participate, you’ll receive more details and we’ll help you schedule visits based on your Legislator’s availability and schedule.

Please register as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact the FAA office (850) 222-2885 or info@FloridaAttractions.org

Informational Webinar Thursday, September 11 @ 2pm EDT

Join Jennifer Green of Liberty Partners of Tallahassee and members of her lobby team to gain valuable insight into hosting a Legislative visit at your attraction. We will also be joined by members of the FAA Board of Directors and your FAA staff.

RSVP HERE

Yes, but....Florida Breaks Its Own Record Again: 34.4 Million Visitors in Second Quarter of 2025

August 20, 2025 1:04 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

VISIT FLORIDA has released its estimated quarterly visitation numbers, reporting Q2 year-over-year growth from 34.2 to 34.4 million visitors. As many of our members know, overall visitation to Florida does not always translate into increased attendance at attractions. We appreciate VISIT FLORIDA’s transparency in providing supplemental insights, noting that lower visitor spending and shorter lengths of stay continue to create challenging conditions. It is encouraging to see VISIT FLORIDA recognize these trends as they consider appropriate marketing responses.

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What If Your County’s TDC Was Dissolved and Bed Tax Dollars Were Redirected?

August 06, 2025 10:14 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

What If Your County’s TDC Was Dissolved and Bed Tax Dollars Were Redirected?

That’s exactly what nearly happened during the 2025 Florida Legislative Session.

HB 1221, introduced by the Florida House of Representatives and passed by a 65–42 vote, proposed sweeping changes to the way Tourist Development Tax (TDT) funds are used. If enacted, the bill would have:

Redirected 75% of TDT revenue to offset property taxes—effectively eliminating funding for tourism promotion, marketing, and tourism-related facilities.

Dissolved every Tourist Development Council (TDC) in Florida by the end of 2025.

Required a public referendum every eight years to continue levying the TDT for the sole purpose of a property tax discount.

Fortunately, the Florida Senate rejected this damaging proposal and protected the integrity of Florida’s tourism economy.

Now, as we look ahead to the 2026 Legislative Session—with interim committee weeks beginning October 6, 2025—this is the perfect time to engage with your State Representative.

If your Representative voted NO on HB 1221, consider sending a note of thanks for supporting Florida’s tourism marketing efforts.

If your Representative voted YES on HB 1221, now is a critical time to respectfully express your concerns and help them understand the value of investing in tourism.

[Click here to view the YEAS and NAYS for the HB 1221 floor vote] (note Yea and Nay tabs)

[Find your State Representative here]

To make it easy, the FAA’s lobby team at Liberty Partners of Tallahassee has prepared two customizable letter templates:

This one for thanking Representatives who voted NO on HB 1221

This one for communicating with Representatives who voted YES

Please keep messages to those who voted “Yes” constructive and professional—we want to build support to protect TDT in the 2026 Session.

If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. If you receive a reply from your Representative, please forward it to me—it will help shape our strategy for the year ahead.

Thank you for taking action to protect Florida’s #1 economic engine—tourism!

Warm regards,

Bill

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Grant Cycle Opening: America 250 Florida Grants - Deadline Aug 8

July 30, 2025 11:05 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Grant Cycle Opening : America 250 Florida

America 250 Florida Grant Applications are open NOW ---

August 6, 2025 @ 5 p.m. EST is the deadline to apply.

In 2026, Florida and the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. In December 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 24-267, which directed the Department of State to promote and encourage, among other things:

Civic, cultural, and historic education facilitating public understanding of the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the origin and meaning of inalienable rights, American’s triumph in the Revolutionary War, the meaning of “E Pluribus Unum,” and America’s “Charters of Freedom’”
Awareness of the necessity and virtue in preserving self-government; or
Honoring of veterans of all generations who have served and sacrificed to preserve freedom in America and around the world.

For further information about this program, including the application requirements and guidelines, visit the website here.

In order to apply, visit the Department's online grant portal at dosgrants.com. Applicants will need a user profile and to be associated with the organization they represent. For help getting started, view the FAQ under "Help" in the grant system.

If you have any questions, please contact the Division at DACgrants@dos.fl.gov.

Sign Up for Florida Attractions District Days | Your Advocacy Matters

July 23, 2025 1:35 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

September 2025 @ Your Attraction

Coming up during the month of September, the Florida Attractions Association will sponsor Florida Attractions District Days, encouraging our members to invite members of their country’s Legislative Delegation and other public officials to visit their attraction for an educational tour.

But why?

For your attraction:

Sooner or later, government will make decisions that will impact your attraction. Knowing members of your county’s Legislative Delegation and also those elected in your local county (and city) government leadership will help you navigate through the process of local ordinances and regulations that could make or break your business. Hosting public officials will give you an edge when they know you, your business and how your attraction contributes to the economy and quality of life for your county’s citizens.

For our industry:

Your county’s Legislative delegation will convene with lawmakers from around the state for the 2026 Legislative Session in Tallahassee on Tuesday, January 13. During Session may be the worst time to make an initial contact with your Legislator. Your contact with your local Legislators now will create relationships that can yield precious dividends to your attraction AND our industry. Once the hectic days of Session begin, your elected official’s attention will be stretched in multiple directions – all at the same time!

Your participation sets the stage for your association to take action on your behalf when bills affecting our members are filed. Your Legislators already knowing your business and the positive impact you have on your community gives our FAA lobby team at Liberty Partners of Tallahassee and your FAA staff a significant advantage is working toward desirable outcomes.

This isn’t political – it’s advocacy.

The IRS allows every business, including 501(c)(3)s to participate in activities such as Florida Attractions District Days:

“Organizations may, however, involve themselves in issues of public policy without the activity being considered as lobbying. For example, organizations may conduct educational meetings, prepare, and distribute educational materials, or otherwise consider public policy issues in an educational manner without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status.”

So how?

The FAA will make it super easy and will support you every step of the way! Everything you need to host successful tours will be made available to you in the coming weeks week. Guides, templates, databases – everything. Plus – your FAA staff and lobby team at Liberty Partners of Tallahassee are standing by to assist you.

Sign Up to Participate

Thank you for helping your association attain success in Tallahassee on your behalf and on behalf of your fellow members.

America’s 250th Birthday – Join the Celebration!

July 09, 2025 11:27 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

In less than a year, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence—a monumental milestone in our nation’s history. Commemorations are being planned at both the federal and state levels for summer 2026.

In Florida, the Semiquincentennial Commission has been established to lead the planning and coordination of events across the Sunshine State. This is a unique opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and inspire—right in your own community.

Now is the perfect time to begin planning how your attraction will participate in honoring this historic moment. Whether through themed exhibits, special events, or educational programs, your contribution can help bring this celebration to life for your guests.

Visit the Florida 250 website and the official U.S. Semiquincentennial site for resources, inspiration, and updates on statewide and national initiatives.

Let’s make this celebration one to remember—for Florida, and for the nation.

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