Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineDecember 15, 2016

Visit Florida, beleaguered over its $1 million promotional contract with the rapper Pitbull, found a defender Thursday in Senate budget chairman Jack Latvala. In light of a soft construction sector, “what’s kept the whole outlook from softening up has been our strong tourism economy,” Latvala told reporters after the Appropriations Committee heard about the financial demands […]

Scott PowersDecember 15, 2016

In a surprise move, Miami rapper Pitbull released his entire controversial contract with Visit Florida this morning by posting it onto a tweet Thursday, revealing the breadth of duties he’d signed onto as a celebrity tourism ambassador for the state, and Florida’s fee for his service — $1 million per year. The move comes just […]

Michael MolineDecember 14, 2016

A key state senator on Wednesday endorsed House Speaker Richard Corcoran‘s lawsuit seeking to open Visit Florida’s contract with the rapper Pitbull to promote tourism. “That’s a public record,” said Sen. Jeff Brandes, chairman of the Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Subcommittee, which oversees Visit Florida. Corcoran sued in state court Tuesday seeking permission to subject […]

Scott PowersDecember 13, 2016

Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran sued PDR Productions Inc. Tuesday for a judge’s permission to publicly release documents involved in the Visit Florida deal used to hire Miami rapper Pitbull to promote Florida tourism. At issue is Corcoran’s concern that Visit Florida deals — done increasingly in secret — may require deeper scrutiny in how it’s spending state […]

Phil AmmannNovember 22, 2016

New House Speaker Richard Corcoran expects funding requests for Florida’s top jobs agency to move through his chamber’s committees, despite his strong personal objections to taxpayer-financed economic incentives. Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida reports Gov. Rick Scott is requesting $85 million in incentives for a broad range of business deals to attract businesses to Florida. […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 21, 2016

With Gov. Rick Scott in Jacksonville announcing record-setting tourism numbers and attributing them to VISIT FLORIDA, it was only natural that Paul Astleford, who heads up Visit Jacksonville, would have his say on the “big numbers.” With Visit Jacksonville under scrutiny for travel expenses, and with its contract due for renewal in a year, Astleford took advantage of the […]

Associated PressNovember 21, 2016

Despite two hurricanes hitting the state, federal officials warning away pregnant women from Miami due to the Zika virus, and international coverage of the Pulse massacre this summer, Florida is doing better than ever when it comes to tourism. And in the context of an upcoming showdown with House Speaker Richard Corcoran over the necessity of Visit […]

Jim RosicaAugust 17, 2016

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VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s tourism agency, says it’s continuing a sponsorship deal with a London soccer —er, football — team. The partnership with Fulham Football Club is entering its second year, according to an email sent Wednesday by Paul Phipps, the agency’s chief marketing officer. What’s the Florida connection? The club is owned by Shahid Khan, who also owns the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterAugust 12, 2016

Visitors keep flocking to the Sunshine State. State tourism officials announced Friday 57.4 million people traveled to Florida in the first half of the year. The number marks a 4.3 percent increase from the first six months of 2015. “It’s exciting to have a record tourism number,” said Gov. Rick Scott during an event at the […]

Lloyd DunkelbergerJuly 12, 2016

After getting rebuffed in another attempt to secure state incentive money for improvements at its historic track, the Daytona International Speedway has signed on two new lobbying teams with the start of another state fiscal year. The speedway has hired Johnson & Blanton and Southern Strategy Group to represent its interests in Tallahassee. The speedway, […]

Tag: Visit Florida

Jack Latvala defends Visit Florida amid Pitbull contract controversy

Pitbull releases $1M Visit Florida contract on Twitter; state suit still pending

Jeff Brandes backs House lawsuit to make Pitbull contract public

Florida House sues over Visit Florida-Pitbull deal documents

Despite philosophical differences, Richard Corcoran expects House committees to consider incentive requests

Paul Astleford says Visit Jacksonville gets results

Gov. Scott: record numbers of tourists vindicate Visit Florida’s mission

Florida re-ups tourism deal with London ballers

Florida on track to see 115 million visitors in 2016

Daytona International Speedway revs up lobbying efforts by hiring Johnson & Blanton, SSG