Okaloosa County BOCC — June 2, 2015 — visit florida invoice — reading text

Marketing Partner Guide Making the Most of Your Benefits Purpose of this Guide Are you ready to take your travel and tourism marketing to the next level? VISIT FLORIDA’s marketing programs and initiatives have a proven track record of helping businesses attract new customers and improving their bottom line. The purpose of this guide is to give you an overview of the many benefits and programs offered to you through your VISIT FLORIDA marketing partnership. Together, we can help drive business and added exposure to your company. Whether you are a new Partner or one of our Founding Partners, this guide will familiarize you with our programs and allow you to quickly identify those that will help promote your business. This guide is meant to be a companion tool to our Online Marketing Planner, which offers all of the details into specific opportunities mentioned in this piece. To visit the Online Marketing Planner, head over to VISITFLORIDA.org/planner. The Benefits Checklist on pages 6-7 provides easy steps you can complete today to jump-start your marketing exposure and actively engage with VISIT FLORIDA. Thousands of VISIT FLORIDA Partners have shared that the more they actively participate in the marketing programs outlined in this guide, the greater the exposure they’ve enjoyed for their businesses. If you have any questions about the opportunities detailed in this guide, feel free to contact us on our toll-free Industry Hotline at (877) 435-2872. Together, we are VISIT FLORIDA.  VISIT FLORIDA® What is VISIT FLORIDA? VISIT FLORIDA is the state’s official tourism marketing corporation. For every $1 spent on tourism marketing, VISIT FLORIDA generates more than $258 in tourism spending and $15 in new sales tax collections, paid by visitors, not residents. VISIT FLORIDA promotes tourism to Florida through sales, advertising, promotions, public relations, social media, internet and visitor services programs. As a public/private partnership, VISIT FLORIDA serves nearly 12,000 tourism industry businesses, including 2,700 invested Partners, 8,900 web affiliates and major strategic alliance partnerships with Disney Destinations, Dollar Rent A Car, The Hertz Corporation, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and SeaWorld Orlando Parks and Universal Orlando. VISIT FLORIDA’s innovative marketing programs reach billions of potential visitors, influencing millions to visit the Sunshine State each year. VISIT FLORIDA also compiles the state’s official air and auto visitor counts, tracks tourism trends and conducts surveys to assess the effectiveness of advertising and marketing efforts. VISIT FLORIDA operates the state’s five Official Florida Welcome Centers at Interstates 10, 75, and 95, U.S. Highway 231 and the Florida Capitol Complex. VISIT FLORIDA maintains a corporate office in Tallahassee and has international contractors in Canada, China, the Europe Network (covering key markets in UK, Ireland, France, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Austria), India and Latin America covering Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela. To stay informed about VISIT FLORIDA happenings, be sure to follow our corporate blog at SunshineMatters.org. 2  Marketing Partner Guide How to Reach Us Toll-free Industry Hotline. ......................................................... (877) 435-2872 VISIT FLORIDA............................................................................ (850) 488-5607 Corporate Headquarters VISIT FLORIDA 2540 W. Executive Center Circle, Suite 200 Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Websites Consumer websites. ..........................................................VISITFLORIDA.com golf.VISITFLORIDA.com trails.VISITFLORIDA.com weddings.VISITFLORIDA.com FishingCapital.com ShareaLittleSunshine.org VISITFLORIDA.com/VIVA Industry website................................................................... VISITFLORIDA.org Media website. ........................................................media.VISITFLORIDA.org Meeting Planner website. ................................meetings.VISITFLORIDA.com Corporate blog. ............................................................. SunshineMatters.org Social Media Consumer. ............................................................. Twitter.com/VISITFLORIDA Facebook.com/VISITFLORIDA Facebook.com/ShareaLittleSunshine YouTube.com/VISITFLORIDA Foursquare.com/VISITFLORIDA Pinterest.com/VISITFLORIDA Linkedin.com/company/VISIT-FLORIDA Industry. ............................................................... Twitter.com/FloridaTourism Facebook.com/FloridaTourism 3  VISIT FLORIDA® Table of Contents Purpose of this Guide. ......................................................................................................1 What is VISIT FLORIDA?.....................................................................................................2 How to Reach Us...............................................................................................................3 