The FAA is excited to offer four webinars this Fall for you and your teams. Please make plans to join us for any or all of the following presentations that cover topics including your FAA member benefits, Attraction Industry Advocacy, A.I. and serving guests with disabilities. Registration for all webinars is now open, and the first webinar kicks off next Thursday, October 12:

Your FAA is Celebrating 75 Years at the

Florida Attractions 2024 Annual Conference...

This will be the 75th time attractions industry professionals convene for the Florida Tourism industry’s premier, must-do, event of the year! Actionable and relevant - dozens of speakers, sessions, topics and trends to refresh and refocus your business. 

What You Can Expect...

• 30+ Hours of Content • 3 Days of Networking • World-class Speakers • Engaging Educational Sessions • Industry Exhibitors • 

6 Meals + 2 Receptions

...Make Plans to be there June 9-12! Registration will open Spring 2024.

As you know, IAAPA continues to support the State Department’s public diplomacy efforts through the J-1 BridgeUSA program (formerly Summer Work Travel Program). In addition to fostering valuable cultural exchange opportunities for international university students, this program provides IAAPA members a critical seasonal workforce option.

Last Friday, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) filed an amendment (Amendment #133) to the FY2024 State Department funding bill that would eliminate all funding for Education and Cultural Exchange programs, which includes the J-1 BridgeUSA program.

If the J-1 program is important to your organization, please contact your members of Congress now using the link below and urge them to oppose Amendment #133. The bill will likely be voted on Thursday, September 28, so it is critical that you reach out to your members of Congress now!

We encourage you to forward this campaign to your colleagues, partners, and fellow exchange supporters. 

At last week’s Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism (#GC23) presented by VISIT FLORIDA, tourism entities were honored for their distinctive and passionate marketing of their respective attractions and destinations.

Congratulations to our FAA members who were recognized for their ardent marketing flair and thanks to all Florida’s marketing professionals who keep the visitors coming to enjoy our state’s coveted, world-class attractions and destinations.

Best of Show 

Annual marketing budget less than $500,000: Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures for “VR Takes Boggy Creek to Travel Partners Worldwide.”

Annual marketing budget greater than $2 million: Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau for the Amelia Island Weather Trigger.

Creativity in Public Relations

Henry: The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County and Discover The Palm Beaches for the “Palm Beaches in Bloom” New York Media Event

Print Advertising

Silver: The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau for “Formula One”

Bronze: The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau for “It’s an Island thing”

Direct Marketing

Henry: Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods for “Hearts and Engagements Soar with Lee County” Direct Mail Piece

Bronze: Visit Sarasota County for the “Sarasota: The Only Place to Pull Ahead” Carousel Card

Tourism Advocacy

Henry: Visit Tampa Bay for “Measure the Treasure in Tampa Bay”

Social Media Marketing

Henry: The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau for their Social Media Travel Guides

Out-of-Home

Silver: The Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium for the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium Times Square Billboard

Radio Advertising

Bronze: The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau for Amelia Island Podcast Advertising

Television Advertising

Bronze: Experience Kissimmee for their Shoulder Season Campaign

Mobile Marketing

Henry: The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau for the Amelia Island Weather Trigger

Silver: Visit Tampa Bay for the Tampa Riverwalk Attraction Pass

Resource/Promotional Material-Consumer

Henry: Visit Tampa Bay for the Visit Tampa Gay Guide

Resource/Promotional Material-Trade

Bronze: Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures for “VR Takes Boggy Creek to Travel Partners Worldwide”

Sustainable Tourism Marketing

Bronze: The Alligator & Wildlife Discovery Center for “Help us do our small part”

Mixed Media Campaign

Silver: Discover The Palm Beaches for “The Golden Age of Travel” Mixed Media Campaign

Bronze: ZooTampa at Lowry Park for ZOO Tampa’s Creatures of the Night Campaign

This webinar is offered to all FAA members, irrespective of their IAAPA membership status.

