GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (August 23, 2024) – The first annual Sun, Sand, and Synergy Tourism Partnership Summit hosted by Visit Lauderdale – the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale – empowered local businesses to harness the region’s tourism potential.
The event, held at the Broward County Convention Center, on August 8, 2024, marked a significant milestone in the region's tourism industry as Visit Lauderdale welcomed more than 250 business professionals to network and learn ways to tap into tourist revenue streams.
The half-day session was packed with a series of thought-provoking panels and presentations that provided attendees with valuable insights into current trends, challenges, and opportunities in the tourism industry.
This turnout underscores the growing local interest and investment in Greater Fort Lauderdale's tourism landscape.
Some key takeaways for attendees included:
- Visit Lauderdale’s partnerships with hotels, restaurants, attractions, and small businesses are critical to the region’s tourism industry.
- Greater Fort Lauderdale collected more than $125 million in tourist revenue in 2023.
- More than 32 million visitors flew into Fort Lauderdale International Airport in 2023.
- The demand for hotels is up 3% over last year, with three new hotels consisting of 394 rooms in the pipeline for 2024.
- Inclusive travel is a key differentiator for Visit Lauderdale, in 2023 nearly three million LGBT+ travelers visited Greater Fort Lauderdale and spent approximately $1.3 billion in our local economy.
Please join us at our next partner event on Thursday, September 5, 2024, at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for more ways to engage with the Visit Lauderdale team.
For more information or to RSVP for the upcoming partner event, check out Visit Lauderdale.com.
About Greater Fort Lauderdale
With 24 miles of golden sand beaches and 300+ miles of navigable waterways, Greater Fort Lauderdale is known as the Venice of America and Yachting Capital of the World. The area boasts an average year-round temperature of 77˚F, has 3,000+ hours of annual sunshine, and is home to 31 unique municipalities, including eight distinct beach communities, each offering something for “everyone under the sun.” Residents hailing from 170 countries, speaking 147 languages call this diverse destination home. And there’s good reason, including the area’s unwavering commitment to accessibility and inclusion. Upon arrival at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), a five-minute drive will get you to the beach, Port Everglades, the newly expanded Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, and a bustling downtown. Experience 4,000+ eateries, a thriving arts and culture scene, craft breweries, stunning rooftop bars, fishing, diving, and the unmatched beauty of the Florida Everglades. From world-class shopping, to boating, yachts and superyachts all moored at the area’s many marinas, it’s no wonder Greater Fort Lauderdale is one of the most desirable places to stay, work and play. The destination has more than 38,000 unique lodging accommodations at a variety of hotels, luxury spa resorts, and beautifully appointed, boutique properties, all reflecting the area’s cosmopolitan vibe.
About Visit Lauderdale
Visit Lauderdale is the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale and serves as the tourism department for Broward County, Florida. Visit Lauderdale promotes the area’s 31 municipalities to a global audience of leisure and business travelers as the ideal place for Everyone Under the Sun in recognition of the area’s diverse and welcoming vibe, and books conventions into the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center and area hotels and resorts. Find more information and follow @VisitLauderdale on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.