New 2009 Vacation Planner
Advertising sales will soon come to a close for the 2009 edition of the award-winning official Greater Fort Lauderdale Vacation Planner. Due to an overwhelming response, only a few spaces remain. The deadline has been extended until July 9. This primary consumer response piece is sent to all inquiries generated by the CVB’s $6 million annual advertising campaign. A new virtual e-guide featuring all advertisers prominently displayed on sunny.org will accompany the printed piece. Contact: Marcia Bayer, Miles Media, 954-850-1869.

Lauderdale Spa Chic
Get ready for the first annual LAUDERDALE SPA CHIC presented by American Express, from September 1-30, with spa treatments for $99 (up to 50% savings). Spa Chic Stays, including spa treatment and one-night luxe accommodations, start at $249. Relax, refresh and renew at a participating spa resort: The Atlantic Resort & Spa, Diplomat Golf Resort & Spa, Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach Resort, Grand Resort & Spa (gay), Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six, Hollywood Beach Marriott, St. Regis Fort Lauderdale Resort, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel, and The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa. For details visit www.sunny.org/spachic

Meet Green
The GFLCVB is working with Florida Green Lodgings and Broward County Parks to help offset the carbon footprint of meetings and conventions. In addition to serving as an environmentally-sensitive incentive to welcoming groups to Broward, the goal is to help restore GFL's natural beauty and community with native trees. Embassy Suites 17th Street (green team with Vice Mayor Ritter and Nicki Grossman, pictured right) and Comfort Suites Airport Cruise Port each presented a $500 check to Broward County Parks for plantings and reforestation. To participate in the greening of Broward, visit sunny.org/GreenBroward. Striving to attract green meetings and eco-friendly travelers, nearly two dozen Greater Fort Lauderdale properties are in the process of being designated Florida Green Lodgings, hotels featuring innovative or imaginative programs to conserve natural resources, reduce waste and minimize pollution. In June, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) awarded official "Green Certifications" to Comfort Suites Airport/Cruise Port in Fort Lauderdale, Embassy Suites 17th in Fort Lauderdale, Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach Resort & Spa and Hampton Inn in Hallandale Beach.

First “Green” City-Wide: The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)
The GFL “Green Team,” featuring sales/service, housekeeping, and engineering staff from all ten participating UUA hotels attended the general assembly pre-con, our first “green” city-wide, June 25-29. As a result of hosting the UUA General Assembly, Greater Fort Lauderdale has also been invited to participate in the launch of Meeting Strategies Worldwide’ website as a Best Places to MeetGreen® Verified Destination. Designed for meeting planners around the world seeking environmentally responsible locations, GFL will be listed among a very short list of destinations “leading by example.”

Convention Sales Team Update
The convention sales team has been busy showcasing GFL to Solution Tree for their state summit, Shay Financial Services for their annual investment conference, Bitboard Show Prep Networks for Bit Fest 2009, O-I Global Meeting, Florida Assn of Insurance Agents and Office of Financial Regulation. The sales team was recently in Los Angeles for PCMA Leadership Conference, Long Beach for HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings, Florida Space Coast Hospitality, Salt Lake City for Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association Annual Meeting, Chicago for Association Forum Honors Gala, Highland Park, IL for MPI Chicago Area Chapter Golf Tournament, Chicago for PCMA Greater Midwest Chapter Quarterly Meeting, Chicago for Destinations Showcase and Salt Lake City for Intl Association of Assessing Officers Annual Meeting. Catch the sales team soon at these upcoming events and tradeshows:
July 14-18: Greater Fort Lauderdale Client Event/ Sales Trip, Toronto
July 16-19: Kellen Company Global Summit for Managers, Atlanta
July 28-30: DMAI Annual Meeting, Las Vegas

Welcome Aboard
The GFLCVB Convention & Group Sales team welcomes Nora Gorman as Regional Sales Director for the Greater Chicagoland area effective July 21. Nora previously served as the area senior sales manager, midwest, for Luxury Resorts & Hotels (LXR). A Chicago native and resident for more than 30 years, Nora has represented 100 properties and convention and visitors bureaus with her former employer of 17 years, Hinton and Grusich. Until recently Nora lived in Greater Fort Lauderdale, bringing intimate knowledge of both areas to her new position. Nora’s office will be located in downtown Chicago. The CVB also welcomes Andrea Voss as the new Administrative Aide to the CVB's Finance and Administration team.

