Happy New Year
A special thank you to our hospitality community for a wonderful 2007. It's an absolute pleasure to work with you, and absorb your friendly warmth and energy. October numbers are in, and we are happy to report increases in hotel occupancy to 64.3%, a 2.1% increase over October 2006, and the average daily room rate was $123.59, a 9.5% increase over October 2006. The future looks bright for us...so put on your shades and celebrate the new year South Florida style. Here's to a great 2008.

Warming Up Times Square
The warmth of Greater Fort Lauderdale will be wrapped around the Toys R Us building at 44th and Broadway in Times Square through Feb 15, with the message "78° and sunny (again)."

Beach Chic making waves
To highlight the new luxury product now available in GFL, we are proud to present an 8-page Beach Chic fold-out booklet that will be inserted in Conde Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure, and NY Times T Magazine in January and February, reaching more than 2.7 million readers. Created in an inviting editorial-style, the inserts feature a sampling of high-end hotels, restaurants and leisure pursuits. Accompanying online materials include a new microsite, www.sunny.org/luxe, with music, enticing visuals in a complete departure from the traditional sunny.org pages. Encourage your out-of-town friends and family to enter the Dream it, Design it, Win it sweepstakes to win a four-night beach chic getaway. Enter at www.sunny.org/win. Two new 30-second TV spots debut at the end of January to help drive business.

New Online Initiatives
We've kicked off the new year with several online projects that tell the Greater Fort Lauderdale story and stay top-of-mind with consumers, travel agents and meeting planners. Watch 13 new podcast videos that are woven throughout the pages of Sunny.org. In addition to the printed version, the virtual 2008 Vacation Planner lives at www.sunny.org/virtualplanner.

Sunny.org Receives Adrian Award
We are proud to announce that the CVB's web marketing efforts, including the sunny.org website and "Groundhog's Day" blast email, will be recognized at the HSMAI Adrian Awards in New York City on Jan 28.

Upcoming Media Visits
This month, the PR department welcomes Phil Reay-Smith, UK Sunday Telegraph, Dec 26-Jan 2; Dale Erskine, Harrisburg Magazine, Jan 1-2; Keyla Steinkraus, Birmingham Parent, Jan 5-7; Ryan Bradley, National Geographic Adventure, Jan 17-21; Stan Posner and Sandra Phillips, Drive I-95 Guide Book, Jan 18; and Hollywood Beach Marriott Media Fam, Jan 24-27. Jessica Taylor will participate in the Visit Florida Toronto media luncheon in Toronto on Jan 18.

Tourism Sales Update
Domestically, the tourism sales team is participating in the Boston Globe Travel Show, American Bus Assn. show in Virginia Beach, SATH in Orlando, RSA Summit in St. Petersburg, Florida Huddle in Tampa, and will host a travel agent event in Washington, D.C.

Beachmobile Goes Global
The Greater Fort Lauderdale "Beach on Wheels," a perennial favorite in the northeast U.S., hits the streets of London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and surrounding areas in January. In addition to buzz generation and consumer promotions with Zoom Airlines' announcement of new service to FLL, the Beach on Wheels will serve as a beach backdrop for media interviews and on-location weather reports.

Multicultural Business Development
In a heartwarming holiday event, the CVB and Albert Tucker, VP of multicultural business development, partnered with 100 Black Men of Greater Fort Lauderdale and Wal-Mart to provide new bicycles for 100 children who were chosen by their schools for exemplary behavior and/or academic achievement. At the event, the president of 100 Black Men announced that the national conference for 100 Black Men of America will convene in Broward County in 2010. In Jan, GFL welcomes the Urban League's Mid-Winter conference at the Fort Lauderdale Grand. Women in Ministry will bring their annual conference to GFL in Nov 2008. In other news, our own Nicki Grossman is receiving an award from the Sistrunk Historical Festival on Sat, Feb 2 at the Broward Convention Center.

January Convention Sales Update
Groups meeting in January generate more than $20 million to Broward County. Sample groups include:
Jan 14-21: Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Assn. Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition (2,200 attendees)
Jan 17-25: International Symposium on Endovascular Therapy (1,200 attendees)
Jan 24-30: Society of Thoracic Surgeons (2,500 attendees)
Jan 24-Feb 2: Centocor National Meeting (900 attendees)

Sport Lauderdale
Greater Fort Lauderdale welcomes the following sports groups in January, with more than 65,500 competitors plus family and friends:
Dec 19-Jan 15: 72nd Annual College Swim Coaches Forum (9,000 attendees)
Dec 26-Jan 2: FedEx Orange Bowl (16,000 attendees)
Jan 2-6: Dixie Amateur Golf Invitational (2,950 attendees)
Jan 3-7: All Star Challenge (4,000 attendees)
Jan 4-6: Softball Coaches Clinic (8,500 attendees)
Jan 5-16: NCAA Soccer Coaches Recertification (3,500 attendees)
Jan 11-13: Jr. Orange Bowl Gymnastics (800 attendees)
Jan 12-15: USC Coaches/GMs Meeting (2,700 attendees)
Jan 15-21: USC/Canada Soccer Showcase (5,800 attendees)
Jan 24-29: Island Classic Socder (3,600 attendees)
Jan 25-28: Florida Lacrosse Classic (1,000 attendees)
Jan 29-Feb 9: International Soccer Qualifier (7,650 attendees)

Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2007
The 2007 Broward County Sports Hall of Fame honoring Broward's sports legends, took place Tuesday, December 11 at the Broward County Convention Center. Congratulations to the Class of 2007: Fred Turner - Sports Journalist, Rick Tucci - Wrestling, Errict Rhett - Football, Greg Samuel - Basketball, Earl Weaver - Baseball, June Krauser - Swimming.

