SAVE THE DATE: Greater Fort Lauderdale Marketing Plan Presentation
Mark your calendars for Thursday, September 27 at noon for the 2008 Greater Fort Lauderdale Marketing Plan Presentation and Luncheon at the Broward County Convention Center. See how we can make beautiful music as together we compose a casually chic year ahead.

Award-Winning GFLCVB
Nicki E. Grossman was inducted into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame during the Governor's Conference on Tourism last week. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau was awarded three prestigious Flagler Awards by VISIT FLORIDA for multicultural marketing, sunny.org magazine ads and mixed media campaign.

Celebrity Sightings
Chrissie Hynde, of The Pretenders, was spotted on Aug 28 at Sublime, the Fort Lauderdale vegan hot spot, where she was testing out some dishes for her own upscale meatless eatery, VegeTerranean, opening in Akron. In the photo: Hynde and Sublime owner Nanci Alexander.

Tourism Sales Update
La Cumbre kicked off September 5 at the Westin Diplomat, welcoming more than 600 suppliers, 300 buyers and 85 media representatives from Latin America. The Tourism Sales department will participate in the following September shows: The Trade Show, Las Vegas, Sept 7-11; Routes, Stockholm, Sweden, Sept 23-26; NTS Roadshow, Buffalo, Rochester, Binghamton, Syracuse, Albany, Sept 24-27; German Sales Mission, Sept 27-30; Toronto Travel Show, Sept 28-30.

Upcoming Media Visits
This month, the PR department welcomes 75 media from top Latin American newspapers, magazines and trade publications for La Cumbre. BIBA, French lifestyle publication; Cosmo Bride UK. Jessica Taylor, joins VISIT FLORIDA's media mission to San Francisco, Sept 16-20.

Multiculturally Speaking
Greater Fort Lauderdale joined VISIT FLORIDA at Black Enterprise last week, with more than 2,500 visiting the GFL booth over 3 days. Our own Albert Tucker, VP of Multicultural Tourism Development, received the coveted Purple Jacket trophy for the Tennis Challenge. The story and pictures are scheduled to appear in Black Enterprise Magazine in the fall.

2008 Meeting Planners Guide
Advertising sales will soon come to a close for the 2008 edition of the official Meeting Planners Guide. This award-winning guide specifically for the meeting planner, is distributed through direct mail, sales missions and industry shows. A virtual planner on sunny.org will accompany the printed piece. Contact: Sharon Kyryliw, Worth International, (305) 828-0123, ext. 103, sharon@worthit.com

New CVB Director of Convention and Group Sales
We welcome Christine Tascione to our sales team in mid-September. Christine is a veteran in the industry, with years spent with Starwood and Marriott.

September Convention Sales Update
Groups meeting in September generate more than $21 million to Broward County. Sample groups include:
Sept 4-7: South Florida Concierge Assn State Conference (100 attendees)
Sept 4-8: La Cumbre (1,500 attendees)
Sept 7-15: Site Selection Services' Global Customer Conference (800 attendees)
Sept 18-20: Florida Dept of Health (50 attendees)
Sept 18-21: Florida Institute of CPA's Conference/Trade Show (1,800 attendees)
Sept 18-22: Renaissance Meetings & Incentives (425 attendees)
Sept 25-Oct 1: AUGS Scientific Meeting (557 attendees)
Sept 28-30: Sun-Sentinel National Writer's Workshop (100 attendees)

Sport Lauderdale
Greater Fort Lauderdale welcomes the following sports groups in September, with 10,640 competitors plus family and friends, for $6.8 million in economic impact.
Aug 27-Sept 2: Labor Day Baseball Classic (1,200 attendees)
Aug 28-Sept 5: National Soccer Coaches Clinic & Showcase (1,300 attendees)
Aug 29-Sept 4: College Pre Season Classic (950 attendees)
Aug 31-Sept 3: USA Judo Fall Classic/Ladder Event (450 attendees)
Aug 31-Sept 3: Caribbean Baseball League Tournament (350 attendees)
Sept 6-8: Guatemala National Team Training (275 attendees)
Sept 7-9: Plantation Last Chance Pandemonium (600 attendees)
Sept 9-10: National AAU Taekwondo Team Trials (350 attendees)
Sept 13-16: SE Region Fall Baseball Classic (2,100 attendees)
Sept 22-30: Interline Pilots Assn Softball Tournament (1,500 attendees)
Sept 27-29: Southern States Soccer Qualifier (975 attendees)
Sept 27-30: International Coaches Symposium (590 attendees)

