SEE YOU ON THURSDAY, Oct. 2: Greater Fort Lauderdale Marketing Plan Presentation
The 2009 Greater Fort Lauderdale Marketing Plan luncheon presentation takes place Thursday, October 2 at the Broward County Convention Center at noon. See what's new on the horizon for tourism sales, convention sales, sports, multicultural business, public relations and advertising as we gear up for a beach chic year ahead with a special presentation by New York Times Best Seller, Ron Shapiro.

DINE OUT LAUDERDALE kicks off
We invite you to dine out. Often. Experience the culinary greatness in Greater "Fork" Lauderdale during the second annual Dine Out Lauderdale presented by American Express through November 14 with special $35 three-course dinner menus at more than 35 top Broward restaurants: Aizia at the Westin Diplomat Resort; Armadillo Beach; Beach Watch; Blue Moon Fish Co.; By Word of Mouth; Cafe Maxx; Café Vico; Cero at The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale; Chima Brazilian Steakhouse; China Grill at the Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel & Yacht Club, Coco Asian Bistro & Bar; East City Grill; Elements Bistro at Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach; Farradday's Steakhouse at the Isle Casino and Racing; 15th Street Fisheries; Fish - A Restaurant; Four Rivers Contemporary Thai Kitchen; Fulvio's 1900; Galanga Thai Kitchen & Sushi Bar; Grill Room on Las Olas at The Riverside Hotel; Grille 66 & Bar Restaurant at Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six; Hi-Life Café; Himmarshee Bar & Grille; ilios at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort; Ireland's Steakhouse at Hyatt Regency Bonaventure; Jackson's Steakhouse; Le Bistro; Links Restaurant at the Diplomat Country Club; Lola's on Harrison; Riley McDermott's; Rivals Waterfront Sports Grille; Runyon's Restaurant; Shula's on the Beach; Sunfish Grill; 3030 Ocean at the Harbor Beach Marriott; Tatiana Cabaret Show Dinner Restaurant; Tommy's Las Olas; and Trina at The Atlantic Resort & Spa. Visit www.sunny.org/dineout for details and menus.

Dinner and a Movie
After dining at any of the participating Dine Out Lauderdale restaurants, foodies can enjoy one of the scores of films at the 23rd Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival for only $5, when presenting a dinner receipt for that evening. As an added bonus, American Express card members can present their receipt from a Dine Out Lauderdale participating restaurant and receive buy one get one FREE glass of wine at Cinema Paradiso screenings. The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival kicks off Oct 15 and runs through Nov 11, with official opener on Oct 17. This year, more than 150 films from around the globe will be unveiled, with more than 100 special guests in attendance.

Coming soon: Lauderdale Shop Chic
To kick off the season of giving, the first annual Lauderdale Shop Chic will run November 1-26, with special discounts offered at The Galleria in Fort Lauderdale and Last Call Neiman Marcus at the Colonnade Outlets in Sunrise. Open to visitors and residents, visit www.sunny.org/shopchic to request your free re-shoppable bag and Shop Chic discount card. Guests who book a hotel stay during this time on www.sunny.org, will also receive a "pamper pouch" with pink beach towel, flip flops, and Shop Chic card.

Lauderdale Spa Chic extended through Oct 28
Lauderdale Spa Chic $99 spa treatments have been extended through Oct 28. Book your spa treatments today at The Atlantic Resort & Spa, Diplomat Golf Resort & Spa, Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach Resort (excludes Sat), Grand Resort & Spa (gay), Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six, Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale, and The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa. For details visit www.sunny.org/spachic

Tourism Sales Update
In September, the Tourism Sales department was busy attending La Cumbre in Miami, The Trade Show in Orlando, TOP RESA in France and HX Media Gay Life Travel Expo in DC. They held sales missions for Total Vacation in Canada and Florida Day at Travelocity in San Antonio. In October, the sales team will be visiting Kuala Lampur for Routes Airlines Conference, Las Vegas for the Diving Equipment Marketing Association (DEMA), Argentina for FIT, Orlando for Mark Travel Presentation, and Rio de Janeiro for ABAV 2008.

Upcoming Media Visits
This month, the PR department welcomes media from Panorama Travel Oct 1-5 and Germany Oct 7-10.

Multiculturally Speaking
Greater Fort Lauderdale welcomes Jonathan Green Cultural Arts Festival at the African American Research Library Oct 17-19 and Women in Ministry Conference at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa Oct 18-21.

2009 Meeting Planners Guide
Advertising sales will soon come to a close for the 2009 edition of the official Meeting Planners Guide, a lure piece which will be distributed through direct mail, sales missions and industry shows. A virtual planner on the newly redesigned sunny.org will accompany the printed piece. Contact: Marcia Bayer, Miles Media marcia.bayer@milesmedia.com.

