On behalf of the Florida Attractions Scholarship Foundation (FASF), thank you, fellow FAA members for your generous financial support that allows us to invest in the development of the current and future leaders of Florida’s attractions industry. We’ve provided over $100,000 so far, and continue to grow our program every year, thanks to YOU!

Fall is (almost) in the air and the holiday season will soon be upon us. Your Florida Attractions Scholarship Foundation is asking for your help in our preparation for our 2024 FASF Holiday Silent Auction. This year, the auction will open on Monday, November 18 and end at 5:00pm ET on Friday, December 6.

You can help your Foundation in 3 ways!

First - Donate a unique item, gift basket or other highly desirable item from your business. Suggestions and details on how to donate are available here. Deadline for donations is Friday, November 1.

Second - You can register to participate in the auction. If you’re already familiar with our silent auction platform, Silent Auction Pro from last year’s FASF Holiday Silent Auction or our Annual Conference Silent Auction– you’re already registered, and you simply need to update your payment information. If you’re not already registered, its quick and easy. Simply click here to create your account or update your Silent Auction Pro account.

Third – When the auction opens on November 18, check out the amazing items you and your fellow FAA members have donated to the auction and enjoy bidding on auction items from the comfort of your mobile device.

You can bid with confidence knowing that proceeds on the auction will provide post-secondary school scholarships exclusively for employees of FAA member businesses and their dependents and fund grant for the internal professional development programs of our FAA members.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Berthiaume
Chairman, Florida Attraction Scholarship Foundation
Vice President, Lion Country Safari

Congratulations to FAA Members receiving Flagler Awards for their outstanding tourism marketing, recognized by a group of distinguished judges and announced at the 2024 Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Tampa.

Special Event
Bronze: Rapids Waterpark for "Adults Only Night"
Silver: The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens or “Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild"

Internet Advertising
Bronze: Experience Kissimmee for the Spring Campaign 2023

Direct Marketing
Henry: The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau for the USAE & Northstar Third-Party Emails

Tourism Advocacy
Silver: Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods for "Savor the Shore"
Henry: Visit Tampa Bay for the Tourism Academy for Students

Social Media Marketing
Bronze: The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau for the Amelia Island Social Media Campaign: Blog Posts

Out-of-Home
Bronze: Experience Kissimmee for the Winter Holiday Campaign 2023

Radio Advertising
Henry: The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau for the Amelia island and iHeart Radio Podcast

Mobile Marketing
Bronze: The Ocala/Marion County Visitors & Conventions Bureau for the Ocala Marion Travel Guide App
Henry: The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau for the Amelia Island Mobile Marketing

Websites
Bronze: The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau for Amelia Island dot com

Niche Marketing
Bronze: The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau for Greater Miami & Miami Beach "Find Your Voice Miami Beach" Digital Experiential Campaign

Resource/Promotional Material-Consumer
Henry: Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods for the Digital Visitor Guide

Resource/Promotional Material-Trade
Bronze: Visit Tampa Bay for Tampa Bay's Guide to Social Inclusion
Henry: The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau for their Meeting Planner Quarterly Emails

Sustainable Tourism Marketing
Silver: Discover the Palm Beaches for "Sea to Preserve"

Networking has always been one of the FAA’s greatest benefits. Now, you can participate in Networking, “21st century style” with the FAA’s Mystery Connect – a virtual, one-on-one networking opportunity available to leaders in the FAA’s attractions during our beta test period.

Each month, you will be paired with another leader of an FAA attraction, agree on a mutually convenient time and spend 30 minutes meeting and sharing with each other on a teleconference platform. You’ll be provided with a few ice-breaker questions and feel free to expand into topics of mutual interest. It’s a simple way to connect with your fellow FAA members conveniently from your office.

Simply click here to create your profile. It takes less than 5 minutes. Our first pairings will be in October. You may opt out of the program at any time.

Phase one of this new program is for FAA Attraction Members only.

Beginning August 20, 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 2025 Legislative Session in Tallahassee on Tuesday March 4. 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 available to you online starting August 20. Guides, templates, databases – everything. Plus – your FAA staff and lobby team at Liberty Partners of Tallahassee are standing by to assist you.

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