Sports Hall of Fame Auction Donation
Save the date for the 2007 Broward County Sports Hall of Fame honoring Broward's sports legends, Tuesday, December 11 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 2007, will turn up the Glam at Galleria Mall on October 6. Hikers of all ages will ‘strut their stuff’ while raising funds to benefit young women affected by breast cancer. Hundreds of divas and dudes will bring a new meaning to the word fashionista as the sassiest glam-aholics gather to "Go For The Crown!" Rub elbows with celebrity Divas and score a little swag while you’re there. Slip on your Choos and lace up your Louboutins. For details and registration information, visit www.highheelhike.com.

Florida Tour Guide Services
A "step-on" tour guide service, operated by Sunrise-based Florida Tour Guide Services, is now available to hotels, bus companies and visitor groups. Guides conduct a variety of tours throughout Broward, including a city tour, Everglades tour, and "land and sea" tour along the Intracoastal. Call 954-742-0966.

Fort Lauderdale Business Expo in November
The War Memorial Auditorium cordially invites you to be a part of the Fort Lauderdale Business Expo, November 7, 5pm-9pm. Join this premier business-to-business trade show to grow your business and learn more about others. Call (954) 828-5390.

Add Your Listing to WeGoPlaces.com
The travel website, WeGoPlaces.com, lists attractions, events, activities, accommodations and restaurants. You are invited to log-on and add your free listing, which includes description, directions, up to 10 photos, link to website and more. To log-on, visit wegoplaces.com and select "Get Listed."

Hotel News
From Aug 1-Sept 30, a group of Superior Small Lodging properties and gay-owned guesthouses will offer a special promotion for 4th night free. Visit www.sunny.org/ssl and www.sunny.org/rainbow for participating hotels. Pelican Landing, located at the Pier 66 marina and known as "Fort Lauderdale's Best Kept Secret," boasts a new look and menu, and introduces its 2-for-1 Happy Hour, Mon-Fri from 5-7pm. Amerisuites 17th Street (soon to be Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Airport) has newly renovated Hyatt Place rooms to show, complete with flat screen tvs and ultra-modern, yet comfortable, amenities. Please contact Susan Dennen, 954-703-7045. Sheraton Suites Cypress Creek has begun their guest room renovation, to be complete by Nov. 30. Las Palmas Hotel & Suites will officially become Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites on Sept 24.

Dine Out Lauderdale
Get ready for the first annual DINE OUT LAUDERDALE presented by American Express from October 1-November 15 with special $35 dinner menus at 35 top Broward restaurants. Enjoy specially created fixed-price, three-course dinner menus for $35 at: 15th Street Fisheries, 3030 Ocean at the Harbor Beach Marriott, Aizia at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Beach Watch, Blue Moon Fish Co., Bragozzo at the Isle of Capri, Café Maxx, Café Vico, Cero at the St. Regis Fort Lauderdale, Coco Asian Bistro & Bar, Cohiba Brasserie, Council Oak at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel, East City Grill, Fish - A Restaurant, Food Amongst the Flowers, Four Rivers Contemporary Thai Kitchen, Galanga Thai Kitchen & Sushi Bar, Grill Room on Las Olas, Hi-Life Café, Himmarshee Bar & Grill, Ireland's Steakhouse at Hyatt Regency Bonaventure, La Barraca, Latitudes at the Hollywood Beach Marriott, Le Bistro, Links Restaurant & Lounge at the Diplomat Country Club, Lola's on Harrison, Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant & Dinner Show, Mancini's, Mark's Las Olas, Pa Degennaro's, Sassi's Italian Restaurant, Shula's on the Beach, Sugar Reef Tropical Grill, Tatiana Restaurant, Trina at The Atlantic. Visit www.sunny.org/dineout for details and menus.

