Visit Lauderdale’s Annual Marketing Luncheon reveals campaigns and bold plans for 2025

GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. – Visit Lauderdale’s Annual Marketing Luncheon on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at the Floridian Ballroom located inside the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center captivated attendees with a visionary look at the year ahead, packed with innovative campaigns and collaborations designed to elevate the destination’s global presence.

The luncheon kicked off with Sandy, Visit Lauderdale’s AI-powered travel assistant helping visitors plan tailored vacations and connecting audiences to the unique offerings of Greater Fort Lauderdale, available on the VisitLauderdale.com website. “I’m here to make planning your trip as fun as taking it,” Sandy shared with the audience, setting the tone for the event’s forward-thinking vision.

Visit Lauderdale CEO Stacy Ritter.

Stacy Ritter, President and CEO of Visit Lauderdale, set the stage with an innovative presentation emphasizing the destination’s reputation as a trailblazer in the tourism industry. “We’re not just inviting visitors to Greater Fort Lauderdale; we’re creating moments that inspire, campaigns that disrupt, and partnerships that resonate far beyond our borders,” Ritter said.

The luncheon reflected on some of Visit Lauderdale’s most memorable achievements from 2024, including the Sphere activation in Las Vegas, which brought the destination’s vibrancy to a global audience; the partnership with U.S. Paralympics Swimming, spotlighting Abbas Karimi and his journey to the 2024 Paris Paralympics; and the debut of the destination anthem, “Laudy Dayo,” which connected visitors to Greater Fort Lauderdale through a dynamic music video filmed across the region. These initiatives not only showcased the destination’s innovative spirit but also reinforced its reputation as an inclusive, welcoming paradise for all.

Greater Fort Lauderdale achieved remarkable milestones in 2024, generating $125.4 million in Tourist Development Tax revenue, saw a 1.5% increase in hotel demand, and welcoming over 4 million cruisers at Port Everglades – a 39% rise from 2023. Looking ahead, 2025 promises continued growth with five new hotels, including the 29-story Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel at the expanded Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, adding over 1,490 rooms and enhancing the destination’s appeal for conventions, events, and leisure travel.

Visit Lauderdale Marketing Luncheon.

The highlight of the event was the unveiling of Visit Lauderdale’s strategic plans for 2025, showcasing groundbreaking initiatives that promise to position the destination as a leader in tourism innovation.

Key initiatives for 2025 include:

• Taking Over the Track: IndyCar Partnership: Visit Lauderdale is revving up excitement as the first-ever convention and visitors bureau to sponsor an IndyCar team. The partnership ensures Greater Fort Lauderdale’s vibrant branding will be front and center throughout the racing season, with logos displayed on race cars, driver suits, and transport trailers. The destination will also be prominently featured in live race coverage via in-car cameras. This dynamic collaboration will put Visit Lauderdale in front of millions of fans nationwide, driving home the message that “Everyone Under the Sun” belongs in Greater Fort Lauderdale.
• 31 Flavors of Greater Fort Lauderdale: Celebrating the unique character of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s 31 municipalities, Visit Lauderdale is exploring a partnership with Baskin-Robbins to curate a custom menu of 31 ice cream flavors. Each flavor will reflect the distinct vibe and personality of its respective community. This tasty collaboration will roll out with pop-up activations in major markets, sparking positive connections and enticing visitors to experience the destination firsthand.
• Breaking Free: Winter Campaign: The new “Break Free” winter campaign takes aim at cold-weather markets, offering audiences a vibrant escape to Greater Fort Lauderdale’s sun-soaked shores. The campaign promises to deliver compelling visuals and messaging designed to inspire travelers to leave the chill behind and embrace warm, endless sunshine. The integrated campaign is set to launch in early 2025.

The article Visit Lauderdale’s Annual Marketing Luncheon reveals campaigns and bold plans for 2025 first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.