Super Week Wrap-Up
Greater Fort Lauderdale is enjoying the best kind of hangover... being showcased on the international stage and hosting the Super Bowl Championship Indianapolis Colts at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. We are pleased that GFL brings good luck to visiting teams, as victory, for the second time, goes to the Super Bowl team housed in Broward. We are 2 for 2. The Taste of the NFL at the Broward County Convention Center, benefitting the area's Daily Bread Food Bank, showcased chef and players from 32 NFL cities as well as a Styx concert and raised more than $700,000 for hunger relief. Super Saturday on the Sand in Hollywood Beach featured a celebrity flag football game and powerboat race, judged by Hulk Hogan. Gulfstream Park hosted a lavish red-carpet media party with sky divers, Joan Rivers impersonator, and sit down dinner. The GFLCVB team worked in the media center, meeting and greeting at NFL events and wearing Sunny.org shirts and holding signs at the CBS Early Morning Show taping at NFL Experience.

Multiculturally speaking
Greater Fort Lauderdale celebrates Black History Month with the release of the 2007 Greater Fort Lauderdale Multicultural Visitors Guide, showcasing GFL's diverse culture, special events listings, and African-American and Hispanic owned businesses. Visit www.sunny.org/multicultural for your free copy, or call (954) 765-4466 to order in bulk. The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival will present a film event series celebrating Black heritage in the arts, entertainment, and in cival rights history during the month of February. The GFLCVB Multicultural Development team is working with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives for their June 2007 annual conference, as well as Leadership Broward Foundation, Urban League of Broward County, and Coral Springs Multicultural Committee to bring group business to Broward.

Convention Sales Update
The 2007 Meeting Planners Guide is now available at sunny.org/meetingplanners, and features Greater Fort Lauderdale's meeting facilities, unique sites and convention services. The convention sales department booked 64 groups in January for 113,122 room nights, bringing the Fiscal YTD total to 515,031 total room nights.
Some of the bookings this month include:
Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition- January 2008- 4,000 room nights
Medical Records Institute- May 2008- 3,650 room nights
Governor’s Hurricane Conference- May 2009- 4,870 room nights
Infusion Nurses Society- May 2010- 4,045 room nights
International Parking Institute- May 2017- 5,255 room nights

Groups meeting in February include:
Feb 4-8: Interactive Data, 765 room nights
Feb 6-13: GMAC Real Estate Annual Business Conference, 3,975 room nights
Feb 9-16: ITT Industries 2007 Forum, 2,642 room nights
Feb 10-15: JM Family National Sales Conference, 1,271 room nights
Feb 19-26: PRI-MED South 2007, 3,640 room nights
Feb 20-26: Florida Osteopathic Medical Association, 585 room nights
Feb 23-Mar 1: CRM Leadership Forum, 650 room nights
Feb 27-Mar 4: Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes, 1,173 room nights

Sport Lauderdale
Greater Fort Lauderdale welcomes the following sports groups in February:
Feb 7-17: FHSAA Boys & Girls Soccer Finals State Tournament, 16,000 room nights
Feb 7-11: Billfish Expo & Tournament, 7,900 room nights
Feb 9-11: Florida Gold Coast Sr Circuit Swim Meet, 500 room nights
Feb 9-12: International Fishing Seminar, 4,000 room nights
Feb 10-12: Florida Citrus Cup, 5,000 room nights
Feb 16-18: President's Day Extragavanza, 450 room nights
Feb 16-19: Presidential Classic, 1,800 room nights
Feb 16-19: 5th Annual Water Polo International Age Group Championships, 5,000 room nights
Feb 24-25: Triple Crown Fort Lauderdale, 450 room nights
Feb 23-26: City of Fort Lauderdale Masters Challenge, 7,000 room nights

Pace yourself. Greater Fort Lauderdale welcomes A1A Marathon, Feb 18
Greater Fort Lauderdale welcomes A1A Marathon, Feb 18. Cheer on the runners of the 26.2 mile race through Greater Fort Lauderdale which starts on Las Olas Boulevard at 6:30 am on February 18 and continues to A1A up to Pompano Beach. More than 3,000 racers are expected to participate in the A1A Marathon. Broward's Blue Wave Beaches will serve as the ultimate backdrop for all the festivities. A ½ marathon is scheduled as well. (561) 241-3801 or visit www.a1amarathon.com

Tourism Sales Update
The GFLCVB proudly welcomes Fernando Harb to the team as Director of Sales. Fernando's responsibilities include selling Greater Fort Lauderdale as a viable leisure and meetings and convention destination to travel agents, tour operators, and groups both domestically and internationally. Most recently he held the position of director of sales & marketing at the Hollywood Beach Marriott. Fernando can be reached at fharb@broward.org, (954) 767-2448. Greater Fort Lauderdale launched a new travel agent specialist program with Travel Agent Academy. The fun and colorful program features streaming video, slide shows, sales information and links that will give you the tools you need to grab a part of the visitor market flocking to Greater Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit sunny.org/travelagents.

Go Beyond, June 1-Sept 30
Following the success of the Summer of Discovery 2006 program, plans are underway for the 2007 "second season" campaign to increase summer business. We invite Greater Fort Lauderdale attractions, cultural activities, spas, golf courses, dive operators and unique venues, to provide a 2 for 1 offer which will be redeemed by the visitor in the form of a coupon. The GFLCVB will be responsible for the cost of the printing and distribution of the coupon books as well as marketing the program. If you would like to participate, please contact Lori Rempe at (954) 767-2449 or lrempe@broward.org by Feb 12.

Hotel News
Fort Lauderdale Grande: LXR is currently renovating the entire tower – a little under 300 rooms – for a massive overhaul.
Pier Sixty-Six: In addition to Pier Top and deluxe Lanai guest rooms, the refurbishment of the Tower guest rooms and the Lanai Courtyard is complete, with eight added deluxe cabanas to the oasis pool area. Coming soon: renovated lobby and enhanced meeting space.
Crowne Plaza SIAN Resort in Hollywood: open date March 15, with infinity-edged pool, meeting space, beach and Intracoastal views, and gourmet restaurant.

Happenings Around Town
The Fort Lauderdale Historical Society welcomes its new executive director, Richard C. Borges, Ph.D.
Feb 8-11: Seminole Tribal Fair, Pow Wow & Rodeo, Hard Rock Live
Feb 10-Mar 11: Florida Renaissance Festival, Quiet Waters Park, Deerfield Beach
Feb 12: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Feb 13-14: Frank Sinatra, Jr., Hard Rock Live
Feb 14: Julio Iglesias, Sinatra Theatre, BankAtlantic Center
Feb 15: Huey Lewis and the News, Hard Rock Live
Feb 16: Smucker's Stars on Ice, BankAtlantic Center
Feb 18: Liza Minnelli, Sinatra Theatre, BankAtlantic Center
Feb 19: Celtic Woman - A New Journey, Sinatra Theatre, BankAtlantic Center
Feb 21: Taste of the Beach, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea
Feb 23: Blue Man Group, BankAtlantic Center
Feb 23-25: Riverdance, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Feb 25: Justin Timberlake, BankAtlantic Center
Feb 28: HSMAI luncheon at PierTop Lounge with Carlos Molinet guest speaker
Feb 28: Patti LaBelle, Sinatra Theatre, BankAtlantic Center
Mar 3-4: Las Olas Art Fair, downtown Fort Lauderdale
Through April 15: Cradle of Christianity: Jewish and Christian Treasures from the Holy Land
Through May 1: Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge, Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale

With all best wishes,

Nicki E. Grossman
President