Florida Agenda

FORT LAUDERDALE – This month, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC) sent representatives to attend the annual ITB Travel show, in Berlin, Germany. Keith Blackburn, president and CEO of the GFLGLCC reports that more than 113,000 trade visitors and nearly 60,000 consumers were in attendance at the Messe Berlin Convention Center.

The attendees had come to see 10,644 exhibitors from 187 countries, including those representing Greater Fort Lauderdale and its LGBT community. The chamber reps had set up an exhibition area in coordination with the Greater Fort Lauderdale-based International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), a stand that ranked Number 13 among NGO/Non-Profits by the Cologne Business School for their annual ITB “Best Exhibitor Award.” Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit paid an official visit to the booth.

The GFLGLCC was formed last year by members of Broward County’s LGBT business community, with a mission that includes promoting business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBTfriendly community, promoting tourism with a unified approach, and serving as an advocate and resource for all equalitypromoting member businesses. It is a 501c (6) non-profit organization.

The GFLGLCC’s mission to Berlin was endorsed by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). For more information about GFLGLCC, visit gogayfortlauderdale.com.

Gains in Domestic, International Arrivals Outpace Rest of Florida

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Outpacing the rest of Florida, Greater Fort Lauderdale recorded a 2.6 percent increase in total visitors in 2010, according to year-end estimates. Spending in the local economy by the 10.84 million visitors also rose from $8.47 billion to $8.69 billion. Of those numbers, the LGBT visitors rose to nearly 1 million, They’re spending accounted for $1.1 billion in revenue for the area.

Traffic at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Inter-national Airport jumped 6.4 percent. Statewide, Florida saw a 2.1 percent increase in visitors.

“Given the realities of the economy over the past year, these are very impressive figures, clearly demonstrating that Greater Fort Lauderdale’s tourism industry is reaping the rewards of hard work and creative marketing over the past few months. We have every reason to be optimistic about 2011 based on the success of 2010,” said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Greater Fort Lauderdale will show a 2.7 percent increase in domestic visitors in 2010. Canadian visitors increased by 3.6 percent and Latin America by 2.6 percent, including a doubling of arrivals from Brazil, which is now Greater Fort Lauderdale’s second largest foreign market. Growth from Latin America was aided by increased air service from the region by Spirit Airlines and other carriers. Arrivals from Scandinavia, Europe, and the UK also showed modest gains, a reflection of the continued strengthening of the long-haul inbound vacation market.

Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Inter-national Airport’s year-end figures showed 22,412,627 arriving and departing passengers in 2010, including 18,965,234 domestic travelers, a 5.2 percent gain over a year ago.

Based on 2010 results and a slowly strengthening global economy, Greater Fort Lauderdale officials are forecasting 11 million visitors in 2011.