“As Government Relations Chair of VISIT FLORIDA, I fully support the transition team’s proposal to fully fund VISIT FLORIDA® with an annual investment of $62.5 million by the state.  This is a critical component in ensuring Florida remains competitive as the top business and leisure travel destination in the world.  

“The tourism and hospitality industry is the Sunshine State’s number one employer.  These marketing dollars will, as cited in the transition team’s report, will generate 1.6 million in incremental visits to Florida, $3.6 billion in direct spending and $225 million in incremental state sales tax collections.  The new jobs generated by this action will help the state regain the 138,000 jobs lost from its prerecession peak of 1,007,000 employed Floridians. 

“The state is still reeling from the oil and the perception of oil washing ashore our pristine beaches, and no industry was hit harder than Florida’s hotels and restaurants.  This $62.5 million recommended allocation to enhance our tourism marketing efforts is not only timely, but also vital to the job creation mission and vision of our new Governor.” 

About Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA)
FRLA’s mission is to Protect, Educate and Promote Florida’s hospitality industry – which represents a $57 billion industry, 20% of Florida’s economy, $3.4 billion in sales tax revenue, and more than 900,000 employees, making it Florida’s largest employer.  In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill that has devastated areas of Northwest Florida, FRLA has led the charge in representing the industry through marketing, communications, tourism briefings, claims procedures, and paid advertisements to let the world know that Florida is Open for Business.  FRLA is among the most influential trade associations in Florida, counting among its 10,000 members some of the largest businesses across the state in lodging establishments, restaurants, and thousands of suppliers to the industry.  For more information, go to www.FRLA.org.  

Editor’s Note:
Link to the Governor-Elect Rick Scott’s Economic Development Transition Team Report here:
See pages 53 – 57 re: recommendation for the $62.5 million for Florida Tourism Marketing Efforts
http://scotttransition.com/Economic_Development.pdf