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‘Anti-Woke’ Bills are Costing Florida Millions of Dollars

A slew of new bills signed into law by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has draped the Sunshine State in controversy, spurring protests, lawsuits and travel advisories warning the state is ‘openly hostile’ toward people of color, immigrants, women and LGBTQ+ community members. From CNN…

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Florida Feels the Pinch as Conventions Pull Out

Florida’s political climate and laws implemented by Gov. Ron DeSantis are negatively impacting meetings and conventions. Orlando, consistently ranked the top meeting destination in the U.S. by Cvent, is among the destinations impacted. The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses has moved its 2027 Global Surgical Conference & Expo from Orlando to Philadelphia. From Skift Meetings…

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NAACP Considers Issuing Travel Advisory for Florida

The NAACP Florida chapter voted unanimously last week in favor of asking the national organization to issue a travel advisory for the state of Florida. If approved, the advisory from NAACP would urge the Black community across the U.S. to avoid visiting or moving to the state of Florida. From Northstar Meetings Group…

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Congresses May Move Over Abortion Access

The US Supreme Court ruling that lifted constitutional protections for access to abortion services has now prompted calls for scientific events to boycott states that have banned or severely restricted services. At least one organisation has already moved a meeting out of Louisiana over the issue of abortion rights. Photo: Ted Eytan. From Nature…

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Visit Florida Gets $76m for Coming Year

Florida legislators have approved a $76 million budget for Visit Florida in the coming financial year, the same as for 2017 – 2018. Governor Rick Scott had called for $100 million. The Senate initially proposed $50 million. But the settlement fight was nowhere near the battle that ensued a year ago. From Meetings & Conventions…

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Visit Florida’s Budget Battles Resume

Less than a year after the last Visit Florida budget battles, the fighting for funding is again underway. Governor Rick Scott (pictured) has called for a $100 million budget, while the House of Representatives wants to keep the current $76 million and the Senate wants to cut it to $50 million. From Meetings & Conventions…

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Hurricane Irma Hits Caribbean and Florida

Key resorts and other infrastructure in Orlando have reopened relatively unscathed after Hurricane Irma’s pass. But other areas of Florida and the Caribbean have been more seriously affected with flooding and power outages. These destinations face much longer term issues repairing damaged properties. Luckily September is typically low season for the region. From Meetings and Conventions…

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Visit Tampa’s Ties to Visit Florida “on Hold”

After the recent fight over Visit Florida’s annual $76 million budget, a number of local destination marketing organisations in the state are rethinking ties with the state’s tourism promotion board. The new settlement imposes restrictions on contracts, staff salaries and travel and entertainment for Visit Florida, as well as for boards working with it. From Meetings & Conventions…

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Visit Florida Funding Fully Restored

After more twists and turns in the saga than on any of its legendary theme park rides, Florida’s legislature has in the end voted to restore Visit Florida’s current annual budget of $76 million. This leaves the agency and state once again able to continue breaking visitation records. We can all now retire to Miami! From Meetings & Conventions…

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Visit Florida Budget Saga Gets a Disney Ending

After a rollercoaster ride, Visit Florida and the saga of its budget allocation may in the final reel be getting a fairytale ending. Governor Rick Scott and Florida legislators have hammered out an agreement to continue with the current funding of $76m. If there are any further shocks before the credits roll we’ll let you know. Photo: Dancorona21. From Meetings & Conventions…

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Governor Tours to Save Visit Florida Funding

The fortunes of Visit Florida have reversed again and the agency looks like it will after all lose 67% of its funding. In a last ditch attempt to change the Legislature’s course – its Speaker sees Visit Florida as extravagant and wasteful – Governor Rick Scott is on tour to persuade Floridians to invest in destination marketing. From Orlando Rising…

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Visit Florida’s Proposed Budget a “Game Changer”

Visit Florida’s fortunes could be on rise. After its very future was left in doubt, then a House of Representatives bill passed to cut its budget by two thirds to $25m, then Governor Rick Scott called for $76m… now he has proposed raising funding to $100m. Visit Florida CEO Ken Lawson calls the possibility a “game changer”. From Meetings & Conventions…

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$76m Budget for Visit Florida Backed by Senate Subcommittee

Shortly after the Florida House of Representatives passed a bill cutting Visit Florida’s budget by two thirds to $25m – also capping salaries and increasingly accountability – now a Senate subcommittee has proposed backing Governor Rick Scott’s request for a $76m budget. Visit Florida says the state attracted 112.8m visitors in 2016, after just 87.3m in 2011. From Meetings & Conventions…

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Florida House Proposes 67 Percent Cut to Visit Florida Budget

Following on from the earlier news of Visit Florida’s battle for survival, the Florida House Speaker has now suggested making the organisation part of the state’s Department of Economic Opportunity. Richard Corcoran also wants its budget slashed by just over two thirds. Visit Florida CEO Ken Lawson has called the proposal “misinformed”. From Meetings & Conventions…

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Visit Florida in Jeopardy Following Government Showdown

Visit Florida is in a fight for its survival as the state introduces legislation calling for its abolition. New CEO Ken Lawson has been championing the role the DMO plays in generating employment and tax revenue. But an ill-fated marketing deal with rapper Pitbull has already damaged the DMO’s standing among politicians. From Meetings & Conventions…

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