Teaming Up for Incentive Sales
The Greater Fort Lauderdale area played host to the International Society of Incentive Travel Executives (ISITE) Classic September 10-14. During those dates Greater Fort Lauderdale was fortunate to have more than 75 executives and individuals specifically responsible for buying travel for incentive programs participate in the 3-day area showcase. The executives were able to experience some of the outstanding hotel facilities, venues and services provided by our area partners, while enjoying some of the unique activities that we can arrange for incentive programs- such as: Deep Sea Fishing Derby, Catamaran Regatta, Everglades Swamp Safari, Iron Chef Competition (with our own Johnny V as celebrity chef), golf at the Diplomat Golf Resort, and of course, Las Olas shopping! Key executives from the following organizations were here to experience the area: Maritz Travel Company, Carlson Marketing, BCD Meetings & Incentives, US Motivation, Spherion, IBM, Excel Telecommunications, Goodyear, Galactic, Sunbelt Motivation & Travel, Inc., DuPont, BI, Allied International. Our immense THANKS and "HATS OFF" go to all of the partners that joined the GFLCVB in putting together and executing this outstanding venture: Fort Lauderdale Grande, Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six, Marriott's Harbor Beach, The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale, The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Silversea Cruises, Diplomat Golf Resort & Spa, Advantage DMC, Art of the Party, Experience Florida, Welcome Florida, PRA Destination Management, Action Yacht Charters, Bill Hansen Catering, Dancesation, Dragonfly Expeditions, Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, Mike Sipe Entertainment, USA Transportation, Water Taxi.

Convention Sales Team Update
The convention sales team has showcased GFL to Elluminate USA, United Synagogue Youth USA, National Federation of State High School Associations, Meetings in General/NGB State CSM Conference, The Hyland Group. The sales team was recently in DC for Mid-Atlantic Affordable Meetings Show, Fort Lauderdale for International Society of Incentive Travel Executives (ISITE) Classic, Atlanta for CVB Sales Mission, and Chicago for The Motivation Show.
Catch the sales team soon at these upcoming events and tradeshows:
Oct 1: PCMA Chapter Leadership Event, Williamsburg, VA
Oct 6-7: Hospitality Industry Golf Organization (HIGO) Ladies Classic-PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens
Oct 6-9: Meeting Quest Tradeshow and Sales Calls, Atlanta
Oct 14-16: Tallahassee Society of Association Executives (TSAE) Education Day, Tallahassee
Oct 26-29: Meetings Industry Ladies Invitational (MILI), Birmingham, AL
Oct 29-31: World Religious Travel Expo, Orlando

October Group Sales Update
Groups meeting in October generate more than $30 million to Broward County. Sample groups include:
Oct 3-7: SYSCO Corporation (1,075 attendees)
Oct 10-16: National Association for Home Care & Hospice (2,100 attendees)
Oct 11-14: Central Association of College and University Business Officers (600 attendees)
Oct 16-23: Women in Ministry International Conference (300 attendees)
Oct 22-30: LIMRA International (450 attendees)
Oct 26-Nov 1: Electronic Recruiting Exchange Expo (400 attendees)
Oct 31-Nov 3: National Association of Subrogation Professionals (1,200 attendees)

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) will hold its 27th Annual Meeting in Greater Fort Lauderdale at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/ Broward County Convention Center, October 11-15. NAHC President Val J. Halmandaris announced that President Bill Clinton will be the keynote speaker at this year's conference. NAHC's goal is to bring thousands of home care and hospice professionals together under one roof to learn new ideas and how to implement them in the ever changing and important health field.

Going Green
Congratulations to the Renaissance Fort Lauderdale-Plantation Hotel, Sheraton Suites Cypress Creek and Hilton Deerfield Beach for becoming a Certified Green Lodging Hotels. The Florida Green Lodging Conference, "Being Green, Saving Green & Making Green," will be held at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center in Gainesville, Nov 10-12. This conference will help hoteliers take the mystery out of going green and presents the business case of how helping save the environment will boost your bottom line. www.FloridaGreenLodgingConference.com

Plan.It.Green
As our local hotels become certified by the Florida Green Lodging program, the GFLCVB is turning those milestones into reforestation for Broward County Parks to reestablish native plantings and green buffers to help offset the carbon footprint that results from the many aspects of visitors in our area. The GFLCVB is requesting hotels a make a minimum $500 financial donation to Broward County Parks to help this Green Broward initiative at Markham Park and take a seed of an idea and grow it into a flourishing success for all who live, work, play and visit here.

