Year-End Stats
Greater Fort Lauderdale tourism kicked off 2008 on a high note with increases in hotel occupancy and room rate figures for January. This on the heels of the destination welcoming a record 10.7 million visitors in 2007, eclipsing its previous mark of 10.35 million set just last year by 3%. Expenditures rose to $8.87 billion, an increase of 1.3% over 2006 when overall spending was estimated at $8.76 billion. Greater Fort Lauderdale's destination-wide upscale renaissance also contributed to a healthy average daily rate (ADR) of $125.64 for 2007, a 9.3% increase from 2006. Bed tax collections increased nearly 5% year-over-year to $4,255,453.75. Year-end hotel occupancy averaged out at 70.4%, compared to the national average of 63.2% and state of Florida average of 64.1%.

Fort Lauderdale Makes a Splash in New York City
The GFLCVB blitzed New York City in February, targeting media, meeting planners and consumers. The Beachmobile (which a New Yorker told us was becoming a winter tradition similar to the iconic Oscar Meyer-mobile) cruised the streets of Manhattan and the Sunny.org billboard shone brighly in Times Square, as media and meeting planners experienced a taste of Greater Fort Lauderdale at exclusive VIP receptions. Click to view a wrap-up video of the NYC blitz.

Water Taxi News
Water Taxi's new owner, William Walker, has debuted expanded service, including the new South Beach Express aboard the Island Discovery 65' catamaran available Fri-Mon. The South Beach Express departs Fort Lauderdale (dock sits directly underneath the SE 17th Street Causeway bridge) at 8:30am and returns between 6:30-7pm. Reservations required.

Domestic Tourism Sales Update
Josh Winston just returned from the Boston Travel Show and travel agent reception, and our Beachmobile was in town supporting his tourism sales efforts. Attached is the front page of the Feb 23 Boston Globe showcasing the miserable Boston winter weather and our sunny Beachmobile. Greater Fort Lauderdale welcomes Cruise3sixty to the Broward Convention Center, Mar 7-9. This is the industry's must-attend cruise conference and the premier event for Cruise Lines International Association.

Lights, Camera, Action
Greater Fort Lauderdale welcomes major star power this winter, with film and television production in Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood. Highlights include: Bart Got a Room, starring William H. Macy and Cheryl Hines; Marley & Me, starring Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson and Alan Arkin; and Chilled in Miami, starring Rene Zellweger and Harry Connick, Jr.

Dream It, Design It, Win It
The GFLCVB's Beach Chic Getaway (www.sunny.org/win) wraps up this month with stellar results to date. More than 21,000 people have entered to win a four-night stay at a Lauderdale Luxe hotel, including roundtrip airfare and choice of activities, from spa, diving, yachting, golf, shopping. The sweepstakes is part of a Beach Chic promotional campaign, with 8-page "magazine-within-a-magazine" inserts running in Conde Nast Traveler, New York Times T Travel Magazine and Travel & Leisure.

Upcoming Media Visits
This month, the PR department welcomes Karen Catchpole, Global Features; Theresa Russell, travel website for Cruise Industry; Richard Nowitz, Insight Guides and Conde Nast Traveler; and Jacky Runice, The Daily Herald in Chicago. Jessica Taylor heads to Berlin, Germany for ITB media this month.

Help us help you
Please send us your current press kit with up-to-date releases, brochures, menus, bios, etc. so that we can continue to field media leads and provide the latest information about our industry partners. Mail to: Jessica Taylor, GFLCVB, 100 East Broward Blvd., Suite 200, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, jtaylor@broward.org

Greater Fort Lauderdale goes green.
The Broward County Commission is committed to preserving our water resources and sensitive ecosystems in Greater Fort Lauderdale. As the county continues to grow, so do the demands on our water supply. The Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB has created an environmentally-friendly in-room card for hotel guests. The cards read: To help us preserve water, our most precious resource, your linens will be changed only when this card is placed on the bed in the morning. Thank you for joining the Board of Broward County Commissioners in our quest to keep Greater Fort Lauderdale green.If you are interested, please contact Jessica Taylor, jtaylor@broward.org to place your request.

