Visit Florida Tourism Development Organization helps Main Street programs

From the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel:

Visit Florida will conduct statewide forum in Delray Beach

Visit Florida will conduct a 2 1/2-day statewide forum in Delray Beach for its "Downtowns and Smalltowns" initiative Oct. 13-14.The program encourages tourists to explore areas of the state that include Main Street areas or designated historical districts. Attendees will learn how to develop and promote the tourism assets inherent in their downtown areas.

In addition to the main program in Delray, there will be on-location sessions in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The program is designed to appeal to downtown redevelopers, visitors bureau officials, city and county planners and arts administrators, among others.

Cost is $100 per person or $500 for a five-person delegation. Attendance is capped at 150. The host hotel is the Delray Beach Marriott, which will offer rates starting at $139 a night.For further information, send an e-mail to downtownsandsmalltowns@visitflorida.org.

Goals and Objectives of the Forum:

- Provide actionable/ tangible resources to effectively promote downtowns and small towns
- Develop and promote new tourism products
- Use tourism marketing to advance the revitalization of downtowns and small towns
- Increase communication and collaboration among community partners
- Provide hands-on knowledge and interaction with local experts using Florida models
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"Attendees will learn how to develop and promote the tourism assets inherent in their downtown areas"--this is the kind of focused assistance that neighborhood preservation organizations and commercial district revitalization organizations need in order to better develop their assets toward the creation of a "complete destination"--places to see, shop, dine, and be entertained.
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Check out Visit Florida's "Product Development and Marketing Guide."