Sport Lauderdale
Greater Fort Lauderdale welcomes the following sports groups in October, with 18,000 competitors plus family and friends:
Oct 1-5: National Recruiting Coaches Showcase (2600 attendees)
Oct 3-6: USA Fall Classic (3000 attendees)
Oct 3-12: Interline Pilots Assoc Softball/Golf Tournament (2500 attendees)
Oct 9-12: Octoberfest Softball Classic (1500 attendees)
Oct 10-12: Octoberfest NOVA SE University (300 attendees)
Oct 10-12: BCAA Swim Championships (100 attendees)
Oct 10-13: Hofball Fall Challenge (1500 attendees)
Oct 17-19: South Florida Fright Invite (500 attendees)
Oct 24-26: IDC Triathlon (2000 attendees)
Oct 24-28: Rising Stars Fall Showcase (3800 attendees)

Sports Hall of Fame Auction Donation
Save the date for the 2008 Broward County Sports Hall of Fame honoring Broward's sports legends, Tuesday, December 2 at the Broward County Convention Center. As always, we will kick off the festivities with a cocktail reception and silent auction. We hope you can help us make the auction a success by donating a certificate or prize package. Please contact Saskia Fisher, sfisher@broward.org, to donate an item.

High Heel Hike
The Fort Lauderdale High Heel Hike™, the official Glam event of Winterfest 2008, will turn up the glam on Las Olas on October 11. Hikers of all ages will 'strut their stuff' while raising funds to benefit young women affected by breast cancer. For registration, visit www.highheelhike.com.

Bet on it
Isle® Casino Pompano Park announces special October prizes: spin the reels in the free Silver Screen slot tournament; trick or treat for candy bars filled with IslePlay®; and win a black Corvette® or $10,000 in IslePlay.

Welcome Aboard
The GFLCVB Strategic Client Services welcomes Guadalupe "Lupi" Gonzalez as the new Housing Services Representative. The Westin Fort Lauderdale Cypress Creek welcomes Ian Black as the new Director of Sales & Marketing. Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Airport North welcomes Traci Henry as the new Director of Sales, The Atlantic Resort & Spa welcomes David Margolis as the new Director of Sales & Marketing and il Lugano welcomes Catherine Cumings as their new Director of Sales & Marketing.

Superior Small Lodging White Glove Awards
Congratulations to the 72 properties in the 2009 Superior Small Lodgings program from Deerfield Beach south to Hallandale Beach. Recipients of the White Glove Award for best housekeeping practices, properties that score 100% during the annual inspection from the independent Property Review Program include: By-Eddy Motel, Cheston House, Coral Reef Guesthouse, Estoril Paradise Inn, The Flamingo Inn Amongst the Flowers, The Pillars at New River Sound, Pineapple Point Guest House, Royal Palms Resort, Summerland Suites, Villa Venezia, Liberty Apartment and Garden Suites, High Noon Resort, Sea Lord Oceanfront Hotel, Sea Spray Inn, Villa Orleans, Windjammer Resort & Beach Club, Cottages By The Ocean, Dolphin Apartments & Motel, Atlantic Sands, Coronet Motel, Desoto Oceanview Inn, The Grenier's On The Beach, Hollywood Beach Golf & Country Club, Manta Ray Inn, Ocean Inn, Quality Inn & Suites, Villa Europa Hotel, Rainbow On The Ocean.

The Plane Facts: FLL News
Due to strong community demand, Allegiant Air, LLC, brings back its low-cost, nonstop service from Chattanooga and Tri-State on Nov 20 and Tri-Cities on Nov 21. The airline is celebrating the sunny news with introductory fares as low as $59-$79 one-way to Fort Lauderdale. JetBlue Airways announced new service from San Juan, Puerto Rico beginning Dec 18. JetBlue now has 46 daily flights scheduled for Fort Lauderdale this winter. AirTran Airways will add nonstop service from Pittsburgh beginning Nov 20.

Port Everglades News
Casting "evolution" and "innovation" in starring roles, Broward County's Port Everglades is premiering a new DVD, "The Evolution of Port Everglades; Keeping Tomorrow on Our Radar," that features the South Florida seaport's diverse business mix of cruise, cargo, petroleum and real estate and its commitment to environmental and economic stability. The DVD also features Greater Fort Lauderdale as a vacation hotspot for cruise passengers before and after they sail, highlighting area beaches and resorts, shopping, boating, dining and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Watch the new video on the Port Everglades website at www.broward.org/port. Imperial Majesty Cruise Line, which has been sailing short cruises from Port Everglades to the Bahamas since 1999, has put its regular business operation on hold to help with disaster relief efforts for several Texas Gulf Coast communities damaged by Hurricane Ike.