International Tourism Sales
The tourism sales department recently attended the Mid Atlantic Conference in Reykjavik, Iceland, with buyers representing Scandinavia, Russia, Canada and the UK. Temperatures were freezing, but inside, Greater Fort Lauderdale was a hot destination amongst the leading wholesalers and tour operators. More than 150 buyers sat in as Greater Fort Lauderdale presented the exciting new developments in Broward. The top sellers of travel to Florida gathered in Tampa this past month for another successful edition of Florida Huddle. The GFLCVB Tourism Team, in conjunction with the Hollywood Office of Tourism and seven Broward hotels, met with buyers in an scheduled appointment format. On Mar 3-4, Fernando Harb travels to Belgium for Visit USA Brussels, a one day workshop bringing together buyers from the Benelux area for a general assembly followed by a table top trades show. Then it's on to ITB Berlin, Mar 5-10, where the combination of trade exhibition, public exhibition and the biggest professional convention worldwide attracts tens of thousands of visitors, exhibitors and media representatives every year.

Fort Lauderdale Historical Society Recognizes Nicki Grossman
Join us on April 2 at the Broward County Convention Center for the Friendship Luncheon, honoring Nicki. For information, call Nikki Myers, Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, 954-463-4431, ext. 19.

Multicultural Group Tourism
Albert Tucker, vice president of multicultural business development, welcomes Caribbean American Journalists, March 26-30, in their first visit in history to Greater Fort Lauderdale. The Broward County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. invites you to the "Swingin' with Style XII" Scholarship Golf Classic Youth Clinic, at Inverrary Country Club - East Course, Saturday, March 15, 8am shotgun start. Reserve your foursome by emailing cminnismba@gmail.com.

March Convention Sales Update
Groups meeting in March generate more than $30 million to Broward County. Sample groups include:
Mar 2-7: 2008 Telcordia Sales Leadership Conference (200 attendees)
Mar 3-9: Caremark Rx (500 attendees)
Mar 4-9: Cruise3sixty, Cruise Lines International Assn (2,500 attendees)
Mar 6-17: Citifinancial Group (712 attendees)
Mar 7-15: National Comprehensive Cancer Network (800 attendees)
Mar 11-16: National AfterSchool Association (3,000 attendees)
Mar 14-21: Money Laundering.com 13th Annual International Conference & Exhibition (1,600 attendees)
Mar 24-30: Experient Annual Meeting (1,200 attendees)

Sport Lauderdale
Greater Fort Lauderdale welcomes the following sports groups in March, with more than 17,160 competitors plus family and friends:
Mar 1-3: USTA Girls' 12 State Championships (1,150 attendees)
Mar 5-9: National Men's 40 Up Softball Championships (3,000 attendees)
Mar 6-9: Senior Zone Synchronized Swimming Championship (660 attendees)
Mar 7-9: Wendy Wyland Memorial Swim Meet (300 attendees)
Mar 7-9: FHSAA State Cheerleaders Championships (4,500 attendees)
Mar 14-16: American Twisters Gymnastics Invitational (700 attendees)
Mar 17-20: Hofball Sunshine Classic (700 attendees)
Mar 23-30: Hooters Tour Event (250 attendees)
Mar 25-28: Westminster National Classic (1,500 attendees)
Mar 30-Apr 4: YMCA National Short Course Swimming & Diving Championships (4,250 attendees)

Hotel News
Days Inn Bahia Cabana has completed an extensive room renovation and will have new outdoor signage this spring. Embassy Suites Hotel-Fort Lauderdale has completed an 18-month, multi-million dollar renovation of its guest rooms, atrium, lobby and pool area. Sheraton Suites Cypress Creek Hotel's renovation has resulted in a newly decorated lobby, meeting space and guest rooms and a newly established "quiet zone," with banned train horns at the Cypress Creek crossing.