Marketing Partner Benefits Checklist..............................................................................6 Marketing. .........................................................................................................................8 VISITFLORIDA.com VISITFLORIDA.com Insiders Florida Live Edit Your Listing Hot Deals Florida Vacation Auction Global Reach Viva Florida Sales (Domestic & International)...................................................................................11 Trade, Consumer & Meeting Shows VIP Events Trade Events Sales Leads Cover Your Event (CYE) Insurance Public Relations...............................................................................................................14 Media Receptions Media Missions Editorial Leads Quick/Urgent Leads media.VISITFLORIDA.org News Releases Image Library Promotions.......................................................................................................................16 Market-Specific Promotions Lead Forward Proactive Pitching Program Promotional Ticket Bank Welcome Center Promotions Website Sweepstakes Promo Insider Promotional Assistance Program Cooperative Advertising................................................................................................18 Online Marketing Planner Co-op Monthly eNewsletter 4  Marketing Partner Guide Visitor Services. ...............................................................................................................19 Brochure Rack Space Program & Enrollment Transparency Lease Space Program Seasonal Festivals Lobby Display Program “Own a Welcome Center” Program Kid’s Corner Florida Official Transportation Map Florida Information Network Fulfillment Requests Official VISIT FLORIDA Publications...............................................................................23 Official VISIT FLORIDA Magazine Special Interest eNewsletters Meeting Professionals Program Social Media. ..................................................................................................................25 Facebook & Twitter Foursquare Share a Little Sunshine....................................................................................................26 Key Partner Benefits Florida Fan Engagement Share a Little Sunshine Online Deals Research..........................................................................................................................28 Florida Visitor Study VISITFLORIDA.org/research Ask-An-Expert Co-op Research Tourism Decision Metrics PhoCusWright Grants . .............................................................................................................................30 Advertising Matching Grant Airline Grant Program City-Wide Meetings & Conventions Grant Cultural Heritage & Nature Tourism Grant Minority Convention Grant Small Business Partners Grant Program Partner Education & Communications.........................................................................31 Toll-free Industry Hotline Marketing Partner Guide Online Marketing Planner News to Use Industry Social Media Channels VISITFLORIDA.org Log-In & Learn/Learning Library Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism VISIT FLORIDA Partner Logo VISIT FLORIDA Departments & Staff Roster Access......................................................34 5  VISIT FLORIDA® Marketing Partner Benefits Checklist Are you making the most of your marketing partnership with VISIT FLORIDA? Whether you’re just getting started as a VISIT FLORIDA Marketing Partner or reviewing your benefits as an experienced Marketing Partner, this checklist is a quick way to determine full Partner engagement and ensure you achieve your marketing goals. Getting Started ---------------------------------------------------------------- p Receive your VISITFLORIDA.org Partner ID and password to explore VISIT FLORIDA’s opportunities and department programs. This info is included in your Welcome Kit, but can be retrieved at any time by contacting the toll-free Industry Hotline at (877) 435-2872. p Subscribe to our corporate blog, Sunshine Matters, and stay informed of top-line VISIT FLORIDA activities and initiatives. Simply go to SunshineMatters.org. Marketing & Sales-------------------------------------------------------------- p Update your web listing, which displays on VISIT FLORIDA’s consumer website, VISITFLORIDA.com. You can also post deals and events throughout the year. Don’t forget to include your social media links, as well! Update your listing by logging on to VISITFLORIDA.org/listing. p Download free Sales Leads from tour operator, travel agent and meeting planner sales events and tradeshows. You also have access to download a database of Florida Specialist travel agents. Simply go to the “Promote Your Business” section on VISITFLORIDA.org and click on the “Sales Leads” link. p Participate in the Florida Vacation Auction – the promotional website that features your special offers in an auction format. Your package will display on VISITFLORIDA.com and on