Visit Florida urges Canadians to #FlockToFlorida

Toronto’s travel media got a taste of sand and sunshine last night (Oct. 18) at Snell Hall in downtown Toronto as Visit Florida hosted a marketplace and info session to kick-off its #FlockToFlorida winter campaign.

“Florida is opening its arms this winter and we’re sharing our warmth and sunshine with visitors who need to escape from the cold,” Summer Gonzalez, a public relations representative for Visit Florida, said at the event, which drew approximately 70 attendees plus 13 trade partners.

Summer Gonzalez, PR rep for Visit Florida, greets guests at #FlockToFlorida.

In 2015, 3.8 million Canadians visited the Sunshine State, with the largest percentage visiting in January, February and March, Gonzalez noted.

“Clearly Canadians love Florida,” Gonzalez told PAX. “Florida is so diverse. We’re not just beaches and Disney World, but we also have nature, natural springs and beautiful state parks. Everything you could possibly want…minus mountains.”

In between eating toasted Cuban sandwiches and sipping pinot grigio and beer, the night's guests had the opportunity to roam the room and visit booths staged by 13 trade partners from the Florida region.

What Gonzalez loves most about Florida (besides the warm weather) is that “you can’t get bored,” she told PAX. “Within a couple hours’ drive, you have everything at your fingertips.”

Visit Florida estimates that about 105 million people total visited Florida in 2015 with Canada being the top international country for visitation.

The night's marketplace inlcluded 13 trade partners from the Florida region.

The night’s 13 trade partners included the Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel, Benchmark Hospitality International, Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Florida Keys and Key West, Florida’s Paradise Coast – Naples Marco Island, Everglades, Greater Fort Lauderdale, Hawks Cay Resort, Hayworth PR, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau, Visit Jacksonville, Visit Orlando, Visit Tampa Bay and Experience Kissimmee.

For more information, go to VisitFlorida.com.