Here you can find the latest stories and announcements from the Florida Attractions Association.
2023 Annual Conference
Hi Florida Attractions,
With tremendous enthusiasm and acknowledged anticipation, I am delighted to announce that the Florida Attractions Association will return to the spectacular Luminary Hotel in Fort Myers for our 2023 Annual Conference, June 11-14. Following the devastating impact Hurricane Ian had on the southwest Florida region, we’re returning to show our unified support of the community, our tourism colleagues and our affected FAA members. The conference committee and I thought it opportune to reflect the connection and investment our members provide and help establish that this area is indeed Florida strong and eager to welcome back visitation. In addition to three days of actionable educational sessions and networking, we plan to include a community service component as a part of the conference schedule.
The Luminary Hotel is one of the top-rated host hotels in post-conference surveys. If you’ve never attended an FAA Annual Conference, now’s your opportunity to participate in Florida attractions premier event. FAA members consistently rate the Annual Conference as the most valuable conference they attend each year.
Please save the date – June 11-14, 2023 – and standby for more details as Florida’s Finest Family Attractions and Industry Suppliers meet to learn, share and grow together. I know you are as excited as I am to bring our energy and commitment to Fort Myers and celebrate our future once again. I can’t wait to see you there.
Sincerely,
John Dent
Chairman, Florida Attractions Association
Director, Walt Disney World
Florida Attractions Professional Development and Employee Advancement Grant
The Florida Attractions Scholarship Foundation is excited to announce the creation of the Professional Development and Employee Advancement Grant Program. The program has been developed to provide FAA member businesses (Attractions & Associate Members) financial support to develop new - and build capacity for existing - professional development and leadership programs. Along with the FASF scholarship program, this grant program will promote the Foundation’s mission to develop the Florida attraction industry’s workforce and prepare for the future challenges.
Grant applications will be accepted beginning February 1, 2023. The application period closes on February 28, 2023. Grant awards will be announced at the 2023 FAA Annual Conference.
Qualifying programs can include – individual or group programs for professional development, specific skills training, job-specific certifications, leadership development, and industry conferences. Qualifying Programs MUST provide an educational component that is relevant to the attractions industry and improve employee proficiencies and, ultimately, the guest experience.
Official Guide to Florida Attractions Ad Sales
We shared with you earlier that the printed version of the Official Guide Map to Florida Attractions has been retired and will not be published. In its place, the FAA will roll out a digital version of the map – the Official Guide to Florida Attractions. The target date for the launch is January 1, 2023.
As a benefit of membership, your attraction will receive a complimentary listing on the new website that will include a customized landing page showcasing your attraction.
In addition to your complimentary listing, a very limited, geo-targeted advertising opportunity will also be available to our individual attraction members (no co-ops or shared ads) in good standing for the first quarter of 2023.Your digital display ad may be displayed in one or more of Florida’s eight vacation regions. Ad rates are generally based on the annual visitation to each region.
Since there will be a limit of three digital display ads per region, per quarter, we anticipate this opportunity will sellout very quickly. Attractions are welcome to choose any or all vacation regions for their display ad to appear in.
Ad sales will be made available beginning at 10am EST on Wednesday, December 14, 2022.
Ads will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. The Official Guide to Florida Attractions ad sales website will show how many ads are available at the time you land on the site, but be mindful, it will not show how many transactions are in process ahead of you and ads will only be reserved after the requested information, including answering basic questions and payment is completed.
The new Official Guide to Florida Attractions will be accessible at FloridaAttractions.com. The FAA will invest in an aggressive SEM campaign.
First Quarter 2023 Pricing Plan
(Geo-targeted Ads offered in a 3-month block)
Click Map to Enlarge
Northwest - $69/month, $207/quarter
North Central - $51/month, $153/quarter
Northeast - $113/month, $339/quarter
Central West - $133/month, $399/quarter
Central - $262/month, $786/quarter
Central East - $107/month, $321/quarter
Southwest - $96/month, $288/quarter
Southeast - $288/month, $864/quarter
If you have any questions about the new website and the ad sales process, please contact the Florida Attractions Association office – (850) 222-2885 or info@FloridaAttractions.org.
Announcing the 2023 Scholarship Program
Since its inception in 2012, the Florida Attractions Scholarship Foundation has awarded over $60,000 to more than 70 students studying tourism-related careers.
The scholarship program is an exclusive benefit to FAA member businesses – their employees, employee family members, volunteers and interns.
Thanks to the generosity of our Florida Attractions Association members, your Foundation will award several $2,000 scholarships in 2023. Applications will be accepted during the month of February 2023.
Details on the application process will be announced in January.
Hurricane Ian Hospitality Workers Relief Fund
Hurricane Ian drastically impacted our hospitality industry in southwest Florida. Approximately half the overnight accommodations in Lee County are out of service leaving thousands without jobs. In addition to the loss of life, the situation is compounded as many also lost some - if not all - of their personal property during the storm.
