Here you can find the latest stories and announcements from the Florida Attractions Association.
Recording from General Session #2
w/ the AttractionPros is Now Available!
AttractionPros Matt Heller of Performance Optimist Consulting and Josh Liebman of ROLLER, marked the 250th episode of their AttractionPros Podcast with a live recording of General Session #2 at the Florida Attractions 2022 Annual Conference!
In this episode, you will hear Josh, Matt, and the attendees of the Annual Conference explore the intersection of guest and employee experience in real time. Along the way you’ll hear great suggestions about attracting, engaging and WOWing your guests and employees.
In case you missed it, or would like to share with your friends and employees, click on the button below to listen to Episode 250 of AttractionPros LIVE featuring YOU -- the leaders of Florida's attractions industry.
The Florida Attractions Scholarship Foundation (FASF) Board of Directors have selected five Florida-based students as recipients of the 2022 Scholarship. Aaron Anleu, Katarina Blumenstein, Elliot Fuerst, Lauren Toma and Wing Tung Liu will each receive a check for $2,000 to aid them in their pursuit of their hospitality-related degrees. FASF will be highlighting the scholarship program and acknowledging this year’s recipients at the Florida Attractions 2022 Annual Conference June 12-15 at the West Palm Beach Hilton and Palm Beach Country Convention Center.
Wing Tung Liu is also working toward her degree in Hospitality Management from UCF while minoring in Studio Art. She is currently an employee of Universal Resort Orlando where she works as an attraction attendant. Her career goal is to continue working at Universal Orlando and ultimately become a manager in attractions operations or in the hotel industry to provide quality guest experiences.
Since 2013, FASF has awarded scholarships to students pursuing degrees in hospitality-related fields to secure the future of the workforce. Scholarship applicants must be an employee or dependent of an employee of a Florida Attractions Association (FAA) member business, be a Florida resident and a full-time student with a cumulative major GPA of 2.8 or higher.
“With the current workforce challenge, it is more important than ever to make sure we are continuing to invest in the future of our industry by supporting those who are aspiring to make hospitality and tourism their career,” said Chairman of the FASF Board of Directors and Vice President of Double T Multimedia Nick Romeo. “Our goal every year is to find exceptional well-deserving students that will make a positive impact on Florida’s tourism industry and this year was no exception with the remarkable talent and credentials of the students selected.”
As part of the scholarship application, candidates were to demonstrate their desire to pursue a career in hospitality management or related field including (but not limited to) attraction management, tourism marketing, museum studies, hospitality, sports management, entertainment management, event management, zoological/aquaria management, recreation/leisure management. They were also evaluated on their academic performance, personal development, leadership experience, internships and extracurricular activities.
Donate to the Silent Auction
The Silent Auction is an exciting part of our Annual Conference every year, and our 2022 Florida Attractions Annual Conference June 12-15 in West Palm Beach will be no exception!
This fundraiser presented by the Florida Attractions Scholarship Foundation allows us to maintain a scholarship fund to support employees of FAA member businesses and their dependents enrolled in a hospitality-related major, as well as provide the educational programs and speakers we offer to our members. Our wide range of items to bid on include resort getaways, one-of-a-kind gift items, attraction experiences, and much more!
Please make a contribution by Friday, June 3 to our Silent Auction to help support the Florida Attractions Scholarship Foundation.
Remember, the earlier you make your donation, the greater exposure your item will receive on our website. Unique donations draw a lot of attention, so get your items in early!
Popular donations will include:
You may mail your items or bring your item with you when you come to the Conference. Either way, please fill out a donation form so we can properly plan for your item. This will ensure that we can include your donation & organization name in our program materials, as well as on our event websites.
Thank you for your support of the Florida Attractions Scholarship Foundation!
Don't forget Early Bird Registration for FAA Members
ends May 13!
Interested in joining our outstanding Associate members as a Conference sponsor? Contact Mike Donaldson at Donaldson@FloridaAttractions.org or at (850) 222-2885.
