Skift Take
If legislators ultimately slash funding for Visit Florida — and the state's governor signs off on the budget — will the private sector step in with more cash? Or will the organization be forced to cut its marketing efforts as competition heats up for international tourists?
Visit Florida's new CEO made a desperate plea to lawmakers Friday morning as they prepare to pass a budget that would slash the marketing organization's funding by 67 percent.
The request from Ken Lawson, who was named to the job in January, was backed by statements from Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.
"We need you to fund Visit Florida, not just because it's an organization," Lawson said. "Because we're a state and we're a brand and we've got to fight the competition that's coming after us."
Leaders from the Florida House and Senate this week agreed to a budget deal that would allocate $25 million to the tourism marketing corporation for 2017–18, down from $76 million this fiscal year. Earlier this month, Scott asked legislators to set aside $100 million for Visit Florida in a surpr