Some of those affected are team members of FAA member attractions.
The Collaboratory (Community Foundation in SW Florida) in conjunction with the local United Way has established a fund to provide support specifically for Fort Myers hospitality workers, including those in the attractions industry.
Please join me in assisting our tourism colleagues in the Fort Myers area.
Thank you,
Bill
Bill Lupfer
President/CEO
Florida Attractions Association
PS – If you know of anyone needing assistance, please refer them to the Relief Fund Assessment Form.
FAA Introduces New Benefit, Retires Printed Maps
For decades, the Official Guide Map to Florida Attractions and South Florida Attractions Map have served our attraction members, delivering Florida visitors one of the state’s most popular vacation guides. After decades of publication, numerous circumstances, including changing consumer dynamics and skyrocketing printing costs of large-format maps, the FAA has opted to move the Official Guide Map to Florida Attractions to an online, digital format – Official Guide to Florida Attractions.
This all-new website will include complimentary listings of every FAA Member Attraction, with search capabilities based on location and key word search. Our members will be able to provide links to images and videos and each listing will include a link to our member’s website. The current FloridaAttractions.com site will be repurposed for this new website. The new website will be mobile friendly, be bolstered by advanced SEO and the FAA will dedicate additional resources for SEM. Rack cards will be distributed and transparencies displayed in Florida’s Official Welcome Centers and other locations to direct visitors to this new online vacation planning resource.
An additional feature of the new Official Guide to Florida Attractions will be geofencing of our state providing you the ability to purchase a display ad in your choice of 8 Florida vacation regions. These are limited to 3 unique ads per region and will be contracted on a monthly basis. This very economical advertising opportunity is priced beginning less than $2/day and go up to less than $10/day depending on the region.
More details will be available soon, but we wanted to share with you a sneak peak at this exciting new FAA benefit coming exclusively to FAA members in 2023.
Thank you for your continued support.
Moving forward,
As our state moves through the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, our 2022 Florida Attraction Scholarship Foundation Golf Tournament, scheduled for Friday, October 14 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Golf Club has been cancelled.
Dear Attraction Colleagues,
With the direct and indirect impacts of Hurricane Ian across Florida, the past week has tested the resolve and resiliency of our industry. Most of our members have been able to cleanup and reopen after Hurricane Ian. Others are still closed, in various stages of disrepair and waiting for water to recede and infrastructure to be restored before beginning their rebuilding process. Our thoughts are with all of you, especially those experiencing personal and professional loss.
The FAA has been closely monitoring our members and updating their status as information is verified. Our members in Southwest Florida have a very challenging time ahead and we’ll continue to monitor their progress and assist as appropriate.
Please refer to FloridaAttractions.org for resources available for you, your family, employees, and your business.
There are numerous relief organizations who are assisting relief and recovery efforts. The Florida Disaster Fund is the State of Florida’s official private fund established to assist Florida’s communities as they respond to and recover during times of emergency or disaster. In partnership with the public sector, private sector and other non-governmental organizations, the Florida Disaster Fund supports response and recovery activities. For Hurricane Ian, all administrative and credit card fees have been waived so that 100% of every donation can be used to help Floridians recover.
If the FAA can be of service to you, please contact our staff in Tallahassee at 850-222-2885.
To our FAA members severely affected by Hurricane Ian, I encourage you to press forward, seek help, and trust that your FAA friends and family are standing with you as we rebuild and persevere though this adversity. I can see the Florida sun shining on our bright future.
Together, we are #FloridaStrong.
FAA Chairman of the Board
Dear FAA Member,
Hurricane Ian has been devastating for many of Florida's Attractions. As a resource, the FAA has compiled a list of known closures and/or attraction operation changes.
The full list can be viewed here. If you have information to share with the FAA and your fellow members, please contact the FAA office at 850-222-2885 or info@floridaattractions.org.
We will do anything we can to be of assistance.
Stay safe,
Your FAA Staff
Register In a City Near You
Join attraction and tourism industry colleagues from your region for an informal evening of networking, sharing and fun! FAA’s Networking Nights are back and in full swing!
Attendees include attraction representatives of FAA Member Attractions as well as Supplier Associate members, Tourism Associate members, and representatives from your local DMO (Convention & Visitor Bureau).
Members of the Florida Attractions Association and non-members are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be provided.
2022 Locations and Dates:
Fort Lauderdale
Wednesday, October 19
Flamingo Gardens
5:30-7:30pm
Orlando
Wednesday, October 26
Discovery Cove
6:00-8:00pm
St. Augustine
Thursday, October 27
Colonial Quarter
St. Petersburg
Wednesday, November 2
Alligator & Wildlife Discovery Center
Sarasota
Thursday, November 3
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
5:00-7:00pm
Miami
Coming Soon!
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