Stay ADA compliant and alert to litigation risks! Hear from legal, safety, and disability experts on Sept. 14, 2023, from 1-2 p.m. EDT as they discuss the crucial lessons and potential ramifications of the July 7, 2023, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals opinion in Campbell v. Universal on ride and waterslide access for individuals with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

This Opinion Opens the Door to Significant Impacts On the Industry:

1. Compliance Evolution: Following state law and manufacturer guidelines may not be sufficient to demonstrate ADA compliance by operators.
2. Assessing “Necessary” Rider Eligibility Rules: Understand the Eleventh Circuit’s focus on demonstration of “actual risks” to ADA-protected individuals and the proof burdens on operators and manufacturers who adopt rider eligibility guidelines.

This live chat is provided for educational purposes, and our panelists will not be providing legal advice to any participant.

Dear FAA Members,

Today we face our state's latest challenge as Tropical Storm / Hurricane Idalia threatens Florida. If your attraction operation is altered by this storm, please contact the FAA Office and allow us to update our Attraction Status Page with your information. 

This page is used by VISIT FLORIDA Official Welcome Centers to serve the traveling public and other state and local government agencies.

You should also report your operating status and any special needs and circumstances to your County Emergency Management.

The FAA is monitoring calls and emails. Please contact us if we can be of service.

Stay safe,

Bill

Bill Lupfer

President/CEO

info@floridaattractions.org

FAA Office - (850) 222-2885

FAA Emergency Resources

Nearly 300 attraction industry professionals convened for the Florida Attractions 2023 Annual Conference in Fort Myers June 11-14 as we celebrated the strength, resilience and determination of our industry. #FloridaAttractionsStrong

To our attendees - thank you for sharing in our extraordinary three days of inspiration and innovation. For those who missed it - we hope you'll consider your industry's annual conference an essential part of your professional development in 2024.

Visit our recap site to view photos, download General Session and Breakout Session presentations, and more!

The Florida Attractions Scholarship Foundation (FASF) Board of Directors have selected five Florida-based students as recipients of the 2023 Scholarship. Daniela Botero, Ann Marie Casado, Sophie Duguid, Caleb Jessee and Frank Verney 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 2023 Annual Conference on Monday, June 12 at the Luminary Hotel in Fort Myers.

Daniela Botero is currently working at Universal Orlando Resort as an Event Guide while pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality and Event Management from the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida. Daniela’s career goal is to create new themed experiences using technology to make them more inclusive by different languages or add larger ride restraints. She has a sincere love for theme parks and aims to inspire others in the way she was inspired to enhance the guest experience.

Ann Marie Casado is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Event Management from the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida. She currently works at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Orlando Resort’s Volcano Bay as an Attractions Attendant. Event planning has always been Ann Marie’s passion, and is confident that a degree from the number one hospitality school in the world will prepare her for the challenges she may face in the industry.

Sophie Duguid is earning her degree in Hospitality Management form the university of Central Florida on the Theme Park Track. She has worked several positions at Busch Gardens Tampa including Ride Operator, Trainer, Photographer and Supervisor. Her goal is to become a leader in the theme park industry and ignite the same passion that she has in others. Upon competition of her degree, she would like to continue a leadership role at Busch Gardens.

Caleb Jessee is a member of the team at Universal Orlando Resort where he serves as an Admissions Inventory and Project intern while working on his degree in Hospitality Management from the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida. He is expected to graduate at the end of this year, and when Epic Universe opens up in 2025, he intends to be a part of that park’s opening team as a lead or supervisor in any department.

Frank Verney is an experienced attraction professional serving as Assistant Park Manager at Lion Country Safari. He has worked for Lion Country Safari for more than 10 years and is pursuing a professional development opportunity to grow into a leadership role at his attraction. Frank works to make sure the staff has service training as well as everything they need to enhance the guest experience.

Created in 2013, FASF has awarded scholarships to students pursuing degrees in hospitality-related fields to secure the future of the workforce. Since its inception, the FASF has granted nearly $80,000 in scholarships. 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.