Good Eats
Fresh from his stint as Oprah Winfrey's chef, Chef Tal Ronnen will offer his innovative vegan dishes to South Floridians by preparing a five-course dinner and mingling with guests at Sublime Restaurant on October 10 at 7pm. The price is $150 per person, not including tax and gratuity. Call (954) 539-9000 or visit www.SublimeRestaurant.com

Gondola Rides in Fort Lauderdale
For an unusual experience, take a gondola ride in Fort Lauderdale, where an authentically dressed gondolier relates the history of gondolas, facts about Venice and interesting local stories. The Gondola, docked at Stork's Café on Las Olas Blvd., is offering a 20% discount for the month of October to anyone who mentions they read it here. Visit www.gondolaman.com.

49th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
Ginn sur Mer presents the 49th edition of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the world's largest boat show. Set over six locations in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the show will take place Thursday, October 30th through Monday, November 3rd, 2008. The show will feature more than 3 billion dollars worth of boats, yachts, superyachts, electronics, engines and thousands of accessories from every major marine manufacturer and builder worldwide. The Boat Show encompasses more than 3 million square feet of space, both on land and in water, at six sites, all connected by the Show’s Transportation Network of water taxis, riverboats and bus shuttles.

Happenings Around Town
Oct 1-Nov 14: Dine Out Lauderdale, Greater Fort Lauderdale
Oct 2-Feb 23: Picasso / Luna, Museum of Art / Fort Lauderdale
Oct 3-31: Green Halloween!, Trash to Treasure Creative Re-Use Center
Oct 3-Jan 4: Cast Your Ballot: Elections in Broward County exhibit, Fort Lauderdale Historical Society
Oct 3-Jan 4: Memories: An Exhibition by the Bonnet House Fine Artists, Fort Lauderdale Historical Society
Oct 3-5: SE Winter Sports Show, Broward County Convention Center
Oct 3-5: Sesame Street Live "When Elmo Grows Up," Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Oct 4-5: Las Olas Art Fair
Oct 5: SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch, Riverwalk, Downtown Fort Lauderdale
Oct 7: Janet Jackson, BankAtlantic Center
Oct 10: Mary J. Blige, BankAtlantic Center
Oct 10: Broadwalk Friday Fest, Hollywood Beach
Oct 11: Harry the Dirty Dog, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Oct 11: Butterfly Gardening Workshop, Butterfly World
Oct 11: Florida Panthers vs. Atlanta Thrashers, BankAtlantic Center
Oct 11: High Heel Hike, Las Olas Blvd
Oct 12: Old School Gospel Concert, War Memorial Auditorium
Oct 13: Super Scientific Circus, Parker Playhouse
Oct 13-Nov 12: Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
Oct 14-19: Hairspray, Broadway, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Oct 15: Bob Hoose & His Orchestra, Gold Coast Jazz, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Oct 15: Old Fashion Fish Fry, Lauderdale by the Sea
Oct 15: HSMAI luncheon, Bimini Boatyard
Oct 16: Florida Panthers vs. Minnesota Wild, BankAtlantic Center
Oct 16-19, My Fair Lady presented by the Fort Lauderdale Children's Theatre, Susan B. Katz Theatre at The River of Grass Artspark
Oct 17: Broadwalk Friday Fest, Hollywood Beach
Oct 17: Stone Soup, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Oct 18-19: ¡VIVA BROWARD! with Nestor Torres, Pompano Citi Centre
Oct 18-19: Cat Show, War Memorial Auditorium
Oct 18: Florida Panthers vs. New York Islanders, BankAtlantic Center
Oct 18: Meatloaf, Pompano Beach Amphitheater
Oct 20: Alanis Morissette, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Oct 22: Fresh Market Wine Gala for Coral Springs Museum of Art, Coral Springs
Oct 23: City of Fort Lauderdale Business Expo, War Memorial Auditorium
Oct 23: Lauderhill's Festival of Flavors, Central Broward Regional Park
Oct 24-25: Annual Mission Team Craft Fair, First United Methodist Church of Coral Springs
Oct 24: Florida Panthers vs. San Jose Sharks, BankAtlantic Center
Oct 24: Gloria Estefan, Hard Rock Live
Oct 24: Louis C.K., Parker Playhouse
Oct 25: International Distance Classic Triathlon, Fort Lauderdale
Oct 26: Neil Diamond, BankAtlantic Center
Oct 27: Yappy Hour, Las Olas Blvd
Oct 30: Florida Panthers vs. Ottawa Senators, BankAtlantic Center
Oct 30-Nov 3: 49th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
Oct 31: Wicked Manors, Wilton Manors

With all best wishes,

Nicki E. Grossman
President