Registration for the Biggest Attractions Event of the Year is Now OPEN!
Now more than ever is the time to
Let the Sunshine In!
At our 2022 Annual Conference June 12-15 at the Hilton West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County Convention Center, conference attendees will hear first-hand how Florida has strategically positioned to remain available for visitation. Our members will share and learn new methods, technologies and tools to appeal to new markets and remain at the forefront of travelers plans. More than anything, participants will feel the warm glow as we again let the sunshine in!
Register by May 13 to get the Early Bird Rate for FAA Members!
We welcome employees and representatives and industry leaders from Florida’s finest family attractions, as well as industry suppliers from across the country that are eager to do business with Florida-based attractions. Professionals in sales, marketing, public relations, social media, operations, guest experience, safety, legal, communications, human resources, and retail will benefit from the vast array of educational content at the conference.
-- SAVE THE DATE --
Florida Attractions 2022 Annual Conference
WHEN:
June 12-15
WHERE:
Hilton West Palm Beach & Palm Beach
County Convention Center
West Palm Beach, FL
It's that time again to get Florida's Finest Family attractions back together for our Annual Conference! Please make plans to join your industry colleagues June 12-15 for 3 days of keynote speakers, breakout sessions, roundtables and professional networking at the beautiful Hilton West Palm Beach & Palm Beach County Convention Center!
Details and Registration Coming Soon!
Welcome to the FAA Family!
The following Attraction and Associate Members have joined the Florida Attractions Association since September 1, 2021:
You have joined a group of Florida's Finest Family Attractions and businesses who service our unique industry!
Get the latest FAA news and updates about upcoming events at your FloridaAttractions.org membership site.
Exclusive Offer for FAA Members
Two tourism events are coming up in June in tandem with the U.S. Travel Association's IPW travel trade show in Orlando - the eTourism Summit and the Connect THRIVE Summit. FAA members can register for the exclusive rate of $995 (regular rate is $1495 for in-person marketer registration)*.
Use Promo Code: FAA500
eTourism Summit
June 6-8, 2022
Orange County Convention Center
eTourism Summit represents the intersection of fast-moving digital marketing and destination
promotion where marketers, attractions, and vendors share the latest tools, trends and solutions
in media, platforms, content, search, social media, mobile, and web design. Hear from your peers and be a part of stimulating conversations. Attendees include DMOs, state and regional travel associations, attractions, cruise lines, airlines, hotels, interactive marketing agencies, research and analytics data specialist agencies, and advertising, PR and marketing agencies with travel industry clients.
Connect THRIVE SUMMIT
June 4-5, 2022
Connect THRIVE Summit is focused on creating business opportunities, developing community and producing partnerships through LGBTQ travel, sports, and entertainment. This one-of-a-kind, business-to-business marketing summit features dynamic general sessions with today’s most successful LGBTQ and ally business leaders and networking events alongside a series of pre-scheduled, one-on-one connections between destinations, resorts, hotels, attractions, domestic and international tour operators and travel agents, sports rights holders, media, marketers and brands.
*eTourism Summit and THRIVE attendees will be able to attend the IPW opening and closing parties, daily lunch presentations and will have access to the trade show floor. Registration does NOT include appointments. If you would like to take appointments with international operators, attendees must also be registered for IPW. Register for IPW here.
In response to the critical staffing situation that many of our member businesses face, further complicated by the omicron variant surge, we have made the decision to present our 2022 Attraction Regional Forum as one virtual event on Thursday, February 10 at 10:00am ET.
If you wish to register for the virtual Attraction Regional Forum, please register here.
If you have already registered for the in-person Attraction Regional Forum, your registration will be cancelled, and you will receive a full refund. You will be required to re-register for the virtual event.
If you have any questions, please contact your FAA staff in Tallahassee.
The Florida Attractions Association Board of Directors invites our attraction and associate members to a special FAA Networking Dinner during IAAPA week taking place at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse in Lake Buena Vista (Vineland & SR 535) on Wednesday, November 17, from 6:30pm - 8:30pm. Register here!
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