July Conventions
Groups meeting in July will generate more than $25 million to Broward County. Sample groups include:
July 4-11: 11th Annual International Coral Reef Symposium (2,500 attendees)
July 7-15: Hamilton Group Meeting Planners, Inc. Annual Convention (525 attendees)
July 14-18: National Black Prosecutors (200 attendees)
July 17-20: Beach Fiesta Singles Retreat (300 attendees)
July 24-31: NPHA/SNPHA (400 attendees)
July 30-Aug 8: Florida Conference of Circuit Court Judges (450 attendees)
July 31-Aug 3: Tabu Entertainment (3,000 attendees)

Sport Lauderdale
Greater Fort Lauderdale welcomes the following sports groups in July, with more than 33,600 competitors plus family and friends:
July 1-6: South State FABA Championships (420 attendees)
July 3-6: Freedom T20 Cricket Tournament (160 attendees)
July 4-6: Coral Springs SF State Championships (2,100 attendees)
July 7-13: Women’s Nat’l Golden Gloves Tournament (100 attendees)
July 9-13: 16s World Series Qualifier (2,700 attendees)
July 10-13: State Connie Mac Qualifier (900 attendees)
July 10-13: Hofball Baseball Travel Team Classice (4,000 attendees)
July 12-14: Beach Volleyball (800 attendees)
July 12-14: Family Fitness Weekend (850 attendees)
July 13-20: Boys 14 National Clay Court Championships (2000 attendees)
July 15-20: Jr. Baseball Classic (3,500 attendees)
July 15-20: Rising Stars Summer Showcase (6,000 attendees)
July 17-20: USA Swimming – Speedo Champs Series/Southern Sectional
July 17-24: US Open Jr. Judo (580 attendees)
July 17-24: Big League Regional Champs (1,400 attendees)
July 22-26: Connie Mac Regional (1,500 attendees)
July 24-27: Hofball Summer Shootout (2,600 attendees)
July 25-27: SSG Water Polo Championships (650 attendees)
July 26-28: South FL Recreational Swimming Champs (270 attendees)
July 26-Aug 4: AAU Diving Championships (1,100 attendees)

Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association Golf Tournament
A golf tournament benefiting FRLA Broward Chapter's Educational and L.I.F.E. Funds will be held on July 14 at Coral Ridge Country Club. $185 for individual player, $700 for foursome. Sponsorships are available. Please contact: Lynne Hernandez, FRLA, 305-443-5355 or LHernandez@frla.org.

SUNsational Porter Program Continues to Shine At Port Everglades
The SUNsational Training for Professional Porters, a series of training sessions launched for the 2008 cruise season, received a prestigious 2008 Communications Award of Merit from the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA). The program enhances guest relations with cruise customers, and ultimately enhances a cruise passenger’s experience. The key messages conveyed were that Port Everglades values customer service and that Greater Fort Lauderdale is a friendly destination to visit. This program was adapted from Broward County’s SUNsational Service model developed for local hospitality professionals in 1999 by the GFLCVB.

Tourism Sales Update
The Tourism Sales Team attended the recent Pow Wow 2008 in Vegas which brought together more than 5,000 travel industry delegates under one roof. More than 90 pre-scheduled appointments were held at the GFLCVB booth over three days. If the Bahamas market is important to you, the Tourism Sales team is planning a July Sales Mission. More info to follow shortly. Contact jwinston@broward.org.

Multiculturally Speaking
Greater Fort Lauderdale will host 21 family reunions in July, including the largest to date with 250 room nights at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport.

Hotel News
Congratulations to Richard Gray from the Royal Palms Resort for receiving the Planet Out Award in Las Vegas. The Sheraton Suites Plantation announces the appointment of Jon Erickson as Director of Sales. The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa was featured in Venture Magazine's June edition for its green initiatives in the luxury market. The Hampton Inn Plantation was recognized as Hampton's top property in Florida. Pelican Grand Beach Resort is offering a "Day at the Beach Package" with oceanfront accommodations for the day (Mon-Thurs, 8am-6pm) through Sept 15, starting at $99, with free ice cream for kids.