The Plane Facts: FLL News
Data for July 07 indicates that total traffic was up 10.9%, domestic traffic was up 7.7% and International traffic up 34.5%. It was the first month of double digit growth since Sept 05, and the first time July has topped the 2 million mark. The low fare carriers continued to grow. Spirit carried 399,450 passengers up 72.4% over July 06, AirTran was up 41.0%, Southwest was up 7.8% and JetBlue increased by 7.1% Spirit alone added 167,737 more passengers or 5,410 passengers per day. These carriers significantly offset losses by some of the legacy carriers. Internationally, the numbers will continue to increase as Air Jamaica began service to Barbados at the end of July and Spirit launched Managua in August. The last quarter will continue to see increases as Spirit begins Aruba and Freeport in November and American Airlines begins service to Port Au Prince, Santo Domingo, and San Jose in December. On the domestic side, JetBlue will begin service to Buffalo, Syracuse and Ponce, PR in November. Spirit will also begin Ponce in November. Allegiant Air has announced the start up of their operation in mid-November and has announced service to Knoxville, Allentown, Chattanooga, and Rockford. They have 8 other cities which will be announced in the next few weeks. This season we will see the return of the Canadian operations. Air Canada will max out at 9 daily flights in December, Air Transat will operate an average of 1 daily flight beginning in December, Skyservice will begin 1 weekly flight in November and add a second in December, Canjet begins with 1 weekly in December and will add a second in February. Domestically, AirTran will add a 10th Atlanta flight and daily service to Indianapolis and Rochester with weekend service to Akron and Pittsburgh. JetBlue will begin new service to Richmond in November and Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham in January 08.

Happenings Around Town
Sept 7: Little River Band, Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino
Sept 7: Advance Job Fair, Broward Convention Center
Sept 7-Nov 17: Scherer & Ouporov, Royo, Coral Springs Center for the Arts
Sept 8: Butterfly gardening workshop, Butterfly World
Sept 8: Soul, Rhythm and Blues, Hollywood ArtsPark
Sept 10-12: Florida Marlins vs. Washington Nationals, Dolphin Stadium
Sept 13: Ana Gabriel, Hard Rock Live
Sept 14: Sultan of Strings, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Sept 15: Broward County's 22nd Annual International Coastal Cleanup
Sept 15: Heaven & Hell, BankAtlantic Center
Sept 16: Rick Springfield, Hard Rock Live
Sept 16: Hollywood Beach Latin Festival
Sept 18-20: Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour, BankAtlantic Center
Sept 19: HSMAI hotel revenue management luncheon, St. Regis Resort, Fort Lauderdale
Sept 20: International Fight League, Hard Rock Live
Sept 21-23: Florida Marlins vs. New York Mets, Dolphin Stadium
Sept 25: Florida Panthers vs. Chicago Blackhawks, BankAtlantic Center
Sept 25: America, Hard Rock Live
Sept 25-27: Florida Marlins vs. Chicago Cubs, Dolphin Stadium
Sept 26: Florida Panthers vs. Atlanta Thrashers, BankAtlantic Center
Sept 26: Full Moon Jazz Night, Hollywood Beach Theatre
Sept 27: Heroes in Action: A Night of Boxing
Sept 28-30: Hollywood Beach Clambake, Hollywood Beach Broadwalk
Sept 28-30: Sesame Street Live, Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Sept 29: Maroone Moonlight Movies, Ocean's 11 - The Rat Pack, Huizenga Plaza
Sept 29: Molly Hatchet & Blackfoot, Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino
Sept 29-30: Howie Mandell, Hard Rock Live

With all best wishes,

Nicki E. Grossman
President