Do it up Small
In conjunction with VISIT FLORIDA, a new state-wide Superior Small Lodging directory hits the brochure racks this month.

Good Eats
LeBistro in Lighthouse Point is now open for lunch Tues-Fri. Next cooking class is Sat, Mar 29. D.Wade's Sports Grill (Dwayne Wade) is now open on Federal Hwy in Fort Lauderdale. China Grill at Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel & Yacht Club is set to open Mar 13.

Fleet Week Returns to Port Everglades April 28
More than 4,000 sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen will participate in South Florida's annual celebration of the maritime services, Fleet Week 2008 Port Everglades, April 28 through May 3. Fleet Week 2008 Port Everglades will include open-to-the-public parties, community service projects by the sailors, a celebrity chef luncheon, sports and other exciting competitions. Port Everglades will not be open to the general public without pre-arranged appointments to visit the ships.

The Soul of Gershwin
Parker Playhouse welcomes The Soul of Gershwin, the Musical Journey of an American Klezmer, for an exclusive 8-show South Florida engagement on March 4-9. The virtuoso-class cast of vocalists, backed by an incomparable klezmer band and George Gershwin himself acting as narrator, draws viewers into a revelatory discovery of the musical and ethnic influences, including Jewish folk and liturgical melodies, popular songs and opera and intrinsic rhythms of blues and jazz. Tickets $30-65. www.soulofgershwin.com

Museum of Discovery & Science to expand
The Museum of Discovery & Science received a $1 million grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation in support of the $20 million "Building New Pathways to Discovery" capital campaign, to include plans for a new Visitor Pavilion in the museum’s Grand Atrium and a new EcoDiscovery Center wing.

The Plane Facts: FLL News
Year-end total passenger traffic for 2007 was 22,681,903, up 6.1% over 2006. International traffic for the year was 2,858,047, up 20.4%. In 2007, Spirit carried more passengers than any other airline (followed by Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, and US Airways rounding out the top 5).Total passenger traffic for January 2008 was 2,106,915, up 10.3% over January 2007. International traffic was 293,670, up 26.5% over last year. It was the first time January reached the 2 million mark and started off the year with double digit growth. JetBlue announced that three seasonal routes (Charlotte, Raleigh and Richmond) to FLL will now be year-round. Spirit Airlines launched new nonstop service from Panama, and announced nonstop service from San Antonio, plus Boston beginning in April, Islip, NY and Columbia, SC in May. Southwest Airlines will begin new non-stop service from Austin, Texas and Manchester, NH in May. 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.