New site for vacation and travel savings
The new, one-stop Savings On Arrival website provides visitors with printable coupons for attractions, dining, nightlife, golf, tours, lodging, recreation, shopping and just about anything they may want to do on their vacation or while traveling. Right now, www.SavingsOnArrival.com is offering a free webpage for a full year to Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau partners. Call (954) 537-9600 ext.101, or email ilewis@SavingsOnArrival.com.

Sawgrass Live
Sunrise Sports & Entertainment announced that the Sinatra Theatre presented by BankAtlantic will now be known as Sawgrass Live presented by BankAtlantic, effective immediately. Sawgrass Live is South Florida’s premier performing arts, entertainment and events venue and will welcome a wide spectrum of world-renowned artists and entertainers across all genres, as well as corporate and other events. Sawgrass Live looks forward to welcoming contemporary artists from genres such as hip-hop, classic rock, comedy, R&B and more.

News from the Parimutuels
Every Monday in July and August, Isle Casino & Racing at Pompano Park will host the first slot tournaments to be offered in Florida casinos -- free slot tournaments with $5,000 in prizes available each week. Syesha Mercado, second runner-up on American Idol, greeted her fans at Gulfstream Park on June 4.

Taste of South Florida, Pompano Citi Centre
On Saturday, August 16, from 9am-3pm, Pompano Citi Centre hosts the Broward Farm Bureau’s “Taste of South Florida.” The free event encourages residents to buy more local products and services with agricultural related activities for kids, food samplings, food competitions with best appetizer, entrée, dessert and beverage, master gardener landscaping demonstrations and conservation tips. Free vendor spots are available for members of the bureau and $155 for non-members to include a one-year membership to the Farm Bureau. Pompano Citi Centre is located on the SW Corner of US1 and Copans Road. To sign up for a vendor spot or to enter into the food competition, contact Fred Segal at 954-849-0745 or Dana Klein at 954-923-4343.

Happenings Around Town
July 3: Revelocai, Club Cinema, Pompano Beach
July 3: Ringo Starr & His All Star Band, Hard Rock Live
July 4-6: FREEDOM T20 Cricket Tournament, Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill
July 4: Hollywood's Hometown Fourth, Hollywood Beach
July 4: Fort Lauderdale Fireworks Spectacular, Fort Lauderdale Beach
July 4: 4th of July Celebration at the BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise
July 4-5: The Radiators, Culture Room
July 5: Fireworks Extravaganza, Gulfstream Park
July 5: The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil, Cinema Paradiso
July 6: SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch, Riverwalk, Downtown Fort Lauderdale
July 9: My Trip Down the Pink Carpet starring Leslie Jordan, Parker Playhouse
July 10: Carole King, Hard Rock Live
July 10-12: Rapunzel, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
July 11: 2008 NPC Southern States Fitness and Figure Championships, War Memorial Auditorium
July 12: 2008 NPC Southern States Body Building Championship, War Memorial Auditorium
July 11-Aug 10: Vanessa Tomchik: Green Screen Series, Recent Paintings, Art & Culture Center of Hollywood
July 11: Broadwalk Friday Fest, Hollywood Beach
July 11: Bank of America Starlight Musicals Concert Series: Jimmy Stowe & the Stowaways, Holiday Park, Fort Lauderdale
July 12: ABBA Tribute Concert: Björn Again, Parker Playhouse
July 13-20: USTA Boys 14 National Clay Court Championships, Jimmy Evert Tennis Center, Fort Lauderdale
July 15: Michael Bolton, Hard Rock Live
July 15: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, BankAtlantic Center
July 18-20: Backyardigans, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
July 18-20: US Open Junior Judo Championships, Broward Convention Center
July 18: Bank of America Starlight Musicals Concert Series: Joey Gilmore Band, Holiday Park, Fort Lauderdale
July 22: Zappa Plays Zappa, Club Cinema, Pompano Beach
July 24: Anita Baker, Hard Rock Live
July 25: Broadwalk Friday Fest, Hollywood Beach
July 25: Bank of America Starlight Musicals Concert Series: The Fabulons, Holiday Park, Fort Lauderdale
July 25: Boy George, Club Cinema, Pompano Beach
July 26: Cinderella, Warrant with George Lynch and Lynam, Pompano Beach Amphitheater
July 26: Wine, Jazz and Taste of Plantation, Renaissance Plantation Hotel
July 30-31: Girls Night, The Musical, Parker Playhouse

With all best wishes,

Nicki E. Grossman
President