SUNNY SKIES AHEAD, GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE CELEBRATES ‘GOLDEN STATE' ARRIVAL
Bucking the Trend, Virgin America and JetBlue Launch Flights to Greater Fort Lauderdale

GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - August 18, 2009 - Extending a "Sunshine State" welcome, new air service is making it easier than ever for Californians to visit the other coast this fall.  Last week, both Virgin America and JetBlue Airways announced new non-stop West Coast to Greater Fort Lauderdale flights beginning mid-November.  The new routes, coupled with recent hotel openings, inaugural cruise ship embarkations at Port Everglades and world-class meeting facilities, will position Greater Fort Lauderdale as a premier domestic business and leisure destination for West Coast travelers.

"This new air service opens Greater Fort Lauderdale to a new geographic market of vacationers, business travelers, convention delegates, families and GLBT visitors," said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. "We are ready to welcome Californians with a distinct brand of sunshine hospitality."

The extra air capacity, according to Grossman, is expected to make a big impact on Greater Fort Lauderdale's cruise business.  The 1.2 million passenger California cruise market will also have easy access to a new crop of ships, including Royal Caribbean's 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas which starts service from Port Everglades in November. 

Virgin America's service includes twice daily non-stop flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) beginning November 18, 2009.  Not to be outdone, JetBlue, already serving Fort Lauderdale from Long Beach Airport, will add a daily non-stop service from San Francisco International Airport beginning November 17, 2009. Currently Los Angeles is served by non-stop daily service from Spirit Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

About Greater Fort Lauderdale
The new Greater Fort Lauderdale is a vibrant, "beach chic" destination offering more than 33,000 hotel rooms at a variety of hotels, resorts, and Superior Small Lodgings, plus new high-end, luxury resorts and more to come. Nearly 11 million annual visitors enjoy Greater Fort Lauderdale's 23 miles of Blue Wave Beaches, 300+ miles of inland waterways that run from the Intracoastal to the Everglades, more than 4,000 restaurants, top shopping, and a thriving arts and culture scene.  For more information, contact the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 22-SUNNY or visit www.sunny.org.

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08/2009