Hotel News
Congratulations to the Pelican Grand Beach Resort, who was named "Best of the East" by Forum Publishing, who said "As you approach, it looks like a giant sandcastle on a private island." Luckey Management announces plans to open a new 150-room Crowne Plaza airport hotel in 2009, approximately a half mile from FLL. Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Airport-North is officially open on SE 10th Ave, just off of SE 17th St Causeway. The Rainbow Beach Inn, on Orton Ave, Fort Lauderdale, opens in Jan and caters to gay/lesbian visitors and their children. The Sheraton Suites Plantation/Fort Lauderdale has completed a $12 million refurbishment project, including new lobby, renovated Cilantro's restaurant and new guestroom bathrooms, furniture, beds, carpeting and wall coverings.

Superior Small Lodging Conference
GFL welcomed 65 Superior Small Lodging property owners from across the state for an annual conference, held at the Broward Convention Center in early Dec. Special partnerships with Visit Florida (including free brochure distribution at Visit Florida welcome centers, courtesy of Nicki Grossman, Chair) and Travelocity are helping to keep the SSL brand strong for the 72 Broward Superior Small Lodgings.

Dania Beach Art and Antique Festival Seeks Vendors
The third annual Dania Beach Art and Antique Festival is looking for local artists to participate in the 2008 event, Jan 25-27. The image shown left is from South Florida artist Wanda Murphy. Purvis Young and other renowned artists have headlined the festival since its inception, and the show has kick-started several artistic careers and showcases some of the nation's leading antique dealers. Click here to download the application.

Light Up Lauderdale
Downtown Fort Lauderdale is aglow with glittering displays from East Las Olas Blvd. through Riverwalk Park, visible by boat, foot or car through Jan 8. The month-long free holiday light celebration is funded by Riverwalk Trust, Las Olas Association and the City of Fort Lauderdale.

The Plane Facts: FLL News
Zoom Airlines, the leading low-fare trans-Atlantic airline, has announced a new route from London Gatwick to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport beginning in May, with twice-weekly service. Spirit Airlines launched new nonstop service from Grand Bahama Island on Dec 13.

The Great Fur Clearance Event
Sawgrass Mills Neiman Marcus Last Call invites you to save 50-70% off original Neiman Marcus prices on all furs, Jan 3-6. Designer furs in sable, mink, chinchilla and shearling including petites, plus sizes and men's sizes.

Happenings Around Town
Through Jan 8: Light Up Lauderdale
Through Feb 17: Bodies - The Exhibition, Las Olas Riverfront
Jan 1-13: The Drowsy Chaperone, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Jan 4-5: A Life in Concert Celebrating Rita Hayworth, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Jan 5: Frank Sinatra, Jr., Hard Rock Live
Jan 5-6: Las Olas Art Fair, Las Olas Blvd.
Jan 8: Florida Panthers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, BankAtlantic Center
Jan 11: Neil Sedaka, Coral Springs Center for the Arts
Jan 11-13: International Gem & Jewelry Show, Broward County Convention Center
Jan 12: Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, BankAtlantic Center
Jan 13: Florida Panthers vs. Colorado Avalanche, BankAtlantic Center
Jan 13: Willie Nelson, Hard Rock Live
Jan 15: Behind the Mask - The Music of Andrew Lloyd Weber, Florida Sunshine Pops, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Jan 16-17: Broadway on Ice, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Jan 16: Foo Fighters, BankAtlantic Center
Jan 18: Dennis DeYoung - The Music of Styx with Rock Symphony, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Jan 18-20: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, Hollywood
Jan 19: Bishop Vashti McKenzie guest speaker, City of Lauderhill's Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Jan 19: Jay Black, Parker Playhouse
Jan 19: Annie, Coral Springs Center for the Arts
Jan 20: Bill Cosby, Hard Rock Live
Jan 20: The World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions, BankAtlantic Center
Jan 22: Florida Panthers vs. Ottawa Senators, BankAtlantic Center
Jan 23-Feb 5: South Florida Senior Games
Jan 24: Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers, BankAtlantic Center
Jan 25: Matchbox Twenty, BankAtlantic Center
Jan 25-27: Dania Beach Art & Antique Festival
Jan 25-27: Tarantella, Miami City Ballet, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Jan 26-27: Canadafest, Hollywood Beach Broadwalk
Jan 26: Jackie Mason, BankAtlantic Center's Sinatra Theatre
Jan 29-Feb 10: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Jan 31-Feb 1: Rod Stewart, Hard Rock Live

With all best wishes,

Nicki E. Grossman
President