Happenings Around Town
Through June 23: The Great Age of American Automobiles, Museum of Art
Through June 23: The High Style of Dorothy Draper, Museum of Art
Through Mar 9: Florida Renaissance Festival, Quiet Waters Park, Deerfield Beach
Through Mar 31: Orioles Spring Training 2008, Fort Lauderdale Stadium
Through Mar 23: Dirty Story, Mosaic Theatre
Through Apr 3: U2 3D, Museum of Discovery & Science and AutoNation® IMAX® Theater
Mar 1-June 7: National Week of the Ocean Sea-Son
Mar 1-23: Second Annual Designers’ Show House
Mar 1, 8, 15: Coach bag giveaway, Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino
Mar 4-9: The Soul of Gershwin, Parker Playhouse, Fort Lauderdale
Mar 5: Smokey Robinson, Sinatra Theatre presented by BankAtlantic
Mar 6: 8th Annual Riverwalk Tribute, honoring Downtown Development Authority, River House Restaurant
Mar 6-7: Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Mar 6: Florida Panthers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, BankAtlantic Center
Mar 6-9: 6th Annual Langerado Music Festival, Big Cypress Indian Reservation
Mar 7: Jonas Brothers, BankAtlantic Center
Mar 7-8: Michael Irvin's 2008 Celebrity Weekend, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Mar 8: Beatlemania, Coral Springs Center for the Arts
Mar 8: MIASF's 31st Annual Waterway Cleanup
Mar 8: Florida Panthers vs. Atlanta Thrashers, BankAtlantic Center
Mar 8: Trace Adkins, Pompano Beach Amphitheater
Mar 8-9: Fine Art Exhibit & Sale, Flamingo Gardens & Wildlife Sanctuary
Mar 8-9: American Baby Faire, Broward County Convention Center
Mar 8-9: Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell, Hard Rock
Mar 9: The Women's Theatre Project presents International Women's Day reading of short plays and monologues
Mar 11: Guys & Dolls & More - Florida Sunshine Pops, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Mar 11: Diana Ross, Sinatra Theatre presented by BankAtlantic
Mar 12: Florida Panthers vs. NY Islanders, BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise
Mar 12-Apr 6: Wicked, Broadway, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Mar 12: 2008 Season of Excellence, African American Research Library & Cultural Center
Mar 13: Frank Caliendo, Star of TBS’ Frank TV, Hard Rock Live
Mar 13-16: Steve Solomon's My Sister's an Only Child, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Mar 14: Florida Panthers vs. NY Rangers, BankAtlantic Center
Mar 14: Liza Minnelli, Hard Rock Live
Mar 14: Once Upon a Quilt, War Memorial Auditorium
Mar 15: Jazz Impression, Rose & Alfred Miniaci Center for the Performing Arts
Mar 15: Blue Man Group, BankAtlantic Center
Mar 15: Broward County Deltas “Swingin’ with Style” Scholarship Golf Classic, Inverrary Country Club
Mar 15: Connie Francis, Coral Springs Center for the Arts
Mar 15: MoneyShot Volleyball, South Beach Park, Fort Lauderdale
Mar 15-16: Coral Springs Festival of the Arts
Mar 15: Spring Marshmallow Drop, Boggs East Field, Hollywood
Mar 16: BMW Tennis Championship, Sunrise Tennis Club
Mar 16: Florida Panthers vs. Atlanta Thrashers, BankAtlantic Center
Mar 16: Sy Sugar's Pops Orchestra, Coral Springs Center for the Arts
Mar 19-20: Tony Bennett, Hard Rock Live
Mar 19-23: Fort Lauderdale International Auto Show, Broward County Convention Center
Mar 20: Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes, BankAtlantic Center
Mar 21: George Thorogood, Pompano Beach Amphitheater
Mar 21: Playhouse Disney Live!, BankAtlantic Center
Mar 22: Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, BankAtlantic Center
Mar 24-30: National Golf Assn's Hooters Professional Golf Tour, Inverrary Country Club
Mar 25: The Moody Blues, Hard Rock Live
Mar 25: HD screening of Bruce Springsteen: Live in Barcelona, Cinema Paradiso, Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
Mar 27: Florida Panthers vs. Atlanta Thrashers, BankAtlantic Center
Mar 27-29: Russo and Steele Collector Automobile Auctions, Hard Rock Live
Starting Mar 28: Grand Canyon Adventure 3D, Museum of Discovery & Science and AutoNation® IMAX® Theater
Starting Mar 28: Small Wonders: Find the Nano In Your Life, Museum of Discovery & Science and AutoNation® IMAX®
Mar 28: Broadwalk Friday Fest, Hollywood Beach
Mar 29: Broward County Deltas “Family Health Conference” Ebenezer Baptist Church, Hallandale Beach
Mar 29: Def Leppard with Styx and REO Speedwagon, Hard Rock Live
Mar 29: Florida Panthers vs. Washington Capitals, BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise
Mar 29: George Winston, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Mar 29: Sophisticated Styling ’08, African American Research Library & Cultural Center
Mar 30-Apr 4: YMCA National Short Course Swimming & Diving Championship, Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center

With all best wishes,

Nicki E. Grossman
President